Back in 2004, strolling down the dusty streets of Lhasa, Tibet, I wandered through an uneasy mix of Chinese entrepreneurs and Tibeten families.  It was hard to see how the Chinese would ever leave, but also hard to see how they could ever stay. As we rode out of town after a few days, and on toward Kathmandu, I felt like Lhasa was slipping away and being replaced by something else entirely.

Today, the Herald Tribune reports on violence in Lhasa, as protests against Chinese occupation erupt for the first time in over a decade. I thought of my sister-in-law, and how she must feel, watching this happen in her homeland. I’m thinking of you Jamyang, and I’m thinking of Tibet and its continuing struggle. As we get closer to the olympic games, the world’s attention will be ever more focused on the rights of Tibetens – how the Chinese will respond when violence isn’t an option remains to be seen.