Archive for the 'Asian-ness' Category
August 26 2008: The Nature Of Truth
In my Contemporary China class today, we were examining the nature of truth. Does truth exist in Western media reports, does it exist in Chinese media reports? What is fact, what is truth, what is real, and what isn’t? We supported our discussion with a brief exercise. In two groups (one representing Western media, the other representing Chinese media), we each came up with a brief article on two issues: unrest in Tibet and troubles on the Olympic torch relay.
As part of the latter group of Chinese journalists, we wrote these short articles:
Recent acts of terrorism, wanton violence, thievery, and attacks on innocent civilians, by a minority faction of Tibetan separatists have disturbed the peace of China’s western region. These acts were sparked by the continuing duplicitous behaviour of the false leader, the Dalai Lama. It is believed that these acts are an attack on China’s growing economic strength. Chinese peacekeepers in the region have been helping to maintain stability in the face of these criminal acts, protecting social and community unity.
Community groups of Chinese sons and daughters based overseas been showing their support in displaying the glory of China along the path of the Olympic torch. Groups have organised bus trips to points along the path, and people have made the support of the torch a priority in their lives – dedicating time from their studies and careers to show their support in person. Foreign governments have also shown great belief in the power and might of the Chinese, with support of China’s Olympic glory by providing escorts along the path. Our Olympic slogan of “one world, one dream” has become reality.
It may seem like mindless propaganda, but read it again. There’s not one word of untruth in either article, it’s merely that the focus isn’t what one would find in non-Chinese reports.
There has been violence, looting, and attacks on civilians in Tibet. The Dalai Lama has thrown the legitimacy of his position into question by deciding to choose his successor before he dies (traditionally, the next Dalai Lama is supposed to be reincarnated after the death of the previous Dalai Lama, not chosen before the death). Chinese troops have been protecting civilians from the riots. Chinese expatriates were skivving school and work in order to support the path of the Olympic torch. There were organised community trips to go support the torch relay. Foreign governments did provide escorts for the torch relay.
Everything in the articles is true. It’s a lesson in learning to draw truths out from two opposing biases. What you read in Western media reports isn’t the whole truth, just like what you read in Chinese media reports isn’t the whole truth either. It’s selective truth. Combine the two, throw in some salt and pepper, maybe a bit of soy sauce, and you might get some semblance of reality.
Filed under Asian-ness & Media & Uni/Work with 4 Comments
August 23 2008: The Olympics: Some Rambling
So, the Olympics. Yadda yadda, insert fangirl gushing and conspiracy theory here.
The Australian team were clearly only in Beijing to take advantage of the cheap souvenirs at the silk markets, because they obviously weren’t there to actually compete. With the exception of Stephanie Rice (three from three!), the Australian team are on the express train to the land of fail and choke. Leisel and Libby, you don’t ‘win’ silver when you’re the undisputed world champion of the particular event, and barely even scrape into the final. You chokers lose gold. Whatever happened to our rightful place as the kings and queens of the pool?
Speaking of the swimming, how ugly are the bathers/togs/swimming costumes they wear now? Full leg, full arm? Fug. I say they should bring back skimpy Speedos for men (I really don’t care about the women). I’m glad the divers still wear Speedos though. No diving competition is ever complete without some ogling of Alexandre Despatie’s crown jewels and the way they’re perfectly packaged in his skimpy budgie smugglers. I’m not drooling…much.
I didn’t watch as much of the gymnastics this year as I normally do. I did watch some faceplanting by the American women (seriously, can you do anything but laugh?), and fell a little bit in love with a Japanese male gymnast with totally pinchable cheeks. Kohei Uchimura, he’s just a boy and almost illegal! Little cutie. I could eat him up with a spoon.
China’s obviously way on top of the medal tally, and just because Western media can only paint the Chinese as bad evil people who kill and eat puppies and kittens for fun, it’s obvious that the reason China’s excelling is because they’re drug cheats. We certainly shouldn’t give those dirty yellow bastards the benefit of the doubt. I mean, it couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that there’s 1.2 billion people in the country (the probability of there being at least one person excelling at a sport just exploded), and the fact that sporting talent is spotted at a young age in China with the talented being supported by the state for the rest of their lives in special sporting academies designed to bring the best out of them. That could be logic, and we couldn’t possibly have that if we’re to demonise the country right?
Oh, and all that “OMG Michael Phelps” nonsense? I’m going to link you to two people: Lori (who was practical about the “greatest Olympian ever” nonsense) and Sarai, because she said it well - the man is not good-looking. He’s the antithesis of good-looking. He is officially fug. It’s not to say of course, that I would turn him down if he was to proposition me, because mon dios, I bet that man’s like the Energiser Bunny in the sack. He’ll just keep going and going and going and going.
Anyway, I can’t wait for the closing ceremony and all the “OMG CHINA SUX” commentary that’s bound to arise from that. Huzzah.
Filed under Asian-ness & Media with 5 Comments
August 16 2008: Red Sympathiser
Just because I’m aware that I’m being labelled by certain parties as a brain-washed Communist/Red China sympathiser (you are so subtle), a short list of some of the many things the Chinese central government does that I don’t agree with:
- State-controlled media. I support a free media (rather than the monopoly on news by the People’s Daily), a breaking-down of internet censorship and the elimination of firewalls prohibiting access to certain sites, etc. I spit on Google for censoring the search results you get when doing a search within China.
- Labour laws and official unions. While both technically exist in China, the former is hard to enforce on ground level, especially when considering the official workers unions are often staffed by those who are comfortable taking bribes from factory workers to overlook violations of the aforementioned laws. Independent unions need to be established, and the laws themselves need to be revised to include:
- Minimum wage of at least 5RMB an hour, rather than the 50 jiao (50 Chinese cents) which is the current average. It only comes to $1USD an hour which doesn’t sound like much, but which is ample when compared to the Chinese standard of living where you can get an excellent meal for 3RMB.
- Regulation of the hours that a single person is allowed to work over a seven day period. No more than eleven hours a day over six days - they must be granted a day of rest on the seventh.
- Government-regulated inspections of factory dormitory living conditions to ensure they meet standards to be specified by the WHO.
- Government-regulated inspections of working conditions (within the factories themselves) to ensure they meet workplace health and safety standards.
Among other workplace laws and regulations of course, but the above would be what I consider to be the most urgent issues for the Chinese workforce.
Filed under Asian-ness & Politics with 8 Comments