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Beijing is holding a human rights exhibition, the first of its kind, from November 17-26. The exhibit features all kinds of human rights related materials, such as documents, white papers, multimedia and interactive stations, as well as sculptures and other artistic works.
Dong Yunhu, a human rights expert, believes that one of the purposes of this exhibition is to set the record straight," regarding China's record and approach to human rights -- in other words, this a reply to China's critics.
“I believe the exhibition will help promote human rights in China and boost exchanges between China and the outside world on this topic,” said Dong Yunhu, vice chairman of the China Society for Human Rights Studies.
Dong Yunhu also elaborates the differences between the human rights theories of China and the West (in Chinese). For those of you that have followed this debate, there's nothing new:
西方文化比较强调自然人即人的自然属性、个人性、利己性以及个人与他人的分离性；而中国文化则比较强调社会人即人的社会性、道德性以及个人对他人的依存性。(Here he says that the west has always emphasized the individual and her selfish interests, whereas Chinese culture emphasizes social relations.) 从孔子开始，中国就强调人与人之间的相互联系，强调“人者，仁也”，用人与人之间的关系来规定人，把个人对他人的关爱和义务置于首位，注重行为符合道德要求，主张“君子爱财取之有道”。(Here he says that Confucius said "the gentlemen [jun-zi] must seek wealth only in accordance with the Way." This means that since the Way implies moral propriety and that propriety is based on the correct social relations between people, that such relations take precedence over making money at any cost or through any means. Just ask Chen Liangyu.) 相应地，在人权观上，西方比较强调追求私有财产和个人幸福的权利，注重个人权利，而中国则是比较强调个人权利与集体权利、权利与义务的相互联系。西方文化注重“争”，中华民族讲究“和为贵”，强调合作与对话，任何事情都可以对话。从一定意义上说，这也是中国在人权问题上主张对话、反对对抗的重要思想文化基础。(Here he says that Westerners emphasize "confrontation" whereas Chinese people emphasize harmony and therefore are much more open to to solving problems through dialogue. Just ask the Dalai Lama and the Taiwanese people.)
On the brighter side of things, the sculptures look kinda cool.
Photo from 163.com
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What a load of bull, like Hitler lecturing on interfaith relations.
Let's ask the Dalai Lama, the captive Tibetans, the threatened Taiwanese and the etnically cleansed Uyghurs.
"Here he says that Westerners emphasize "confrontation" whereas Chinese people emphasize harmony and therefore are much more open to to solving problems through dialogue."
I love this romanticised notion about Chinese 'harmony' vs Western 'confrontation'. If it were as black and white as this, China would be a peaceful utopia and the west would be in constant turmoil at all levels.
Good to see such an exhibition, and agree that human rights issues can be seen as different in different places... but worried that it's just a self-justification front.
Bob,
i think it is a good thing that they have such exhibitions, at least in the sense that the UN human rights regime is considered legitimate. This even though i don't think they have signed the covenant on political rights. Political rights are the thorny ones, and i'd rather see China at least buy into the human rights theories rather than saying "we don't give a shit at all."
Here he says that Westerners emphasize "confrontation" whereas Chinese people emphasize harmony and therefore are much more open to to solving problems through dialogue.
Subterfuge is the name of their game.
well, in the Chinese, you see that he uses the character 'zheng' 争 as in 争论， 争辩， 争执。
the first two mean debate, which is a plausible description of how westerners envision society working--various interest groups and segments of society debate about what is good and bad for society, try to gain the upper hand through elections or other mechanisms, etc. The Chinese on the other hand, emphasize harmony--which means that they are more likely to find some kind of compromise that manages to let everyone get a bit of whatever they wanted--it's not an "agonistic" conception of the polity the way that i think the Greeks meant it--debate in a public space as the heart of democracy and society. I don't want people to think that Chinese people think westerners are all about "fighting" or conflict, esp. if it means violence, e.g. iraq.
It could also be taken to mean that we value vigorous debate, which is not a bad thing, to us, and more or less how we think of ourselves anyway.
Okay, I'm getting sick of this little propaganda schtick that the Chinese are somehow more community-oriented than any other nation on earth. That may have been true in the past, but I don't think it's true anymore. If you ever tried to step on to a bus or subway, you know exactly what I am talking about.
This so-called "harmony" is all about pretense. Social relations? Bah. More like servitude to Confucian patriarchy. Most of the "confrontational" Westerners I know are just honest, and emotionally intelligent enough to handle let downs.
I guess the Chinese gov't just doesn't include the part about chinese people being included in these negotiations and consultations. They are completely out of the "circle of trust".
Meanwhile, us "confrontational" westerners just overthrew the Neocon agenda (peacefully) and Europe is coming to grips with their immigrant population (without having to stomp entire sections of large cities with PAP style shock troops).
What? Chinese people have bmws AND human rights now? Oh the government is so great!!!
Im looking forward to seeing the sculpture depicting the executed prisoners whose organs are harvested for transplants. Bet their relatives will be lining up for that display.
It is my human right in China, er, Shanghai not to be force-fed stinky, nasty-ass second-hand smoke spewed by knuckle-dragging, chain-smoking locals and über-cool, butt-slinging foreigners at Arch, Boona Cafe and the run of just about every other cafe in town?
Umm...I guess that's "Is it my right..." (Hard to type straight with cigarette smoke burning your eyes.)
Add Element Fresh—which bills itself as a healthy eatery—to the smoky café list. I'm sitting there right now. One bite into my Teriyaki Chicken, two smokers on either side of me light up (now that they've finished their meals).
I asked the waiter to move to me to another table. Another diner followed my lead. The smokers went on about their smoking, as smokers do, taking another long drag on their path to hell.
The new Moon River Diner seemed like it had the potential to be smoke-free (or at least partially smoke-free ... our table and the ones nearby had no-smoking signs). It's technically not a cafe, but we did see them grinding coffee beans there. We're not sure about the wireless situation, though.
DP, get a life. If you don't like Shanghai go home. No place for whingers.
I believe that Chinese people think more like a community only to the group of people around them (family, guangxi, etc...) otherwise they are much more SELFISH and impolite with the people they do not know... (check the metro you will understand)
About the harmony... maybe they mean by harmony the capacity to make people obey by sending police/army...
Clearly hdp hasn't been in Shanghai too long, or he’d know that, as much as this city is a smoker's paradise, it's also a whingers' paradise if there ever was one. A great many people are both. (Confession: I had to look up ‘whingers’.)
I’ve been here seven reasonably productive years, hdp, doing my part along the way to make Shanghai a slightly better place to live – which ain’t easy, thank you. I think that constitutes having a bit of a life.
The thing is, I’m trying to enjoy and prolong that life. Would you say I’m entitled to that; that that's my 'right'? Or does the right to smoke wherever one damn well pleases, stinking up everything and everyone within a three-meter radius, supersede the right of people like me to not to be subjected to cancerous side-stream smoke and the smoker's generally odious aura.
Do you have a genuine smoker’s (I’m assuming) opinion on this, hdp? Or are your personal polemics limited to impulsive, monosyllabic swipes?
Actually, DP, I was more taken aback by your description of "knuckle-dragging, chain-smoking locals", as if to insinuate Chinese are less evolved than the rest of us. I guess you have a problem with their monosyllabic language too.
I'm impressed that you have survived seven productive years. I have just notched up five myself.
The locals just can't get over that "cool" look one supposedly has when sucking on a cancer stick. Of course when your middle aged, have dried out lips and working on the comb-over, smoking isn't cool anymore, its an addiction.
After clocking five years here hdp, do you honestly feel I'm out of line referring to a certain segment of Shanghai society as "knuckle-dragging, chain-smoking locals"?
What's more, my statement is pointedly directed a particular group -- of whom nanheyangrouchuan clearly recognizes -- and hardly insinuates that Chinese are less evolved than the rest of us (whomever that is?).
Smoking is just hideous for multitudes of reasons. It’s an indefensible, invasive act that clearly violates the breathing space and risks the health of others.
When industry pollutes the environment in ways that puts people's health at risk, we largely condemned it. Yet, smoking, which it can be argued is simply a micro-version of the prior, constantly gets a pass from scores of people who like to think of themselves as ‘evolved’. Go figure.
OK calm down.
Actually, hdp, I'm not so worked up.
While blogging comments is a chance for me to be an opinionated sonofabitch on a number of subjects, it's primarily a writing exercise for me practice formulating solid statements or arguments, while concurrently attempting to push others to do the same with their own point of view.
I appreciate your engaging. And more than that, I admire your restraint. Often, thoughtful, articulate blogging draws the ire of those whose blogus-operandi is to name call and denigrate others.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving to you too :)