Tiannanmen Massacre Anniversary

[Kuciwalker]

It is arguing with fundamentalists.

[DaShi]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Does anybody in China still care, or are the Chinese all absorbed into a consumer/nationalistic frenzy that makes them apathetic to internal problems?

I've found that those here that care, or are least aware of problems, are those who are a bit more educated. Usually, because they are interested in more than filling there wallets. But just because they may cite problems, doesn't mean they don't love China. They realize the difference. Unfortunately, a great many don't.

Also, many poor minorities groups and farmers have concerns which can lead to protests when ignored. However, those only reach so far and are easily appeased with a token effort (a speech or law promising to fix it, that never does). At least until the people get frustrated again with the problem not being solved.

[Dracon II]

A chinese diplomat took the anniversary as an opportunity to seek asylum in Australia. He claims that China has many spies that keep tabs on dissidents in China and Chinese citizens staying in Australia. My girlfriend is chinese.... maybe she's a spy

[Imran Siddiqui]

Take her out, just in case

[Dracon II]

She's been modifying the kitchen sink to accomodate a human head underneath the tap... which is dripping conspicuously....

[Gatekeeper]

Hmm. How many others folks — other than UR — from China post at 'Poly? I mean genuine I-was-born-in-China-and-live-there-to-this-day types? And would UR have to turn them into the authorities if they started talking Chinese politics at 'Poly?

Gatekeeper

[mindseye]

There was another Chinese guy, Phoenixcager, who lived in Hong Kong I believe. That's the only one I know of.

If you want to mingle online (in English) with PRC Chinese, go to China-based blogs (by foreigners or locals). Plenty of mainland posters there.

[Dauphin]

Phoenixcager is Singapore.

[Dracon II]

My girlfriend frequents mainland chinese forums such as xici.net, paowang.com, and tianyaclub.com... I don't know what the discussion is like (don't know mandarin)... but they seem to like posting funny pictures and stuff like that. I don't get the impression that much serious discussion goes on. But I recall Yanzi saying the other day that some people were saying bad things about Mao.... and some people were posting pictures of Jiang Jieshi... so maybe they're not all CCP automatons.

[Tingkai]

The massacre in Tienanmen Square was a tragedy and a crime. Until the Chinese government acknowledges its disgusting actions, its attempts to reform itself and established a rule of law, of which there has been some efforts, will be meaningless. The government must admit that what it did was wrong, excessive and brutal.

To a much, much, lesser extent, but still disgusting are the certain trolls here who use the tragedy as a cover for their ongoing anti-Chinese racist tirades which can be summed up as: China is evil and Chinese people are scum who are "all absorbed into a consumer/nationalistic frenzy."

What's shameful are people who use the tragedy, and trample the memory of what the students tried to do, in order to launch personal attacks.

If you don't like someone, the entire Chinese race or China, well then that's your choice, but don't use Tiananmen as a cover for your hatred.

The students were trying to do something important in their call for a reduction of corruption and more democracy. They ended up paying with their lives. Their deaths should not be minimalized.

[Saras]

Tingkai

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by Gatekeeper
Hmm. How many others folks — other than UR — from China post at 'Poly? I mean genuine I-was-born-in-China-and-live-there-to-this-day types? And would UR have to turn them into the authorities if they started talking Chinese politics at 'Poly?

Gatekeeper

UR was born & raised in China? I didn't know that. I figured he was some American businessman in China or something. Cool.

[Gatekeeper]

^^^I don't know for a fact that UR lives in China. Common sense would suggest that he does, considering the nature of his posts and whatnot, but the authorative (heh) answer would have to come from UR himself.

Blogs ... if only they were my cup of tea, which they're not. I read enough ranting and raving on the forums I visit.

Gatekeeper

[DinoDoc]

UR lives in HK.

[Agathon]

This all in the past few months. I don't even want to go into the conversation I had with some people yesterday. It was like arguing with fundamentalists.

I guess I don't share your pessimistic appraisal of the situation. My background makes me more likely to look at these things from the perspective of the rulers. If I was trying to transition a country from a "communist" system to an open society, I wouldn't introduce personal freedoms immediately. Rather, I'd develop the economic basis for it before gradually easing in greater social liberties. I'd be pretty careful about it too – I wouldn't want what happened in Russia to happen.

Ask me again in five years and I may change my mind, but since Tiananmen, the Chinese government has a reasonably good report card from me.