The China Paradox
(Extracted from TIME magazine- Oct 5, 2009, P. 102)
I was born in 1957 and spend my childhood in China's remote Xinjiang region, where my father had been exiled. He was a poet, not a revolutionary, but the Communist Party had no tolerance for free thinkers. So he spent years cleaning toilets, enduring beatings and public humiliation. To me, it was a lesson in how horribly humans can treat one another.
On Oct 1, the Party will mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic. Thanks to the ability of the Chinese peopel to sturggle and endure, the country can also celebrate its arrrival as one of the world's most powerful economies. The government may trumpet this success as the product of its own wisdom. ... ... ... ... As we mark how far China has come in these past 60 years, it's also worth noting how far the country has yet to go.
When the communists were fighting for control of the nation in 1930s and 40s , they promised democracy,a free press and an independent judicial system. Six decades after they came to power, none of those exist.
... ... ... ... that's a dangerous thing in China. If you open your mouth to point out something that is clearly wrong, if you believe in your essential right to speak, then you canbe labeled an enemy of the state.
After a shocking no. of Sichuan schools collapsed in the catastrophic earthquake last year, Tan Zuoren decided to compile a list of those students who had died. ... ... so many lives vanish, you have to ask why.... ... when the system refuses to provide an answer.
Tan was arrested. ... ... ... ... Why the gov't is so afraid of an independent investigation into this matter? Because the Party knows its system is vulnerable, that its credibility is weak.... ... ... ... Oct 1 National Day parade is more a show of fear than joy.
... ... ... ... What I 'm talking abt is to the fundamental matter of protecting one's individual diginty. Its abt seeking answers to simple answers-- like why so many students died in Sichuan. Its abt demanding answers and accountability from one's gov't.
IF CHINESE CITIZENS DO THAT, THEN THS 60TH ANNIVERSARY WILLNOT JUST BE ABOUT THE PARTY CONGRATULATING ITSELF. IT WILL BE THE FINAL HURRAH OF A DYING SYSTEM.
I was born in 1957 and spend my childhood in China's remote Xinjiang region, where my father had been exiled. He was a poet, not a revolutionary, but the Communist Party had no tolerance for free thinkers. So he spent years cleaning toilets, enduring beatings and public humiliation. To me, it was a lesson in how horribly humans can treat one another.
On Oct 1, the Party will mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic. Thanks to the ability of the Chinese peopel to sturggle and endure, the country can also celebrate its arrrival as one of the world's most powerful economies. The government may trumpet this success as the product of its own wisdom. ... ... ... ... As we mark how far China has come in these past 60 years, it's also worth noting how far the country has yet to go.
When the communists were fighting for control of the nation in 1930s and 40s , they promised democracy,a free press and an independent judicial system. Six decades after they came to power, none of those exist.
... ... ... ... that's a dangerous thing in China. If you open your mouth to point out something that is clearly wrong, if you believe in your essential right to speak, then you canbe labeled an enemy of the state.
After a shocking no. of Sichuan schools collapsed in the catastrophic earthquake last year, Tan Zuoren decided to compile a list of those students who had died. ... ... so many lives vanish, you have to ask why.... ... when the system refuses to provide an answer.
Tan was arrested. ... ... ... ... Why the gov't is so afraid of an independent investigation into this matter? Because the Party knows its system is vulnerable, that its credibility is weak.... ... ... ... Oct 1 National Day parade is more a show of fear than joy.
... ... ... ... What I 'm talking abt is to the fundamental matter of protecting one's individual diginty. Its abt seeking answers to simple answers-- like why so many students died in Sichuan. Its abt demanding answers and accountability from one's gov't.
IF CHINESE CITIZENS DO THAT, THEN THS 60TH ANNIVERSARY WILLNOT JUST BE ABOUT THE PARTY CONGRATULATING ITSELF. IT WILL BE THE FINAL HURRAH OF A DYING SYSTEM.
posted by Ireland @ 11:27 下午
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