Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Celebrity Silliness: Zhang Ziyi Doesn't Understand Complaints About China's Human Rights Abuses

Well, celebrity silliness isn't only a Western phenomenon, as actress Zhang Ziyi just said she doesn't understand why some people are protesting China's human rights record. Really?

(Here's a clue, Miss Zhang: because China's human rights record stinks.)

News blurb:
Zhang Ziyi has told Vogue magazine that she is puzzled by the protests against China's human rights record before the Beijing Olympics.

Activists have criticized China's rule in Tibet and its alleged failure to do more to help stop mass killings in the Sudanese region of Darfur. Protests marred several international legs of the Olympic torch relay.

The actress served as a torch bearer for the Chinese leg of the relay.

"I don't see why people are so negative. The games are about friendship," Zhang was quoted as saying in the current issue of Vogue. "I'm Chinese and I'm proud of my country."

She doesn't see why "people are so negative"? As if protesting China's substantively inhuman actions in Tibet and Darfur were somehow the equivalent of being a spoilsport -- or a rude guest who puts a damper on a polite dinner party. Frankly, I never liked Zhang Ziyi before, and now I like her even less. Whatever, girl. Go and be the pretty face of Beijing propaganda to the rest of the world if you want. I'm not impressed.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

It'd be interesting to see how much she knows about Tienanmen Square. I've heard that many Chinese don't know much about it beyond there having been some students causing trouble about something or other.

Mad Minerva said...

There's a big whitewash about Tiananmen Square, that's for sure.

Anonymous said...

yes, we chinese know about Tienanmen Square, but we are fed up by the mean talks and constant negs by the westerns pointing fingers on china, please listen up, we are fed up, so shut up, and mind you own business, and we mind our own business.

Mad Minerva said...

In a free society, people are allowed to say what they think, so please do not tell me (or us) to "shut up." Either engage in civilized conversation and debate -- or not, but telling people to "shut up" is neither courteous nor conducive to better understanding.

If China wants to be a global player (and it does), then it should realize also that being on the international stage means that people from other nations will feel free to have opinions about China -- and make those opinions known.

Pat Patterson said...

When faced with tyranny even some actors flee while the others seek accomodation.