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Quote of the Day: Jackie Chan, superstar

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'I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not...
I'm really confused now. If you're too free,
you're like the way Hong Kong is now. It's very chaotic.
Taiwan is also chaotic... I'm gradually beginning
to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled.
If we're not being controlled, we'll just do what we want.'

-- Jackie Chan to an audience of business leaders on Hainan island.

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Comments [rss]

  • Elcheecho

    Whatever happened to context?



    In the midst of a global economic crisis precipitated by little to no regulation and uncontrolled greed, is it really such a big deal for someone to express support for regulation in front of a bunch of business leaders?



    from my experience in china, there is definitely a desire for more governing and regulation institutions such as a Consumer Products Safety Commission, Food and Drug Administration, etc.



    Besides, Chan's not saying anything you don't hear in a first-year government or political science class.

  • hubcap

    I think he means that often times, the public's consensus isn't really what is in its best interest. Take for example the profligate lifestyle in the US. Everyone driving to work in a private car everyday is unsustainable. The public transit is crap because people feel entitled to private transportation and don't pressure their leaders to fund mass transit. The politicians cannot tax gas up to reasonable prices (as in other countries) because it is political suicide. This is just one little example. Remember, most "people" are just slightly smarter, hairless monkeys. Ignorant too.

  • nanheyangrouchuan

    And since when has any totalitarian regime performed well at giving the public what it needs? Look at China and what a mess that country is. All that talk of building a whoremoanius society and yet you have to go to Africa to find anything worse, or China's pet North Korea.



    The "public" may not get what they need or want in a democracy, or get what they want and discover its not so great, but the fact that they get to participate usually mollifies them.

  • liliac

    Sounds something straight out from my fellow Colonial Western Ancestors, not too long ago btw, heed unto us, your are "childlike" for thou cannot understand true freedom, liberty and justice for all, thus God has summon us to control you..bla bla

  • BBC1

    @icecat77, Well, you don't have to put up with the monkey circus that is the HKG and Taiwan legislature. We have to in HKG. Do you have US Senators or Congressmen shouting profanities on capitol hill or disrespect protocol. Jackie was frank and he spoke his mind, just like he said Chinese products were bad in quality at the same forum. Jackie is a Chinese hero!

  • jamar

    I assure you it is a sight better to have it all out in the open rather than bubbling under the surface in a way that manifests itself more destructively.

  • icecat77

    Jackie Chan is a chump, a tool, a pawn, and worst of all a shameless sycophant. If that constitutes a "Chinese hero" these days, then this country has more serious problems than I thought.

  • MeSoHoly

    Let's all stop squabbling and start touching each other lovingly and inappropriately.

  • icecat77

    Another great example of why celebrities should keep their mouths shut about politics...this guy was trained to do kung-fu acrobatics and mug for the camera like a goofball, stick to what your good at Jackie. Since when does having a beauty like "Shanghai Knights" on your resume qualify you to analyze political systems? I used to respect Jackie Chan a lot (especially for his early films) but between whoring himself out to every mainland company looking for a sponsor, and his recent forays into political commentary, I have to say "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO".

  • Lost

    @BBC1



    Whether or not Indian elected politicians are thieves, criminals or murderers, isn't the point that they are elected, is in they are who the majority of the Indian people wanted. Otherwise they would be unelected thieves, criminals and murderers. Anyway, I'm off to Macau to rub shoulders with some upstanding government officals, if i don't get run over by a wayward taxi driver or cyclist.

  • BBC1

    @ Lost, What choice do Indians have? They vote in 2 sets of thugs, the Congress Party and the BJP. That's why you have the raging Maoist revolution in India because they can't change their fate with the ballot box. I have lived in India and in China. China is eons better than India. No 3rd world country after WW2 have attained first world status without going through the authoritarian phase. Taiwan was ruled by KMT, Korea by Park and Singapore is still authoritarian. HKG was ruled by the Brits with an appointed governor and no democracy. All 4 places achieved 1st world status. No 3rd world non-European country have achieved first world status under a democracy since WW2. Jackie spoke his heart and the truth, China is just not ready for democracy yet, maybe in the future.

  • robdotr

    Here's wikipedia before it gets edited out, lol.



    http://screencast.com/t/H9WWOXbS0

  • BBC1

    The mother of all chaos is India, where a majority of the elected politicians are either thieves, criminals or murderers. Frankly, having seen the US electorate vote in an idiot like GWB, pehaps Jackie was darn right.

  • thedonald

    Agree with Jackie.



    Could you imagine giving the right to vote to your average Anhui peasant?

    These people need to be told what to do period.

  • BBC1

    Yeah, like in HKG, the electortae voted in folks like longhair and Wong Yuk Man. What have Long Hair done for Hong Kong except to pull stunts and Wong is bringing the gutter politics into HKG, even using profanity in the legislature. Jackie has my full support!

  • gongbaojiding

    Taiwan and Hong Kong are more chaotic than Shanghai?



    I find that pretty hard to believe, somehow... given that Shanghai, with all it's "control", is more chaotic than any city I've ever lived in the US...

  • BBC1

    Having been to Taipei, and lived in US cities, I have to say Shanghai have muck better public infrastructure. Just look at the woeful public transport in the USA. Also, I can walk the streets of Shanghai safely, even at 1 am, can you do so in any US city?

  • jamar

    Someone hasn't been watching the local news lately, it seems. And HK is everything Shanghai should be. As I was told by an HKer- it's not that HK is too expensive, it's that Shanghai is too cheap.

  • gongbaojiding

    "Could you imagine giving the right to vote to your average Anhui peasant?"



    And this would be different from giving the right to your average Arkansas redneck... how?

  • thedonald

    "And this would be different from giving the right to your average Arkansas redneck... how?"



    I do not have any firsthand knowledge of Arkansas rednecks but Alberta rednecks would be literate and understand certain civilized concepts such as hygiene. Although slow, they would definitely exhibit some sense of logic and basic reasoning. They are skeptical of authority and do not hesitate to voice any opposition.



    Tha Anhui peasant would none of the above.

  • Pirx

    This does not help anyone, it displays a mindset of British colonialist.

  • nanheyangrouchuan

    wow! He must need funding for a movie or something, what a way to kowtow.

  • kfpanda

    Hello, Jackie, before we are getting 'controlled', please control your mouth. Thank you.

  • trademind

    Jacky Chan is such a looser m*therf*cker

    just keep doing your stupid ass movies and shout the f*ck up

  • chinsagy

    This is depressing.

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