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I’d like to congratulate Professor Liu Xiaobo for having been awarded with the 2010 Peace Nobel price. It’s well deserved.
I confess I didn’t know much about this former college lecturer, but once I read about him, I thought to myself “What an admirable man!”
Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese citizen, has been incarcerated for the past 2 years (not the first time).
Now, you could ask yourself “but why?” and the answer is quite simple: this honourable man fights for freedom of speech in China. He also fights for the introduction of political reform, in that region (e.g. the end of a sole political party; independence of the judicial power and freedom of association).
This rebel with a cause struggles against the authoritarianism and tyranny of the Chinese government: he defends that all of his fellow-citizens should have the right to express their thoughts and opinions freely (even if silly); that they should have the right to be informed (not manipulated) and critique the government whenever they’d see fit without fear of reprisals.
Notwithstanding, Liu Xiaobo stood up and fought knowing that retaliation would be the unavoidable result of his political endeavour. He is a man with a cause, a plausible one.
He won the Peace Nobel Prize. He faces war from jail.
I don’t see the Left meshing huge crowds, in public plazas, to rally for his release.
I don’t see the Left organising flotillas, in the sea bathing China, to set him free.
I don’t see the Lefties setting up groups to go to China and protest against the injustice practiced against this Human Rights marcher.
I don’t see the Left Wing boycotting Chinese products in order to see this brave soldier of democracy experiencing freedom.
Liao Xiaobo is a synecdoche of the Chinese People.
...Liu Xiaobo needs help. Where’s the Left?
Image: Liao Xiaobo's wife shows his picture (by Petar Kujundzic/Reuters).
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Dissecting Society™ welcomes all sorts of comments, as we are strong advocates of freedom of speech; however, we reserve the right to delete Troll Activity; libellous and offensive comments (e.g. racist and anti-Semitic) plus those with excessive foul language. This blog does not view vulgarity as being protected by the right to free speech. Cheers
I had a professor in college whose sister was shot for writing a paper that criticized the government. Her mother was forced to pay for the bullet. This influenced her father to commit suicide, and a sibling to go crazy My friend stayed in the US and was finally able to bring his wife and children here. The chinese government is ruthless when it come to punishing those who speak out against it.
ReplyDeleteIt is an old pattern, but keeps repeating itself. Morals are something that appear only when needed to condemn someone else you don't like.
ReplyDeleteThe recent gang that beat up a gay reminds me of this. Gangs are free to terrorize much of the US, sell drugs, recruit prostitutes, and cause general mayhem. But when a gay gets hurt, suddenly the left gets motivated to do something:
http://www.baltimorenews.net/story/696481
Hey D! :D
ReplyDeleteWhat an awful thing! That poor family: can you imagine the amount of suffering? *nodding*
The Chinese government is sadist, that's what it is: all authoritarian governments are a nest full of sadists (who hide behind the machine of the State to retrieve sexual gratification through murder, torture and alike *nodding*).
D, thank you so much for sharing this sad story (which should make us think and pray for all those suffering under, not only the Chinese government, but also under all despotic states) *bowing*!
Cheers
Hey Looney :D!
ReplyDelete"It is an old pattern, but keeps repeating itself. Morals are something that appear only when needed to condemn someone else you don't like."
So, so true *nodding*. And isn't it disappointing?
"The recent gang that beat up a gay reminds me of this. Gangs are free to terrorize much of the US, sell drugs, recruit prostitutes, and cause general mayhem. But when a gay gets hurt, suddenly the left gets motivated to do something"
Thank for the link: this is a terrible account! Indeed, when criminals are allowed to commit crimes and everybody just sits in silence, people just say "it's life!"; however, when certain minorities (and I say certain, because when it is about blacks, Jews, Chinese, North-Koreans and some other ethnicities the Left doesn't seem to find it much appealing - unless a white rich man is involved, then it becomes attractive to "protect" these groups - it's all a sham) seem to be under attack then the Left jumps right on it and demands full attention...if they are to defend the weaker, then they should defend them all.
But I ask: what is this trend of attacking gays now, it's disgusting? People are regressing...so disappointing.
Looney, thanks for your super comment :D!
Cheers
Hi! Yes, he is to be congratulated but I fear the award will only add to his burdens while he is in prison. His wife now contends with having her phone cut off, not being able to speak to the press and is under a form of house arrest. How lucky we are to live in a world, he only dreams of.
ReplyDeleteTake Care,
Peter
Hi Max,
ReplyDeleteHow are you?
People like Liu Xiaobo are few and far in between. To stand up for freedom is a courageous act and he is fearless. I agree with Peter; I think winning the award may have exacerbated the government and may cause them to bring more harm/restrictions to him/his family.
Since China owns America, I hope they are not molding us into their image. That would be a horrific family photo.
Freedom Cheers!
I don't think it has anything to do with right or left, or even right or wrong. The Chinese government simply cannot accept what they consider is a fraud. Of course, the government is wrong and little by little, people are getting to know that. Censorship will end... soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Peter :D!
ReplyDelete"Yes, he is to be congratulated but I fear the award will only add to his burdens while he is in prison. His wife now contends with having her phone cut off, not being able to speak to the press and is under a form of house arrest."
True, but it is all part of the fight; part of the cause; isn't it? Our ancestors (who fought for our freedom) also came across terrible obstacles, however they won the battle.
"How lucky we are to live in a world, he only dreams of."
Amen to that, mate! And many of us take "simple things" like freedom for granted without even thinking that there are those who do not have it...
Peter, thank you so much for your blasting comment :D!
Cheers
Hi Lady A :D!
ReplyDelete"How are you?"
Fine, thanks :). And yourself?
"People like Liu Xiaobo are few and far in between. To stand up for freedom is a courageous act and he is fearless. I agree with Peter; I think winning the award may have exacerbated the government and may cause them to bring more harm/restrictions to him/his family."
True. And like I told Peter, it is all part of the fight; it is all part of the cause.
"Since China owns America, I hope they are not molding us into their image. That would be a horrific family photo."
lol China doesn't own America, come on. However, they have a big chunk of American debt; but it is not the end of the world, and they do not control the country...if I recall well, the same was said about the Japanese a few years ago...know what I mean?
Lady A, thank you ever so much for your comment :D! You were missed.
Freedom of Speech Cheers
Hi Zhu :D!
ReplyDelete"I don't think it has anything to do with right or left, or even right or wrong."
The issue with the Left is it claims to be fairer and more just than the Right (or any other political wing), when it is not; and by not being so it becomes as hypocritical as any other wing.
We all know the Right can be hypocritical, but at least (and here lies the paradox) they do not hide it; but the Left? Through its silly actions, and through the "causes" they choose to fight for, it exudes not only hypocrisy and but many times stupidity (when it could do so many positive things; because I recognise their role as possible political controllers of the excesses of the Right) *nodding*.
"The Chinese government simply cannot accept what they consider is a fraud. Of course, the government is wrong and little by little, people are getting to know that. Censorship will end... soon."
The Chinese government is the one being a fraud since its constitution (article 35) claims that "citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration” - and this is not so.
I totally agree with you *bowing*.
Zhu Zhu, thank you so so much for your most valuable comment :D.
Cheers
It is unfortunate that the Nobel Peace Prize is tarnished with its exceedingly poor selection of the previous winner…Barack Obama…
ReplyDeleteFortunately Liu Xiaobo may help to improve the reputation of this prize…could it be that the committee has seen the folly of their previous selection and moved to rectify it with this selection?
Max thanks for sharing this with us. I didn't know anything about him, until you told the story. It is in fact very sad that his own people will not stand up for him. There seems to be a lot of fear injected into the Chinese society. Anna :)
ReplyDelete