the lazy streets so undemanding...

Thursday, May 05, 2005

Anti-japanese protest

It might have been off the peak now, but as a Chinese, I would like to add my remarks on this issue.

For the past few weeks, hundreds of thousands of Chinese people have taken to the streets to protest against Japan, venting their frustration on the things that Japanese government has done recently. I assume you all know what they are, but let's go through the list:

1. new history textbook. This is in my opinion the most shameful act among all. They are changing the truth. It's like betraying history.

2. bidding for a seat on the U.N. security council. It will not be in china's best interest, but it's their right to do it. Just like it's our right to vote against it.

3. Japanese politicians visiting Yasukuni shrine. It's their right to do it. I am just laughing at how stupid it is for them to honor those son-of-a-bitchs who sent their own japanese men to be killed in battle field.

4. No formal apologies on WWII. I can live with that. I don't give a damn if Koizumi apologizes or not. Moreover, i believe we should forgive our enemies, though never forget their names.

So in general, I believe the demonstration is for a good cause and it IS a fight for democracy and freedom of speech. However there should be more than just anti-japanese protest. It should not be the only theme of protest allowed by the china government. There is a handful of issues more in need of demonstrations than this japanese thing. eg. the rampant government and corporate corruption, the growing gap between rich and poor, improved mine safety and the very fact of not being allowed to protest! So I would really like to see a history repeat of May Fourth Movement of 1919 -- a nationalist demonstration that began as a protest against Japan's inheritance of German concessions in China but ended up changing a few more things.

GXL got high at 2:59 PM

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