carpediem的博客
勝況空自知
正文
Ai Weiwei’s artworks may be controversial or even repulsive to a lot of people, but he chooses to speak out for the less fortunate -- when the intellectuals in china are busy at selling their souls to the evil, hoarding cash and collecting mistresses. With unyielding conscience, compassion and courage, Ai is one of the iconic figures of contemporary China. Like many other demonized characters by CCP's propaganda (From Confucius, Hu Shi to Lin Zhao, to name a few), he will be appreciated more in the years to come.
His editorial is a powerful message. They are simple words with great insight. He totally captures the one-dimensional mentality of the whole nation – “You don’t want to look at a person walking past because you know exactly what’s on his mind. No curiosity. And no one will even argue with you.”.
I’d like to compare contemporary China to Yuan Dynasty when the greedy, immoral barbarians prevailed. The China we cherished had long gone when CCP pulled down the old walls in Beijing; it died when the little red guards lashed their waist belt on the teachers; it disappeared when they demolished the Hutongs and the old courtyard houses. CCP has raped our culture, history and value systems for decades. As a result, Chinese culture becomes a fairy tale to its own people. We felt warm when we heard of the old ledgend, but it doesn’t exist in Mainland China. It may live in Taiwan, or probably in Japan and South Korea.
That being said, I still struggled when I tried to let go my cultural identity. I used to regard “being Chinese” as my religion, and were occasionally deeply moved by such a noble idea. I also felt confused and nostalgically maudlin when I found myself distance from "being Chinese". But now I realized that I didn’t lose much but gained more. The Western culture I learned to appreciate is more warm-hearted and sustainable with Christianity being its backbone. I don’t intend to romanticize the west, but it does develop a social framework to protect individuals’ rights and dignity. If I am going to bring lives to this world, this is the place where I will feel less anxious to raise them up (no poisoned milk, at least), because of this society’s moral fiber, law and order.
For any first-generation Chinese immigrants who are struggling to search for their self-identity, I encourage them to read A Free Life. The answer to our identity puzzle lies in the book. Through Wu Nan’s peom, Ha Jin says, “Where you raise your children, there’s your motherland.” Good luck to your journey!
haha. I accept all the corrections except the one on distance, because distance is used as verb here. Thank you. Happy Moon-festival!
Yuan Dynasty->The Yuan Dynasty
CCP-> The CCP
let go my cultural identity-> let go of
distance from "being Chinese".->distant
The Western culture I learned to appreciate is more warm-hearted, not sure if you can use warm-hearted to discribe a culture. I would say heart-warming.
but it does develop a social framework to protect individuals’ rights and dignity.-> it has developed?
raise them up-> raise them or bring them up