Polyglot Incarnate

I’m writing because I think that most of you have no idea who Liu Xiaobo is, and since I just retweeted a bunch of stuff about him, I figured I ought to explain a little. And, well this post is the last in my series of 3 on China, and then I’m back to nothing interesting to write about.

If you ask any Chinese person on the street about Chinese Nobel Peace Prize winners, they will tell you that China hasn’t gotten one. But if you know a little bit more, you follow with this: “Yes you have: two actually, Liu Xiaobo and the 14th Dalai Lama.” And then they shake their heads because they are not happy with either of these awards. Period.

Tibet is part of China, and will always be according to Chinese thought. Which makes the situation sticky and volatile, since Tibet wants to be its separate nation. I don’t think I need to say more.

Liu Xiaobo is a different story. He was awarded the prize for Charter 08. He spent time crafting this petition to the government, that was later posted online. People read it, signed it and forwarded it to friends. (Hence this post is on topic.) Eventually the Chinese government noticed. They arrested Liu Xiaobo and drained his bank accounts, and he is now in prison, and was not allowed to go receive the award. His trial was overly meticulous, and to an American reader it was ridiculous. Once the world found out about this, they gave the prize to Liu Xiaobo because Charter 08 is about human rights. The Chinese take the award as an attack on their choice of imprisoning Liu Xiaobo, which attacks the legitimacy of its government.

A few words on Chinese government: There is a constitution, but right now China is still transitioning into a governing system that relies on rule of law. Before the fall of the emperor, all power relied on relationships, in other words: politics. To illustrate my point: In Beijing the drivers obey the traffic laws only because there are cameras everywhere, and if they don’t obey the laws they will be fined. Driving in the countryside is another story: It doesn’t matter if there are double yellow lines, drivers behind you will still pass you, they will even pass you on the shoulder. For the same reason what is written in China’s constitution is not always followed.

So, the moral of the story: In China social media can be dangerous, and never drive in China.

Signing off-

Alice