Jan 04 2008
The dissidents dilemma
One day a while back, Lee came for lesson and bought a newspaper for me. “I think you maybe interested.” It’s a Newsday (I think), an article on a Chinese dissident who’s cancer and longing to go back to Beijing, to live out the remaining of his life.
The story outlined his journey, from a dissident (don’t remember his name) in Beijing, to two seconds fame on the Capitol Hill testifying in front of the American congress, to becoming a labor (have they ever thought as what to do with their lives before leaving China?) trying to make ends meet by selling fruits in Flushing, moving furniture in a store.. .. Guess he’s usefulness had expired, the human group or whatever that got him out of Beijing isn’t interested to see the well being of him. It didn’t put him up in a fully funished apartment plus monthly stipend, medical insurance, etc.
I truly admire those who have a cause and go for it, it require courage and sacrifice. But in the process of many movements, there are lots of opportunists. When the opportunists meet the groups that looking for candidates, they can make noises. Like the Golden Venture smuggling boat ran aground in New York in 1993 (the news interrupted the French Open coverage), were those young men escaping the one child policy or they were seeking better life? In the hands of lawyers and human groups, they all had cause, became saints. Give me a break, will you? Those under world dealings are beyond us. They don’t represent us. If the policy makers really want to hear the truth, they should go to China, not thought those dissidents. Walk the streets in Beijing or anywhere, you’ll hear the voice and feel the vibe. I think most people had great respect for Wei Jingsheng before the Americans got their hands on him.