Actually, although I left China, most probably and I would like to think 'for good' (meaning both for the better and forever that is)it doesn't mean I have seized my China watching, in fact I read the news every day and although now it is not first hand observation I still try to keep one eye on it.
Two days back I came across an article about a dwarf amusement park near Kunming (Yunnan province, South China) and it doesn't surprise me at all. Chinese are kings of kitsch, ugliness, cheap fun and shallow entertainment. In this particular case it is abuse of a bodily deformity from which someone figured out they can get some cash from. The rest of the world has long passed through the 'freak show' faze, in China it is now...and noone seems to exactly mind very much...
link : In China, it's a small world after all
I heard a few years ago about dwarf tossing in Northern China, but this news about the dwarf theme park is even more creepy...
Monday 19 October 2009
Words of wisdom and other words of idiocy
A lot can be said of all the misunderstanding that appears to exist between the West and China. But there is something that is actually NOT a misunderstanding and it is not just a question of cultural (or whatever) differences of opinion, and that is having your own vison, searching for dignity and the right of freedom and choice. There are no such things in China and most people (the people who should be questioning, i.e. 'intelectuals') don't even question it. Does it mean that they don't need those or does it mean that have been so successfully brainwashed?!
Yesterday I came across a quote that impressed me.
"Human groupings have one main purpose: to assert everyone's right to be different, to be special, to think, feel, and live in his or her own way. People join together in order to win or defend this right. But this is where a terrible, fateful error is born: the belief that these groupings in the name of a race, a God, a party or a State are the very purpose of life and not simply a means to an end. No! The only true and lasting meaning of the struggle for life lies in the individual, in his modest peculiarities and in his right to those peculiarities."
- Vasily Grossman
At the same time, same day, I came (again) an old quote that is probably the most idiotic of all the stupid things China Foreign Ministry this (and other) spokespeople have uttered:
"Many people have a false impression that the Chinese government fears the Internet. In fact it is just the opposite."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang
It is a different point of view all right!
They CANNOT convince me, ever!, that this is a matter of having a different opinion. Human society has been evolving and it is NOT a question of East or West, Chinese need to catch up and learn. It is not a question of government or Party, it is a question of the people themselves. If they can figure out and offer another way to humanity that promotes dignity, happiness, values, moral principles and freedom, then great, we'll gladly learn and welcome it,but if they keep on doing what they are doing, and keepon going the way they are, then, no thank you, we don't want you to be a superpower!
And yes, for this exact reason, people are not letting you alone, and scrutinise and watch you and criticize you. And that's how it should be.
Yesterday I came across a quote that impressed me.
"Human groupings have one main purpose: to assert everyone's right to be different, to be special, to think, feel, and live in his or her own way. People join together in order to win or defend this right. But this is where a terrible, fateful error is born: the belief that these groupings in the name of a race, a God, a party or a State are the very purpose of life and not simply a means to an end. No! The only true and lasting meaning of the struggle for life lies in the individual, in his modest peculiarities and in his right to those peculiarities."
- Vasily Grossman
At the same time, same day, I came (again) an old quote that is probably the most idiotic of all the stupid things China Foreign Ministry this (and other) spokespeople have uttered:
"Many people have a false impression that the Chinese government fears the Internet. In fact it is just the opposite."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang
It is a different point of view all right!
They CANNOT convince me, ever!, that this is a matter of having a different opinion. Human society has been evolving and it is NOT a question of East or West, Chinese need to catch up and learn. It is not a question of government or Party, it is a question of the people themselves. If they can figure out and offer another way to humanity that promotes dignity, happiness, values, moral principles and freedom, then great, we'll gladly learn and welcome it,but if they keep on doing what they are doing, and keepon going the way they are, then, no thank you, we don't want you to be a superpower!
And yes, for this exact reason, people are not letting you alone, and scrutinise and watch you and criticize you. And that's how it should be.
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