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The Spielberg Effect: China Agrees To Resume Human Rights Talks
By Paul Midler | February 27, 2008
No one could be more proud than Steven Spielberg. With only one letter to the organizers of the games, he managed to accomplished more than untold numbers of leaders have over decades.
Spielberg has expressed regret over his attempt to link politics to the games, but look how things turned out: China has stepped up humanitarian efforts in Darfur, and it has agreed to hold talks on human rights with the United States. All of this accomplished with a single letter!
You almost wish that Spielberg hadn’t done it, though. Now, every celebrity is going to think that they can effect change from Hollywood.
Anyway, not sure what to make of China’s overtures. It could be genuine, or it could be as the NY Times puts it, “a move… aimed at countering criticism from activists ahead of the Olympic Games.”
Topics: China |
February 27th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I don’t mind Hollywood celebs trying to make a difference from their sidewalk cafes on Rodeo Boulevard while sipping a double skim latte, believe it or not.
If they can divert some attention to a good cause or make some people aware of a problem that they may have previously not known about, then what’s the harm?
The useless celebs are the likes of those in places like Hong Kong that do nothing as far as social activism, despite the fact that even a tiny gesture could actually spark awareness in that population. But they’d rather just continue putting their nauseating mugs on everything from mopeds to batteries to toilet paper (you know who you are Andy Lau) in return for a few measley extra HK$.
Despite the fact that Asian (mostly HK, again) celebs are tied into and owned like indentured servants by their triad run management companies, can you imagine the impact by a Chow Yun Fat speaking up against bear bile harvesting or Joey Leung against senseless sharkfin harvesting???
No…you have suckups like Jackie Chan shilling for the thugs in Beijing for the upcoming Genocide Games and a furor over some punk taking pics of previously thought-to-be virginal little singers sucking on his beanpole, leading the police there to the suspending of the civil rights of some computer geek that stole the pics and perpetuating the truth that tycoons and celebs there get above-the-law treatment compared to ordinary citizens!
I guess it’s all about social harmony, right??
February 27th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
You have made an excellent point there. When Jackie Chan’s last Rush Hour picture was kept out of China by the censors, the actor railed against the franchise. He said that he didn’t get the humor.
Here’s a link…
http://thechinagame.com/2007/11/15/at-the-movies-lust-caution-and-jackie-chan/
February 28th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Mr. Chan has always been a disgusting little clown and suckup and I have had especially no respect for him since the day a few years ago he (again) sucked up to the thugs in Beijing by mocking and making disparaging comments about Taiwan’s democratic system.
Yes, at time Taiwan’s legislature are great at making fools of themselves but that’s the beauty of it all right? At least it’s all out there for the RENMIN (empty words in China) to see and judge.
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:51 am
While Mr. Speilberg deserves credit for sending the letter and using his name to make a difference. It truly belongs to Mia Farrow for pushing him into making this decision.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5illYvdksqi8MYvonLsaCtJcvylOgD8UP4E7O0