I don't understand why we expect anything profound from any celebrity. They have no special information or qualifications that elevate their opinions above those of anyone else, so why do so many place such importance on what they say? It doesn't matter if you agree or disagree with their opinion, either by praising it or disparaging it, you're giving it more credence than it is worth.

dear lama,
will you autograph my karma wheel?

love
sharon

Hey Sharon, shut up and show us your snatch again.

Excuse me all. But doesn't she has the rigth to say what she believes in. Ok, may be she is not very good expressing in the correct way to not offend everybody, but she is saying what she thinks.
Personally I do believe in Karma and I also have been wondering why has this been happening to China.
May be she is not totally right, but may be she is not totally wrong either.
It has been a very big and deep wound this earthquake, that's for sure, but also, China has been getting a lot of help from all around the world, even from countries much more poor than China. And I think that should be the things China should be looking at, instead at getting pissed at comments that are not at all welcome or at criticizing people that is not donating money to help the victims.
I think China should be much thankful to the world than anything else. China is certainly not a perfect example of behavior, neither a very giving country with the world (just to see how is the managing of the pollution to notice there's not much interested on the benefit of the common well from China). But even all this China has get not only help but the good feelings from the whole world and instead of saying thanks and appreciate it and take it with a humble heart the complains about who hasn't donate and who has said something you don't like are bigger than any other response.
So, as much as this whatever actress is not being totally assertive, I believe she is not completely wrong either; for those who believe we get what we cultivate, and that there are no accidents in life .

You all just have to ignore these comments and move on if possible. Console the ones who are hurt or use any healthy ways of expressing your anger or frustration.
People can keep on using the freedom of speech to justify their words, but it doesn't mean you have to accept and say nothing...oh no, it's quite the opposite. You can say something back to others, however there's really no point in wasting energy and time with such meaningless speech. At least, try to ignore.

Having grown up in the US Midwest and lived in States on both the West Coast and East Coast, I can assure you all that a lot of Americans can sympathize at least empathize the hurt and lost.

We have to deal with so much trash talk in general, and don't let the media or government fool anyone of how we Americans are. Much more diverse in opinions and knowledge, as well as being in touch with humanity. I mean of course we have a lot of idiots and unreasonable people, (and many cruel people, just ask the professional workers involved in the criminal justice or psychology field) but we try to deal with it, ignore and move on as much as possible.

A lot of us are aware that many ordinary Chinese citizens are hard working people who are just trying to make their lives better and make the most of their potential in life. Everyone has their flaws and gifts, as well as down to earth goals to pursue. Just like anyone else on this planet. Well, at least for most of the human population.

One last comment.

I say I'm a realist and I know that God is real. I'm not Christian so go figure out whatever religion people wish to define me.

I will say this. For one thing, charity is a matter of the heart and no one can judge how much giving is "satisfactory" nor claim who owes favors to who. It's only actions regarding how the charity is carried out that can be scrutinized for obvious reasons.

I hope this doesn't turn out to be a big philosophical debate or pondering such as why do these bad events happen, but you all can choose whatever reason(s) or rhetorical question(s) that can suffice.

The very last thing I want to leave is say that the Almighty loves all his children no matter if they believe in God or not. A Chinese soul carries the same weight of importance and dignity as every other soul.

andros - that's fucking bullshit. What did the people of New Orleans do to deserve Katrina? What did the people of Iraq do to deserve getting invaded by the Americans? What did the people of Sichuan do to deserve getting hit by the earthquake? What did the people of Myanmar do to deserve getting hit by the cyclone? Or Indonesia and the tsunami?

There are millions of people who died from natural disasters (or man made ones) and a minscule percentage of those has anything to do with Tibet, American policy, Iraqi abuses, the junta in Myanmar or whatever stupid reason you think that these people had it coming to them "karmically"

I really hope to see her reaction when these kind of "interesting" event happens to Ms Stone & her family. I'm sure she would be very relaxed & enjoy the experience of dying hard! Her behaviour is unforgivable, she has lost a lot of her fans like me. Get lost Ms Stone! You don't deserve my respect!

The Sichuan earthquake happened because God doesn't like the ways of Chinese politics; New Orleans was flooded because Bush doesn't like black people; Sharon Stone get to enjoy life because she's got a cunt that men want. Life is so unfair!

Wonder what kind of karma awaits the apathetic Ms. Stone. Honestly this woman needs a brain and a heart.

I don't quite understand the connection between the lesson of not cursing at people.
People, whether in China or elsewhere, aren't naive or that sheltered from reality to understand that disasters can happen anywhere and anytime...

One can say that there were Chinese people that cursed at the protesters of the Free Tibet movement, then there were some Chinese people who sympathize the cause, and just as many who are ambivalent.

People helping people is not unusual or something that is beyond reason. There were and are many people around the world, Chinese or not, who are helping to ease their pain who do not have any opinions nor interests in political affairs. Chances are, a lot of them were not part of the group(s) of protesters that was cursed by the Chinese people.

Their government and some citizens could be critics of the Dalai Lama or Free Tibet movement, but I have a hard time to believe that the many who were hurt had anything, other than their place of residence or nationality, to do with issues surrounding Tibet or other politically sensitive topics. The same could be said about many people around the world who are helping them.

I believe karma exists in human relationships and behaviors, but earthquake,or any other natural disaster for that matter, has nothing to do with karma. Besides, those earthquake victims didn't do anything to deserve this deadly catastrophe. Those innocent children died in the earthquake didn't mistreat Tibetans or Dalai Lama, and some of them were actually Tibetans.

Unlike those sophisticated, info-savvy and well-off urbanites in big cities, a good majority of habitants living in the hardest-hit mountainous area are poor, pristine and nice people, I don't think many of them had the luxury of sitting in front of a computer cursing the western protesters. I doubt some of them were even well aware of what happened in London and Paris regarding the torch relay. But they'd definitely be very grateful for the help they received from all foreigners. And we Chinese appreciate very much any foreign aid/donations, especially from all those kind-hearted and levelheaded French, British, Americans or other westerners who can tell the difference between politics and natural disasters. Fortunately, Sharon Stone can only speak for herself as an individual and can't represent Americans as a whole.

And just for the record, China did "'heart' the world for a change": China helped the U.S after Katrina hit New Orleans; China aided Indonesia after tsunami smashed parts of the country; China made donations to Myanmar after the cyclone devastated its people...

Lastly, I don't quite understand how Dalai Lama became GOOD friend with Sharon Stone. Do they hang out a lot and party till dawn in HOLYwood-land or what? "物以类聚，人以群分", he should have chosen his good friend more wisely.

So, how exactly is it that karma would inflict this pain on people who have exactly zero to do with their country's policy toward Tibet. Ahh...Sharon, was Katrina karma for our mishandling of some war? Did the people of the Mississippi coast and New Orleans pay for mismanagement of the War on Drugs? On Poverty? On Terror? what????? For our political disasters?

The sad thing is that people all over the world may come to believe that she represents more of our country than the square foot on which she stands....

I would personally like to apologize on behalf of the US to the people of PRC. It's insensitive morons like her that give the rest of the world more fuel to fan the hatred of the US. With loud mouthed jerks like her and President Bush making headlines, who can blame them for hating us so? My two daughters (both adopted from China) have been raised to be proud of their Chinese heritage and will, by no means, be allowed to think that "karma" had anything to do with this tragedy!

@vera

you haven't seen any yet? then you really need to get out of your little circle and get to know more people. It's always a good thing to expand your horizon.

It was an ignorant comment poorly expressed. Shame on her for drinking and speaking, and shame on the media in both the US and China for giving air to foolishness.

that said...

Why not enjoy your life instead of wasting time judging a celebrity? Getting so excited about this is a joke.

The earthquake was a tragedy. But I find it amusing that people suddenly act like this is the only tragedy of recent time, when, in fact, people suffer in great numbers and die every day from things on there fault.

While it is better to help someone than no one at all, I would ask people like Zhang Ziyi who is so particularly upset why is not raising awareness for things like this every day.

People express sorrow, people say that's terrible, people give some money, but most of it is just self-delusion in a way -- that by expressing and outpouring of compassion they are somehow justifying that it didn't happen to them, making themselves feel better about the way they have lived.

The world is a place with lots of wonderful thigns, but life can be cruel and it certainly isn't fair. Either you are responsible for your life and others and trying to make the world better, or you're not.

All Zhang Zi Yi could pony up for her own countrymen is $144,000? How many millions does she have? And how much has she contributed to Burmese relief?

@vera

Indeed there are so many irrational "effective imitators" in China, but if you seriously think ALL Chinese urbanites are "effective imitators" at best, then I should highly doubt you are hanging out with the right cohort...besides, please never generalize all Chinese just by the few ones you knew.

Again,物以类聚,人以群分, just stop whining and bitching and get to know more intelligent ppl. (of course if you ever want to)

oh, and I sincerely wish you could end you sufferings in any Chinese shithole asap if you are currently in one :)

@shallot

"A level of hypocrisy is inherent in this remark. By this rationale, ain't you one of us who don't have a better life than to waste time 'judging' other people?"

No. The point of my post was to bring to light a hypocrisy that many seem not to realize. In contrast, while Stone's comment was ignorant (as she has just admitted) any further judgement of her overall character is equally as ignorant and not particularly judgment. The word "joke" was a inappropriate, I'll admit, and reflected my anger at seeing so much misguided energy, particulary from Chinese forum posts.

I just checked stats. Over 20,000 children under five die every day. Every two days, about as many people die from things not their fault as died in the quake. The rest of my thinking is related to that idea. Maybe everyone who says anything anytiime that doesn't acknowledge the cruelty and the unfairness of the world should be chastested too?

Anyway, it's too complex to get into here. Peace.