Once again, the New York Times shows its ignorance about China and Chinese. Yes, the paper successfully predicted the full retirement of a former president, but apparently when things dive deep into an identity issue, the Times does not know what it is talking about.
In an editorial published today, titled The Torch and Freedom, the paper “kindly” offered help to China:
Stop arresting dissidents. Stop spreading lies about the Dalai Lama, and start talking to him about greater religious and cultural freedoms for Tibet. Stop being an enabler to Sudan in its genocide in Darfur. In other words, start delivering on the pledge you made to the International Olympic Committee to respect human rights — which, by the way, include the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly.
The editorial went on trying to explain why the Times is being resented by many Chinese:
Just so, the Communist authorities in China have been fanning nationalist resentments among their citizens with claims that protests against their repressive policies are staged by hostile foreign forces bent on ruining China’s grand Olympic party. The popular anger then makes it easier for the regime to arrest dissidents, stifle the news media and blame a “Dalai Lama clique” abroad for the troubles in Tibet.
This fits exactly into what I described as “arrogant westerners” in my last blog post. These westerners simply believe they know what Chinese are thinking, and hope they could get support from Chinese. When they don’t, they blame Chinese government for “fanning nationalism”.
It is especially interesting reading “stop spreading lies about the Dalai Lama”. The paper seems sure about its knowledge about Dalai. Unfortunately however, I doubt any serious academic work, even books and papers published in western world, was read by the Times’ editors. If they did read any, they would find Dalai is almost as much to blame as Chinese government in the current dilemma. Still, the only reason I can think of as why the Times blame Chinese government wholly for the Tibet problem is simply the paper’s preference. The Times just doesn’t believe what communists said.
I am Chinese but I am not communist. I read the Times and other American and European papers regularly and I would like to write about my opinion here. I’m interested to see if I would also be labeled as “brain-washed” Chinese just because I wrote something different. Below are my responses to the Times’ “help”:
- Stop arresting dissidents.
Sounds not bad. Only Chinese doesn’t care about this issue that much. Chinese know about these dissidents, but usually don’t care a lot. Political liberty is being discussed, sometimes even by the Government itself, yet most Chinese simply are not interested in the topic. You constantly read about this topic on the Times? Surprise! Isn’t that the Times’ “preference”?
- Stop spreading lies about the Dalai Lama, and start talking to him about greater religious and cultural freedoms for Tibet.
Well, Chinese government might not tell the whole story, but neither does your lovely “spiritual leader”. Read some serious work before making irresponsible judgments! Finding out why previously talks stalled and why Chinese government doesn’t trust Dalai from an independent source! (Which excludes Dalai’s followers as well as the Chinese Government!!!)
Compared with American, yes, Tibetans may enjoy less religious and cultural freedom, but if compared with other Chinese, I don’t see they enjoy anything less. As compared with what they enjoyed under Dalai’s rule; of course they used to have what Dalai called “freedom”—it was “freedom” to warship Dalai under his rule! Tibet was then theocratic and Dalai considered Tibetan’s god!! Why do you think Dalai want a “free” Tibet? Think about Iran’s theocracy!!!
Regarding reserving Tibetan culture, the risk it is facing is actually from globalization instead of Han Chinese. In fact, Han Chinese are busy worrying about their own culture reservation. Kicking all the Han Chinese and muslims out of Tibet might help to reduce the influence of the modern society, but unless Tibetans lock themselves from the outside world, there is no way to maintain the “purity” of their culture. Aren’t exiled Tibetan youth in India following Dalai meeting a similar problem? Can we say Dalai is committing his own “Cultural Genocide” to his fellow Tibetans?
- Stop being an enabler to Sudan in its genocide in Darfur. In other words, start delivering on the pledge you made to the International Olympic Committee to respect human rights — which, by the way, include the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly.
Again, Chinese doesn’t care about Darfur much, neither about human rights issues. Without Renaissance, we simply don’t have that kind of culture, at least for the moment. Haven’t you found out the Times write only about a few dissidents consistently. I guess that’s basically China’s whole dissident community already!
Talking about human rights, yes, China has many issues. But things are indeed getting better, and Chinese government is delivering its commitment to some extent. Only 30 years ago, people were executed without even trial, and now Chinese are already talking about “rule of law”. The government’s response to the riot is already with unprecedented restraint. We can and should expect more. But over one single night and China turns a democracy? It’s simply impossible! Keep in mind it was until 1965, roughly 100 years after the Civil War, when the African-American got the real voting rights!
- The Communist authorities in China have been fanning nationalist resentments among their citizens…
Judged by western standard, Chinese might be considered as nationalistic. But it is a way much complicated issue rooted deeply in Chinese culture and history, not over-simplified Government’s fanning. I explained a little bit in my last blog post.
Other than showing its arrogance and ignorance, this editorial of the Times is nothing constructive but misleading its readers, fanning resentments from Chinese or widening gap between westerners and Chinese. The Times itself should try something suggested to Chinese about the Tibet issue — Understand a different culture!
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