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From Yahoo!News
http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.ap.org/spokesman-jackie-chan-comments-out-context-ap
+ Show Spoiler +
HONG KONG - Jackie Chan's comments that freedom may not be good for China were taken out of context, his spokesman said Tuesday, while Facebook users and Chinese scholars condemned the veteran actor on the Internet in a spreading backlash.
The 55-year-old star of the " Rush Hour " action films caused a huge uproar after he told a business forum on Saturday that it may not be good for authoritarian China to become a free society .
"I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not," Chan said Saturday, adding freedoms in his native Hong Kong and Taiwan made those societies "chaotic." Taiwan, which split from China in 1949, is democratic and Hong Kong , a separately ruled Chinese territory, enjoys some free elections.
"I'm gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled. If we're not being controlled, we'll just do what we want," he said.
Hong Kong and Taiwanese legislators lashed out at the comments, with some accusing Chan of insulting the Chinese race.
Solon So, the chief executive of Chan's company JC Group and his main spokesman, told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday the actor was referring to freedom in the entertainment industry and not Chinese society at large.
Chan was speaking at a panel discussion about Asian entertainment industries and was asked to discuss movie censorship in China.
"Some people with ulterior motives deliberately misinterpreted what he was saying," So said.
Meanwhile, the public backlash against Chan grew.
A group of Chinese scholars published a letter on the Internet on Monday accusing Chan of "not understanding how precious freedom is," even though "free Hong Kong provided the conditions for you to become an international action star."
A Facebook group set up by Hong Kong users calling for Chan to be exiled to North Korea had drawn more than 2,600 members by Tuesday. The group also posted form letters urging Hong Kong's Baptist University and Academy for Performing Arts to strip Chan of honorary degrees they gave the actor.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board , for which Chan serves as an ambassador, had received 17 complaints as of Monday that his comments "hurt the image of Hong Kong and aren't reflective of Hong Kong people ," a publicist said. She declined to give her name because of company policy.
Opposition Taiwanese politicians on Monday demanded that the city government of Taipei strip Chan of his role as ambassador of the Deaf Olympic Games to be held in the Taiwanese capital in September.
I just found funny this part:
A Facebook group set up by Hong Kong users calling for Chan to be exiled to North Korea had drawn more than 2,600 members by Tuesday. The group also posted form letters urging Hong Kong's Baptist University and Academy for Performing Arts to strip Chan of honorary degrees they gave the actor.
Kind of ironic if you assume that freedom of speech is a prerequisite for a society to be called "free".
This action seems extremely contradictory to what they are preaching.
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That's pretty sad that the "American" people only know him for Rush Hour. Seriously? -_-
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On April 22 2009 07:34 deathgod6 wrote:
That's pretty sad that the "American" people only know him for Rush Hour. Seriously? -_-
My mother (of all people) and I together own every single movie he has ever put out (english or otherwise) and always see his new movies on opening weekends together, so no, not seriously.
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a LOT of chinese think/feel the same way he does, example on this forum is haduken who has written about it much in the past
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Baa?21245 Posts
On April 22 2009 07:42 Lemonwalrus wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2009 07:34 deathgod6 wrote:
That's pretty sad that the "American" people only know him for Rush Hour. Seriously? -_- My mother (of all people) and I together own every single movie he has ever put out (english or otherwise) and always see his new movies on opening weekends together, so no, not seriously.
I'm pretty sure you're in the minority. I'm pretty sure most Americans don't know of any of Chan's non-Hollywood films.
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I think most Americans know about them but generally haven't watch them. I never watch the full movie, I mostly just watch the fight scenes on youtube. As for television, every once and a while I see an old dubbed Jackie Chan movie on Spike. They're really fun to watch and the dubbing is hysterically bad!
My two cents:
Who gives a shit if Jackie Chan believes in less freedom for individuals. Just because he may be in a minority doesn't mean he doesn't have a right to believe what he believes. He shouldn't be persecuted for it. Hell, isn't that the point of freedom? Why, strip his degrees away....it's not like he got them for philosophy....
People are such hypocrites.
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I don't see much problems with such a comment, anybody is entitled to their own opinion, not whatever people just blindly believe. Maybe he's wrong for believing that having control over the population is bad, but it's nobody's place to say that he deserves to have his titles removed just for this comment?
And that Facebook group .. just unbelievable.
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Baa?21245 Posts
It's because people love to whine and bitch about stuff like this whenever it involves a celebrity. Whatever, this'll die out within the week when people find something new to harp on about. Meh.
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So Chinese people don't care, but other nations like Taiwan are crying racism against the Chinese? Grow up please, no one cares.
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On April 22 2009 08:53 Avidkeystamper wrote:
So Chinese people don't care, but other nations like Taiwan are crying racism against the Chinese? Grow up please, no one cares.
Because the current government of the People's Republic allows people that much freedom of speech.
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Baa?21245 Posts
On April 22 2009 08:53 Avidkeystamper wrote:
but other nations like Taiwan
Taiwan's not a country =P
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On April 22 2009 09:24 Carnivorous Sheep wrote:Taiwan's not a country =P
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United States20665 Posts
Give one solid argument as to why Taiwan (ROC) is not a de facto sovereign state.
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Baa?21245 Posts
Because basically no country recognizes the ROC as a nation?
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Taiwan is a de facto sovereign state
but that doesn't mean its a country.
as Jet Li would say, ask the UN
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If im not mistaken, there are 24 countries that recognice the sovereign of Taiwan.
but i can be mistaken >< studied it looooong ago
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a facebook of 2600 people?  I dont know why people bother mentioning any facebook group if it has less than like 100 000 members. 2.600 is nothing on fb where everyone just joins without even reading what it says in the title
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24 insignificant specks on the map that nobody can name.
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On April 22 2009 07:34 deathgod6 wrote:
That's pretty sad that the "American" people only know him for Rush Hour. Seriously? -_-
Well the rush hour films where his big american made movies. it's his most popular work in american although i perfer the police story movies.
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You are a country as long as u can exercise the function of a state in your territory. I dont mind if the 24 "insignificant specks on the map" are swazilan, guinea panama or whatever,the ROC , is a Sovereign territory so by deffinition it is a country, and its also recognized.
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Technically speaking, Taiwan is where the true government of China is currently. Eventually we will rise up and defeat the communist insurrectionists and retake our homeland.
But seriously, Jackie Chan makes some sense. I don't really agree with him but "adding freedoms in his native Hong Kong and Taiwan made those societies 'chaotic.'" is partly true. After the KMT got to Taiwan, things were pretty fascist, even if it was "democratic". Relatively speaking though, I think living in Taiwan 50 years ago was much better than living on mainland. My parents from Taiwan were worried about grades growing up while my girlfriends mom (chinese) was more worried about getting enough to eat.
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Zeal, the problems you cited has less to do with the freedom questions at hand than it does the lack of aid extended to PRC though, as for how democratic Taiwan was...well, until the first presidential election in the 90s, it wasn't anything close really. KMT had a death grip on the functioning of the country.
Replies getting a bit random though, instead of questioning the validity that Taiwan has as a country, one might be better served concentrating on the actual benefits and flaws of its society.
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Well, I think his comment was pretty stupid even if it was historically accurate, at least at face value. I really doubt that if China was to implement a true democratic government like a western country there would be chaos because Chinese people need to be controlled or something. Eventually I think China will implement some sort of democratic government, even if its one full of corruption and bribery. Taiwan could use a little fixing with regards to corruption too if you know what I mean.
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Yea man i'll go buy an island name it Pandoria and write my own Panda Constitution, its a sovereign territory therefore you shall all address me as president of Pandoria.
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NeverGG
United Kingdom5399 Posts
On April 22 2009 10:44 panda_inc wrote:
Yea man i'll go buy an island name it Pandoria and write my own Panda Constitution, its a sovereign territory therefore you shall all address me as president of Pandoria.
My mum loves pandas - if you did that she'd be your first refugee (which would probably be pretty awesome seen as she can cook enough good food for an entire nation lol.)
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3 Lions
United States3705 Posts
As people have already mentioned, criticizing Jackie Chan for his beliefs is rediculous and hypocritical. He can believe and say whatever the shit he wants, after all, it's America.
and Taiwan is not a country btw
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"Exiled to north korea" ROFL thats funny
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T.O.P.
Hong Kong4685 Posts
I think Jackie Chan is right. China is not ready for democracy yet. But I think China will eventually be a democratic country like the US. Currently, economic growth is the most important thing in China; having the communist party in control will be best for China's economic growth. When the communist party decides to build a bridge, construction starts tomorrow. But in the democratic society like the USA, they argue about the bridge for 10 years, then they pass a bond measure. The will try to build the bridge in 3 years, but delays and rising costs bring another bond measure to the ballot. A oligarchy is better for china's growth.
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Valhalla18444 Posts
jackie chan thread becomes taiwan thread
who woulda guessed
OH WAIT EVERYONE EVER 
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Yea its kinda silly for people who support freedoms to want to deny him his. I think in reality he was talking about economically, as in they need higher government control until the reach a high point. And everyone will have a diff opinion on the status of Taiwan -_- there was a HUGE thread a while back about it. US + some countries say its a country. China + some countries say its not. No one is going to convince the other side so lets skip the short snide comments "its not a country" or "it is a country" at the end of your comments about the issue that the thread is about.
oh and
Its a country XD
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Baa?21245 Posts
On April 22 2009 15:31 Slaughter)BiO wrote:
US + some countries say its a country.
Nope. US recognizes Chinese (PRC) authority over Taiwan and does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state.
They're trying to change that, of course, but officially, no country of importance (I'm gonna get "clever" remarks about how -insertislandnationhere- is important now) recognizes Taiwan as a country.
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lol. Jackie what have you done?
China is snapping his balls off for some remarks about crappy Chinese manufacturing quality and the rest of Chinese world hates him too now lol.
About Taiwan hmm... lol meh cbfed.
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I love giving the Chinese team leaders and press crap every year at WCG.
"Hello, have you seen the player from Chinese Taipei?"
"oh, you mean the Taiwanese guy?"
And they glare at me. ^_^
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He should just Kung Fu the people who misinterpreted him
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On April 22 2009 21:21 Energies wrote:
I love giving the Chinese team leaders and press crap every year at WCG.
"Hello, have you seen the player from Chinese Taipei?"
"oh, you mean the Taiwanese guy?"
And they glare at me. ^_^
lol see you in WCG2009 Chengdu
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Physician
United States4146 Posts
- LOL @ the 2600 = Chinese don't give a shit about Chan's comments proof: when a topic sparks Chinese interest in the internetz, then u see replies in the hundreds of thousands
- business as usual, media trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill creating easy shallow news and the classic band wagon of narrow sighted midgets who judge a man by 2 sentences and not his life long deeds
- want meaningful news about Chinese, more than just sentences?
http://www.youtube.com/user/journeymanpictures - The Last Bite - China
+ Show Spoiler +- it sounds like a random link in view of the concerning topic, but it's not; it will address a little of Chinese mentality, u will also get a contrast to the frivolous (if not biased) shit that fills our usual media channels.
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On April 22 2009 15:58 Carnivorous Sheep wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2009 15:31 Slaughter)BiO wrote:
US + some countries say its a country. Nope. US recognizes Chinese (PRC) authority over Taiwan and does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state. They're trying to change that, of course, but officially, no country of importance (I'm gonna get "clever" remarks about how -insertislandnationhere- is important now) recognizes Taiwan as a country.
Ya we never recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign state.
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Hah, if he were to be deported to N. Korea.. he would become a really big star there, I would venture. There were some Americans who defected to N. Korea during the war, back in the day.. One of them became one of the biggest movie stars in the country, even though his acting abilities were not worth shit...
Also, City Hunter is the best.. I must watch it now. The old Jackie movies are the best! Ooooh.. and Drunken Master also! Great times...
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Well, Apparently Jackie speaks Korean too!
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Yeah, he's a sponsor for an orphanage in South Korea. He generally seems like a decent fellow.
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On April 22 2009 07:45 Carnivorous Sheep wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2009 07:42 Lemonwalrus wrote:On April 22 2009 07:34 deathgod6 wrote:
That's pretty sad that the "American" people only know him for Rush Hour. Seriously? -_- My mother (of all people) and I together own every single movie he has ever put out (english or otherwise) and always see his new movies on opening weekends together, so no, not seriously. I'm pretty sure you're in the minority. I'm pretty sure most Americans don't know of any of Chan's non-Hollywood films.
all I know is that jackie chan is a big deal in the USA, period
to white people and to asians and to whoever else
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Rush Hour. Two words, three movies. The most popular movies of his over here. An effective line, and no indication of anything other than the author trying to make it relevant to as many people as possible.
I think quite a few people have probably picked up some of his movies, only to find out that they are not in english. Not to mention the movies that end up dubbed after..
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arguing about taiwan's sovereignty is a load of empty semantics
taiwan is operating independently of the chinese government, and the prc is unable/unwilling to forcibly capture it.
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I think jackie's comment was taken wrongly, but maybe if he worded it differently or if people focused on the whole of it.
Oh yeah
I will OFFICIALLY recognize Taiwan as a US citizen as a separate state today. Why? Because of all the toys that say taiwan on it. And because of Street Fighter.
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when i read about this a bit back, many of the comments on it made me think. can jackie be right? this comment in particular on digg by schleufer summed up my thoughts
"In a country that exceeds 1 billion people, I'm not sure it could be governed any other way. Democracy couldn't possibly work for even the most basic fundamentals. Think about population control- China has done what it can to reduce or at least stableize its population by limiting the number of children a couple can have. Would this methodology fly in a Democracy? No. It must become law, it must be forced and enforced.
The problems that arise from this population control are probably less than the population explosion if this was left unchecked."
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On April 22 2009 07:34 deathgod6 wrote:
That's pretty sad that the "American" people only know him for Rush Hour. Seriously? -_-
In articles like that they gloss and choose an actor's most well known film. Rush Hour was probably his highest-grossing American film...so...yeah.
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On April 23 2009 07:02 emucxg wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2009 21:21 Energies wrote:
I love giving the Chinese team leaders and press crap every year at WCG.
"Hello, have you seen the player from Chinese Taipei?"
"oh, you mean the Taiwanese guy?"
And they glare at me. ^_^ lol see you in WCG2009 Chengdu
See you there man! Come say hi to me.
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EPT
