Idiotic Comment of the Day: Jackie Chan Unsure If China Should Be a Free Society

Hey, obviously you don't have to be American to be an actor who sticks his foot in his mouth. Observe Asian film star Jackie Chan's foot-tastic moment, brought to you courtesy of blogfriend Dignified Rant:

BOAO, China – Action star Jackie Chan said Saturday he's not sure if a free society is a good thing for China and that he's starting to think "we Chinese need to be controlled."

Chan's comments drew applause from a predominantly Chinese audience of business leaders in China's southern island province of Hainan.

The 55-year-old Hong Kong actor was participating in a panel at the annual Boao Forum when he was asked to discuss censorship and restrictions on filmmakers in China. He expanded his comments to include society.

"I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not," Chan said. "I'm really confused now. If you're too free, you're like the way Hong Kong is now. It's very chaotic. Taiwan is also chaotic."

Chan added: "I'm gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled. If we're not being controlled, we'll just do what we want."

Ai-ya is all I can think of saying right now! Then again, Jackie's been known to say goofy stuff before, like sneering at the Taiwanese presidential election (between Lien Chan and Chen Shui-bian). Just can't quit lobbing cheap shots at Taiwan, can you?

Thanks for nothing, Jackie, especially in terms of the many Chinese dissidents (and political prisoners) whom you've effectively stabbed in the back. Don't even get me started on Chan's little sneer at Hong Kong and Taiwan, where democracy activists are working hard. Geez Louise, the sheer arrogant, selfish NERVE of this guy, who -- wealthy, famous, free to jet-set and enjoy a kind of luxury that millions of people can't even dream of -- is basically saying "a good life of freedom and privilege for me, but not for you." He's even FROM Hong Kong.

Stick to making movies, Jackie. That's what you're good at. Pfffffft.

Meanwhile, don't you want to know if Hong Kong really is, as Chan says, "too free"? Not from what I've heard. And if you care to have a look, Hong Kong's press freedom has deteriorated since the 1997 handover. You can also look up the news reports of numerous pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong since 1997. (Here's one I linked at random.) Too free? Not by a long shot, pal.