Posted on 12/21/2009 11:18:04 PM PST by Mr. Jeeves
Editor's Note: Officials in China are a special breed. They tend to be restrained when facing the press and stick to the scripted lines. But occasionally they can be caught off guard and make some of the most unusual remarks one can expect from public servants, including those that are funny, annoying, ironic or simply heartless. You can laud them for speaking their minds, or you can criticize them for their big mouth, but you cannot deny that these retorts, rebuttals and asides add much needed color to an otherwise drab portrait of Chinese officialdom. The top 10 everything of 2009.
1. "We are of high-level positions. So don't bother to call the police."
2. "Why doesn't the public reveal their assets first?"
3. "I will have your website shut down if you (journalist) dare to report it."
4. "Go straight to the fifth floor. Don't choose the first or second floor."
5. "You are doomed to be punished if you fight against the government. Any action against the government is illegal."
6. "You are a mouthpiece for the party (CPC) or the people?"
7. "Build, baby, build! We will make up for your loss."
8. "I say 99 percent of repeat petitioners are mentally ill."
9. "Which media organization do you work for?"
10. "Are you a member of the Communist Party (CPC)?"
Detailed explanations of each quote at link...
(Excerpt) Read more at chinadaily.com.cn ...
From what I understand China is becoming more and more Christian, although overt free churches are not legal.
I am watching with interest. I have a philosophy that true Christianity breeds a free government, and as you become more secular or Muslim, the government becomes more restrictive. I keep wondering if the Chinese will ever truly become free.
I think it was demonstrated in WWII that the Chinese people, by and large, love freedom. I’m praying for their liberation now more than ever.
>>>I think it was demonstrated in WWII that the Chinese people, by and large, love freedom.
I think the larger point was the Chinese really get annoyed at being slaughtered by Japanese. Neither Chang nor Mao offered much in the way of freedom beyond that.
bump
And then there was that quote by a politician when asked about whether the constitution allowed for passage of a health care bill said “are you serious?”
Oh, wait. That wasn’t China.
A friend who has worked with the church in China says that "everything you hear about China is true." Meaning that the stories about repression are correct, but the stories about the church growing in other areas are also correct. The middle class is exploding and Western in its outlook, but there are still 800 million poor people who support a Communist style of governance. The military is expanding and threatens its neighbors but at the same time China has no interest in territorial expansionism other than Tibet and Taiwan, which is sees as its rightful possessions.
China is so big that you can pick any set of facts you want to form an opinion, and you will be right.
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