Article found here- http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/25/world/asia/china-activist-trial-media/index.html
This article is about a guy named Xu who got convicted and sentenced to four years in prison for "[gathering] a crowd to disturb public order". He rallied people to unfurl banners "calling for public officials to declare their assets". He was interrupted during his statement because he said he wanted leaders to be transparent about their assets. Searches for his name and "constitutional rule" on the internet are now blocked.
Sorry for such a choppy summary. Just read the article. anyways I don't know exactly for what cause he was protesting for, but it said something about findings on how much money the chinese elite has. I am not sure. I think that since he wasn't violent or anything, he should have been let go, and of course I think the censorship of his name is stupid, but maybe that is just the westerner in me. I wonder how somebody living in china their whole life would see this, if they would think it is wrong or just normal.
I'm with you here, it' so easy to think that it's ridiculous for this man to get arrested for nonviolent protesting, (and I truly do think it's ridiculous), but I never think to look at it from a Chinese, eastern perspective.
ReplyDeleteIt can be really hard for us Americans to read things like this and not read it from our perspective, just like Sam said. Freedom of Speech is something that Americans take for granted all the time, but news like this opens up our eyes to other countries who don't have the same opportunities we do. But it is probably normal for them. They are used to it, and even if they may not like it, they accept it as their way of life. I wish more countries had the Freedom of speech that we are privileged to have here.
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