Looks like controversies never seem to end for Aamir Khan. By now its common news that the actor-director par excellence was among the privileged few chosen to be a part of the Olympic Torch Relay and carry the Olympic torch in the capital on April 17th. However, no sooner had he expressed his happiness at being part of the prestigious event, he had to face the wrath of the Tibetan community.
For those who came in late, members of the Tibetan community asked Aamir not to participate in the relay as a protest for the injustice meted to the Tibetan community in their fight for freedom against China. Aamir found himself in the middle of yet another controversy with even some of his friends and family members requesting him to back off from participating in the event.
However, Aamir has always believed in doing what he feels is right and this time too he has done the same thing. The versatile actor has gone ahead and posted a blog on his site www.aamirkhan.com in which he has given his reasons for supporting the Olympic torch relay. “The Olympic Games represent for me the coming together of different people across the world despite their differences and difficulties. It is an opportunity for sportsmen and women across the world to showcase their talent, to challenge themselves and others, and for others to watch and marvel at the achievements of the human body, mind and soul. However, I feel that the Olympic Games do not belong to China”, says the actor.
Aamir further even made it clear that he does care for the people of Tibet, “I categorically state that I am absolutely against any form of violence, and certainly I am deeply upset whenever the basic rights of human beings are violated anywhere in the world. I would like to state that I have the highest regard and respect for the struggle that the people of Tibet are going through. I completely empathize with them. My heart goes out to them.”
Aamir also clarified that his participating in the Olympic torch relay did not mean that he supports China, “I request those of you who have asked me to stay away from the Olympic Torch Relay to understand that when I do run with the torch on the 17th of April, it is not in support of China. In fact it will be with a prayer in my heart for the people of Tibet, and indeed for all people across the world who are victims of human rights violations.” signs off Aamir in his blog.
The PRC Syndrome
“Nothing can be right with the [PRC] Chinese.”
This started in the early 1950s when Mao’s Great Leap Forward created devastation in the totally closed “New China”. It was effectively used as a Cold War slogan until this became a mindset, lasting to the present.
The syndrome created also the China Bashing Bandwagon (CBB) for people to get on and off freely and at all times. This became the favorite of American politicians and the Western media.
This mindset waned, to a substantial degree after Deng opened China up and China started to offer more opportunities to her own people and outsiders alike, until only traces left with world leaders of western democracies. Main reason was their own failure to understand how such a backward political system and culture can improve the quality of life to the populace so rapidly and to such a degree. As this puzzlement spread, western journalists began to sensationalize their reports from and on China with the conclusion that “…. a collapse (or a burst) is imminent.” All of them became hostile when no such thing happened after not-too-long a wait.
It is now a real psychiatric syndrome to which the only cure is self-initiated or rather, imposed, meditation. JMS
Japan’s Emperor Akihito and other members of the royal family are unlikely to attend the Beijing Olympics amid concerns here about China’s crackdown in Tibet and other issues, a report said Wednesday.
The Japanese government thinks it is not a good time for a rare royal visit because of the unrest in Tibet, a recent health scare over Chinese-made “gyoza” dumplings and a spat over disputed gas fields, the Sankei daily said.
“We were planning not to ask royals to go even before the gyoza incident (surfaced in January). It is all the more true now that the Tibetan unrest occurred,” it quoted an unnamed government official as saying.
Japanese authorities have confirmed at least 10 people suffered pesticide poisoning after eating tainted dumplings imported from China.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao invited Emperor Akihito and other royals to the opening ceremony of the August Olympics when he visited Japan last year.
The emperor told Wen then that the government decides on the royal family’s foreign trips, a palace spokesman said.
The foreign ministry said no formal decision had been made.
“Nothing has been decided regarding the attendance of dignitaries,” a ministry official said.
The last trip to China by members of Japan’s imperial household was a landmark visit by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in 1992.
China remains deeply resentful over Japan’s brutal occupation from 1931 to 1945, an era in which the Japanese revered Akihito’s father Hirohito as a demigod.
The two countries have recently worked to mend ties, which were strained by former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi’s annual visits to a war shrine in Tokyo, which Beijing regards as a symbol of Japan’s militarist past.
Chinese President Hu Jintao is expected to visit Japan in the coming months.
http://www.france24.com/en/20080402-japans-royals-likely-skip-olympics-report