It's nothing like the Iron Curtain.  People know of the alternative, and the alternative is available to them.  No one's forcing the people of Tibet to give up their values.  No one's forcing them to buy televisions and computers.  You can say that media advertising is propaganda -- that's certainly true.  But do you run out to the store to buy every product they advertise for?  No.  Why would you expect the people of Tibet to do so?  You have tastes and preferences, following from your own cultural likes and dislikes, and so do they.  You can't force people to accept a new set of values in a free society.  They accept these on their own.

Now, keeping people in the dark, so that they will maintain only the lifestyle of the past -- yes, that is like the Iron Curtain.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.