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Recent Comments:
A Canadian in Beijing: The Forbidden Tian'anmen {Gadling}
Jul 9th 2007 10:07AM i had a friend who was a student in china during the "uprising", yet had never heard of the massacre until she came to canada. she told me, in fact, that she would not believe it until she saw footage of the protests on tape.
i pondered about that idea for a while and realized that a lot of the vocabulary i had learned while studying mandarin had been taught to me through "the great firewall of china." for instance, i once looked up the entry for friendship, or another similar word in the dictionary i was given for free by the people at the chinese embassay, the sentence i am prompted with is "the army is the friend of the people."
let's just say, one should think about chosing their friends wisely if that sentence is to be true.
thought-control still exists in china to this day, sometimes in more subtle ways than others. it seems that people are at times voluntarly duped and other times simply lack access to non-governmental media sources.
anyways, i'll miss your blog. you were our translator for seldom told stories that need to be heard.
be good,
-j.
A Canadian in Beijing: The National Bird of China {Gadling}
Jun 24th 2007 12:24PM Ember,
I've seen a few movies, recently, exposing different parts of theses issues. You might want to check out the NFB's Manufactured Landscapes and Jia Zhangke's movie The World (Shijie).
Enjoy the end of your stay in China.
-j.
A Canadian in Beijing: Shannon's Wings {Gadling}
Jun 18th 2007 10:08AM there is something to be said about a world so toxic that safe heavens need to be built to prevent one specie to destroy another. there is also something to be said about our conception that by locking things up, they have a better chance to survive. i mean, really, why don't we try to work on what is making our planet, our societies, our communities toxic? rather then locking up those who are more affected by it.
i have only met S. once, but she was a great friend to a lot of people in my circle. at different times in this past year i've heard her friends mention her name, recollecting a special moment spent with her. and every time, i send a thought to other endangered souls out there: our world needs your sensibility, your humour, your intelligence, your beauty, your quirkyness, your smile. and, maybe, i should add, your wings.
be good.
-j.
A Canadian in Beijing: Laoshe Cha Guan (Laoshe Teahouse) {Gadling}
Jun 18th 2007 8:51AM wow. i went to laoshe's tea house and it did not have such a fancy entrance. in fact, i remember that we looked for a good hour, before we actually found it.
somehow, i also think i remember those men's bird calls.
thanks for the flashback!
-j.
