___
May 29, 2003 2:45 PM   Subscribe

For those concerned about loss of Liberty in the United States: a look toward China. Four young friends who met on Bejing University campuses to discuss their progressive politics and posted occasional essays on the Internet have been sentenced to long prison terms, accused of "subverting state power."
posted by the fire you left me (22 comments total)
 
Wow, looks like we have a whole bunch more to lose before moving to China becomes a rational exercise in freedom enhancement.

[snipe at BushCo. snipped for the righties].
posted by wah at 2:59 PM on May 29, 2003


So... because we're catching HIV from our government we should be glad that we don't have China's long-standing case of hepatitis? Nothings changed over there. Remember Tienamen Square? That's the way China's always been. We, on the other hand, are facing a changing climate, and it's a change for the worse.

It'll take more than a pity-parade for China to make me feel thankful my government is rooking me.
posted by Perigee at 3:00 PM on May 29, 2003


China also just jailed South Korean photographer Seok Jae-Hyun for photographing a group of fleeing North Korean refugees.
posted by homunculus at 3:08 PM on May 29, 2003


Constancy on China
posted by homunculus at 3:13 PM on May 29, 2003


A very good example of why its important to not let any of our liberties here be taken away. The more liberties we lose, the more we'll be like China. Look around you, are we getting more like China or less?
posted by michaelonfs at 3:16 PM on May 29, 2003


more!
posted by PigAlien at 3:42 PM on May 29, 2003


I'm sorry, I really meant 'Smores! I want some Smores!'
posted by PigAlien at 3:43 PM on May 29, 2003


I'm sorry, I really meant 'Smores! I want some Smores!'

When we shout s'mores, the terrorists win
posted by ElvisJesus at 4:12 PM on May 29, 2003


Before we come down too hard on China, please note that 50% of all bikes worldwide and 9 of every 10 in the U.S. are made in China...what does this mean or suggest? I have no idea.
posted by Postroad at 4:51 PM on May 29, 2003


A lot of terrible developments could happen in the US without it lowering itself to China's level. That doesn't make them any less terrible.
posted by Poagao at 6:51 PM on May 29, 2003


Ahhh.. Nothing like a good irrelevant conclusion to make a spring evening perfect.
posted by eustacescrubb at 7:28 PM on May 29, 2003


Thats what happens when you practice Democracry in a Communist Nation. My heart bleeds eternal...
posted by WLW at 8:20 PM on May 29, 2003


damnit you guys! I came on metafilter all drunk and saw this post and thought I was going to be able to say something really funny to, you know, razz the poster about how silly his FPP was? Well you guys all beat me too it and I am so MAAAAD now! Oh my god!

At least we're not in China, where I wouldn't be able to post this message freely.
posted by wrench at 1:35 AM on May 30, 2003


America's beautiful skies are falling! [lafs]
posted by ZupanGOD at 2:38 AM on May 30, 2003


I'm sorry; I can't stay away...

I sense a whole new genre of MeFi post being born here:

For those concerned about racism in America, remember things ain't as bad as they were for Jews in the Holocaust.

For those concerned about our bombs blowing up innocent people in Iraq, remember, things ain't as bad as they were in Nagasaki.

For those concerned about Radiohead/U2/insert band name here's change of style, things ain't as bad as they were when Miles changed from bop to cool, or from cool to fusion, or fusion to boopy 80s music.
posted by eustacescrubb at 6:00 AM on May 30, 2003


So......how many American citizens are being currently held incommunicado (under the iron rubric of the "War against terrorism", detained indefinitely at the whim of the U.S. government without any legal recourse, perhaps for the rest of their life? Isn't it around four? Or is it more?
posted by troutfishing at 6:39 AM on May 30, 2003


Similarly, I smack my wife each night and tell she should be happy. I could be O.J.
posted by obfusciatrist at 8:23 AM on May 30, 2003


My thoughts and prayers are with those men, and their wives and family.
posted by gd779 at 9:02 AM on May 30, 2003


Stop whining about your broken leg; grandma has cancer!
posted by fidelity at 9:48 AM on May 30, 2003


Look around you, are we getting more like China or less?

Little by little, more and more, but still a long way away, thankfully.
posted by homunculus at 2:45 PM on May 30, 2003


After all, we can still joke about it.
posted by homunculus at 2:48 PM on May 30, 2003




« Older Modern Modular   |   japanese wood-block prints Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments