This site has been run on and off since the fall of 2006, today it is basically dead. It was murdered by the Great Firewall of China, which has blocked blogspot continuously since early June. The crime committed? Originally locating this blog on blogspot.
I've been critical of the government from time to time on this blog, but I've always kept an open, rational mind and tried to see things from the government's point of view. I've never been negative to be negative and I've never attempted to score cheap points by taking the easy way out. I love China, it's my home, and I want to see her get even stronger.
At the same time, I feel beaten down by the government. I can no longer access sites like facebook, blogspot, or twitter. I know how to access a proxy and can get around these bans, but the hassle of it all has made visiting sites that were once part of my daily routine, now they are sporadic at best.
I'm not an enemy of the state, I don't intend on writing things to embarass it, but due to the government's blanket ban, I've fallen victim to it. I get asked at times why the government tries to block information, knowing that things like proxies and VPNs are readily available to get around them.
The answer, because the Great Firewall works. Most, like me, will start to fight at first, but as a site block goes from days to months, we slowly lose the resolve and only the most vigilant continue bothering. I want this site to continue, but the writers outside the Firewall have given up because the number of readers dropped severely after the block, at the same time, writers inside the Wall can no longer write on the site, so everyone just gives up.
If this is the death of this site, then so be it, we'll see if I can continue the good fight. But, if indeed this is the end, for all you "out there", please remember us buried inside the Great Firewall.
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
2009/08/04
2009/03/26
No I Don't Want to Have Relations With My Mother (ie Let's Make the Grass Mud Horse Extinct)
Recently, over a glass of wine some of the editors of this blog had a discussion with close friends on Chinese politics. These friends are white collar workers who are enjoying the fruits of the Chinese economic miracle and are equally now concerned about how harshly the economic crisis will attack China. Neither were familiar with the "caonima" craze and both were dismissive of Charter 08. Despite some debate, at the end of the day we all came to the conclusion that too many of these phenomena are focused on the ivory towers of Beijing's campuses and rarely disseminate down to the masses.
In China, revolution comes from the countryside and the feeling is that nothing has changed, despite China's advancements and globalization. If those in the countryside are happy, or at least not taking up their pitchforks, the country (and the Party) will remain safe. No matter how hard the economic crisis hits China, no matter how many middle management types in cities like Beijing and Shanghai get fired, the general feeling was that these people will not protest or cause problems for the government. For many, who are making tens of thousands of RMB a month, the feeling is that they know they're fooling their employers and would be perfectly happy with far less.
Intellectuals will always stir things up and create documents like Charter 08 and net-savvy, snarky young people will come up with things like "caonima", but neither will be very effective or be known widely. If you stop people randomly on the street in Beijing, less than 25% would understand "caonima" as anything other than a vulgar swear word, even if you stop people in the CBD, where many are considered more "world-weary" the number wouldn't be much different.
The "caonima" video/story is vulgar, juvenile, and can only elicit one or two small tee-hees. And unlike a lot of instant internet hits, this one got on the government's radar and was shut down fairly fast. The opinion of these friends, who feel the Chinese government has weathered the storm of the crisis well, was the same as what you'd hear in China a lot over the past 18 years after what happened in 1989, "why bother with politics, things are good now."
In China, revolution comes from the countryside and the feeling is that nothing has changed, despite China's advancements and globalization. If those in the countryside are happy, or at least not taking up their pitchforks, the country (and the Party) will remain safe. No matter how hard the economic crisis hits China, no matter how many middle management types in cities like Beijing and Shanghai get fired, the general feeling was that these people will not protest or cause problems for the government. For many, who are making tens of thousands of RMB a month, the feeling is that they know they're fooling their employers and would be perfectly happy with far less.
Intellectuals will always stir things up and create documents like Charter 08 and net-savvy, snarky young people will come up with things like "caonima", but neither will be very effective or be known widely. If you stop people randomly on the street in Beijing, less than 25% would understand "caonima" as anything other than a vulgar swear word, even if you stop people in the CBD, where many are considered more "world-weary" the number wouldn't be much different.
The "caonima" video/story is vulgar, juvenile, and can only elicit one or two small tee-hees. And unlike a lot of instant internet hits, this one got on the government's radar and was shut down fairly fast. The opinion of these friends, who feel the Chinese government has weathered the storm of the crisis well, was the same as what you'd hear in China a lot over the past 18 years after what happened in 1989, "why bother with politics, things are good now."
2008/11/28
7 Deaths...
The sudden announcement of the death of Yang Jia, the Beijinger who entered a Shanghai police station armed with a knife, killed 6 officers, and injured 4 others, brought about a storm of online thoughts. The story of Yang is far more complicated than just the facts, it includes having been arrested a few times and roughed up by the police despite his claims of innocence. It shocked many around China, though surprisingly many supported him or, at the very least, could sympathize with him.
I am not surprised by the reaction of working class Chinese, migrant laborers, and others who deal with being looked down on and mistreated by the police and others in power on a regular basis. However, when I saw this passionate entry by the popular middle class, white collar blogger, Wang Jianshuo, who almost never writes anything remotely "political", it did make me do a double take.
It doesn't matter what class you are or what your background is, it seems, abuses of power are just too common in China and people recognize the frustration that must have took over Yang, even if they don't agree with the end result. It is never okay to kill 6 people, but all the facts behind Yang's case (check out Black and White Cat below for more details), make it shocking that the government acted so swiftly, carrying out the execution less than 6 months from when Yang committed the horrific act.
I've been thinking about this for the past few days and I'm still at a loss as to what to say, so read the coverage from other fine sources:
NY Times
WSJ China Journal
Black and White Cat
I am not surprised by the reaction of working class Chinese, migrant laborers, and others who deal with being looked down on and mistreated by the police and others in power on a regular basis. However, when I saw this passionate entry by the popular middle class, white collar blogger, Wang Jianshuo, who almost never writes anything remotely "political", it did make me do a double take.
It doesn't matter what class you are or what your background is, it seems, abuses of power are just too common in China and people recognize the frustration that must have took over Yang, even if they don't agree with the end result. It is never okay to kill 6 people, but all the facts behind Yang's case (check out Black and White Cat below for more details), make it shocking that the government acted so swiftly, carrying out the execution less than 6 months from when Yang committed the horrific act.
I've been thinking about this for the past few days and I'm still at a loss as to what to say, so read the coverage from other fine sources:
NY Times
WSJ China Journal
Black and White Cat
2008/11/22
What Are They Thinking?
I try to stay away from blogging on the weekend, but there's too much to talk about this weekend, so here goes.
T!betans the world over are coming together in Dharmsala this week to discuss how to proceed in their dealings with the Chinese government. The meetings have taken on greater significance for two reasons, following the March riots in T!bet the calls for independence (and even violence) among some T!betans are louder than ever, and beyond that there is the pressing question of who will take over after the DL (abbreviated to avoid the Great Firewall).
The major issue is what comes after the DL? I talked about this a little in March after the riots and I still think this is critically important. If the T!betans hope to reach any kind of agreement with the Chinese government, it must happen while the DL is still in power. If they fail to do so, it's going to be a lot harder than they thought, why?
One thought is that the Chinese are convinced once the DL is out of the picture, they'll be able to name his successor and be able to slowly placate those who are in T!bet. Another possible line of thinking is that the DL is such a strong symbol of T!bet, a Nobel Prize winner famous the world over, but his successor won't be able to cultivate the same strong cult of celebrity.
The Chinese can be equally confident they don't need to be concerned about radical T!betan youth attempting to push for independence. As long as the DL is alive, the majority of T!betans will follow his "middle way" path, which was confirmed by their decision at the conference. The funniest part of an NY Times article on the conference states:
However, what's more laughable are the radical T!betans, basically terrorists, who are calling for violence against the Chinese. Not only does that go against everything they purportedly believe in as Buddhists, it will quickly get them denounced around the world, as well as quickly crushed by the Chinese.
An agreement must come while the DL is still alive, or else the Chinese will have little patience for negotiations. Without the DL, China will be under even less international pressure than the marginal pressure they're under now and they'll also be able to split the domestic T!betan community.
T!betans the world over are coming together in Dharmsala this week to discuss how to proceed in their dealings with the Chinese government. The meetings have taken on greater significance for two reasons, following the March riots in T!bet the calls for independence (and even violence) among some T!betans are louder than ever, and beyond that there is the pressing question of who will take over after the DL (abbreviated to avoid the Great Firewall).
The major issue is what comes after the DL? I talked about this a little in March after the riots and I still think this is critically important. If the T!betans hope to reach any kind of agreement with the Chinese government, it must happen while the DL is still in power. If they fail to do so, it's going to be a lot harder than they thought, why?
One thought is that the Chinese are convinced once the DL is out of the picture, they'll be able to name his successor and be able to slowly placate those who are in T!bet. Another possible line of thinking is that the DL is such a strong symbol of T!bet, a Nobel Prize winner famous the world over, but his successor won't be able to cultivate the same strong cult of celebrity.
The Chinese can be equally confident they don't need to be concerned about radical T!betan youth attempting to push for independence. As long as the DL is alive, the majority of T!betans will follow his "middle way" path, which was confirmed by their decision at the conference. The funniest part of an NY Times article on the conference states:
An independence movement, he [Jamyang Norbu, a T!betan writer in the US] said, would unite the exile community, keep T!bet in the headlines and increase pressure on the Chinese government. Supporters would organize economic boycotts of China. Young T!betans in the West would go door to door explaining the cause.What? Economic boycotts of China will be impossible to organize except among some of the most ardent T!betans and some wacko leftists and will have no effect. They'll also fail miserably at getting much news coverage and creating any pressure on the Chinese. But the best part is the idea of monks going door to door in the US. Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons, the club of crazies, that's the club you want to join?!? I always pictured Tibetan buddhism as far more noble.
However, what's more laughable are the radical T!betans, basically terrorists, who are calling for violence against the Chinese. Not only does that go against everything they purportedly believe in as Buddhists, it will quickly get them denounced around the world, as well as quickly crushed by the Chinese.
An agreement must come while the DL is still alive, or else the Chinese will have little patience for negotiations. Without the DL, China will be under even less international pressure than the marginal pressure they're under now and they'll also be able to split the domestic T!betan community.
2008/11/17
When Old Red Friends Meet
It's always interesting when China meets with the two Communist strongholds that represent the old order of things, Cuba and North Korea. These sort of meetings attract attention not only among China hands, but watchers of global politics in general as comparisons between the progress of "Communist" China and Communist North Korea/Cuba can't be helped.
Currently, Hu Jintao is on a state visit to Cuba to meet with the island's new head, Raul Castro. Classic lines like "China adopted market economics long ago while Cuba still has a Soviet-style command system where more than 90 percent of the economy is in state hands" can't be avoided by reporters. While China will openly acknowledge the "strategic" relationship between the two countries, in reality, it always feels like China is playing the role of the big brother who simply can't bring himself to cut his younger, hard up, loser brother off due to the strength of familial ties.
While I am optimistic enough to believe that more and more university student exchanges between the US and China will promote understanding, I'm not one to believe that China will serve as a model for reforms in these other countries. China would be able to help, of course, especially in the Cuban situation as there are similar advantages (ie a large population of often highly educated, or at the very least rich, emigres living in the US who would love to help Cuba out or even return just as soon as the government changes), yet it would mean another competitor and potentially the loss of a market as China would likely have to go head-to-head against the US.
Those in China are sure to "enjoy" a night or two with lots of news images of Hu shaking hands with Cuban leaders, embassy meetings, etc, but whether anything really comes from this is yet to be seen. At the same time, its hard not to pay attention when these nations meet.
Currently, Hu Jintao is on a state visit to Cuba to meet with the island's new head, Raul Castro. Classic lines like "China adopted market economics long ago while Cuba still has a Soviet-style command system where more than 90 percent of the economy is in state hands" can't be avoided by reporters. While China will openly acknowledge the "strategic" relationship between the two countries, in reality, it always feels like China is playing the role of the big brother who simply can't bring himself to cut his younger, hard up, loser brother off due to the strength of familial ties.
While I am optimistic enough to believe that more and more university student exchanges between the US and China will promote understanding, I'm not one to believe that China will serve as a model for reforms in these other countries. China would be able to help, of course, especially in the Cuban situation as there are similar advantages (ie a large population of often highly educated, or at the very least rich, emigres living in the US who would love to help Cuba out or even return just as soon as the government changes), yet it would mean another competitor and potentially the loss of a market as China would likely have to go head-to-head against the US.
Those in China are sure to "enjoy" a night or two with lots of news images of Hu shaking hands with Cuban leaders, embassy meetings, etc, but whether anything really comes from this is yet to be seen. At the same time, its hard not to pay attention when these nations meet.
2008/11/16
Am I Missing Something?
Over the weekend huge crowds came out around the country to protest against California's passing of Proposition 8, banning gay marriage. In my home state of Illinois, around 2,000 people were out in full voice despite the cold temperatures to protest, but was anyone listening? And why protest a California law when Illinois forbids gay marriage itself? Why not rally against Illinois law?
To be honest, there are a number of issues that I'm concerned about and focused on, I have no time to pay attention to every issue, and gay marriage is one that gets lost in the void to me. I can understand both sides of the argument and to call the side who doesn't want to allow gays to marry "racist" is really misunderstanding the issue. To me, if gay people want to get married, it has nothing to do with me and is none of my business, nor is it the government's business so they shouldn't legislate against it.
However, it wasn't the government who legislated against it in the California situation, the voters of the state of California voted in favor of not allowing gay people to marry. Perez Hilton's voyaging into politics just makes me laugh, but it annoys me that a "Conservative" like Andrew Sullivan is dedicating so much time to this issue. Those who were against the Proposition could have, should have, and in many cases probably did vote against it, but the majority of people in the state voted for it, since when are we against letting the voters speak?
Okay, okay, I know the feelings of the anti-Prop 8 side feel that it is akin to allowing people in say Arkansas circa 1960 to vote to banish all the black people from the state, but most people don't view the issue like that.
Further, as I said above, what motivates someone in well, the majority of states in our Union to come out and protest against Prop 8 when their own states don't allow for gay marriage and the people of California have already spoken?
I simply don't get it.
To be honest, there are a number of issues that I'm concerned about and focused on, I have no time to pay attention to every issue, and gay marriage is one that gets lost in the void to me. I can understand both sides of the argument and to call the side who doesn't want to allow gays to marry "racist" is really misunderstanding the issue. To me, if gay people want to get married, it has nothing to do with me and is none of my business, nor is it the government's business so they shouldn't legislate against it.
However, it wasn't the government who legislated against it in the California situation, the voters of the state of California voted in favor of not allowing gay people to marry. Perez Hilton's voyaging into politics just makes me laugh, but it annoys me that a "Conservative" like Andrew Sullivan is dedicating so much time to this issue. Those who were against the Proposition could have, should have, and in many cases probably did vote against it, but the majority of people in the state voted for it, since when are we against letting the voters speak?
Okay, okay, I know the feelings of the anti-Prop 8 side feel that it is akin to allowing people in say Arkansas circa 1960 to vote to banish all the black people from the state, but most people don't view the issue like that.
Further, as I said above, what motivates someone in well, the majority of states in our Union to come out and protest against Prop 8 when their own states don't allow for gay marriage and the people of California have already spoken?
I simply don't get it.
2008/11/14
A Change for the Disabled? Will It Matter?
Long time head of the China Disabled Persons Federation, Deng Pufang, son of Deng Xiaoping, has been replaced at the most recent national meetings by fellow paraplegic, Zhang Haidi. Deng, who was injured during the Cultural Revolution, used his father's connections to help first set up the Chinese Disabled Welfare Fund and later the Disabled Persons Federation. He has been in charge of both of them since they were founded back in the 1980s. At this year's meeting, he was named Honorary Chairman, though Zhang will take charge of the day-to-day work.
Zhang, who became disabled after a surgery at the age of 5, didn't attend school, but studied hard on her own and taught herself multiple foreign languages. During the late 70s/early 80s, she was used as a model student who all Chinese should learn from.
It's doubtful this change fully removes Deng's influence from the scene, so its not quite a new day, but at least with new blood at the top, it will be interesting to see what, if any, changes or lobbying takes place.
Zhang, who became disabled after a surgery at the age of 5, didn't attend school, but studied hard on her own and taught herself multiple foreign languages. During the late 70s/early 80s, she was used as a model student who all Chinese should learn from.
It's doubtful this change fully removes Deng's influence from the scene, so its not quite a new day, but at least with new blood at the top, it will be interesting to see what, if any, changes or lobbying takes place.
2008/11/12
Lock Him Up!
Lots of politics as of late, but that's the way the world is going. Former leader of Taiwan, Chen Shuibian, was arrested the other day and its been determined he should remain in jail until he stands trial. While many mainland government leaders have been accused of corruption, its rarely as blatant and as costly as that of Chen and his family. For a "Taiwanese patriot", it's laughable how he plundered the wealth of the island for himself and his family. I tend not to care about Taiwan, I, like any Chinese, wants unification to happen, but its not an issue I obsess over and I could really care less about the island 99% of the time.
In any case, the site of Chen in handcuffs brings a bit of joy to me (and his son's story does too), lock him up and throw away the key.
In any case, the site of Chen in handcuffs brings a bit of joy to me (and his son's story does too), lock him up and throw away the key.
2008/11/09
Is this Really Going to Help?
The news out of Taiwan after "the push" and the protests over the most recent meeting between the head of China's Cross Straits Relations organization Chen Yunlin and the head of the Taiwanese government (I will follow Chen's lead and not call him "President") Ma Yingjiu makes one wonder. In all of the news stories about the visit (at least those from outside of China) and as reported here, it seems that things got pretty contentious on the streets of Taipei during Chen's time in Taiwan. Whether those protesting in the streets and so openly opposed to Chen's visit represent the majority of the Taiwanese people or just an extremely vocal minority is not something that I can attest to knowing. It would be my guess that they would be in the minority, as Ma was elected through popular vote to run the island.
Is it just me or is it an interesting contrast that took place, sort of like the French police who beat the shit out of T!bet protesters? Taiwan may be taking the first steps towards unification with these cross straits meetings, but they are so concerned what their "big brother" will think of protests in the street that they resort to tactics that would surely be admired by the PSB. Maybe it's just me, but this just doesn't seem like the way unification is supposed to look like.
And let me throw this out of left field, I know its extremely unlikely, but there are those who think revolution is possible in China, so surely anything can be said without being laughed at. This is truly "outside the box" thinking and I am openly admitting that this is without having looked at any recent economic data on Taiwan (I, like the world, ignore its existence), but if China and Taiwan could somehow work out an extremely quick unification agreement within the next 6 months, the absorption of the Taiwanese economy and the positive feelings it would create on the mainland would go a long way at weathering whatever the economic crisis throws at China. Or just call me crazy.
UPDATE: In an interesting post on EastSouthWestNorth, a survey by Taiwanese media reveals that 50% of the population thinks the protestors went too far, while 21% had no opinion. Further, 46% agree with the way police handled things or don't think the police did enough, while only 33% think the police handled things too strictly.
Is it just me or is it an interesting contrast that took place, sort of like the French police who beat the shit out of T!bet protesters? Taiwan may be taking the first steps towards unification with these cross straits meetings, but they are so concerned what their "big brother" will think of protests in the street that they resort to tactics that would surely be admired by the PSB. Maybe it's just me, but this just doesn't seem like the way unification is supposed to look like.
And let me throw this out of left field, I know its extremely unlikely, but there are those who think revolution is possible in China, so surely anything can be said without being laughed at. This is truly "outside the box" thinking and I am openly admitting that this is without having looked at any recent economic data on Taiwan (I, like the world, ignore its existence), but if China and Taiwan could somehow work out an extremely quick unification agreement within the next 6 months, the absorption of the Taiwanese economy and the positive feelings it would create on the mainland would go a long way at weathering whatever the economic crisis throws at China. Or just call me crazy.
UPDATE: In an interesting post on EastSouthWestNorth, a survey by Taiwanese media reveals that 50% of the population thinks the protestors went too far, while 21% had no opinion. Further, 46% agree with the way police handled things or don't think the police did enough, while only 33% think the police handled things too strictly.
2008/11/06
What Comes Next for Republicans (and please don't let it be Palin)?
I would like to think of myself as a conservative. Back in the day, I was a solid Republican, before joining the Republican Party was about a litmus test on issues like abortion. When I say I was a conservative, it doesn't mean I was a screaming Rush Limbaugh type looney, or a bible thumping Bush lover, or a Lou Dobbs death to all immigrants maniac. No, there are very few contemporary politicians who I can identify as solid conservative idols, maybe (strangely enough) it would be a guy like John McCain, if you ignore the Iraq issue. If I would identify with one modern politician, it would be a different Arizona senator, Barry Goldwater, though arguments exist as to whether he would be the conservative conscience he was if he were alive today.
The Bush years saw me slowly float away from the Republican Party, to the point where it is no longer recognizable to me. It is now a party of hate, a party full of jackals who are isolationist, war-mongering, Jesus-freak anti-intellectuals. Some will not appreciate this characterization of the party, but can you really disagree with it. (President) Barack Obama was portrayed as an elitist for his Harvard law degree (with honors) and his U of Chicago professorship, but they forgot that he IS the American dream. President Obama didn't get to where he was because of affirmative action, he did so because of a close knit family (even though he was from a single mother) and through his own hard work (Bill Clinton's another Democratic example of this). George Bush, on the other hand, was famously "born on third base, thinking he hit a triple."
The fact that the Republican "base" was so energized by Palin, who could see Russia from Alaska, had no clue what the Bush doctrine was, and who didn't know Africa was a continent, is extremely worrying. As it comes out more and more that even McCain's campaign aides were referring to the Palins as "Wasilla hillbillies", one has to wonder what led McCain to foisting this mental midget on the US populace. Palin must go away, for the good of us all, but it seems that she is a damn good politician and, depending on how her Pretty Woman shopping spree turns out, she may not be as buried as most of us hope. If Palin isn't left for dead, the foreign policy experience and leadership skills that she lacks are things she can work on in the next few years to make herself into a more serious candidate. Will the GOP accept her mediocrity again? Will they finally realize that while being an elitist is a bad thing, being part of the intellectual elite is not?
Further, will the "Party of Lincoln" go back to being that? Will it be about small government and a strong nation, instead about abortion and immigration? In Tucker Carlson's Slate commentary on what the GOP needs to do, he states:
After the Kerry defeat it seemed like the Democratic Party couldn't get any lower, how on earth could they have lost to Dubya? How does the Republican Party come back from this? It seems that the great divide in the Party, between the religiously charged "base" and the corporatism of the leadership, is worse than ever before. They need to unite again, find a way, a candidate, and a leader to pull back the "Obama Republicans" that allowed President Obama to win solidly Republican states like Indiana. It's not an easy task.
The Bush years saw me slowly float away from the Republican Party, to the point where it is no longer recognizable to me. It is now a party of hate, a party full of jackals who are isolationist, war-mongering, Jesus-freak anti-intellectuals. Some will not appreciate this characterization of the party, but can you really disagree with it. (President) Barack Obama was portrayed as an elitist for his Harvard law degree (with honors) and his U of Chicago professorship, but they forgot that he IS the American dream. President Obama didn't get to where he was because of affirmative action, he did so because of a close knit family (even though he was from a single mother) and through his own hard work (Bill Clinton's another Democratic example of this). George Bush, on the other hand, was famously "born on third base, thinking he hit a triple."
The fact that the Republican "base" was so energized by Palin, who could see Russia from Alaska, had no clue what the Bush doctrine was, and who didn't know Africa was a continent, is extremely worrying. As it comes out more and more that even McCain's campaign aides were referring to the Palins as "Wasilla hillbillies", one has to wonder what led McCain to foisting this mental midget on the US populace. Palin must go away, for the good of us all, but it seems that she is a damn good politician and, depending on how her Pretty Woman shopping spree turns out, she may not be as buried as most of us hope. If Palin isn't left for dead, the foreign policy experience and leadership skills that she lacks are things she can work on in the next few years to make herself into a more serious candidate. Will the GOP accept her mediocrity again? Will they finally realize that while being an elitist is a bad thing, being part of the intellectual elite is not?
Further, will the "Party of Lincoln" go back to being that? Will it be about small government and a strong nation, instead about abortion and immigration? In Tucker Carlson's Slate commentary on what the GOP needs to do, he states:
Tucker, is your bow tie on too tight? I agree, that the GOP needs to stay away from the "secondary" issues which make it easy to show you all to be insane. That said, since when is social conservatism defined solely by abortion? This is exactly what the GOP needs to get away from. Being a Republican should be about small government that stays out of your life and fiscal responsibility, it should not be a litmus test over a single issue. Anyways, doesn't this legislating what others can and can't do fly in the face of true conservatism?Social conservatives, a group in which I count myself, might profitably meditate
on how to disentangle our primary political goal—the protection of the
unborn—from secondary issues like, say, abstinence-only education and the debate
over evolution and intelligent design, which dovetail too easily with
caricatures of religious fundamentalism (as Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin both
discovered in the media coverage of their campaigns).
After the Kerry defeat it seemed like the Democratic Party couldn't get any lower, how on earth could they have lost to Dubya? How does the Republican Party come back from this? It seems that the great divide in the Party, between the religiously charged "base" and the corporatism of the leadership, is worse than ever before. They need to unite again, find a way, a candidate, and a leader to pull back the "Obama Republicans" that allowed President Obama to win solidly Republican states like Indiana. It's not an easy task.
2008/11/05
Waking Up From a Nightmare, Walking Into a Dream
It's a new day in America. The end of the error that was George W. Bush has come, the Democrats are in power and it seems like the entire nation, the entire world, is celebrating this truly historic moment.I've not slept very much and am not ashamed to admit still being a bit hung over (the only reason I got out of bed was to attend a celebratory lunch, which was heavy on celebrating and light on lunch), followed by a similar dinner I've just returned from.
I thought about writing this after I got home from Grant Park at nearly 5 am, but decided against it. At the time I was thinking how I'd spent 2 previous nights getting home at this hour, but both times licking wounds after the crushing disappointment of Kerry in '04 and then equally tough to take Congressional races in '06. This time the body was feeling equally weary and the head was pounding (too much noise, too much alcohol, too little sleep), but mentally I was flying, we did it (and I'm not one to throw around "we").
There are so many reasons why this race is incredibly significant and could stand as a national turning point. Race is such a huge issue in the United States and yet we became the first G7 power to elect a minority. This doesn't solve America's original sin, but it goes a long way to healing it. There is also the nature of the Obama victory. In a country that spent 8 years harshly divided by the new language of "red" and "blue", we now look more like one. This was a call for the nation to be brought together, and the people have confidence in President Obama to do that. There is still reason to be concerned: exhibit a-the behavior of McCain's supporters, exhibit b-that it doesn't appear Plain is going away. However, despite those issues, reconciliation is achievable, President Obama appears ready to take the first step.
The election also brings to an end what, if it wasn't overwhelmingly obvious already, was the reign of the worst president in American history. President Obama is sure to be an improvement, but now its time to get to work and start the long hard process to delivering on those election promises.
Last night was about "yes we can", but soon it will be about making good and turning "can" to "did". President Obama, after 8 years of embarrassment, you've made us proud to be Americans again, now don't let us down!
I thought about writing this after I got home from Grant Park at nearly 5 am, but decided against it. At the time I was thinking how I'd spent 2 previous nights getting home at this hour, but both times licking wounds after the crushing disappointment of Kerry in '04 and then equally tough to take Congressional races in '06. This time the body was feeling equally weary and the head was pounding (too much noise, too much alcohol, too little sleep), but mentally I was flying, we did it (and I'm not one to throw around "we").
There are so many reasons why this race is incredibly significant and could stand as a national turning point. Race is such a huge issue in the United States and yet we became the first G7 power to elect a minority. This doesn't solve America's original sin, but it goes a long way to healing it. There is also the nature of the Obama victory. In a country that spent 8 years harshly divided by the new language of "red" and "blue", we now look more like one. This was a call for the nation to be brought together, and the people have confidence in President Obama to do that. There is still reason to be concerned: exhibit a-the behavior of McCain's supporters, exhibit b-that it doesn't appear Plain is going away. However, despite those issues, reconciliation is achievable, President Obama appears ready to take the first step.
The election also brings to an end what, if it wasn't overwhelmingly obvious already, was the reign of the worst president in American history. President Obama is sure to be an improvement, but now its time to get to work and start the long hard process to delivering on those election promises.
Last night was about "yes we can", but soon it will be about making good and turning "can" to "did". President Obama, after 8 years of embarrassment, you've made us proud to be Americans again, now don't let us down!
2008/10/30
Change Gonna Come
We've followed Xujun Eberlein's blog for awhile and she often has some very interesting posts, though a recent one particularly struck me. The post in question is titled "Spider Web in Tiananmen" and takes a look at what is seemingly a new openness among the Party censors to take a look at the Tiananmen uprising that took place during Qing Ming in 1976, shortly after Zhou Enlai's death. For many, the events have all but been forgotten, overshadowed by the larger events that happened in the Square 20 over 10 years later, but it was a significant moment in Chinese history.
As Eberlein points out, its extremely strange for those events to suddenly be addressed now (for those that don't know Qing Ming is in April). There is no major anniversary, or party leader dying, or anything else that would make it seem appropriate for a redress of those events in October 2008. In the past, it was always about reading between the lines in China that told you more than what the actual sentences in the paper said. However, is that really the case today? Next year is the 20th anniversary of those fateful events of 1989, is this signalling the first step on the (most likely slow) path to changing official policy regarding that year?
It would seem to me that if 1989 was going to be looked at again, doing it this year, in the leadup to the Olympics, may have been the best time to take away a story and let China shine in the media (though some may argue it would have brought the story back to the fore). Having spent a lot of time lately in the "suburbs" of Beijing (far different from what those in the US would think of as a suburb, more like the countryside), it still shocks me (although it shouldn't) that there are many people who don't have a clue as to what happened in 1989.
To borrow the immortal words of Sam, "it's been a long, long time coming, but I know, a change is going to come."
As Eberlein points out, its extremely strange for those events to suddenly be addressed now (for those that don't know Qing Ming is in April). There is no major anniversary, or party leader dying, or anything else that would make it seem appropriate for a redress of those events in October 2008. In the past, it was always about reading between the lines in China that told you more than what the actual sentences in the paper said. However, is that really the case today? Next year is the 20th anniversary of those fateful events of 1989, is this signalling the first step on the (most likely slow) path to changing official policy regarding that year?
It would seem to me that if 1989 was going to be looked at again, doing it this year, in the leadup to the Olympics, may have been the best time to take away a story and let China shine in the media (though some may argue it would have brought the story back to the fore). Having spent a lot of time lately in the "suburbs" of Beijing (far different from what those in the US would think of as a suburb, more like the countryside), it still shocks me (although it shouldn't) that there are many people who don't have a clue as to what happened in 1989.
To borrow the immortal words of Sam, "it's been a long, long time coming, but I know, a change is going to come."
2008/10/21
Sliding Into Obscurity
Chinese soccer has long been a running joke domestically, but while things looked like they were improving for a little while, the current situation is more dire than ever before. Some of the events that brought China to this point:
- Failure to advance from the group stage at Asia Cup 2007
- the Women's squad losing in the quarterfinals at the Women's World Cup 2007 (hosted by China)
- Failure to advance out of the first round of World Cup Qualifying earlier this year
- The Women losing to Japan (of all teams) and bowing out at the Olympics
- Firing the Olympics coach less than a month before the start of the tournament
- The Men's team earning only 1 point (and only scoring 1 goal) in 3 games at the Olympics
- The Wuhan scandal that has plagued the domestic Chinese Superleague this season
- China's FIFA ranking dropping to 97th, down from 73rd in July 2007
In the leadup to the Asia Cup in 2007, there was a lot of hope for Chinese soccer. The domestic league appeared to have fully recovered after the "Black Whistles" scandal and corruption of a few years before and big crowds were turning out. A number of Chinese internationals were finding success in Europe, the men's team looked good going into the Asia Cup, and the Women's World Cup would take place in China.
The picture today is an absolute disaster, the men's team is without a legitimate coach, the domestic league is in turmoil and is being ignored again, the majority of internationals have returned or gone to lesser European clubs, and the women's team is experiencing lean times.
Xie Yalong was (rightfully so) pushed out of his position at the top of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) only a month ago. Calls for his head have been sounded for a year, though they got so loud during the Olympics, even when China wasn't on the pitch, that it became a sort of web/sms joke. It got so bad that during the Paralympics soccer competition, fans could be heard shouting "Xie Yalong xia ke" and a number of websites and forums have been created using this name. The length of time it took the CFA to finally dump Xie and his own surprised reaction to finding out he was being removed says more than anything about how out of touch with the public the CFA has become.
When Fan Zhiyi, the former Chinese captain who led the squad during the World Cup 2002, was asked if he'd be interested in heading up the CFA, he basically said "no chance in hell" as the fan's expectations are so high and the CFA structure is such that success is near impossible.
The CFA is calling for reform of Chinese soccer and forming a new squad in December to prepare for Asia Cup qualifying, which is to begin in January, but all of this sounds so familiar. Part of the problem is the form, the CFA is stuck as a governmental department under the National Sports Administration. Bureaucrats like Xie are regularly appointed to take charge, instead of people with actual soccer knowledge or success. Past failure and snap decisions by the CFA has led to an environment in which no coach would feel comfortable and so no matter how much money is offered, it will be impossible for China to lure a top, international coach to try his hand at turning the national team around.
So what comes next? Will a former national hero like Hao Haidong have the power to reform things or will his regional connection to Dalian further divide the national squad? Will the CFA be able to find a foreigner with a solid resume to revolutionize the current squad or will such an individual be stifled by the CFA's red tape?
Even for the most optimistic of fans, the future looks dismal.
2008/09/21
The Insanity of the Palin Pick, Redux
From the Editors:
When an entry on Sarah Palin, McCain's VP pick, was originally proposed, we figured "what the hell", we'll go with it. We are all varying degrees of liberal here and none of us like Palin, so despite this blog generally being focused on China, we figured it was time to join in on the Palin pile-on.
The "correspondent" who wrote the entry may not have been wholly clear in what she said, but we still support the gist of her argument. The Palin pick feels like a bad reality TV show, "Who Wants to Be America's Next Vice President." What makes it even scarier is the fact that John McCain's health is what you'd expect of a septuagenarian, that is to say, it's day to day. If elected, one wonders if his health will keep him in good enough shape to make it through four years in the White House, making his Vice Presidential choice absolutely important.
We respect and appreciate everyone who comments and emails us, both in support of an entry and opposing the views of an entry. The "Insanity of the Palin Pick" entry has caused a bit of an uproar, perhaps mainly due to the writer not being clear enough.
We have nothing against people from small towns, people who attended community/junior colleges, mediocrity, graduates of the University of Idaho, or hockey moms (we definitely have nothing against hockey moms, one of us is a proud product of a great hockey moms and hockey families sacrifice a lot for their children). We don't even have anything against people who'd name their kids Track, Piper, and Trig.
Sarah Palin was mayor of a tiny town in Alaska for 6 years and has been Governor of Alaska for less than 2 years. This, to us, is not enough experience for someone who would literally be a heartbeat away from sitting in the Oval Office. Her previous career was as a sports reporter for a TV station. Is this the person you want staring down Putin or Hu Jintao? Is this the person you want in charge of a nuclear arsenal? While Obama doesn't have overwhelming "experience", he has spent many years being a servant of his community, in one way or another. Yes, Joe Biden is from Delaware, hardly considered an important state, but his career in public service has lasted almost as long as Palin has been on this earth.
The Bush years brought the nation down to a new low, it showed that we would accept mediocrity in the White House if it was packaged right. We don't think the qualities we listed above (ie being from a small town, being a hockey mom, even being a graduate of the University of Idaho) disqualify anyone from being Vice President (or even President). As we said, one of our mothers was a wonderful hockey mom, but that doesn't make us think she'd be a good pick for VP. Looking at Sarah Palin and her pitiful credentials for the job, it makes it obvious there is one reason John McCain picked her, because she is a woman. It seems Palin was one of the few, if not the only, young female Republicans around, and so McCain, weary of picking a Libby Dole or Kay Bailey and thus being identified as the AARP ticket, chose the only young female, even though she was completely unqualified.
When an entry on Sarah Palin, McCain's VP pick, was originally proposed, we figured "what the hell", we'll go with it. We are all varying degrees of liberal here and none of us like Palin, so despite this blog generally being focused on China, we figured it was time to join in on the Palin pile-on.
The "correspondent" who wrote the entry may not have been wholly clear in what she said, but we still support the gist of her argument. The Palin pick feels like a bad reality TV show, "Who Wants to Be America's Next Vice President." What makes it even scarier is the fact that John McCain's health is what you'd expect of a septuagenarian, that is to say, it's day to day. If elected, one wonders if his health will keep him in good enough shape to make it through four years in the White House, making his Vice Presidential choice absolutely important.
We respect and appreciate everyone who comments and emails us, both in support of an entry and opposing the views of an entry. The "Insanity of the Palin Pick" entry has caused a bit of an uproar, perhaps mainly due to the writer not being clear enough.
We have nothing against people from small towns, people who attended community/junior colleges, mediocrity, graduates of the University of Idaho, or hockey moms (we definitely have nothing against hockey moms, one of us is a proud product of a great hockey moms and hockey families sacrifice a lot for their children). We don't even have anything against people who'd name their kids Track, Piper, and Trig.
Sarah Palin was mayor of a tiny town in Alaska for 6 years and has been Governor of Alaska for less than 2 years. This, to us, is not enough experience for someone who would literally be a heartbeat away from sitting in the Oval Office. Her previous career was as a sports reporter for a TV station. Is this the person you want staring down Putin or Hu Jintao? Is this the person you want in charge of a nuclear arsenal? While Obama doesn't have overwhelming "experience", he has spent many years being a servant of his community, in one way or another. Yes, Joe Biden is from Delaware, hardly considered an important state, but his career in public service has lasted almost as long as Palin has been on this earth.
The Bush years brought the nation down to a new low, it showed that we would accept mediocrity in the White House if it was packaged right. We don't think the qualities we listed above (ie being from a small town, being a hockey mom, even being a graduate of the University of Idaho) disqualify anyone from being Vice President (or even President). As we said, one of our mothers was a wonderful hockey mom, but that doesn't make us think she'd be a good pick for VP. Looking at Sarah Palin and her pitiful credentials for the job, it makes it obvious there is one reason John McCain picked her, because she is a woman. It seems Palin was one of the few, if not the only, young female Republicans around, and so McCain, weary of picking a Libby Dole or Kay Bailey and thus being identified as the AARP ticket, chose the only young female, even though she was completely unqualified.
2008/09/19
The Insanity of the Palin Pick
Two weeks have passed since John McCain made his wacky choice for the Vice Presidential candidacy and I still feel the same as I did when I first heard about it. Sarah Palin, the former mayor of a tiny town of Alaska and current governor of that state, is so totally unqualified for the position of Vice President that it's almost laughable, if not for the fact it could become a reality.
I think its safe to say that the lads at A Modern Lei Feng are bigtime Obama fans and have showed it through our time and our money (one of our former editors even gave up working overseas to return to the US for a campaign staff position). However, McCain is highly respected in these parts for his "straight talk", his common sense approach to policy, and for his generally moderate (and definitely not religiously influenced) beliefs. His views on Iraq differ with mine (and the others), but he's a soldier himself and wouldn't mindlessly risk American lives like the current President. I would never vote for John McCain, but I wouldn't have minded seeing him become President, until that is, I found out who his VP pick was.
Sarah Palin is a running joke. The governor of the least important state in the Union and a politician that nobody ever heard of. She has family issues that would be suitable for an episode of Jerry Springer and to steal a line from Tommy Boy:
Tommy: "a lot of peole take 7 years to graduate college"
Richard: "yeah, moron, they're called doctors"
Not to mention the fact that a number of those years were spent at community colleges. McCain has a degree from the Naval Academy, Obama was editor of Harvard's Law Journal and Biden also has a law degree. Palin? She has a degree from the University of Idaho. Oh yeah, there's also her current ethical problems and her "I was for it before I was against it" stance on the bridge to nowhere.
Palin would like us to leave her family out of it, McCain is going to incredible lengths to push the media to stop talking ab out her pregnant daughter yet Palin is more than happy to trot out her handicapped son or the fact her oldest is shipping off to Iraq.
There is nothing wrong with the family issues that Palin is dealing with or her education or the fact that she is just so absolutely average. She is the nation's first ever White Trash VP choice. She's more suited for a white trailer park than the White House. It seems obvious that the sole factor that influenced McCain's decision is the fact she is a woman (though Kay Bailey Hutchinson is a woman and a hell of a lot more impressive) and really the only GOP woman kicking. Perhaps it is elitist of me and exactly what would be expected of us "liberal Democrats", but Palin's commonness is what scares me the most. She is truly a hockey mom who looks, acts, and talks like she was plucked out of the stands. She isn't intelligent, she doesn't have any legitimate experience, and she definitely isn't the one I want to be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office, especially when considering McCain's age and health. This isn't "America's Next Top Vice President", not everyone should be (or should have the opportunity) to be so, so close to being leader of the free world. Hopefully, the American people will recognize this and McCain will get crushed in November.
I think its safe to say that the lads at A Modern Lei Feng are bigtime Obama fans and have showed it through our time and our money (one of our former editors even gave up working overseas to return to the US for a campaign staff position). However, McCain is highly respected in these parts for his "straight talk", his common sense approach to policy, and for his generally moderate (and definitely not religiously influenced) beliefs. His views on Iraq differ with mine (and the others), but he's a soldier himself and wouldn't mindlessly risk American lives like the current President. I would never vote for John McCain, but I wouldn't have minded seeing him become President, until that is, I found out who his VP pick was.
Sarah Palin is a running joke. The governor of the least important state in the Union and a politician that nobody ever heard of. She has family issues that would be suitable for an episode of Jerry Springer and to steal a line from Tommy Boy:
Tommy: "a lot of peole take 7 years to graduate college"
Richard: "yeah, moron, they're called doctors"
Not to mention the fact that a number of those years were spent at community colleges. McCain has a degree from the Naval Academy, Obama was editor of Harvard's Law Journal and Biden also has a law degree. Palin? She has a degree from the University of Idaho. Oh yeah, there's also her current ethical problems and her "I was for it before I was against it" stance on the bridge to nowhere.
Palin would like us to leave her family out of it, McCain is going to incredible lengths to push the media to stop talking ab out her pregnant daughter yet Palin is more than happy to trot out her handicapped son or the fact her oldest is shipping off to Iraq.
There is nothing wrong with the family issues that Palin is dealing with or her education or the fact that she is just so absolutely average. She is the nation's first ever White Trash VP choice. She's more suited for a white trailer park than the White House. It seems obvious that the sole factor that influenced McCain's decision is the fact she is a woman (though Kay Bailey Hutchinson is a woman and a hell of a lot more impressive) and really the only GOP woman kicking. Perhaps it is elitist of me and exactly what would be expected of us "liberal Democrats", but Palin's commonness is what scares me the most. She is truly a hockey mom who looks, acts, and talks like she was plucked out of the stands. She isn't intelligent, she doesn't have any legitimate experience, and she definitely isn't the one I want to be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office, especially when considering McCain's age and health. This isn't "America's Next Top Vice President", not everyone should be (or should have the opportunity) to be so, so close to being leader of the free world. Hopefully, the American people will recognize this and McCain will get crushed in November.
2008/08/06
Embarassed to be an American
Will we find out later that the black masks were some kind of political statement that these American athletes wanted to make? Were they really just concerned about the pollution?US cyclists arrived in Beijing yesterday and many of them were wearing the above, almost Hannibal Lectoresque masks to "protect" themselves from the pollution. It should be noted, of course, that the picture was taken INSIDE and, at last check, there is no smog in the Beijing Airport, indeed the air is very clean.
Air quality isn't exactly great today and continues to be the top story in all the Western media, as it will be unless things get better fast. There is still hope, but the Opening Ceremony is now little more than 48 hours away and the first events (women's soccer) are about to kick off in less than an hour. However, these athletes were INSIDE a building, only to be quickly whisked onto a bus and then driven to the Olympic Village, surely they would spend a combined total of less than 15 minutes outside.
So why the masks? It's just a slap in the face of the host country and totally needless. Yes, the air looks bad, but its hardly harmful and there's absolutely no need for these cyclists to be wearing masks. Then again, maybe you believe the IOC's medical chief who claims that the air is misty, not polluted (the Chinese government should hire this guy to do their international PR immediately), but I don't. I cycle in Beijing on a daily basis and I've never worn a mask, it's just not necessary.
Unless, of course, the masks were meant as a political statement attacking the Chinese government. I could believe this, the masks were black and they were covering their mouths, but why not make mention of this. If they wait until after the Games when they are back in the US to tell us the meaning of their "protest", will anybody care at that point?
It's simply embarrassing, let's hope no other Americans do something this stupid.
UPDATE
The US cyclists have (rightly) apologized publicly.
2008/07/25
Does All This Visa Stuff Make Sense?
There were two interesting news stories that greeted me this morning, one talked about Chinese police claiming they foiled an international terrorism cell that was planning to attack Shanghai (and possibly the soccer venue) during the Olympics. At the same time, China has also announced further restrictions on business visas and the government will stop issuing invitation letters until after the Paralympics are over.
A lot of people are angry and frustrated about the visa changes and there are some with valid complaints, though most problems are simply due to the individual's (or their company's) own irresponsibility. While it's easy to blame it all on the Olympics and China's heightened fears, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out there is a reason why the Chinese government should be afraid.
These are only the second Summer Olympics in the Post-9.11 era and with so much terrorist inactivity over the past year or so, one could assume many may be targeting these Games. While China has reason to fear domestic terrorists in Xinjiang, my biggest fear are international terrorism cells. Unlike Athens in 2004, China wants nothing to do with the FBI, though they gave the FBI Director a tour of preparations a few months back and he deemed himself satisfied with China's security.
The Chinese have not faced any threats from international terrorists over the years and its unlikely Chinese security has followed or paid much attention at all to any of those organizations. In any case, they don't have the experience of organizations like the FBI and Interpol in dealing with and stopping terrorists. However, China is always very weary of allowing representatives of other governments on its soil in even the most dire of situations (like after the Sichuan earthquake), let alone allowing a large number of US and European security departments to be on the ground during the Olympics.
Therefore, China's trying to go at it alone and believes that these tightened visa restrictions will help prevent a terrorist attack. If the end result is that fewer foreigners come to Beijing and the Games go off without a security hitch, China will be satisfied. The Chinese seem to believe that the embarrassment of losing visitors is a lot easier to deal with than the embarrassment of a major attack during the Games.
A lot of people are angry and frustrated about the visa changes and there are some with valid complaints, though most problems are simply due to the individual's (or their company's) own irresponsibility. While it's easy to blame it all on the Olympics and China's heightened fears, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out there is a reason why the Chinese government should be afraid.
These are only the second Summer Olympics in the Post-9.11 era and with so much terrorist inactivity over the past year or so, one could assume many may be targeting these Games. While China has reason to fear domestic terrorists in Xinjiang, my biggest fear are international terrorism cells. Unlike Athens in 2004, China wants nothing to do with the FBI, though they gave the FBI Director a tour of preparations a few months back and he deemed himself satisfied with China's security.
The Chinese have not faced any threats from international terrorists over the years and its unlikely Chinese security has followed or paid much attention at all to any of those organizations. In any case, they don't have the experience of organizations like the FBI and Interpol in dealing with and stopping terrorists. However, China is always very weary of allowing representatives of other governments on its soil in even the most dire of situations (like after the Sichuan earthquake), let alone allowing a large number of US and European security departments to be on the ground during the Olympics.
Therefore, China's trying to go at it alone and believes that these tightened visa restrictions will help prevent a terrorist attack. If the end result is that fewer foreigners come to Beijing and the Games go off without a security hitch, China will be satisfied. The Chinese seem to believe that the embarrassment of losing visitors is a lot easier to deal with than the embarrassment of a major attack during the Games.
2008/06/24
AIC vs. LV in Hangzhou: What's Going On?
A very interesting story has come out of Hangzhou that has led to a lot of questions and very few answers. Louis Vuitton, the high end French luxury brand, has run afoul of Zhejiang AIC, resulting in their Hangzhou shop being closed down. It seems that after a check of a (?, the?) Hangzhou LV boutique in May, some products were found to be "below standards." Zhejiang AIC insists that they didn't force LV to close down the Hangzhou boutique.
According to the AIC, this all comes down to LV's not including a small piece of sample leather with their bags shipped to China, an AIC requirement. LV failed to appeal the ruling and so a number of bags were seized by Zhejiang AIC.
So what's going on? Many immediately jump up and say this has to be political, another Chinese potshot at the French, however this was only one boutique, things are still going strong in Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities. Did they all include the necessary sample or are do they just ignore this requirement (or not have it)? Is this the case of an overzealous local official continuing China's "war" on France? Is this some corrupt officials who are basically stealing LV bags by making this claim?
There has to be more to it, unfortunately we probably won't learn all the sordid (or boring) details as to why this seizure took place, but if LV can take a hit like this, it should serve as a cautionary tale to any small company looking to enter China.
According to the AIC, this all comes down to LV's not including a small piece of sample leather with their bags shipped to China, an AIC requirement. LV failed to appeal the ruling and so a number of bags were seized by Zhejiang AIC.
So what's going on? Many immediately jump up and say this has to be political, another Chinese potshot at the French, however this was only one boutique, things are still going strong in Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities. Did they all include the necessary sample or are do they just ignore this requirement (or not have it)? Is this the case of an overzealous local official continuing China's "war" on France? Is this some corrupt officials who are basically stealing LV bags by making this claim?
There has to be more to it, unfortunately we probably won't learn all the sordid (or boring) details as to why this seizure took place, but if LV can take a hit like this, it should serve as a cautionary tale to any small company looking to enter China.
2008/06/03
Remembering ALL the Victims
Almost 20 years ago, an event happened in central/western Beijing that changed China and its people forever. Many people died in this event, but the exact number is not known, though the number could never compare to the number of deaths in the earthquake. I'm not saying if those people were right or wrong, I'm not going to guess as to what would have happened if those people would have won out, I believe in the government, but I also believe those people shouldn't have died.
This event had a greater impact than any other event that has taken place over the last 20 years, and probably beyond. Whether the Olympics or earthquake will displace it at the top is yet to be seen, but unlike those two events, this event isn't one that anybody talks about, at least not openly. It feels strange when talking to a coworker, a boss, and telling him where I'm living and his response being, "oh, I know that area, I had a friend who died there." What can you say, though, this city is still haunted with those ghosts.
I read yesterday that there are plans to build an Earthquake Museum in Sichuan and found that unusual. I sympathize with the need to remember what happened, but typically this would be done with some kind of memorial, not a museum. I can understand the desire to honor these people, especially in light of the current national sentiment, but at the same time, couldn't the money be spent helping the ones still living instead of honoring the dead? A memorial wall or statute costs much less than a big museum, and it is difficult to imagine what this museum really could have on display. It's about finding ways to remember the dead.
There is no way to publicly remember those who died on this day and the days that followed 19 years ago, there are no monuments, no museums, no public memorials, and those who try to honor them will find themselves in trouble. Whether their actions were proper, whether what they were fighting for was right, these things don't matter, what matters is what happened to them and what happened afterwords. If China didn't have that day, today would look different, the sentiment after the earthquake would have been different, the spirit of this city, on this day, would be different.
Remember the victims of the earthquake, but remember the victims of this day, and of Tangshan, and of the Cultural Revolution and everything else, for one victim is not less important than the other victim. Let us just hope monuments and museums will one day be built for these other victims.
This event had a greater impact than any other event that has taken place over the last 20 years, and probably beyond. Whether the Olympics or earthquake will displace it at the top is yet to be seen, but unlike those two events, this event isn't one that anybody talks about, at least not openly. It feels strange when talking to a coworker, a boss, and telling him where I'm living and his response being, "oh, I know that area, I had a friend who died there." What can you say, though, this city is still haunted with those ghosts.
I read yesterday that there are plans to build an Earthquake Museum in Sichuan and found that unusual. I sympathize with the need to remember what happened, but typically this would be done with some kind of memorial, not a museum. I can understand the desire to honor these people, especially in light of the current national sentiment, but at the same time, couldn't the money be spent helping the ones still living instead of honoring the dead? A memorial wall or statute costs much less than a big museum, and it is difficult to imagine what this museum really could have on display. It's about finding ways to remember the dead.
There is no way to publicly remember those who died on this day and the days that followed 19 years ago, there are no monuments, no museums, no public memorials, and those who try to honor them will find themselves in trouble. Whether their actions were proper, whether what they were fighting for was right, these things don't matter, what matters is what happened to them and what happened afterwords. If China didn't have that day, today would look different, the sentiment after the earthquake would have been different, the spirit of this city, on this day, would be different.
Remember the victims of the earthquake, but remember the victims of this day, and of Tangshan, and of the Cultural Revolution and everything else, for one victim is not less important than the other victim. Let us just hope monuments and museums will one day be built for these other victims.
2008/06/02
People Are Talking, But Why Am I Listening?
John Amaechi, an ambassador to London's Olympics 2012 bid and now Amnesty Internationals's sporting ambassador, is urging athletes to speak out against China's human rights abuses during this year's Olympics. Most of you out there don't know who the hell John Amaechi is, so for the 99% who are reading this and asking "who the hell is John Amaechi?", I'll tell you. He is a former NBA basketball player, a career journeyman who averaged a mere 6.2 points per game (though the Guardian describes him as a "star"), he never really distinguished himself in basketball and the only reason anybody knows his name is that he wrote a book last year in which he came out of the closet, the first former NBA player to publicly announce that he was gay.
I don't find Amaechi's desire for athletes to speak out surprising, in fact I could really care less, what I do find surprising is that the Guardian thought there were enough people in England who actually cared to know what Amaechi thinks. However, when it comes to China, especially these Olympics, the bar is far lower, stories about human rights, pollution, and the like can make their way into the papers whenever any old crackpot whose earned him or herself a bit of fame opens their mouths. What's next? David Blaine on Beijing's sustainable development? Simon Cowell talking about China's media freedoms?
The iconic silent protest of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics live in everyone's memory, but the IOC has since cracked down on such protests and there have been very few memorable ones at the Olympics in the aftermath. The star athletes in the dollar earning sports will be in the limelight, but if some rower or a mountain biker decides to protest, it will more than likely fail to become much of a story (though anything in Beijing that remotely hints of a protest, will quite possibly be picked up by the media).
Amaechi and his ilk need to shut the hell up and realize nobody cares what they have to say. It is one thing to speak your mind, it is another thing to hijack the Olympics to put forth your own (in some cases idiotic) agenda. To all the athletes in Beijing, don't ruin your 15 minutes of fame (more like 5 minutes) and do something stupid in the name of idealism, you'll only end up with egg on your face and you'll fail to advance your cause.
I don't find Amaechi's desire for athletes to speak out surprising, in fact I could really care less, what I do find surprising is that the Guardian thought there were enough people in England who actually cared to know what Amaechi thinks. However, when it comes to China, especially these Olympics, the bar is far lower, stories about human rights, pollution, and the like can make their way into the papers whenever any old crackpot whose earned him or herself a bit of fame opens their mouths. What's next? David Blaine on Beijing's sustainable development? Simon Cowell talking about China's media freedoms?
The iconic silent protest of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics live in everyone's memory, but the IOC has since cracked down on such protests and there have been very few memorable ones at the Olympics in the aftermath. The star athletes in the dollar earning sports will be in the limelight, but if some rower or a mountain biker decides to protest, it will more than likely fail to become much of a story (though anything in Beijing that remotely hints of a protest, will quite possibly be picked up by the media).
Amaechi and his ilk need to shut the hell up and realize nobody cares what they have to say. It is one thing to speak your mind, it is another thing to hijack the Olympics to put forth your own (in some cases idiotic) agenda. To all the athletes in Beijing, don't ruin your 15 minutes of fame (more like 5 minutes) and do something stupid in the name of idealism, you'll only end up with egg on your face and you'll fail to advance your cause.
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