http://www.outofmaosshadow.com/2008/07/10/the-earthquake-the-webmaster-and-the-state/ The official Web site for the book, Out of Mao's Shadow: The Struggle for the Soul of a New China Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:36:34 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.outofmaosshadow.com/2008/07/10/the-earthquake-the-webmaster-and-the-state/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Ju Hua Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:50:47 +0000 http://www.outofmaosshadow.com/?p=27#comment-25 Hi Mr. Pan, I believe that the "greater freedom" you speak of in the third paragraph is specifically economic in nature, rather than political. As you mention in your book, "Out of Mao's Shadow," the millions of Chinese who have been lifted out of poverty by an authoritarian communist government with capitalist intentions are the least likely or willing to challenge their government on basic human and political rights. The one-party state gets stronger because it provides economic stability--a defining factor that can make or break a government. After all, the earliest beginnings of the French Revolution consisted of ballooning bread prices! And what is more symbolic of the government's attempt to crush unrest than its offer of hush money to the parents of earthquake victims? While it is true that most parents initially refused the money, the last opponents of this scandal to censor the parents had their leverage significantly lessened when the rest of their counterparts accepted the government's offer. Mr. Pan, thank you for writing "Out of Mao's Shadow." Your book touched me deeply, and I cried myself to sleep for two nights thinking about the individuals whose wonderful lives you briefly chronicled. I am in awe of their bravery and courage in the face of such insurmountable odds--especially that of Chen Guang Cheng's. The imminent Beijing 2008 Olympics is a bittersweet moment for China--whose desire to be recognized as a glorious nation has been compromised by its shoddy human rights record and political repressiveness. However, an article today in the NYTimes today pointed out that a nation has always been irrevocably changed (politically) after its role as a international host on the world stage. Hopefully, this will be true of China as well. One doesn't have to hope with naivete, however, when one realizes the audacity of certain individuals in China who are willing to sacrifice their reputation, careers, and even lives for the sake of their nation. Hi Mr. Pan,
I believe that the “greater freedom” you speak of in the third paragraph is specifically economic in nature, rather than political. As you mention in your book, “Out of Mao’s Shadow,” the millions of Chinese who have been lifted out of poverty by an authoritarian communist government with capitalist intentions are the least likely or willing to challenge their government on basic human and political rights. The one-party state gets stronger because it provides economic stability–a defining factor that can make or break a government. After all, the earliest beginnings of the French Revolution consisted of ballooning bread prices! And what is more symbolic of the government’s attempt to crush unrest than its offer of hush money to the parents of earthquake victims? While it is true that most parents initially refused the money, the last opponents of this scandal to censor the parents had their leverage significantly lessened when the rest of their counterparts accepted the government’s offer.
Mr. Pan, thank you for writing “Out of Mao’s Shadow.” Your book touched me deeply, and I cried myself to sleep for two nights thinking about the individuals whose wonderful lives you briefly chronicled. I am in awe of their bravery and courage in the face of such insurmountable odds–especially that of Chen Guang Cheng’s. The imminent Beijing 2008 Olympics is a bittersweet moment for China–whose desire to be recognized as a glorious nation has been compromised by its shoddy human rights record and political repressiveness. However, an article today in the NYTimes today pointed out that a nation has always been irrevocably changed (politically) after its role as a international host on the world stage. Hopefully, this will be true of China as well. One doesn’t have to hope with naivete, however, when one realizes the audacity of certain individuals in China who are willing to sacrifice their reputation, careers, and even lives for the sake of their nation.

]]>