Comments on: China Troublemakers on Lockdown for Olympics http://www.weirdasianews.com/2008/06/24/china-troublemakers-on-lockdown-for-olympics/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:04:33 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: The other Richard http://www.weirdasianews.com/2008/06/24/china-troublemakers-on-lockdown-for-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-13610 The other Richard Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:11:42 +0000 http://www.weirdasianews.com/?p=1691#comment-13610 Hi Richard, Maybe you can explain to me this recent interest that Chinese bloggers have in Mongolia? Mongolia is corrupt, Mongolia is weak, Mongolia is a part of China and soon will be again, so say the bloggers. Mongolia has like three million people! Why don't you pick on someone your own size? Let's have your foreign minister declare before all the world that China has some historic territorial claim to Mongolia just because you got conquered by them once, and we'll see what the world has to say about that. And don't tell me that it doesn't matter what the world thinks about China's "internal politics" -- you just hosted an Olympics because it does matter. Richard Hi Richard,

Maybe you can explain to me this recent interest that Chinese bloggers have in Mongolia? Mongolia is corrupt, Mongolia is weak, Mongolia is a part of China and soon will be again, so say the bloggers. Mongolia has like three million people! Why don’t you pick on someone your own size? Let’s have your foreign minister declare before all the world that China has some historic territorial claim to Mongolia just because you got conquered by them once, and we’ll see what the world has to say about that.

And don’t tell me that it doesn’t matter what the world thinks about China’s “internal politics” — you just hosted an Olympics because it does matter.

Richard

]]> By: Scott http://www.weirdasianews.com/2008/06/24/china-troublemakers-on-lockdown-for-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-12632 Scott Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:10:22 +0000 http://www.weirdasianews.com/?p=1691#comment-12632 Well put, but I agree with what we are doing in China's case, as opposed to Iraq. Slowly push the government and encourage, or just show examples for, the people. My opinion is that the kids now, here in 15-20 years, will make the protests the US had in the 60's. Right now, they are still developing and the people themselves are concerned with making their place in society. Understandable, like the US in the 50's. But it is important to establish a few basic rules of ethics and basic human rights and push any country trying to make it on an international scale to adhere to them some degree. Freedom of the press, freedom of religion, etc. (I understand that western media is often skewed, but anyone can publish something if they have the means). Trying to let the citizens understand the difference between them and their govt is essential, because the media always portrays criticism against the govt as personal to every citizen. But, ultimately, its up to them... which is what scares me. The prospect of 1.3 billion extremely nationalist people who see any attack on their govt as the "Foreigners" trying to take away their "Chineseness" scares me. Yet the same ones who are so afraid of the foreigners invading eat McDonalds and KFC. Reinforcing that certain things are just not cool is essential to the world's future. Well put, but I agree with what we are doing in China’s case, as opposed to Iraq. Slowly push the government and encourage, or just show examples for, the people. My opinion is that the kids now, here in 15-20 years, will make the protests the US had in the 60’s. Right now, they are still developing and the people themselves are concerned with making their place in society. Understandable, like the US in the 50’s. But it is important to establish a few basic rules of ethics and basic human rights and push any country trying to make it on an international scale to adhere to them some degree. Freedom of the press, freedom of religion, etc. (I understand that western media is often skewed, but anyone can publish something if they have the means). Trying to let the citizens understand the difference between them and their govt is essential, because the media always portrays criticism against the govt as personal to every citizen. But, ultimately, its up to them… which is what scares me. The prospect of 1.3 billion extremely nationalist people who see any attack on their govt as the “Foreigners” trying to take away their “Chineseness” scares me. Yet the same ones who are so afraid of the foreigners invading eat McDonalds and KFC. Reinforcing that certain things are just not cool is essential to the world’s future.

]]> By: Scott http://www.weirdasianews.com/2008/06/24/china-troublemakers-on-lockdown-for-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-12629 Scott Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:50:19 +0000 http://www.weirdasianews.com/?p=1691#comment-12629 Ok, the reason falun gong is illegal and tai chi isn't is simple. Both are in groups, one has religious beliefs attached to it. Religion in groups is dangerous to the PRC and is therefore illegal. While I personally don't have a religion, nor do I associate myself with any groups that subscribe to any particular system of thought, I do believe in the allowance of such groups. The PRC and its propaganda machine (Xinhua News Agency) spread exaggerated, erroneous, and straight-up false information about Falun-Gong, or any other group that might negatively influence their power. The majority of Chinese citizens believe most of what they hear from Xinhua, and are warned beforehand about the "Western Media Telling Lies" about their wonderful "People". I Put quotations in parentheses because Xinhua insists that there is absolutely no difference between a country's government and its people. Westerners usually see this line of demarcation quite easily, but for many Chinese it simply does not exist; you criticize the Communist Government, you hate the Chinese People. Not all, but most. I once had a police officer warn me (in Chinese, of course) that if I hurt the feelings of China, I hurt the feelings of 1.3 billion people (the discussion, as with any conversation the last 6 months, inevitably led to the topic of the Olympics). China is an organism, comprised of 1.3 billion cells, with a few elite as the head. But, if you criticize the head, you clearly must hate the toes. Furthermore, going back to Falun Gong (A group excersize, religious in nature), if enough cells get together to make a pinky, they might just poke out the eye. Ok, the reason falun gong is illegal and tai chi isn’t is simple. Both are in groups, one has religious beliefs attached to it. Religion in groups is dangerous to the PRC and is therefore illegal. While I personally don’t have a religion, nor do I associate myself with any groups that subscribe to any particular system of thought, I do believe in the allowance of such groups. The PRC and its propaganda machine (Xinhua News Agency) spread exaggerated, erroneous, and straight-up false information about Falun-Gong, or any other group that might negatively influence their power. The majority of Chinese citizens believe most of what they hear from Xinhua, and are warned beforehand about the “Western Media Telling Lies” about their wonderful “People”. I Put quotations in parentheses because Xinhua insists that there is absolutely no difference between a country’s government and its people. Westerners usually see this line of demarcation quite easily, but for many Chinese it simply does not exist; you criticize the Communist Government, you hate the Chinese People. Not all, but most. I once had a police officer warn me (in Chinese, of course) that if I hurt the feelings of China, I hurt the feelings of 1.3 billion people (the discussion, as with any conversation the last 6 months, inevitably led to the topic of the Olympics). China is an organism, comprised of 1.3 billion cells, with a few elite as the head. But, if you criticize the head, you clearly must hate the toes. Furthermore, going back to Falun Gong (A group excersize, religious in nature), if enough cells get together to make a pinky, they might just poke out the eye.

]]> By: Lookin http://www.weirdasianews.com/2008/06/24/china-troublemakers-on-lockdown-for-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-11409 Lookin Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:54:06 +0000 http://www.weirdasianews.com/?p=1691#comment-11409 The second one is probably staged, since the guy could just lift the cage up. The second one is probably staged, since the guy could just lift the cage up.

]]> By: Deb http://www.weirdasianews.com/2008/06/24/china-troublemakers-on-lockdown-for-olympics/comment-page-1/#comment-11173 Deb Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:47:13 +0000 http://www.weirdasianews.com/?p=1691#comment-11173 Did you say Chi-Tea? I love that stuff! Did you say Chi-Tea? I love that stuff!

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