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| The Dalai Lama |
CHICAGO— The Dalai Lama praised Illinois for recently abolishing the death penalty during a talk Sunday, but the Tibetan spiritual leader steered clear of politically sensitive issues related to China.
Comments by the Nobel Peace Prize laureate to more than 10,000 admirers at the University of Illinois at Chicago came after China angrily rebuked President Barack Obama for meeting with the Dalai Lama on Saturday.
The only politics the 76-year-old touched on was the decision earlier this year by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to sign legislation banning capital punishment. He praised Quinn, who briefly joined the Dalai Lama on stage.
"This state abolished the death sentence," the Tibetan Buddhist monk said. "When I heard that, I immediately shook hands with the governor (before the event started) and said congratulations. ... I really appreciated it."
Once on stage, dressed in crimson-red and gold robes, he gave Quinn a traditional blessing by placing a simple white silk scarf around the governor's neck. In response, Quinn bowed slightly and tapped his hand on his heart.
A law ending the death penalty took effect July 1. Quinn signed it after years of stories of men sentenced to die for crimes they didn't commit. Illinois had executed 12 men since 1977, but none since 1999.
Source: Chicago Tribune, July 17, 2011
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