The Dalai Lama's New SMU Hat Goes Well With His Flowing Robes

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., May 9 2011 at 3:18 PM

Like I said, the Dalai Lama's at SMU at this very moment, speaking about democracy, education and his hopes for a free Tibet. Watch it live here. It wraps shortly. He's presently taking questions from the audience, which includes lots of high school students. I see the Lama got more than an honorary degree.

Update at 3:38 p.m.: The Dalai Lama has left the stage.

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Reverendvelvet

I had to do a double take ... I could have swore Hunter S. Thompson was back from the dead.

dryknife

So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know."

Linda

The number of Dallas police dedicated to this motorcade made me assume no one but Obama could be in town. There were over 40 motorcycle officers lined up by the private aviation exit on Lemmon, just waiting. And probably 15 squad cars at the chicken place on Mockingbird and Inwood. Our tax dollars at work. Is DL really a security risk?

LaceyB

The SMU hat goes well with the flow of cash to the unspecified charity they paid to get him to Dallas.

Bigjondaniel

I would expect that every speaker in this series gets paid. What's your point?

J Kendel Johnson

Was the Dalai Lama in some sort of actual danger today at SMU?

If you listen to the streaming video on SMU's website at http://www.smu.edu/DalaiLama.a...,after the Dalai Lama spoke today, you can hear these parts of conversations between people apparently still onstage, but off-camera:

55:23 Male: “Okay, they’ve got a hold of him. They’re escorting him out right now. They’re talking to him right now.” [I'm guessing "him" is someone suspected of wanting to harm or at least approach the Dalai Lama in some unwelcome way.]

56:12 Linda Hart: “Dowe go off?” Male: “Yes, you’re going to lead him off and on out to thecar. We’ve got a bit of a security issue.” Linda Hart: “You’ve gota real security issue?” Male: Yes, [unintelligible speech/applause,followed my another directive to take the Dalai Lama directly to his car.]

Bigjondaniel

I saw the secret service and SMU police escort someone out of the crowd> Laura Bush was front and center for this as were the bush twins (I think)

Bigjondaniel

When the Lama made the comment that he believes fully in the separation of church and state, the 20 something Highland Park kids and their parents (who's son had been playing brick breaker 1/2 the time) split...

Jack E. Jett

You can't see it but he was also wearing a Wendy's logo and a Discount Tires banner on his gown. When he walked off stage, you could see on his ass...it saidPresented by The Dallas Observer in conjunction with Taco Bell.

Spirituality can be so profitable.

Cowtown

Big hitter, the Lama.

sangergirl

How dare anyone call the Dalai Lama an a**hole. How many millions of people have you inspired recently Steve?

MattL1

Nice hat. Anyone know if it came with a free bowl of soup?

Steve Sandwich

Great, so now this asshole is buying an honorary degree to add to his collection, I bet, and then glom a free 18 holes over at DCC. Jesus CHRIST.

Distractionsfa

Who the hell are you to call His Holiness an A%^Hole and promote Jesus Christ in the same breath? Is that what you've learned from being christian? Grow up. Buddha teaches compassion and the alleviation of suffering much like Christianity. It may even be fair to say Christ studied Buddhism in India while he was a teenager. Try again and learn to have some respect. Have you taught anything to anyone as much as The 14th has lately. I doubt it you follower!