I mean, he is Jackie Chan, so I guess he's kind of beyond the communist regime's reach, but I wouldn't be so sure. He is a worldwide phenomenon and has been for years, but the Chinese government does not brook so much as a single ounce of bullshit; if they really wanted to, they might go after Jackie Chan. He'd beat the hell out of all the soldiers they sent using his bare fists and a discarded candy wrapper, then escape via a shoestring and a passing pelican, but they might still try.
Anyway, Chan is now 55-years old and has seen the world - the entire world! Of any and every -one you can think of, who (besides maybe Bono) has seen as much of life and this world as Jackie Chan? He knows a thing or two, so his comments resonate, regardless of his profession. And, taken out of context, saying "we Chinese need to be controlled" sounds pretty... pro-Communist China. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't, but let's get a little background and context here, shall we?
He was speaking to an audience the AP reports as being "predominantly Chinese business leaders," as part of a panel entitled "Tapping into Asia's Creative Industry Potential" during the annual Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), which is a non-governmental, non-profit organization modeled after the World Economic Forum. However, it owes much to China, if not its government, for getting it started (Wikipedia notes its founding was "driven by the People's Republic of China") and its physical address is in Hainan, China. This year's BFA was held in Hainan, China.
Chan's full statement was originally in response to a question posed him as to censorship of Chinese filmmakers. He expanded his comments to cover society, in general, and because the BFA was specifically founded to bring together leaders and luminaries to discuss socio-political issues - including economics, integration, environment, and society, in general - it isn't like he was accepting a fricking Oscar; he was a guest, expressly invited as an expert in his field (Asia's Creative Industry) to discuss these topics - and Jackie Chan has no peers in his field.
I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not; I'm really confused now. If you're too free, you're like the way Hong Kong is now. It's very chaotic. Taiwan is also chaotic. I'm gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled; if we're not being controlled, we'll just do what we want.
- from the Associated Press article, in accordance with U.S. Fair Use Guidelines
At first, I thought Chan had more or less been given a script to read, but Jackie Chan has never really supported the move for Democracy his home province is now pushing for (Hong Kong), at least not publicly; if he secretly wants Hong Kong to become a Democratic state, he has not said so.
He choked-up when he mentioned the contaminated milk episode, then went further in his criticism of Chinese manufacturing and products, at one point saying, "If I need to buy a TV, I'll definitely buy a Japanese TV - a Chinese TV might explode."
So Jackie Chan is in favor of Communist control for Hong Kong at this point in time, so what? It is very possible that Beijing is right when it says the province isn't ready for Democracy. The fact that Jackie Chan agrees leads me to think there's something to it. The guy's at least visited damn near every place in the entire world - he's experienced life in a variety of places, containing a variety of cultures under numerous governmental structures - if he says his birthplace is better-off under Communist control, who are we to argue?
Of course, I am not completely naive; he may very well have been told/warned to remain pro-communist/pro-China in his statements to the assembly. But I do believe Jackie Chan was, at least mostly, speaking from the heart on the issues he discussed, and he certainly knows China, Hong Kong, and Chinese people better than I, so... you know. Whatever.
I just wanted to make that all a little clearer for everyone who's only heard the inflammatory "Chinese need to be controlled" bit.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
2 comments:
Chinese activists are particularly upset over Chan's comments, calling them "racist" and more. The article is from BBC.
The Rundown was the first (I'm aware of) to defend martial arts superstar, Jackie Chan's, remarks as having been taken out of context. Now, his spokesman has made an official statement, refuting the notion that Chan was speaking about Chinese society, at-large; Solon So said Jackie Chan was speaking specifically about freedom in the entertainment industry.
The Rundown stands by our characterization of Chan's remarks, which is: he knows better than we. It could be said that we are "staying out of the fight," but that isn't so; we were the first to defend his statements. I completely understand why some Chinese citizens are upset by his comments, in or out of context - whether he was discussing the entertainment industry or Chinese society, as a whole - but as for armchair, Western "activists"... well, fuck them.
I, like everyone, have strong feelings about what happened at Tiananmen Square - I was very young when that happened and those images disturbed me deeply, and have stayed with me throughout my life - and am staunchly opposed to totalitarianism in all forms. However, I am not Chinese and have never been to China, etc. - e.g., wtf do I know from what's good for them? And that carries right down the line to everyone else; Jackie Chan is not only Chinese by birth, he's one of the most well-traveled human beings on the planet!
Look at what happened to Russia. When it turned from Communism and "embraced Democracy" and Commercialism, it was swiftly overrun by ruthless gangs, its citizens plunged into poverty and despair (where before, though still comparatively desperate and poor, they had food lines and other amenities and assistance through the government), and general "chaos" ensued. Yes, any change takes time, but it's been nearly 30 years since Russian government changed and its people are still debating the merits of its former structure.
Whether discussing the society or the entertainment industry, Jackie Chan is not stupid and has far more world experience than anyone I can think of. I don't mean to sound sycophantic, nor do I mean to suggest he is beyond reproach, but in this case, I refer to his assessment, as he is the authority.
It's a somewhat ironic situation, as Chan's own freedom of speech seems to be under attack.
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