On 21 October 2010 Louis Schmier wrote: >A few mornings ago I cut out a Buddhist saying from the >"approved" English language newspaper, China Daily, >of all places. Buddhism is one of the five "permitted" >religions --no 1st amendment here-- in what so many >Americans think is atheistic, communist China! How about >that! Talk about attacking stereotypes!
"Stereotypes"? Louis, surely as an historian with a knowledge of the thousands of well-meaning people visiting Stalin's Soviet Union and Mao's China who were duped into returning with glowing stories about the "reality" of those countries, you should know better. Wondrous were the accounts of eminent visitors to Stalinist USSR by the likes of George Bernard Shaw et al.: http://tinyurl.com/332dbz7 Of course things have improved beyond measure in China in recent times, but persecution continues for those who do not fall into line (politically and religiously). And the "stereotyping" you seem to deplore was an all-too-accurate view. >From the not-so-distant past: BBC News 9 November 2004 China's Christians suffer for their faith "They hung me up across an iron gate, then they yanked open the gate and my whole body lifted until my chest nearly split in two. I hung like that for four hours." That is how Peter Xu Yongze, the founder of one of the largest religious movements in China, described his treatment during one of five jail sentences on account of his belief in Christianity. Mr Xu, 61, is not the only Chinese Christian to suffer for his faith. Both Catholics and Protestants have long complained of persecution by the Communist authorities, and human rights groups claim the problem is getting worse. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3993857.stm More recently: Guardian 19 August 2008 It is unarguable that China today is very different from 30 years ago. Under Mao Zedong's rule, the church was driven completely underground… And [today] even the experience of those who choose to attend unregistered house churches varies. In some parts of the country, the authorities more or less leave them alone, while in others they crack down harshly. […] In the months leading up to the Olympics, the Chinese government launched an intense campaign against Christians. In February, 21 prominent Christian leaders were sentenced to re-education through labour in what one agency, China Aid Association, described as the largest mass sentencing of house church leaders in 25 years. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/19/religion.humanrights And the present: Asia News 16 October 2010 Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Beijing has prohibited a delegation of approximately 200 Protestant churches from travelling to Cape Town (South Africa) to attend the 3rd World Congress on Evangelization in Lausanne, which runs until October 25. They are all churches that refuse to become members of the Patriotic Three-Self Church, the religious organization headed by the State to gather together all Protestant denominations. […] It was to have been the first time that Chinese house churches participated at an international congress since 1949. Typically, these groups keep a low profile to avoid persecution and intimidation, just because they want to live free of official government interference. […] http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Chinese-Christians-banned-from-attending-Protestant-World-Congress-19742.html Allen Esterson Former lecturer, Science Department Southwark College, London [email protected] http://www.esterson.org --------------------------------------------------- From: Louis E. Schmier <[email protected]> Subject: Random Thought: China Diary, Ourselves Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:28:06 +0000 Diary, tonight, Wednesday, May 26, I'm diving deep, real deep, spiritually and emotionally deep, so deep most people can't or won't dive there with me. A few mornings ago I cut out a Buddhist saying from the "approved" English language newspaper, China Daily, of all places. Buddhism is one of the five "permitted" religions--no 1st amendment here-- in what so many Americans think is atheistic, communist China! How about that! Talk about attacking stereotypes! Anyway, it said, "You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." That got me to thinking about some "I can't" and "I'm not" self-depreciating stuff I had heard a few students talking about as I inadvertently eased dropped while passing an open hallway door. It reminded me of many a "It's not me," "I couldn't do that," or "I'm not" negatives that I've heard many an academic utter and stutter. […] Make it a good day -Louis- Louis Schmier Department of History Valdosta State University Valdosta, Georgia 31698 --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=5887 or send a blank email to leave-5887-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
