The Dalai Lama is certainly not afraid to stand for some strong convictions, like the following:
– we all have equal rights to live a life without problems
– a country belongs to the people, not to their leaders
– therefore, democracy is the best system, as it holds leaders accountable
– democracy asks for freedom of expression and independent media
– we need to stand up against corruption
– we need to reduce the gap between rich and poor
– in general, no ideology or system will succeed if on the humane level people are not treated with respect for their personal freedom and appreciation for their contribution
– we need religious harmony; respect for all beliefs and for non-believers
– we need a policy of non-violence, solving conflicts through dialogue and rule of law
But, even though these principles seem reasonable enough, there is also the following list. Many people agree with at least some of the points below:
– some people are superior to others; it is ok to solve their problems at the cost of others lifes
– you should not overestimate freedom; people prefer rules and strong leadership
– the masses are not capable of contributing in decisions about what is best for a nation; they have to be protected against their lower instincts
– therefore, there needs to be censorship on what people are allowed to express, and censorship on the information provided to the masses
– there is nothing wrong in giving those loyal some extra reward, nor is there wrong in some manipulation to have the people obey
– the West is thriving on the cheap labour in the East, and is stealing their resources, so it is impossible to reduce the gap between rich and poor in developing countries
– people will have to sacrifice for the good of all
– we cannot tolerate certain traditions and religious practices to continue
– war and violence are inevitable; they are human. War – using different means such as financial warfare, terrorism, creating disorder by setting people up against each other – is justified to win territory and/or resources and economic interests. Violence is justified as a means to enforce obedience.
The main difference between those two lists is, that following each of the priniciples of the first list to the extreme will never lead to crimes and injustice; while following each of the last to the extreme will lead to horrible crimes and grave injustice. Therefore, the last is dangerous and should be avoided, even though regarding each point in itself one could say, there is some truth in it.