A friend of mine used to be a flight attendant for Delta.  Many years ago
she was on a flight out of London when a group of Tibetian monks got on
the plane and settled in first class.  This was a bit of an unusual
occurance for her and, being the gregarious sort of person she is, she
gets into a fairly animated conversation with them.

She had a great time with one of them who she found to be a very charming
man.  She was was laughing at his jokes, touching his arm or shoulder and
generally having a very pleasnt time.

Wasn’t until she got off the plane and saw the throng of people meeting
the plane that she realized that she had been flirting with the Dahli
Lama.

 –
Frank Stutzman
Bonanza N494B     "Hula Girl"
Hood River, OR

news:TmjYe.394831$xm3.301113@attbi_s21…

>>> I’m torn between laughter and incredulity.

>> Would you feel the same if it were the pope?

> Yes — although the Pope has some credibility behind his quasi-diplomatic
> status.

> I don’t know what’s worse — having second-rate politicians thinking that
> they’re better than the rest of us, or having "men of the cloth" thinking
> the same thing.

That’s the story of the last 10,000 years of human history, going all the
way back to witch doctors and shamans along side tribal leaders.

news:IPGdnSs1rvIrlK_eRVn-jw@comcast.com…
> Jay Honeck wrote:
>>>> I’m torn between laughter and incredulity.

>>> Would you feel the same if it were the pope?

>> Yes — although the Pope has some credibility behind his
>> quasi-diplomatic status.

>> I don’t know what’s worse — having second-rate politicians thinking
>> that they’re better than the rest of us, or having "men of the cloth"
>> thinking the same thing.

> Agreed.  WRT politicians, whatever became of the concept of "all men
> created equal"?

Well, first of all it’s "created", and second, people have always had a
tendency to deify the tribal leaders/kings/politicians.

Of course, the politicians and high priests have always done everything they
can to encourage that behavior.

He’d be a grasshopper in his next life.

George Patterson
      Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
      use the Internet and he won’t bother you for weeks.

news:lOjYe.394864$xm3.272245@attbi_s21…

>>> That’s even worse than being held up for John Edwards last year in Des
>>> Moines!

>> C’mon Jay … Apples and Oranges,

>> I was not held up…and there was no official "Ground Stop."

> I understand.  But while it’s true that no leathernecks with machine guns
> stopped you from approaching your aircraft (as happened to my family when
> a two-bit politician was "expected" to arrive "any >minute" in Des Moines
> last year), the implications and results are similar.

No they’re not.  I was never prevented from accessing the ramp or my
aircraft and I was not told I couldn’t fire up and taxi out.  I was asked
something, not told.  In fact, had I not walked out to my plane, and just
sat right where I was on the "back porch" of the Tucson Executive Terminal,
I probably would have been able to get some really good photos.  But had
they asked me to not use my camera, I would have complied as I was not there
in any official press capacity.  Now, if I was "working press" that’s a
whole different matter…

>I’m sure the Dahli Llama is a heckuva nice guy — most religious people
>are — and I’m glad you didn’t mind the inconvenience.   But that doesn’t
>change the fact that the whole affair was a ridiculous (albeit >small)
>infringement upon your personal freedom.

I disagree.  This was not a moment to invoke the second coming of Thomas
Payne.

>> … Personally, I’d rather give the Dahli Llama five minutes than give
>> anyone a chance to think that Americans (in general) and GA pilots in
>> particular are ignorant, arrogant and uncooperative.

> I’d have probably done the same thing as you — being polite and
> cooperative with the police comes naturally for most of us.

The heck with the cop!  Any idea just how bad your karma could get if you
mess with the #1 Budhist in the world !??!

Jay B

> Brian

   If I understand it correctly, his religion believes that there
are many paths to enlightenment/heaven/nirvana/whatever, and
that how you get there is entirely up to you. Further, while
they are plenty willing to share their thoughts, you have to
take the initiative to ask – they’re not going to cram their
beliefs down your throat.

   All-in-all a very refreshing attitude compared to many western
religions/religous leaders, where you’re automatically doomed to
hell unless you believe exactly as they believe.

>> Would you feel the same if it were the pope?

> Yes — although the Pope has some credibility behind his
> quasi-diplomatic status.

> I don’t know what’s worse — having second-rate politicians thinking
> that they’re better than the rest of us, or having "men of the cloth"
> thinking the same thing.

Agreed.  WRT politicians, whatever became of the concept of "all men created
equal"?

>I’m sure the Dahli Llama is a heckuva nice guy — most religious people
>are —

The Catholic pedo, er… priests are nearly saintly.  :-)

> On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 20:56:49 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> <jjhon…@NOSPAMmchsi.com> wrote in
> <lOjYe.394864$xm3.272245@attbi_s21>::

>>I’m sure the Dahli Llama is a heckuva nice guy — most religious people
>>are —

> The Catholic pedo, er… priests are nearly saintly.  :-)

I recall seeing an interview with the Dalai Lama, I think on
60 minutes, some years ago. I was very impressed at the
intelligence and thoughtfulness of the man. His remarks
were always very direct, no double talk mumbo-jumbo. For a
religious leader he was very down to earth and personable.
No holier-than-thou attitude.

Brian
—
http://www.skywise711.com – Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism

Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html

Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

> I was not held up…and there was no official "Ground Stop."

I understand.  But while it’s true that no leathernecks with machine guns
stopped you from approaching your aircraft (as happened to my family when a
two-bit politician was "expected" to arrive "any minute" in Des Moines last
year), the implications and results are similar.

I’m sure the Dahli Llama is a heckuva nice guy — most religious people
are — and I’m glad you didn’t mind the inconvenience.   But that doesn’t
change the fact that the whole affair was a ridiculous (albeit small)
infringement upon your personal freedom.

> … Personally, I’d rather give the Dahli Llama five minutes than give
> anyone a chance to think that Americans (in general) and GA pilots in
> particular are ignorant, arrogant and uncooperative.

I’d have probably done the same thing as you — being polite and cooperative
with the police comes naturally for most of us.
—
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
http://www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"