The Dalai Lama stops here today on his world tour, teaching for three days before speaking to thousands of students — myself among them — at the Kohl Center Friday. In recognition of his visit, the City-County Liaison Committee will hoist the Tibetan Flag over the Madison City-County Building, just under the United States' own star-studded banner. The Dalai Lama was honored in the same fashion during his last visit in 1998, with little dissent. This time, two organizations — Madison's Freedom from Religion Foundation and the Chinese government — have objected to use of the flag. Perhaps a testament to the Dalai Lama's multi-faceted role, these groups protest the display of the Tibetan flag for what some would consider opposite reasons: One believes the Dalai Lama is too religious a figure; the other holds he is too political. At least two leaders of the Freedom from Religion Foundation dispute the city and county's commemoration. Co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor opined that by flying the flag "basically to honor a religious figure, it becomes a state-church issue," according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Also, co-president Dan Barker reasons that, "Since the Dalai Lama is a religious leader, we cannot use our government buildings or money to endorse him." Millions of Buddhists worldwide call the Dalai Lama both spiritual leader and 14th incarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion; no one can deny his religious status. Yet by focusing solely on his religion, the Freedom from Religion Foundation flagrantly ignores the positive impact the Dalai Lama creates in the world outside Buddhism. The Dalai Lama's struggle for peace and civil rights in his native Tibet — currently under the suppressive rule of China since 1949 — coupled with his constant campaign for the practice of compassion and tolerance toward everyone earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and will earn him a Congressional Medal of Honor this fall. If Madison wanted to greet the Dalai Lama as a religious leader, it would fly an image of the Buddha — an act even less likely than nailing a crucifix to the flagpole. Instead, the local government will recognize his work by raising the flag of his native Tibet, the country for which he has struggled to restore peace and some semblance of democratic autonomy. The Chinese consulate in Chicago also opposes Madison's display, but for different reasons. Zhiyuan Ji, consul of the political and press office for the Chinese Consulate General, told the Wisconsin State Journal that it is "not appropriate for the city to pass a resolution to welcome [the Dalai Lama] and plan to fly a so-called Tibetan flag." In an e-mail to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Mr. Ji asserted that the Dalai Lama is "not merely a religious figure, but a political exile … [whose purpose] is to engage in activities aimed at splitting China and undermining China-U.S. relations under the cover of religion." China has occupied Tibet for 58 years, denying both the legitimacy of the exiled Tibetan government — the Dalai Lama is the head of this government — and the fact that Tibet was ever legally separate from China. I have neither the space nor the relevancy to discuss my views on the China-Tibet situation, though they are probably pretty obvious, anyway. In any event, Dane County has more than enough justification to recognize Tibet and honor its exiled political leader, who has worked so hard to preserve basic human rights and cultural identity for Tibetans. China's occupation of Tibet more than half a century ago was, and still is, far too controversial for the Chinese consulate to be "astonished," as Mr. Ji wrote, at Madison's actions. China should also understand that a Midwestern county does not represent the federal U.S. government, who recognizes China's possession of Tibet. Dane County is allowed to voice opinions that run contrary to the official U.S. stance — South Carolina's display of the confederate flag is an especially relevant example. Ultimately, both the Freedom from Religion Foundation and the Chinese consulate limit the Dalai Lama's message. One group perceives him as a primarily religious figure, while the other assumes he is bent on destroying Chinese interests. The Dalai Lama certainly fills a major religious role, and he does conflict with China's currently inflexible intentions by pushing for some degree of autonomy for Tibet. However, the Dalai Lama promotes much broader issues that apply to everyone, regardless of religion or nationality; compassion, tolerance and basic human rights are just some of them. The Dalai Lama himself best sums it up on his website: "I believe that at every level of society — familial, tribal, national and international — the key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to become religious, nor do we need to believe in an ideology. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities." Jack Garigliano ([email protected]) is a freshman majoring in English.