Supervisors Carmen Chu and Sean Elsbernd yesterday derailed a resolution
authored by Supervisor Chris Daly that condemns the Chinese government’s
willful acts of oppression against the people of Tibet.
Photos by Luke Thomas
By h. brown
March 21, 2008
The cold cruel flat stare of Supervisor Carmen Chu
(D-4 appointee a heartless racist)
“We’ve been bullied. We’ve been butchered. I am 82 years old. Please help us!”
The old woman wept bitterly and begged for mercy for the people of her homeland. She is a Tibetan-American and had come to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors with 200 others to support a simple resolution calling for mercy for the people of Tibet.
Committee Chair Chu was having none of that. District 7 Supervisor Sean Elsbernd went along with Chu every step of the way.
The resolution, sponsored by Supervisor Chris Daly, contained language condemning the Chinese governement’s willful campaign to oppress the people of Tibet.
The venue was the Board’s City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee chaired by Mayor Gavin Newsom appointee Chu with Supervisor Jake McGoldrick as vice-chair and Elsbernd as member.
Daly was there to present his legislation which had been sent to the Board’s most conservative panel by Board President Aaron Peskin. It was a sad day for the City of St. Francis.
I have many conflicting emotions regarding what Chu and Elsbernd did yesterday. I’ve got a temper and it certainly made me angry. That anger subsided into a deep sadness after awhile. The next step down that continuum is despair, and that’s simply not the Irish way. So, I decided to simply do all that I can to help defeat Chu and Elsbernd in their Fall election campaigns. I hope you’ll join me in the effort.
The Chinese government is a ruthless and racist Communist dictatorship. People who do their bidding are no better. The commies make up less than 10 percent of the population and they are destined to fall. Soon, I hope. Let’s bring down their puppets on the Board for starters. Support Mara Kopp against Elsbernd in 7 and I’ll get back to you when someone enters the D-4 race against Chu.
Around a hundred people spoke and only 3 of them opposed Daly’s resolution. They were all men from the Chinese Consul. They screamed, and using Richard Ow as an interpreter, they called the peaceful Buddhist Tibetans “animals.” It’s clear they mean to exterminate them just as they’ve been murdering the Falun Gong. As the Chinese military caravans continue to roll into Tibet, there are now more Han Chinese in the country than native Tibetans.
Invasion, imprisonment of innocents, torture, organ harvesting, murder – Elsbernd and Chu support all of these things. For money.
On a positive note
The morning session of the Rules Committee (both of these committees met 3-20-08) had some light moments. I particularly like an exchange between Tom Ammiano and a lady seeking to replace the ever-homophobic Jordanna Thigpen on the Small Business Commission (lady is Janet Clyde and she’s part owner of Vesuvio’s).
Applicant: “I want to thank Supervisor Aaron Peskin for calling and asking me to serve.”
Daly: “How late at night did he call you?”
Another nice exchange came in the lovefest for Ben Rosenfield’s ascension to Controller (though highly qualified, the kid can’t be 35 years old and he still actually blushes). Anyway, outgoing Controller Ed Harrington came up to say nice things about Rosenfield which prompted this gem:
Ammiano (to Harrington): “Is the story I heard about you and the seminary true?”
Harrington (a bit chagrined): “My partner was in a seminary for 6 weeks.”
Daly (without missing a beat): “Recently?”
Ahhh, Irish and Italian Catholics sparring with Jewish number-crunchers. It can get pretty funny. That aside, it’s a glorious day out there, campers. Salon is in a few hours and Mirkarimi’s hosting a Persian art party for his monthly show at 5:30-8 pm. So, don’t despair and keep in mind the old Tom Waits song:
“You can never hold back Spring.”
(he could sand concrete with his voice)
Mara Kopp for D-7 Supe
Joe Nation for State D-3
Mary Mallen for Superior Court Judge
Chinese out of Tibet
U.S. out of everywhere
Obama for President
The Hunger Site
March 24, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Keely,
Carment Chu (and Sean Elsbern) is not a “heartless racist,” as h bulldog Brown has stated in his piece. Brown’s statements do not promote peace, but instead are meant to perpetuate hatred.
Condemning China is only going to create more tension..is basic psychology. This is not unity, unfortunately.
If you want to believe a one-sided, biased, ultra left leaning opinion, than jump on the bandwagon..
And, peace to you too, Keely.
March 23, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Pelosi’s visit to the Dalai Lama in Dharmsala, India, on Friday was the first by a major foreign official since the protests broke out. The Democratic leader said if people don’t speak out against China’s oppression in Tibet, “we have lost all moral authority to speak on behalf of human rights anywhere in the world.”
March 22, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Dear Jacob,
From the onset of your note, it appears that perhaps you, are, actually, on a similar wave of passion and justice- as the contributors’ and readers of this journal are, after all…….peace. ?
And, I am hoping that you know that h. brown is a long time educator. A Teacher, for many years, as my parents are; and, as they are correspondants of H., they will attest to that.
He holds one, if not more than one, undergraduate and for certain, a Master’s, Degree.
Don’t let his “reporter, and on the road ways”, fool you. He’s a good granddad and uncle, Everyone,
in this city, knows that.
Justice, in the mean time is a bit over due –yesterday was a bit too solemn–of a good friday for any of you pagan irish, irish catholic, simply celtic, simply italian beautifully black, tibetan, dominican republic.
japanese, philipina and or all of the above – or as my friend at work (who, gee, is, all of the above)
says: “well, i AM chinese, somewhere in there, and i sure do back tibetan freedom! and that torch! yeah!”
so back to, the thing.
It’s Easter and Equinox and Passover , it’s time……..
It’s important, at this late hour-to bring to light
what the above article, and it’s title- does, stand FOR.
a little clarifiction-yes, it’s a statement–it’s asking-it’s saying:
OH YEAH?!
well,
And, I must add, that I am writing as a humanitarian,
who cares for people,
as they sometimes just “land here”……,
who many times land –(literally), in San Francisco not even able to remeber the exhausting circumstances in which they were allowed to enter.
That is for the the social workers and Md’s to interpret (if we have interpretors available) to give to me in a written or verbal report when and if they land in my/our units…..we all work together. yes we DO and it is amazing.
About the Human Beings involved:
While the –headline –,
of this article DOES indicate many things that some (Elsbernd and Chu?) will deny?
( I, personally- do not, really think,
that Chu and Elsbernd really DO, think that:
MURDER and DENIAL of HUMAN RIGHTS’ in TIBET is OKAY, -so far, I see them both to be decent human beings),
At the same time, let’s be real.
— I have a great difficulty with Chu and Elsbernds’ VOTE of NO -to Daly’s:
BRAVE AND HUMANISTIC CONCEPT-yesterday.
(yes, i was there, via the web- and listened to the hundreds of people speaking)– in ALSO, immediately passing Chris Daly’s:
VERY BRAVE AND SAN FRANCISCO MINDED,
HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN VOICED
RESOLUTION.
THE:
“*Tibetan Relay and HUMAN right’s torch *”
That it be allowed to coexist…….,while and with, the OLYMPIC TORCH, via China…….as it passes through our city, and with the world watching…..
and so…. never mind the tenor of the headlines. They are there for a very good purpose: we need to know just what Elsberd and Chu DO, think is okay!
Certainly, not genocide…….right?
—IN and BY ALLOWING, and thus yes, if you Carmen Chu and Sean Elsbernd DO say yes,
it rests on you…..
to Chris Daly’s empathic, GOOD, and inclusive concept of A TIBETAN TORCH of HUMAN RIGHTS?
the RESOLUTION OF ALLOWING SUCH?
(as was presented to you in chambers and in which you saw hundrends of tibetan and tibetan americans BEG you for)
to run, unhindered-,
alongside he Chinese and universal OLYMPIC torch?
If Carmen Chu and Sean Elsbernd DID allow and VOTE positiveley for his?
THEY WOULD BE SAYING NO! to genocide……and? they wouldn’t lose much, at all……
In the long run?
They (Supervisor Chu and Supervisor Elsbernd)
would not only garner the support of many Chinese businesses……. in their own districts? but they would gain city wide support–who knows! we can all–at least WIN on being against GENOCIDE, right?
In supporting Chris Daly’s measure?
as so many of us, from so many cultures, in the helping people, department– do?
well, we’re just asking Sean and Carmen to just–
look at it all, from the perspective of the underdog.
The tourism and the money may well follow even better –if we just listen to what St. Francis, might have asked to be done…………..
hey
peace be with you,
Keely Zahn, RN
SF
see ya at 7am.
March 22, 2008 at 2:33 pm
China might be a Communist dictatorship, but America is a super bully –and shhhh, don’t tell anyone, she has been for years and years.
Do you think U.S soldiers are handing out lolly pops to men and woman in Iran? What about Guantanamo Bay? The last I heard, America was torturing detainees.
You’re all are so ready to pounce on Sean Elsbern and Carmen Chu, that you’re blinded illogic. These supervisors are not supporting oppression, and shame on you Fog City Journal for printing such a sensational piece..of garbage.
Ps. to the author, h “bulldog” Brown, what are your credentials as a writer and researcher? Do you even have a GED?
March 22, 2008 at 9:18 am
It was both exhilarating and sadly poignant to see the chamber packed with so many of our Tibetan brothers and sisters. However, much like the hearings held on issues confronting the Bayview Hunters Point community, I was distressed to see how few folks of other ethnicities were present to show support, Krissy was an exception…luv ya babe, namaste.
Pigment is only skin deep y’all, an injury to one…..Chu and Elsbernd are a disgrace but Jake done good.
The stories shared were moving and powerful, especially when contrasted with the hateful, vicious lies uttered by some, presumably Chinese consular officials.
“..I would like to thank Supervisor Daly for once again standing for the Human Rights of all peoples. I urge support for his proposal and the Human Rights Torch Relay. I also urge you to oppose the Mayor’s attempt to deprive us of the right of assembly and free speech by restricting protestors to enclosed enclaves…..the spectre of this individual as Governor is truly frightening…” (excerpt from my testimony).
A watered down version of Supervisor Daly’s proposal was referred to the full Board. Stay tuned. Be there when.
A couple of sites for more information:-
studentsforafreetibet.
humanrightstorch.
savetibet.
(all .org)
March 21, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Board President Aaron Peskin new the end result by sending this matter to this specific committee. Peskin’s on the Chinatown playbill too.
March 21, 2008 at 6:43 pm
As a counterpoint to the Olympic Torch Relay, perhaps pro-Tibet demonstrators could stage an “Olympic Torture Relay.”
March 21, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I’m sorry to say to Supervisors Elsbernd and Chu, but even Bush and Condi are telling the Chinese to back off in Tibet. Of course, these local resolutions don’t mean shit internationally, but I’m puzzled how Americans of all persuasions aren’t supportive of the Tibetan plight. I don’t practice Tibetan Buddhism or particularly think the Dalai Lama is any more spiritual than the next guy, but I do believe that Tibetans have the inalienable right to govern themselves as they see fit. While we’re considering this, do you think the Communist Chinese gave a rat’s ass about forcibly dislocating ten of thousands (or more) of people right in Beijing to build Olympic facilities? Or who has the big investment in Sudan and refuses to urge the end of genocide in Darfur? Bingo–it’s China.
March 21, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Breaking secret!
Recent evidence found: Communist Chinese police men pretended as Tibetan by wearing Tibetan clothes and killed people. So the commusit regime can claim some Tibetan people violent.
What a shameful communist regime!
March 21, 2008 at 11:38 am
What Chu & Elsbernd did for the mayor and as puppets of the cruel Chinese dictatorship was completely outrageous., especially when you consider the current brutality in Tibet.
Tibetans already sufferend and lost so much and now this….
Shame on them.
March 21, 2008 at 11:21 am
Thanks Krissy,
Joe Morgan? You play for the Reds? Cincinnati, not Peking. Let me quote one of Luke’s favorite quotes from Shelly:
“O rise ye lion from slumber
in invanquishable number
Shake to earth your chains like dew
which upon sleep, hath fallen on you
Ye are many and they are few”
Things are bad but they have been much worse.
The internet gives us a chance.
h.
March 21, 2008 at 10:45 am
Are there any ideas (or statements from Elsbernd and Chu) as to why they would oppose this? To me, it seems like they, following orders from Newsom’s clan of course, are just being too politically correct. They don’t want to upset anyone, because of either (1) the possibility of conflict, or (2) the higher-ups could stop receiving dirty money. The horrors! I should start keeping my mouth shut when it comes to opposing violent, communist dictatorships as well.
March 21, 2008 at 10:41 am
From Kissy Keefer:
I would like to thank Chris Daly for his courage and his endless wisdom and compassion.
I am an artist and activist and a mother. I have been a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner for the last 12 years and had the great good fortune to go to Tibet last year.
Tibet is a land of majestic mountains with a mystical but withering sun. Breathless landscape contrasts with stark poverty of garrisoned towns destroyed by Chinese brothels, discos, shops hawking cheap Chinese goods, and endless construction rapidly assembled to give “life and liberty” to the Chinese population who are moving in large droves to this sparsely populated terrain – home of the Tibetan people and their culture for centuries.
I imagined how our own country felt when Native-Americans sat on the sidelines when they sold their artifacts and wares to foreign invaders who had little or no regard for Native-American culture; a time when our government expressed open contempt against Native-Americans with access to a readily assembled army to suppress any uprisings or protests against the cultural genocide that took place.
We saw what happened here – .the killing of millions of Native-Americans so that we could unwittingly give rise to the industrial revolution, resulting in a polluted Earth and, perhaps, its demise.
Have we not learned anything?
Genocide and the destruction of the environment go hand in hand.
Why are we allowing this to take place again, now in Tibet?
Is Tibet tyranny’s final frontier?
Tibet’s leader, the holy Dali Lama, has had a tremendous impact on the international community. As the world witness’s the heavy-handed approach of the Chinese government, no one has displayed a turn-the-other-cheek mentality more than the Dali Lama. He has been a living example for all peoples who, instead of seeking revenge or meeting violence with violence, he has shown us a different way to have our voices heard.
Let us set our example and say no to the Olympic Torch that links two countries whose rulers think torture and suppression of dissent is acceptable.
March 21, 2008 at 10:41 am
The Chinese have always (I think) referred to themselves as the Central Kingdom, the center of the universe. They believed that the world had nothing to offer China, and so they closed off contact with other cultures and largely stagnated. That sense of centrality and superiority is still present. I met a guy from mainland China once who actually bragged that Beijing had more smog than Los Angeles. To him, Chinese smog was a symbol of pride and industrial superiority.
March 21, 2008 at 9:46 am
I wonder how well Sean and Carmen slept last night.
March 21, 2008 at 9:16 am
From article:
“The Chinese government is a ruthless and racist …”
Remember, when the politically correct use the term racist, they simply mean white Gentiles who discriminate.
It is a racial slur that is directed only seriously towards white Gentiles. Racist = honky, or honky-ish.
So, the translation of the quote would be: “The Chinese government is a ruthless and honky-ish…”