.
I wrote in a previous blog about how the "Bush Flying Shoe Incident" affected my attitude about GWB after living in Communist China for 19 months. The simple act of throwing a shoe showed me how a free society is the only real society. I think many Iraqis are starting to understand that too - as they, for the most part, had their first peaceful election this week.
.
But to my surprise, GWB isn't the only dictator getting shoes thrown at him: Below is Wen JiaBao, the Chinese Communist Party's (beloved) Prime Minister. I don't have one student who seems to dislike this man (In the Chinese media, he is constantly pictured "kissing babies" and shaking hands with Sichuan Earthquake survivors); a politician with a 100% approval rating? Something isn't right here! Have a look at what happened at Cambridge University in England:
And so the "Wen JiaBao Shoe Flying Incident" deserves equal coverage on this blog as to the pair that flew at Bushie. I don't want to write too much about this because I hope to use this clip, juxtaposed with a clip of Bush's reaction to his protester, in my classes this semester (I know some/many of my students know about/read this blog) but I will ask this question: After the shoe landed a few meters from P.M. Wen and the protester was escorted out, he said, "This despicable behaviour cannot stand in the way of friendship between China and the UK," using the word 卑鄙 (bēibǐ) which means "despicable" or "contemptible." What was President Bush's immediate reaction to his own shoe-throwing protester in Iraq?
.
In other news, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, just announced she will make her way to Asia to kick off her duties - China is on the schedule. No word on whether or not she will stop by Peace Corps Headquarters in Chengdu, but I have already sent my request to PC Director Bonnie for permission to shake a few hands if the situation presents itself.
.
I was able to watch the Superbowl yesterday via my wonderful family and the magic of Skype.
My sister positioned the computer camera in front of the the television at home and, with only a few minor interruptions and exercising my tolerance for poor resolution, I watched the entire game, but was sad to see the Steelers come out on top. Cardinals, even though they didn't get the rings, definitely deserved the victory. Looks like Kurt Warner's kids are going to have to wait to get that puppy....
More soon...
.
I love and miss you all,
.
Phil
蓝麦飞
.
P.s. Please read the comments to this post!
Posts
5 comments:
you know nothing, you are so stupid.sometime you west guys like a donkey.
Superior Comment, Anonymous!
HAHAHA!
Advice: Be a real person.
According to Chinese media, that protester didn't represent the majority of British people, and his behavior infuriated other audiences present. What P.M.Wen said was that the protester's despicable behavior couldn't prevent the friendship between China and Britain. I don't think there's anything wrong with saying the word "despicable", because we treat others politely, we have the right to denounce such behavior. Meanwhile Americans ruined the life of iraqi residents and their homes, no wonder GWB was thrown shoe by people there. These two incidents are incomparable.
I know you've been learning Chinese language. Here's a Chinese idiom that you may not know:
以 其 人 之 道 还 治 yi3 qi2 ren2 zhi1 dao4 huan2 zhi4
其 人 之 身
qi2 ren2 zhi1 shen1
It means to avenge others by means they used on you.
We will discuss in class, Geen. The two events, however, are very comparable - that is if you choose to see what the CCP does at home and abroad.
Thanks for the Chinese!
I encourage you to research GWB's reation to his "flying shoe."
Throwing a shoe at Wen in Cambridge is virtually a third-class mimicry of what happened to Bush in Iraq considering the fact that throwing a shoe at someone in Iraq carries a special connotation for the Iraqis and Bush actually invaded Iraq. So what the German student did in Cambridge came across to me more as rude. I firmly defend people's right to make their voice heard. Is throwing shoes at leaders all we can think of to do so? We're certainly better than that, aren't we?
Post a Comment