Chinese ‘pretense’ party
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has become the Kingdom of Pretense: Civilized society is a myth and good government is a hoax. In the world of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), much like in Orwell’s 1984, peace is war and freedom is slavery. In China, truth is secret, secrecy is law and June 4 is just another day.
The party does not see the need to come clean, to bare its soul and take responsibility for what happened in Tiananmen Square 25 years ago. Brutality is as much the CCP’s lifeblood as capital punishment and suppression of any criticism of the government.
So pretense and pretending go hand-in-hand to create some kind of rhythm of deception in Chinese society. The government engages in pretense about almost anything in daily life, to hide failure, to hide brutality and to hide causing wanton death and oppression.
Many Chinese pretend to be content with the party and its governance, because it is easier than bucking authority.
In democratic systems, the government hands out sustenance and safety. In China, the government trades in fear and hands it out in massive quantities. Fear is the party’s best friend.
Twenty-five years ago, there were those who hoped for a better world for Chinese.
While the CCP has decided to embrace Sun Yat-sen (孫逸仙) as a “father” figure for the country, his Republic of China dream of a nation of the people, by the people and for the people, taken from Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, is more like what exists in Taiwan rather than Beijing.
Beijing’s embrace of Sun is just more smoke and mirrors — pretense. The party and Sun were on the same page vis-a-vis deposing the emperor, but whereas the Three Principles of the People contemplated a free society to protect the people, the party only ever saw dictatorship, oppression and power.
People must remember June 4 as a moment that represented the hope of the younger generation for something better, the slaughter of Chinese freedom lovers and the brutality wielded by a government bereft of love for anything other than raw power. It must be remembered until the Chinese can commemorate this day in their own way as free citizens. Hopefully it will be before the 50th anniversary.
Longhwa Lee
Los Angeles, California
More positive news, please
In response to the report on the Taipei MRT attack (“More heroic acts during stabbing spree reported,” May 29, page 1), I appreciate it. Optimism and warmth should be promoted to win back people’s confidence in society.
If people are constantly exposed to bad news and bad messages, it only increases fear.
A news report on May 22 is an example. It reported a college student saying: “Cheng Chieh (鄭捷) killed people on the Bannan Line, so I will take the Tamsui Line.”
Upon reading this, many of my friends felt more scared and they even said that society is too dangerous. This anecdote shows that negative reporting can intensify people’s distrust of society.
However, if people tried to express warmth and positive attitudes, the situation could be totally different.
On May 23, I learned that a group of students were offering “free hugs.” They traveled on the MRT and held signs offering people hugs — an expression of a positive attitude.
Many people shared reports of the activity on Facebook and they said it made them feel there was still love and warmth to comfort them in their terror. This is the power of positive thinking.
Mass media should put more emphasis on positive news rather than only reporting negative events to help people believe that there is still goodness in humanity and harmony in society.
Stephanie Yeh
Taipei
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