Yesterday in Los Angeles, over 1,000 Chinese/Chinese-Americans protested in front of CNN’s Los Angeles office (as reported in The Los Angeles Times). Why do you ask? Well, if you haven’t been following this brewing “controversy,” CNN’s Jack Cafferty commented on April 9th during the airing of “The Situation Room”:
“We continue to import their [China's] junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food and export . . . jobs to places where you can pay workers a dollar a month to turn out the stuff that we’re buying from Wal-Mart. So I think our relationship with China has certainly changed. I think they’re basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they’ve been for the last 50 years.”
CNN later said Cafferty’s comments were directed at the Chinese government, not the Chinese people. To be honest, being called “goons and thugs” I don’t think is all that constructive, but I don’t think it is as horrible as the protesters have made it seem (China and the Chinese have been called much worse…) But, I do understand the growing concern of the demonization of China. I’ve written before about how this reminds me of the criticisms raised during Japan’s “rise” in the mid-to-late 1980’s.
Certainly, there are many valid concerns regarding a variety of China-related issues, including most recently, Tibet. Obviously, with the 2008 Beijing Olympics approaching rapidly, bringing up any China-related issues makes sense to those groups trying to bring visibility to their cause.
If the United States were hosting the Olympics this summer, I am sure there would be plenty of protests of our continued involvement in Iraq, as well as a host of other issues by many different countries, including our many allies. I’m all for free speech and certainly was glad to see other countries and its citizens protesting America’s foreign policy and war mongering prior to Bush’s decision for a preemptive war into Iraq (I’ve *always* been against the war).
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judy wrote:
Jackal Cafferty is too old and ill! He seemed to be suffering from a morbid narcissism. He made an exhibition of himself like a nit-witted loon at The Situation Room, without knowing what he was havering. His bad-mouthing and backbiting did not only offend Chinese all over the world but also bring shame to the people of the United States. The jackal termed Chinese a bunch of goons, then what about his fellowmen who do business with Chinese and buy products made in China? How can people abide such a smug gink who has a filthy tongue and is deprived of the minimum decency required of professional journalism? Does his irresponsible remarks give people another interpretation to the freedom of speech of the US? It might be a wise decision for CNN to sack him and for US to expel him.
Posted on 20-Apr-08 at 5:36 am | Permalink
Cara wrote:
I always wonder when people criticize foreign government, what’s their real agenda? Do they genuinely care about the people in that country or are they just taking advantage of a bad situation, some shipwreck elsewhere that might possibly benefit them.
Posted on 20-Apr-08 at 10:29 am | Permalink
BornInChina wrote:
“Being called goons and thugs not that horrible..”simply “because China and Chinese have been called much worse”?
You totally missed the point here. Cafferty was making this comments while CNN selectively reported on the torch relay by ignoring the presence of supportive Chinese there. In addition to just giving the spotlight to those who opposed the Olympics, CNN decided to spread some dirt on those who supported the Olympics via a rabid professional biter as Cafferty.
If part of growing up to be Asian American is to justify being called “goons and thugs” as not that “horrible”, good luck with carving an identity for yourself in this society with dignity and respect.
Posted on 20-Apr-08 at 10:34 am | Permalink
Jeff Wartman wrote:
Well, if it makes any difference Cafferty is exactly right; China is a despotic and totalitarian country which continuously abuses the human rights of its people and is a vocal opponent of freedom.
Posted on 20-Apr-08 at 12:59 pm | Permalink
John wrote:
From the local coverage I have seen regarding the torch relay, there has been plenty of coverage of Chinese supporters. Having actually been to the torch relay, I saw plenty of Chinese supporters as well myself.
If I’ve done something that deserves to be called “goons and thugs,” then that’s fine - people are entitled to their own opinion. Certainly, one should be careful with a blanket statements that Cafferty said. I don’t recall whether or not Cafferty has shown unfair systematic bias against China, but if he has, then I can understand some of the outrage.
If you re-watch what Cafferty had said, he is also criticizing U.S. foreign policy (i.e. U.S. invasion of Iraq, which has lead the U.S. to having to continue to run deficits, often financed by China and other countries) and general past practices of Walmart.
Overall, CNN does a much better job of providing a “fair and balanced” view of the news than let’s say, Fox News, but there is always room for improvement.
Posted on 20-Apr-08 at 1:05 pm | Permalink
Cara wrote:
So we are supposed to settle for CNN. If all we can rely on is CNN, it is really sad. I encourage Americans to read more about foreign countries. Get more perspectives outside our little boxes. China and America have two things in common. One is the control of media; another thing is that their citizens don’t travel much. We don’t have to believe in one source, get smart, think for ourselves. I am especially sad to see that not many Chinese Americans are outraged by the CNN incident. If they think that by distancing themselves from the Chinese will help them become more “American”, they are wrong. I think BorninChina had a point, we need to carve an identity for ourselves in this society with dignity and respect.t
Posted on 20-Apr-08 at 1:29 pm | Permalink
BornInChina wrote:
John,
To your post @1.05pm, three things.
Cafferty is a professional biter, no question about that. But in this country, there is a bottom line, which is you do not target a racial group. He could attack a party and a government, but in this case, he attacked a racial group, aka, the Chinese. and do not you think that he will be able to tell the difference between you and me. Don Imus lost his job because the AA community fought back, and you, on the other hand, was partially trying to justify it by saying that it is not “too horrible”.
In addition, do not use FOX as a benchmark for journalistic integrity and excellence - it is way way too low as a comp. Sadly, CNN is getting there, by giving spotlight to demagogues such as Lou Dobbs; by wrapping itself with blue and red color scheme, by doing whatever is necessary to grab eyeballs. Fox definitely showed where CNN is going when it hired Greta Van Susteren out of CNN, and asked her to go through plastic surgery (to look more palatable to its audience despite her talk was good enough for Fox already).
Lastly, do you think CNN covered the 1000+ people that protested at its LA office? I did not see it on its website. Isn’t it a bit ironic that CNN is now turning blind on what is happening outside its office?
Posted on 20-Apr-08 at 2:42 pm | Permalink
BornInChina wrote:
I apologize - I found an article on CNN on the LA protest, so I take back my point III
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/19/cnn.china/index.html
Posted on 20-Apr-08 at 2:45 pm | Permalink
John wrote:
1. That’s an interesting argument regarding Cafferty and Don Imus. ‘Goon and thugs’ though are generic insults, not specific to a racial group as far as I know, and I think Cafferty was then or later clarified that he was regarding his comments to the Chinese government and not the Chinese people. “Nappy-headed hos” is specific to African-American women. But I understand where you are going. If Cafferty had said “those Chinks,” I could see the uproar. Cafferty could have certainly phrased his comments more eloquently.
2. Fox News - well, I was kind of being a little sarcastic there. I agree with your comments regarding Lou Dobbs - he’s gone crazy the past 5 years. I miss his show when it was purely a financial reporting show. Television news clearly hit a new low last Wednesday with ABC News’ first hour of inane questions to Clinton and Obama.
Posted on 20-Apr-08 at 7:19 pm | Permalink
Grace Chu wrote:
I’m pretty certain the “goons and thugs” comment was directed at the totalitarian Chinese government. They *are* goons and thugs! Anyone of Chinese descent who is currently living in the United States ended up here as a result of the thuggery of the Chinese government! I’m a little surprised and disappointed that people of Chinese descent in the United States are taking the comment personally. Perhaps we can educate people by making it clear that we don’t think the Chinese government is so great either but that we hope the aura of thuggery doesn’t extend to the Chinese people, who really have no control over who governs them. And it certainly doesn’t extend to Chinese-Americans.
Posted on 21-Apr-08 at 8:30 am | Permalink
BornInChina wrote:
Grace, you said
“Anyone of Chinese descent who is currently living in the United States ended up here as a result of the thuggery of the Chinese government!”
That is too much a blanket statement. I assume that you are of Chinese descent - in that case, let your parents or grand parents, or those of other people, speak for themselves.
Posted on 21-Apr-08 at 10:39 am | Permalink
Akrypti wrote:
BornInChina:
Yeah, exactly, because you know, it’s not like Grace derived her conclusion FROM her parents or grandparents or other immigrants from China to the U.S. during the Cultural Revolution… you know, she pulled this out of her ass, came up with these arbitrary contentions in a complete ahistorical vacuum.
I’m sorry, but YEAH. Most of the folks here of Chinese descent ARE here as a result of the thuggery of the Chinese government! Um…duh?! If China was this humane liberal utopia back then, 90% of us wouldn’t be here arguing this issue IN ENGLISH.
Posted on 21-Apr-08 at 12:27 pm | Permalink
Ernie wrote:
My parents are in the United States because of “Chinese goons and thugs.” Of course, my grandfather also fought under Chiang Kai-Shek, who some people ALSO consider “Chinese goons and thugs” but that’s a completely different angry blog post entirely.
Hey, I was born in Fremont.
Posted on 21-Apr-08 at 12:31 pm | Permalink
Akrypti wrote:
If someone said George Dubya Bush and his cronies are “goons and thugs,” I’d hardly be at arms about it. And I’m Republican. Hu Jintao has been the Chinese George Bush for sure. I don’t contest that somewhere inside Hu’s head, he thinks he’s doing everything he’s done for the good of his country. Unfortunately, almost everything he’s done has caused disaster in the lives of those affected. And he doesn’t seem to give a rat’s ass about that.
Posted on 21-Apr-08 at 12:40 pm | Permalink
John wrote:
My father came to the United States (from Taiwan, native Taiwanese) for graduate school and stayed because he felt at the time, the opportunities in the U.S. were better.
Ernie - yeah, I guess one could call the Nationalists (KMT) a bunch of “goon and thugs” as well. Especially after the 228 incident. Taiwan wasn’t really a true democracy until 1996.
Posted on 21-Apr-08 at 12:42 pm | Permalink
John wrote:
Akrypti - I think “goons and thugs” would be too gentle a phrase for the Bush administration :-).
As for Hu Jintao being the George W. Bush of China, I think that is going a bit too far :-).
Actually, I have no idea what Hu Jintao has done or hasn’t done for China.
Posted on 21-Apr-08 at 1:00 pm | Permalink
Cara wrote:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article3756437.ece
Click here.
Try to hear what people around the world have to say about CNN and America.
Get some new perspectives. It might even help this country to grow.
Posted on 21-Apr-08 at 10:09 pm | Permalink
Grace Chu wrote:
If someone said George Dubya Bush and his cronies are “goons and thugs,” I’d hardly be at arms about it.
Me neither. Because it’s true!
My father came to the United States (from Taiwan, native Taiwanese) for graduate school and stayed because he felt at the time, the opportunities in the U.S. were better.
I kept the Taiwanese out of it.
My mom is Chinese. My dad is Taiwanese.
But the Taiwanese have dealt with Nationalist goons and thugs as well as Communist goons and thugs (who seem to be intent on huffing and puffing and pointing missiles at Taiwan every few years).
Posted on 22-Apr-08 at 10:11 am | Permalink