Today I was kicked and spat on by Chinese Communist Party Loyalists
Posted by Rick MG at 08:43, 13 Apr 2008*DISCLAIMER: I am not anti-Chinese, I just want to make that very clear in case people take this blog post as such. I'm campaigning as much for the rights of the Chinese people as I am for Tibetans. Millions of Chinese have suffered and continue to suffer, and it's not right that the rest of the world turns a blind eye in return for trade favours. My incident involved a loud minority, and I do not judge all Chinese by the actions of a few. I'm a quiet, shy, peaceful guy in person, but this incident really shook me up. Thank you for understanding.
On my way to the football today, I walked past a march by pro-China nationalists through the Melbourne CBD. I didn't know the march was on, it took me by surprise. What really took me by surprise were the banners:
STOP TERRORISM IN TIBET!
STOP TIBETAN TERRORISTS!
STOP THE LIES ABOUT CHINA!
TELL THE TRUTH!
STOP MEDIA DISTORTION AND LIES ABOUT CHINA!
This wasn't a protest for peace and unity, it was unadulterated nationalism of the worst kind. I stopped and with an American couple, tried to engage a dialogue with several young Chinese, to ask them why they think the West is lying about Tibet and China. I didn't get the Americans names, but they were very calm and reasoned and knowledgeable, and the Chinese students didn't know what to say. As we were talking, we were screamed at and pushed from behind by protestors marching by. The heckling and yelling was so loud, we could hardly be heard by the Chinese students we were speaking with, and they could barely hear us.
I have to leave to meet people at the football, so I walk away and yell, "Support human rights in China and Tibet!", over the shouting of the Chinese nationalist marchers.
A large section of the 10'000 strong protesting crowd stop. Suddenly I'm surrounded by yelling Chinese shoving cameras in my face. I'm spat on, and I'm continually kicked from behind. When I turn around, the culprits duck their heads and pretend it wasn't them. And now that I have an angry face from getting spat on and kicked, more cameras are shoved in my face. Flashes on digital cameras go off, I have a video camera with a Chinese media logo shoved in my face with the cameraman yelling at me and laughing.
And no one stopped to help me. NO ONE. I don't blame them really, when there's several hundred Chinese yelling at me and spitting and kicking me behind my back. But still, it's bewildering that people hurried past with their heads down and didn't help me.
An uncontrollable urge to break heads hit me, like the Incredible Hulk. I spun around to look for the latest person who kicked me from behind and I was about to grab him by the hair and sink my knee into his face, I was grabbed from behind by a police officer.
To my surprise, they told me to walk away, that it wasn't worth getting into a fight with these people. The copper said they agreed with me, but starting a fight wasn't worth it and it would just give the Chinese nationalists satisfaction.
So I walked away, went to the football, and forgot about Tibet and China and human rights abuses with 80'000 other football fans.
I got home an hour ago, turn the tv on to watch the news, to see if they covered the Chinese propaganda march. They did, but what I saw shook me to my core and I am so angry, I can barely type this.
The news report didn't show the banners. Instead, they showed a group of people marching peacefully, and at the end of the report the news reporter briefly interviewed several young, affluent Chinese international students who calmly said the march was all about promoting "peace and unity".
It gets worse. The interviewees said that they support Tibet, and that the Chinese Government is doing its best to help Tibetans. The violence in Lhasa a couple of months ago is the fault of "terrorists".
I am so angry, I'm sure steam is coming out of my ears. Not because I was kicked and spat on and humiliated, but because of the blatant lying and deceiving and manipulative propaganda.... and no one cares. No one fucking cares.
And I'm sure my blonde-haired, blue-eyed evil racist face is being splashed across Chinese blogs and media right now. Too bad no one filmed me getting kicked and spat on and abused.
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Comments
13 April 2007
1 year 38 weeks
That's a terrible experience, Rick, but no more than I'd expect from many elements in any such protest, nor from today's media - or, for that matter, the police.
The status quo is what counts, and media will be manipulated to make sure it stays. And this mentality is certainly with the Brit police.
Who is, or isn't, to blame is lost in an amoral requirement to smooth things over. And predictably, the casualty in all this gets the raw deal.
...
Reality, like time, is relative to the observer
Anthony North
2 May 2004
6 hours 30 min
It's ironic that many of the banners the local news didn't show were accusing the Western media of distorting the truth about China and Tibet!
The police could have waited a few more seconds for me to belt one of the people who kicked me, and then arrested me, so the officer who helped me out did a great job. And I'm thankful I don't live in the US where I would've been tasered!
But you're right -- no one wants to criticise a government blatantly guilty of gross human rights abuses simply because they don't want to deal with their angry response and cries of racism. Trade deals are more important than human rights.
Unfortunately, it's not just Tibetans who are denied human rights, but millions of Chinese. I'm fighting as much for them as I am Tibet.
But really, what the hell was I thinking? You can't reason with brainwashed propaganda zombies, especially ones who kick you behind your back.
10 August 2004
6 hours 2 min
...that you had such a dreadful and scary experience. I saw the news reports tonight, but no sign of angry mobs abusing citizens - all very peaceful-looking, as you said.
Where are all these un-Australian non-Australians coming from? Are we becoming overrun by other nationalities to the point where we are becoming a minority in our own country, or are these demonstrators some kind of rent-a-mob being carted aroumd the world to cause disruption wherever the Olympic torch happens to be at the time? Either thought is not a pleasant one.
The world is a mess.
Regards, Kathrinn
2 May 2004
6 hours 30 min
There were definitely Chinese nationals among the agitators, and I have no doubt they were at the march under instructions from the CCP. I wouldn't be surprised if they came here just for the protests. Their methods of taunting me, spitting on me, and kicking me from behind to provoke an angry reaction which they could photograph and send back home as evidence of how violent and racist we are is proof. It's exactly the kind of tactic you would expect from the CCP.
I know there are many Chinese who are just as critical of the CCP and its brainwashed nationalists. Unfortunately, as demonstrated today, they're probably abused and spat on to the point where they're too afraid to speak out as well.
It was really vicious, and I never want to experience that kind of hatred ever again. Especially in a place I call home and should feel safe. I'm sure if this happened in Beijing, or in a dark alley, the kicks would have been a lot worse. It was a very frightening experience, and they have no right to bully anyone.
And the fate of Tibetans and Chinese who dared oppose the CCP is much much worse than my experience. I can't help but think of the Tibetan protestors who did exactly the same thing I did, only some of them were killed or were imprisoned indefinitely in an undisclosed labour camp, never to see home again. I immediately had pictures of Tiananmen Square in 1989, and I thought of a Chinese friend who can't return to his homeland or he'll be arrested for printing political articles. This really hit me hard, knowing that if I were in China, I probably wouldn't be typing this right now.
But if I could repeat the day, I would do exactly the same thing, because human rights is something worth fighting for and I will never, ever let the bullies beat me into silence.
But there's good news. The Chinese paramilitary thugs disguised as "Olympic torch escorts" who caused a lot of the trouble in London and Paris won't be allowed into Australia. We'll be issuing local security to prevent the London and Paris scenes from repeating.
In China, these "torch escorts" are talked up as patriots who will sacrifice their lives for the flame, and the media is hyping the people into a frenzy of martyrdom. This kind of propaganda hasn't been seen in China in many years, and it's very very disturbing.
For an excellent summary of the China situation, this transcript of a recent Lateline discussion with two China experts is very eye-opening. It's a pity the Chinese people don't have access to it.
12 April 2007
2 min 37 sec
I'm so terribly sorry about your experience, amigo.
The University of my sisters has a motto: Vince in Bono Malum."Defeat evil with good"
Of course, the motto doesn't specify if such thing can be an easy one to accomplish...
Peace
-----
It's not the depth of the rabbit hole that bugs me...
It's all the rabbit SH*T you stumble over on your way down!!!
Red Pill Junkie
2 May 2004
6 hours 30 min
People are telling me I got what I deserved, and I had no right to interfere with the rally. Unbelievable. It's no wonder this world is so f*cked up if people think like that.
What a sad, sad world if we let the bullies beat us into silence.
22 November 2004
13 hours 38 min
Usually, when you say someone is a "racist", people think of a big white guy with blue eyes.
In my personal experience, Asian racists are of the most firm conviction. In peaceful environments, and thank God that is all I have experienced, this racism only showed up in simple debate, not violence.
But it showed up in technical debate - a technical point, a mathematical proof (!) is not accepted because the person presenting it is not Asian. No discussion of the technical points, or the mathematical proof details.
Just disrespect because of race.
----
if everything is under control, you are not going fast enough (Mario Andretti)
13 January 2008
1 year 41 weeks
WOW..I am really sorry for the crap dealt to you ..but I am shocked that not pne person came to your side. I am astonished at our ability to become such pathetic cowards when confronted with punks that need to learn some manners. I hate bully's and have always had a special joy in bringing upon their sorry life some shit that they won't hardly enjoy very much..My brothers taught me the importance of standing your ground no matter the cost and screw consequences..My life in the Marine Corps taught me that if we walk away while another is in danger we are worthless and beneath cowardly. I can only tell you this ..Whatever punishment you conceived of was to gentle and kind ..these punks deseved a painful reminder of the old saying that you fuck with the bull you might get the horn..
19 August 2004
1 week 2 days
Very sorry you had that experience!
It's that kind of experience that makes me very sad for humanity. We like to believe that we are further ahead in humanity maturity than we are. Given the opportunity, many people on this planet still choose the most self gratifying path at the expense of others. So much of it is that people learn from their environment, and their government uses pathetically simplistic and immature methods to hide ugly situations. Nothing is ever solved and it usually gets worse. I feel very sorry for everyone there. It’s a no-win situation for everyone except the elite.
The world isn’t going to get better until governments start focusing on humanity. They pretend to, but it’s a lie. They focus just enough on humanity to stay in power. How are people supposed to react to that other than to think only of themselves? Their government isn’t thinking of them.
We are clearly still animals that are trying to civilize ourselves. I don’t think we have left our animal nature behind yet. We, as citizens, aren’t fed up enough to do anything about it and so it continues. Some day, it will be too abhorrent for us to allow it to continue. We can see that day coming, but it’s not today. Some day though.
Wow I just bummed me out... :)