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Q: Significant anniversary. Worth remembering?
Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of one of the grimmest events in this country's long line of grim events.
But is it being remembered? No, it is not. Because, as far as the powers that be are concerned, it never happened.
But it did.
And the locals do remember. But to do so, as I did in a class a couple of hours ago, is a dangerous business.
Just waiting for the knock on the door now.
Info is available though. Just type in Karamay and be prepared to feel sad. And, if you're like me, very fkn angry!
Anyway, life....let's get on with it.
But....sometimes some reflection and remembrance can't be a bad thing. Can it?
Whatever. Peace to one and all.
9 years 20 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
Holy fuck.
I didn't know about this event before, and I can't say I'm glad to have read about it just now, but it illustrates everything one needs to know about Communism, government officials, social stratification, Chinese moral virtue, or claims of membership to the human race.
I'd be interested to know in what other country anyone would suggest that children should wait and burn in a fire so that some men could exit without being inconvenienced. And by men I mean something much less than men.
I think this story is more telling than Tiananmen Square. While one can understand why an organisation of scumbags would kill student protesters, this incident gives us a glimpse of what lies within the Communist heart: Pure self-interest, a revolting sense of superiority and entitlement, and toxic black tar.
Stories like this should prompt some serious introspection, but I doubt the Chinese public know or care about this event any more than they do about other "mistakes" in their proud history.
"To this day, the families of Karamay have not been allowed to publicly mourn their children." Considering China's plethora of suppressed memories and silent victims, I would say it has the most troubled subconscious of any nation.
Mateusz:
Some officials. It wasn't based on gender, but Party membership. Kuang Li, a woman made the announcement that the leaders should leave first, and the children and teachers need to sit, before she hid in a bathroom and barred the doors so others couldn't get in.
Male or female, Party leaders have a grossly inflated sense of entitlement and superioirity.
royceH:
And whilst she was safe (alone) in that large Russian built marble bathroom she must have been able to hear the screams on the other side of the door. When it was done and dusted there were many little bodies piled up right outside of where she was. They know the bathroom was safe but she wouldn't let them in.
It seems that the people of KM know that that woman, after serving her token period in gaol, has gone on to pursue a career in business. She's now a senior executive in an insurance company in Xian. I wonder if she's a good sleeper?royceH:
Well said, Samsara.
Chinese people and introspection.......that's a big Ha Ha Ha....
If they suddenly succumbed to a bout of the introspections there'd be people (arseholes) jumping out of windows all over the country.
To be perfectly fair, this sad event isn't censored nor is it forgotten. It is still covered in the press, with extreme discretion and closed comments, thanks to the new Xi era of reduced freedoms and general unawareness.
But it is remembered, or at least the catchphrase "让领导先" (let the officials go first) is. And sadly still of use.
But I don't doubt there's a local blackout imposed. Local governments are, for all intents and purposes, mafias.
Reminds us why communism is the worst ideology ever thought by man.
In any other country (except communist states) the children would have gone out together guided by the adults who would have made sure that every single kid is safe.
Shining_brow:
How does this relate to communism???
And when was China ever communist? Since the civil war, it's been a totalitarian oligarchy...
Mateusz:
Exactly, Shining Brow. China is communist in name only (and even then, they seem to oscillate. They still say socialist at times). They really have never been communist, nor even really socialist.
Well, the day has just about come and gone. Not mentioned by anyone. Except the KM expat lady now living in Canada who posted something on Chinese media today.
It lasted only a few minutes before being harmonized. It never happened.
But Riri is right....many Chinese ppl know the saying "sit down, let the leaders go first".
It's now all about onwards and upwards. The talk around here is of how many people drive big black cars and how many houses they own.
ScotsAlan:
There has been horrific fires everywhere..and the powers to be always try to escape blame. At least in this case some people were jailed. Google "Summerland fire Isle of Man" Not a single person brought to account. Anyway. I had a private moment of remberence today for the people who died in that cinema. I have never heard of it. Thanks for telling us.
laowaigentleman:
Alan, did any Scottish or UK government official ever tell a group of young female school teachers and children to wait while he exited the building first?
its sh1t , I read it some month or a year ago, very f@king sad story. the problem with this peasants here " mei you ban fa, we can not question the goverment actions, they could kill us, so wew just shut up and walk ... " At this time, I really want to punch them to feel the reality . then I punch myself and I know it is done in a good way. no one is hurt in his dreams
For shame...
royceH:
There is actually a lot of shame here about the fire. Shame on China and Chinese mentality.
There is also still lots of regret. Everyone knows someone who was effected by it. And there are still burnt people with shocking scars living here.
But, at the end of the day, officialdom reigns, and it can only ever be mentioned in hushed tones. The anniversary wasn't recognised because it never happened.
Arseholes.
A story which - along with practice of one-child policy forced abortion - robs the Chinese Communists (and people, since they tolerate that government) of the right to pontificate about the evils of Western societies, which they frequently do, especially the ones who have never set foot in a Western country.
Why were the officials in question not executed? I mean the system here is pretty trigger happy when it comes to torturing or shooting dead minor criminals like those vicious Falun Gong hippies, so why not those scum in Karamay?
royceH:
The 'leaders' who all managed to escape the fire because they'd commanded the children and their teachers to sit down were all government officials. That'll be the answer to your question.
