October 17

In a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on October 17, 2007, The Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists, received the Congressional Gold Medal for his work with peace and human rights. At a congressional ceremony, President Bush awarded the medal. China, which considers the exiled monk to be a Tibetan separatist, objected to the accolade. At the ceremony, the Dalai Lama also replied to the criticism, stressing that he does not regard autonomy for Tibet as a stepping-stone toward eventual independence.
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