The Chinese government raised an interesting point over Google’s withdrawal. They claim that censorship is part of “Chinese culture” and that by promoting open information, the west is trying to impose their morals onto the east. According to them, an open society isn’t a better society. It’s just one type of society and that theirs is different. Their constant cry so far has been “obey local laws.”
The topic may have been done to death in the Indian blogosphere – what with the furor over M F Husain’s paintings and all. But this new logic needs to be addressed, where an entire country claims that they have the right to do anything to their citizens because “that’s their culture.”
But is it really possible to defend oppression in the name of culture? Can the Chinese government claim that because it’s their country, they can do whatever they want to the people? When the Indian moral brigade begins to attack “westernization”, they attack freedom of speech, freedom of expression, sexual freedom and many others. Should a government be allowed to violate human rights just because “their country is different?”
A person is born into the world alone. They have just one shot at life. And when they die, they go alone. They don’t take their relatives, their wealth, and neither do they take their government with them. And because they live and die alone, they owe allegiance to no one unless they choose otherwise. How then, does anyone else have the right to decide for them what is acceptable and what is not? Sure, if they freely give others that right then that’s their choice. But when a government tries to impose rules and restriction on people, it violates not just human rights, but basic common sense.
Many Chinese seem to support the notion that censorship is the way of Chinese life. But why do these people speak for every human inside China? If they personally want to be censored, then no one should stop them. But by what right do they claim that others should follow what they think is the proper way to live? Many Indians feel that M F Husain’s paintings should be banned as well. They want to transfer responsibility for what they can see onto the government.
But it’s a person’s own responsibility to decide what is good for them and what isn’t. If they wish to hand it over to the government, good for them. However, let them not demand that others hand over theirs. In my short life on this earth, I don’t need any busybodies telling me what I should and shouldn’t do and what I can see.
So to conclude, here is the finally summary for the mathematically inclined:
Human Rights > Sovereign rights
Human Rights > Culture and morals
This should really be the last word on the subject now. The charade has gone on for far too long. Fortunately we in India have a pretty cool Supreme Court that seems to “get it.” The latest judgment on the issue of pre marital sex was totally awesome!
China has done the RIGHT THING by taking necessary action against Google.
Few reasons:
Their constant cry so far has been “obey local laws.”
a) All local laws must be respected and followed. No matter how big or how small a company is..No matter how bad the local laws are….No matter how restrictive the local laws are….Law of the land is SUPREME. Certainly google is not bigger than China.
Infact China deserve praise and admiration that it UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will allow foreign MNCs to violate Chinese rules. A lesson for India where corporate greed is plundering our resources after violating our laws……
Should a government be allowed to violate human rights just because “their country is different?”
b)"Misuse of Human Rights" argument is a very potent tool . A massively successful tool used by western propaganda machinery to suppress countless countries. Human Rights as we know it is a typical western concept and is NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL concept. Chinese leaders right from day one declared that modern western human rights is NOT SUITABLE for China and look what they have achieved.
And because they live and die alone, they owe allegiance to no one unless they choose otherwise.
c) Thats what capitalism teaches us. Individualism is the hallmark of neo-liberal capitalism.
But it is FUNDAMENTALLY OPPOSITE to socialism and communism where "collective" comes before "self". "Society" comes before "self-interest". Thats the philosophy of Modern China.
Conclusion: Do u know why India lags behind China and will continue to do so?????
Because of people like ME. and YOU. and others. We take every western concept blindly without realizing if it suits Indian culture and ground realities or not. Chinese are not like that.
For example: They DONT FOLLOW Socialism or Communism.
They follow "Socialism and Communism WITH Chinese Characteristics" as per the needs of China and its people.
Bottomline…..China once again showed the world that within their territory they are the BOSS and will take no direction from ANYONE.
In reply to Indian Pundit
<blockquote cite="#commentbody-10299">
No matter how bad the local laws are….No matter how restrictive the local laws are….Law of the land is SUPREME.
So when the Nazi government said that 2 million jews should be killed, the world should have respected the local law? Sorry. A government has no right to even exist if it doesn't protect its people and give them freedom to grow.
<blockquote cite="#commentbody-10299">Human Rights as we know it is a typical western concept and is NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL concept
People all over the world feel pain the same way and have the same basic psychology. Human rights derive from that and are NOT a western concept at all. The same hold true for animal rights.
<blockquote cite="#commentbody-10299">and look what they have achieved
Without Human Rights, no other achievements are worth mentioning.
<blockquote cite="#commentbody-10299">Individualism is the hallmark of neo-liberal capitalism.
But it is FUNDAMENTALLY OPPOSITE to socialism and communism where “collective” comes before “self”. “Society” comes before “self-interest”
I made the point that humans are born into the world alone and when they die, they don't take society or the government with them. You can't argue with that fact. This is the same for eastern or western people. Individualism follows from this basic principle.
If you as an individual want to put society before your rights, you're most welcome to do so. But don't tell ME that I must should do the same. That is for me to decide.
<blockquote cite="#commentbody-10299">Do u know why India lags behind China and will continue to do so?????…We take every western concept blindly without realizing if it suits Indian culture and ground realities or not. Chinese are not like that.
Again without human rights, no other achievement is even worth talking about. All cultures in the world are made of people who share a common physiology and emotional makeup. Also, there is no such thing as "Indian Culture." There are many people in India and there's no single culture that suits everyone. "Eastern culture", "Western culture", "Indian Culture" and "Chinese Culture" are myths. There are only people.
<blockquote cite="#commentbody-10299">.China once again showed the world that within their territory they are the BOSS
Just like a school bully shows his strength by trying to beat up weaker kids. There's nothing moral or great about this.
In reply to Indian Pundit
Just one question IP – do you live in China? If not, maybe you should move there and experience the country first hand…
By the way…….who needs google……when u have : http://www.baidu.com/
Chinese have developed their own search engine. Check it out.
Thanks for your detailed reply.
Few points:
A government has no right to even exist if it doesn’t protect its people and give them freedom to grow.
Human rights derive from that and are NOT a western concept at all. The same hold true for animal rights.
Listen…Chinese people will decide whats good 4 them. Not you. Not me. Concept of "freedom" is very different in capitalist and communist countries. In capitalist countries, "freedom" means political and civil rights .For example RIGHT TO VOTE ,FREEDOM OF SPEECH etc. Where as in socialist/communist countries , "freedom" and "rights" means social and economic rights. For example, in communist/socialist countries govt. ensures FREE HEALTHCARE, FREE EDUCATION.ITS A RIGHT. But no such "rights" exist in capitalist countries. Thats why fees for higher education in USA range in thousands of dollars….and is highly expensive. But in China/Cuba and to some extent in India, it costs very less or free.
The point is "concept of rights" is different in different countries.
If you as an individual want to put society before your rights, you’re most welcome to do so. But don’t tell ME that I must should do the same. That is for me to decide.
Absolutely spot on. You are right.
But here we are NOT talking about you. We are talking about People's republic of China.
It is a socialist and a communist country. They put their society first and then individuals.
Just see the results:
India has more millionaires than China. Why? Becoz in India wealth gets concentrated within few hands…..in China its gets to spread among people. Thats why, 40 richest Chinese men have less combined wealth than what ONLY 4 richest Indians have combined.
Just like a school bully shows his strength by trying to beat up weaker kids. There’s nothing moral or great about this.
Lets consider your point.
A boy can act like a bully within his own house……..right?? China can do anything it likes within its territory. Interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign country cannot be supported or accepted. Thats what west does repeatedly. Not cool.
Again without human rights, no other achievement is even worth talking about
The point is YOUR idea of human rights and China's idea of human rights are very different.
I fully respect ur ideas but i also respect China's ideas too
China succeeded in lifting the largest number of people out of poverty within 2 decades…..so certainly Chinese system is working. Our system is not.
In reply to Indian Pundit
<blockquote cite="#commentbody-10309">Chinese people will decide whats good 4 them. Not you. Not me.
But here we are NOT talking about you. We are talking about People’s republic of China.
It is a socialist and a communist country. They put their society first and then individuals.
I agree with you 100%. And I would have no problems IF you can show me that every single person in China is happy with the government deciding what they can read.
Many Chinese placed flowers on Google's signboard outside their office. Why are these people not being allowed to choose for themselves? So when you say "They put their society first and then individuals", who is "they?" Not everyone in China wants to have their choices made for them by a third party.
<blockquote cite="#commentbody-10309">India has more millionaires than China. Why? Becoz in India wealth gets concentrated within few hands…..in China its gets to spread among people
This is simply not true. Enough has been discussed about the wealth inequality of China that some say is worse than in India.
Agree with every word here Bhagwad. "This should really be the last word on the subject now. The charade has gone on for far too long. Fortunately we in India have a pretty cool Supreme Court that seems to “get it.” The latest judgment on the issue of pre marital sex was totally cool!?"
Well said, Bhagwad!