Jackie Chan

[BoulderDawg]

I've read the comments that Jackie Chan made before a group of Chinese Business men:

"I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not," Chan said Saturday. "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."

He went on to say that freedoms in Hong Kong and Taiwan made those societies "chaotic."

Chan's comments drew applause from a predominantly Chinese audience of business leaders

I'm beyond shocked. Jackie Chan is a racist. I respect the man's right to his opinion on politics. There are many people on this board who have brought into the Chinese government propaganda they spread hook, line and sinker. That said his suggestion that the Chinese people are simply stupid children that need looking after is no different than the comments made in this country a 150 years ago as an argument to not free the slaves.

[taai gihk yahn]

I'm beyond shocked. Jackie Chan is a racist.

no he's not: he's talking about fellow Chinese - how exactly would that constitute racism, if it de facto applies to him as well?:

I respect the man's right to his opinion on politics. There are many people on this board who have brought into the Chinese government propaganda they spread hook, line and sinker.

Chinese government propaganda has been going on for millennia; I don't know who has bought into it, it's pretty apparent that historically the government has been relatively oligarchic and repressive in its content;

That said his suggestion that the Chinese people are simply stupid children that need looking after is no different than the comments made in this country a 150 years ago as an argument to not free the slaves.

that's a bit of a reach; while it is suggesting limitation on personal freedom, it's not in the sense that one group of people should be owned by another as property;

sounds more like the man has some sort of quasi-Confucist political perspective; nothing new there - the history of China has been an on-going debate about just how much freedom people should have, from the rigidity of the Confucists to the anarchy of the Taoists and everywhere in between; the way that sort of comment is going to be perceived in China is not the same as it would be received elsewhere in the world

[ngokfei]

JC is making these comments as a Rich Man as many of the new elite of China do.

On many a program I've seen how these individuals want to protect their ability to compete in the world market by controling their workers (ie: paying them very little $$ compared other countries).

There is no such thing as true Communism. What we see is Dictatorships using military force.

He still made some cool movies though

[TenTigers]

people who live under tight control and suddenly find freedom often become decadent. Look at Russia, HK, and Catholic High School Girls.

[BoulderDawg]

no he's not: he's talking about fellow Chinese - how exactly would that constitute racism, if it de facto applies to him as well?:

In police stations all over America some of the most racist attitudes towards blacks are held by black officers.

The real dividing force here is weath and social status. Chan has lost touch.

that's a bit of a reach; while it is suggesting limitation on personal freedom, it's not in the sense that one group of people should be owned by another as property

doesn't matter, the argument is about freedom and whether or not an entire race of people is intelligent enough to decide their own faith.

[ngokfei]

Yep can't forget the USA. We were so moral and ..... under British Rule. Now we've gone and infected the world

What about those Hung Ga Exponents

[Yum Cha]

Did you get the ads of him flogging the Chinese Olympics in the USA, both the Chinese Olympic Committee and Visa series?

He's a party man, as one must be to be successful in China. Shock Horror!

And as most people will tell you, the government does not control China anyway. Governing in China is like herding cats.

[uki]

the history of China has been an on-going debate about just how much freedom people should have,

it's evident in most cultures and nations... freedom... that funny little word at the center of our existence.

from the rigidity of the Confucists to the anarchy of the Taoists and everywhere in between;

there is no order without chaos.

the way that sort of comment is going to be perceived in China is not the same as it would be received elsewhere in the world

imagine that... people who misunderstand each other.

Governing in China is like herding cats.

if i had been sipping tea, it would've most likely come out my nose...

[BoulderDawg]

And as most people will tell you, the government does not control China anyway. Governing in China is like herding cats.

Really? I bet all the millions that staved to death during the great leap forward would take issue with that statement.

[Kansuke]

I'm beyond shocked. Jackie Chan is a racist.

Why? So are you.

[Scott R. Brown]

A lot of Chinese say that. Chan is right. People don't have the cultural background for self determination. Life has alwasy been driven by fate and examinations. Always has. After that its just finding a wife/house/son and hoping the next generation does well on the provincial exam. Singapore is a jewel of Asia and they use the cane. Money and education is the long term solution, but until then, canes should be in use. When the canes get dusty, add some freedom.

I was in a wetland park yesterday in Chengdu where they take polluted water, run it through ponds and over rocks and in the end fish can live in it. Its teaching kids about ecology etc. A man was fishing there to steal goldfish to take home and providing lures for the kids. No one did anything although some people were talkiing to each other about it. I publically admonished him calling him a low class theif and questioning whether he was a man. He acted like he was going to fight, but eventually left with his head sunk when I equated him to the Japanese stealing the people's property. He knew he was wrong, but there were no checks and balances. All he needed was for one person to tell him no.

Just because something is against the law doesn't mean it is wrong!

[BoulderDawg]

A lot of Chinese say that. Chan is right. People don't have the cultural background for self determination. Life has alwasy been driven by fate and examinations. Always has. After that its just finding a wife/house/son and hoping the next generation does well on the provincial exam. Singapore is a jewel of Asia and they use the cane. Money and education is the long term solution, but until then, canes should be in use. When the canes get dusty, add some freedom.

I was in a wetland park yesterday in Chengdu where they take polluted water, run it through ponds and over rocks and in the end fish can live in it. Its teaching kids about ecology etc. A man was fishing there to steal goldfish to take home and providing lures for the kids. No one did anything although some people were talkiing to each other about it. I publically admonished him calling him a low class theif and questioning whether he was a man. He acted like he was going to fight, but eventually left with his head sunk when I equated him to the Japanese stealing the people's property. He knew he was wrong, but there were no checks and balances. All he needed was for one person to tell him no.

Money and education the long time solution? Seems to me I heard something about that also being Mao's goals too. Didn't the literacy rate start rising every year when Mao took power?

I still don't know what some poor smuck stealing fish has to do with this. I think instead of busting his chops for breaking a petty law you should loudly protest the government and regulations (or lack thereof) that caused the water and air to become polluted in the first place. Of course you'll go to jail but it's got to start somewhere.

[SteveLau]

Some people have defended on these words by JC as he is not very good in verbal and diplomatic skill. I tend to agree so. And also some reactions to these words are over-reactive. Tentigers is correct. When people receive too much freedom, they tend to abuse it. And that is what JC meant when he said Chinese needed to be controlled. So, let us calm down.



Regards,

KC
Hong Kong

[Violent Designs]

A lot of Chinese say that. Chan is right. People don't have the cultural background for self determination. Life has alwasy been driven by fate and examinations. Always has. After that its just finding a wife/house/son and hoping the next generation does well on the provincial exam. Singapore is a jewel of Asia and they use the cane. Money and education is the long term solution, but until then, canes should be in use. When the canes get dusty, add some freedom.

I was in a wetland park yesterday in Chengdu where they take polluted water, run it through ponds and over rocks and in the end fish can live in it. Its teaching kids about ecology etc. A man was fishing there to steal goldfish to take home and providing lures for the kids. No one did anything although some people were talkiing to each other about it. I publically admonished him calling him a low class theif and questioning whether he was a man. He acted like he was going to fight, but eventually left with his head sunk when I equated him to the Japanese stealing the people's property. He knew he was wrong, but there were no checks and balances. All he needed was for one person to tell him no.

Thank you Andy I agree completely.

From a fellow Chinese.

外国人不明白。

[Violent Designs]

i still don't know what some poor smuck stealing fish has to do with this. I think instead of busting his chops for breaking a petty law you should loudly protest the government and regulations (or lack thereof) that caused the water and air to become polluted in the first place. Of course you'll go to jail but it's got to start somewhere.

no .