In between the Dalai Lama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.): actor Richard Gere, a player in the tableaux of ceremonies for the awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal. Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images
by Gabrielle Russon
The Dalai Lama received the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor, at the Capitol today.
Politicians bestowed their praises. “He is a one-man warrior for peace,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “He is a one-man warrior for spirituality.”
“Today, we honor him as a universal symbol of peace and tolerance, a shepherd for the faithful,” President Bush said.
“Thank you, your holiness, for being so inspiring,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
But in between those kind words and the Dalai Lama’s public address, there were a few light-hearted moments. The Tibetan spiritual leader walked to the podium as thousands on the Capitol grounds waited for his first words. He stopped and took a long pause, looking into the sun.
“Wait a minute,” the Dalai Lama said. He returned to his seat momentarily and came back wearing a red visor.
After that, he spoke through a translator on how nonviolence and dialogue are the best solutions to solving conflicts. Still, with a sense of humor, he plugged his upcoming article in the Washington Post.
“Read that!” he told the crowds, his final words. “Thank you!”







Comments
that is hilarious beyond description - I love our pluralistic society and it's respect for religious tolerance (other than the anti-Christian hate speech that is allowed so frequently in the mainstream media) but this photo defines the term "PHOTO OP" - IN FACT, THIS PHOTO SHOULD BE REQUIRED NEXT TO THE WORD "PHOTO-OP" IN EVERY DICTIONARY IN THE WORLD FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF TIME - UTTERLY HILARIOUS - AND LOOK, IF IT ISN'T NONE OTHER THAN THE AMERICAN GIGOLO WITH HIS LITTLE HEAD IN THE SHADOWS AT BREAST LEVEL OF GRANDMOTHER, NANCY P (POST COSMETIC ENHANCEMENTS TO LOOK SO YOUNG AND HOLLYWOOD-ESQUE) AND THE BUDDHIST HIGH PRIEST WITH HIS COOL AMBER SHADES -- FUNNY STUFF
Posted by: tom | October 17, 2007 5:40 PM
Mr. Lama to himself;
'I'm gonna score me some of that Pill babe!'
Posted by: C.Morris | October 17, 2007 5:53 PM
Posted by: tom | October 17, 2007 5:40 PM
tommy,
Did you prefer the picture of our Torturer in Chief with the Dalai Lama better?
Queens Of The Stone Age
3's And 7's
(George W Bush)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xl2BPFefJA
Lie, lie to my face
Tell me it ain't no thing
That's what I wanna hear
Take, your lie to the grave
That's what an old friend told me
Look what it did for him
Refrão:
The truth hurts so bad, wouldn't you say?
So why tell it?
If ignorance is bliss, then you're in
Heaven now
Run, you'll never escape
You see, you'll go nowhere
Based on who you appear
Broke, laid to waste (?played your ace?)
Turn into sweet no-things
Kiss you goodbye
Refrão:
The truth hurts so bad, wouldn't you say?
So why tell it?
If ignorance is bliss, then you're in
Heaven now
Keep going over and over again
The never ending places I've never been
Someone is catching on
Callin' your bluff
The devil made me holier than you've ever been
What'd you do?
Say it with a smile, boy
Making us all forget
What'd you do?
Say it with a smile, boy
Making us all forget
Making us all forget
Making us all forget
Go back
Go back to the stone age
Where you belong
You played your hand
Now be gone
Posted by: John E | October 17, 2007 6:24 PM
This is absolutely the best thing George Bush has ever done in his Presidency. His predecessors didn't have the guts or the convenient timing of the upcoming 2008 Olympics in China. The Dalai Lama deserves this recognition and much much more from us. Thank you George Bush for putting it to the Chinese and also the thug mafia Al Quaeda organization hiding behind 'religious' beliefs.
Posted by: Karen | October 17, 2007 7:28 PM
I agree. Pretty incredible picture.
But to Richard Gere's credit, he's been pulling for Tibet's freedom, and investing his time, connections and financial resources for decades now.
If I were the Dalai Lama, I'd probably add him to my posse pretty quickly as well.
Mark Alan Effinger
RichContent.com
Posted by: Mark Alan Effinger | October 17, 2007 7:42 PM
No wonder Loony Libs like Karen drool over the Dalai Llama. He is a Commie!!!
Of all the modern economic theories, the economic system of Marxism is founded on moral principles, while capitalism is concerned only with gain and profitability. Marxism is concerned with the distribution of wealth on an equal basis and the equitable utilization of the means of production. It is also concerned with the fate of the working classes—that is the majority—as well as with the fate of those who are underprivileged and in need, and Marxism cares about the victims of minority-imposed exploitation. For those reasons the system appeals to me, and it seems fair. . . The failure of the regime in the Soviet Union was, for me not the failure of Marxism but the failure of totalitarianism. For this reason I think of myself as half-Marxist, half-Buddhist.
—The Dalai Lama, Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth[23] and Dalai Lama's answer on various topics[24]
Posted by: Smirky McFlightsuit | October 17, 2007 7:54 PM
Pelosi was so inspired that tomorrow she is having Congress vote on whether to condemn the 1240 AD invasion of Tibet by the Mongol Empire.
Posted by: Ben | October 17, 2007 8:11 PM
The Dalai Lama is a pleasant enough old fraud, but what on earth are American political leaders doing giving him special honors?
Why go out of your way to anger China? It's really stupid.
If Tibet isn't China, then Hawaii, New Mexico, Arizona, and California aren't the United States.
Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | October 18, 2007 8:36 AM
all politics aside - it is a funny photo
Posted by: tom | October 18, 2007 8:54 AM
The Boss Buddhist towers over Richard Gere. Gere has that Allan Ladd Thang goin' on!
Hey, Nancy's stretch as well.
Posted by: Pat Hickey | October 18, 2007 9:24 AM
So we finish 18 and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, Hey!! How about a little something, you know, for the effort?"
And the Lama says, "Oh, there won't be any money. But when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total conciuosness."
So I've got that going for me. Which is nice.
Posted by: Steve34 | October 18, 2007 9:34 AM
John Chuckman - you're comments are very obviously biased and show you really don't know the depth of the Tibetan situation. Either that, or you have been brainwashed by Chinese propaganda. I wonder if you real name is John? Or are you just another Chinese spammer?
Posted by: Marie | October 18, 2007 6:11 PM
It is unbelievable that this person, Dalai Lama, should be given any award or recognition except for deception. He talks of peace, but he doesn't live it. Just check out what kind of fake he is from the many sites available. Only two are listed below:
Below are just some websites that will reveal the truth to you. The first is from Salon magazine. The second show the pictures of what crimes against humanity, the Dalai Lama's advisers had perpetrated.
http://www.salon.com/news/1998/07/13news.html
http://www.newspiritualbible.com
Posted by: Justice For All | October 24, 2007 9:04 PM