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Subscribe to RSSPORTLAND, Ore. -- A vivid mural in an Oregon town that depicts a Tibetan monk's immolation and promotes independence for Taiwan has created a dust-up with China, whose consular officials have asked the city to take "effective measures" to stop such advocacy.
The mayor of the town of Corvallis, where a Taiwanese-American businessman installed the downtown mural to express his political views, responded by telling consular officials free speech laws barred the town from taking any action.
The status of Taiwan and the human rights situation in Tibet is a contentious political issue for China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province to be eventually unified with the mainland.
See a picture of the mural in this article from the Corvallis Gazette-Times
Tensions over Tibet are at their highest in years after a spate of protests over Chinese rule and self-immolations by Tibetan activists, which have prompted a Chinese security crackdown.
"There is only one China in the world, and both Tibet and Taiwan are parts of China. It is a fact recognized by the U.S. and most other countries in the world," read an August 8 letter to Corvallis city leaders from China's Consulate in San Francisco.
"To avoid our precious friendship from being tainted by so-called 'Tibet Independence' and 'Taiwan Independence,' we sincerely hope you can understand our concerns and adopt effective measures to stop the activities advocating 'Tibet Independence' and 'Taiwan Independence' in Corvallis," it added.
Group: Teens set selves on fire, taking Tibet burnings over 50
'Freedom of artistic expression'
The brightly colored mural, painted last month, runs 100 feet long and about 10 feet high along the top of a building at a busy intersection owned by businessman David Lin, who came to America from Taiwan in the 1970s.
The mural shows the immolation of a Tibetan monk against a bright yellow background and depicts a Tibetan monk being beaten by Chinese police, in addition to what the Corvallis Gazette-Times described as "images of Taiwan as a bulwark of freedom."
Lin, 65, told Reuters he had long been concerned about China's role in Taiwan and Tibet, and commissioned the mural because: "I feel that somebody has to stand up and do something."
Lin told the Corvallis Gazette-Times that he was "under a lot of pressure to take down the mural," saying his family and friends were concerned about possibly being arrested if they go to China.
Still, he did not plan to remove it. "I'll just keep it the same. ... I've got to live my life, that's all."
PhotoBlog: Tibetan man sets himself on fire in protest
Municipal leaders said they had informed the consular officials that there was no room for the city government to get involved in such a matter.
"I responded to them that I was sorry to learn the art work caused concern," Corvallis Mayor Julie Manning said, adding that she told Chinese officials in a written response that the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, "and this includes freedom of artistic expression."
The Chinese consulate then sent representatives to Corvallis to express concern in person on September 4. Vice Consul Zhang Hao and Deputy Consul General Song Ruan met with Manning and City Manager Jim Patterson. That meeting did not include any demands.
Corvallis, about 80 miles south of Portland, has a population of about 54,500 people. It is home to Oregon State University, which Patterson said has an estimated 1,600 Chinese students.
The Chinese consulate in San Francisco did not respond to an email request for comment and could not be reached by phone.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
It seems to me that China thinks they own America.
Even though Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already sold the United States of America to China collectively she has not informed the general public of her actions yet.
China may not own America, but they do hold the mortgage.
Hummmmmmm ... Doesn't this remind you of home? ..lol
Everybody has their own thing, that they think is important ... and as they grow more powerful they tend to want to enforce their values & will on others... China's no different ... and now they are one of the big guys on the block ... if we aren't careful they will be putting trade restrictions on us! What would you do without your Chinese "fix" of consumables from wherever you shop? lol
"NOW WALMART SHOPPERS ... the store is empty of cheep goods .. but come back tomorrow and we'll have "Made in America" again!" A trade embargo would put Walmart out of business!
We have tried to dictate to the people of the world how they should live and act for the last fifty years and now its coming back to bite us in the ass !
Perhaps when we put "Truth" & Liberty" back on top ... and put our own people back to work, making our own products that we need ... we can tell them to "SHOVE IT" with dignity!
Jeffrey:
She probably got confused when she saw all of our jobs Romney sent over there.
Yep. Good thing that the mural didn't depict a fence on the border or portray gays or minorities in a bad light. It would have been destroyed in an hour, and the only reminder of its passing would be three weeks of TV appearances by the "Woe is us" crowd.
@Jeffrey D Parks
Took all of one post for this to turn political. Congrats dolt.
Trust me, Americans would survive and adapt. We where not always a lazy, self concerned, money hungry, sell out society. Might be good for us to have to pay more at Wall mart so more of us can work.
The old American way was "do or die", we would find that spirit again if it meant going without "stuff" from China.
Denver:
I think there'd be a lot less people that would support your bigotry than you think, not just the liberals.
China complains about everything...what a nation of cry babies...a lot of cry babies! Go Oregon ducks...quack quack back at you China!
I want to applaud the people of Oregon, I really do. It's just so hard because, well, it's Oregon. Good for you folks of Oregon, I think.
ss
Not sure how that happened when her husband signed the trade agreement we have with China today. It seems Clinton enabled the Romneys to do this.
Who cares if they hold the mortgage. Just like a bad investment or a house under water, it's a risk they took and maybe they'll lose. Welcome to capitalism.
I think we should ask China for a short sale on the debt we owe them, just like in America!
John:
I hope you didn't throw out your back, because you sure reached on this one.
That's like saying it's Chevrolet's fault if you drove one of their trucks drunk and killed some family.
Just because you have the ability to export thousands of jobs overseas, doesn't mean that you should.
Again, hope your back feels better.
John....blame others much? I thought that was the GOP's campaign platform this year...don't blame the last president for this president's failures. Well I guess we'll never get to know what presidential failures Willard would have. BTW, you should stop complaining if you believe in capitalism. Outsourcing jobs to China is exactly what capitalism is all about...making the largest profits or getting the best price possible through competition. Unfortunately, Americans aren't well educated when it comes to economics or finance, so the older less educated folks are the ones still complaining.
Bill....
It's possible we would default on the mortgage, but that means we would shoot ourselves in the foot in the process. The fortunate side effect of this current arrangement is that they can't screw us without running the risk of screwing themselves harder.
If they crumble and take this down I hope businesses all over America put more up. It is bad enough we have let foreign interests buy up a sizable portion of our country, we absolutely cannot let them try to exercise control over our citizens. @!$%# china and their cheap lead covered junk!
Are we governed by the U.S. Constitution and We the People or the governments of china and israel?
Warwick, Rhode Island, April 2012: Pilgrim High School paints over the portion of a student's mural that depicts a heterosexual married couple as part of a man's evolution from childhood to adulthood because it "may not represent the life experiences of many students at Pilgrim High School."
San Antonio: The city's Office of Cultural Affairs removes the image of two men wearing sombreros from a mural at the old Mission Drive-In Theater.
If speaking/writing truth is evidence of bigotry, then I am guilty as charged.
This story has no memories of the good old days so I'm not reading it.
Livinginthewoods ...... that depends on which party you will be voting for this November. Corporations are not limited by borders, thus plenty of foreign companies have come here to purchase assets and plenty of our corporations have shipped American jobs overseas. Then again, capitalism would dictate that this trend will continue to increase over time. We could pass legislation that forces foreign entities to form a joint venture with an American firm in order to do business or start a business in the US. I do quite a bit of work in China and they require every foreign business that wants to do business there to form a JV with a chinese partner. I'm sure there are conceivable downsides to these types of arrangements, but it definitely seems to limit the pace of foreign direct investment. The only way to truly protect this country's financial interests is to focus on creating jobs that can't be outsourced and building things that can't be assembled elsewhere, like infrastructure projects.
If we focused on renewable energy technology and sustainability, both would provide major cost reductions and manufacturing opportunities for America. We just need to be focusing on the next global evolution in technology and applied science in order to stay in front of the copycats. If we go back to the old ways of doing business, we'll forfeit our considerable development advantage and we'll be overtaken by countries that are willing to invest in long-term solutions to major global problems.
Nice try, Denver, but that's not what you insinuated and does not jive with the assorted collection of bigot-laden innuendos in your post history.
But you can try to twist your own words as much as you want.
Note to NBCNEWS.COM;
____________
Did you even consider , in hopes of good journalism, running a photo of said mural ?
WTF does china have to do with it?
Sleuth, I will be voting Democrat this Nov. and I agree with most everything you said except I would like to see ownership laws more like mexico. You have to be a citizen to own property in mexico, period.
Nice try, yourself. My words speak for themselves. And I back them with facts and examples. The innuendo and insinuation is your interpretation of them.
Observer_1:
I don't think it says that at all. The classical term for it is "enabling". These trade agreements with developing economies are a way for corporations to bypass civil rights laws along with environmental protection laws. Clinton had to know this would happen because his critics warned him that it would (they were right). You would think he would have learned something from the not-so-successful NAFTA trade agreement. Did he honestly think companies would do the ethical thing by signing these agreements? Please....
Sleuth23:
I only place blame where it deserves to fall. In this case, the entire China movement had a lot to do with Clinton signing the trade agreement. Maybe this link will help refresh your memory.
Chinese men have notoriously small penises. Men with small penises tend to have Napoleon complexes (for the same reasons Napoleon did, of course). Napoleon thought he was entitled to ruling the world as a result of his complex. China is leaders are all men. So, is it any wonder Chinese leaders have the same misconception about their own entitlements?
LOL! The above isn't totally racist at all....oh wait, yeah it is.
Good or Bad ... it was Nixon who opened the doors to China!
And it's all about constructive regulations and forethought ... which in the U.S take a back seat to greed and control of simpletons like Paul Ryan .........
How cute, the Chinese think that they can stop freedom of speech in the US. Sorry guys, outside your country, you cant take away any of our freedoms.
Didnt the British think that the US was just another territory too? How'd that turn out for them?
Keep the mural up. Embrace Taiwan.
And honestly guys, when it comes to keeping jobs in the US, both political parties sold us out as soon as they could.
denver bill 2
China may not own America, but they do hold the mortgage.
How so bill? They own 9% of U. S. debt while the American people hold 42%. Seems to me the American people hold the mortage.
Come on, newscover. Nixon's policies did not spark the great migration of American jobs to China or else we would have already talked about this issue 30 years ago.
In 2011, the Federal Reserve, which is not a government agency, held about 42% of the national debt. Saying that the American people hold it is like saying that, because I borrow money from a bank, I am responsible for the bank's debt. On second thought, when I consider the voracious nature of government and the rape of the taxpayer, you may have a valid point.
NObama and the Hillarious Hillary sold us out to China as soon as they could. shipped in workers from china to erect, and maintain wind farms. only one of the flaws in our current administration.
just another bickerfest topic put out by our media government propaganda machine to take our minds off the real issues. cry baby China can keep crying... the truth hurts doesnt it?
Quite the nonsensical rambling you have going on there without a single truth. I think it is you who needs to cry more. You could blog for kleenex ffs.
It's hilarious that you think any president would be different. They are all the same the only difference is the D or R next to their name. No one except other inbreeds will take you seriously when you play the same tired name games also. We're tired of hearing NObama, Obummer, Odumbo, so on etc same with republipuke and democraps.... It's childish and unintelligent.
Amen F Walsh! But, it's all they've got. Why anyone would take them seriously is beyond me.
Mike...
All you have to do is read posts like NaughtyMossy's above to see that logic and facts are not their strong suits
EXCUSE ME? It Was your first gay president Richard Nixon who made that "historical" visit the Commie Republic to get things started. the new world order" that bush sr. Talked about. You got alot of god dam nerve. Your selective memory sucks as you continue to hate America..
China has proved itself over and over to be the most greedy of all. with all it's land mass it wants Tiwan, those islands that Japan just purchased and Tibet. JUST LIKE LIKE THE GREEDY CORPORATIONS THEY WANT MORE MORE AND MORE.
Tibet is a real society with real people under real attack. Unlike the precious redneck fantasyland crap fabricated here. Completely beside the point, but you'd have to take your head out of your ass to see that.
the only problem is it wont be any different under romney in fact it might even be worse. more outsourcing of jobs, more free trade agreements, and more insourcing of foreign work for govt/state jobs. i dont see any change from either the republican or democratic leaders currently in office or running for office. the only way we will see any change in this country is for a third party to get involved made up of regular americans and small business people. the ones who realize how bad free trade is hurting our national economy. we need to end free trade raise tarrifs and limit imports if we want to see our nations economy starting to grow again.
on a side note why the heck do we even have free trade agreements with countries like china who are even more repressive towards their citizens then saddam ever was?
ron paul 2012 he was the only candidate that knew what the problems where and spoke up about changing them!
Sorry China, we aren't going to run anyone over with a tank to satisfy your suppression of free speech here.
What the hell does anything you babbled on about in this post have to do with the article except the mention of China? You guys never cease to amaze me. Don't you stop to read the mush you put out before you hit "post"?
China can censor what is happening in China and not meddle with free speech in America or other places like it demand in Africa to stop Dalai Lama from visiting. Does China want all countries in the world to toe inline like the Chinese government does to it's citezen? tough luck. This being America is called freedom not censorship, Oregon town did the right thing by not kow-towing to chinese demand
full wrong,.......it was the republicans,.....JORGE BUSH mainly the salesman he only made 9/11 , then, the war for the weapons of mass destruction for to keep the people's mind bussy in the mean time he and his gang was selling the jobs to china,....what we got from G B ?,........unemployment, and a big debt with china,.......before him USA was the land of milk and honey,.....it was stil the hope of the " american dream " to come true,......since the year 2000 the so called american dream did become a nightmare,....now we hope that obama reverse the wrong doing of bush in only 4 years ?,.........come on,......bush did all in 8 years,....ussualy take more time to fix than to do, for to fix the mess of mr Bush will take at least 20 years
Good or Bad ... it was Nixon who opened the doors to China!
And it's all about constructive regulations and forethought ... which in the U.S take a back seat to greed and control of simpletons like Paul Ryan .........
"To avoid our precious friendship from being tainted by so-called 'Tibet Independence' and 'Taiwan Independence,' we sincerely hope you can understand our concerns and adopt effective measures to stop the activities advocating 'Tibet Independence' and 'Taiwan Independence' in Corvallis,"
The only thing I'd tell the Chinese---STFU. suppress freedom of speech and other basic rights in your country if you want but don't come over here trying to suppress ours.
I want to be free from China as well. I want to be able to buy something made in the USA.
China cut our throat beginning with the steel mills. They produced it under cost just to cripple our metal business. Same thing with consumer electronics. Make them cheaper, steal the technology and the market is their's.
Do I need to go on? This has got nothing to do with foreign policy. The Chinese have gutted our economy by providing cheap goods, under cutting prices and crippling our industries because no one could turn down that big Chinese bargain.
If they hadn't stolen all the technology in the first place, we wouldn't be having these problems.
No research and development cost. Steal that information, pay the workers 11cents an hour and bingo, you have a huge new market.
China wants that mural taken down. Knock knock, puddin' head, this is not China, it's America.
I say we put up more murals.
Isn't this suppoded to be about China complaining about the mural. Who are the nit-wits that made it all about politics?
F Walsh
i guess i would have to say.... it sounds like you are the ones who are crying over NObama being a O-dumbo, making the majority of the working class feel the Obummer effect hurts your feelings a tad more than mine by the sounds... do you buy your own kleenex, or are you a welfare drool as well?
almost forgot... because we have had 12 strong yrs of bush policies, i would almost think the DNC would have had another candidate run against the clown, and the dems would be jumping for joy... nope.
hope and change....lol we got that and more from lack of action from the squatter in the WH on matters important like the economy, jobs, the works A-Z. now i have hope for change in my pocket by the time the next paycheck arrives. now before next election he and the fed reserve want to down us more... printing more $.
NObama 2012.... vote romney ryan instead
tell china to f--- themselves and then go to hell. no country tells us what to do. bought or not.
China doesn't understand America very well if they think they can order a town to take down a mural supporting freedom!
China shut your pie hole !!!
Bad karma you lost your VP
China.. what are you smoking? I can not believe they even asked us this..
GM in Michigan. A group of Chinese were stealing tech right out of the building and GM kicked them out the back door. When 2011.
Also GM was hit with a virus this summer that shut down over 60 computer's that were running engine diagnostic for two weeks. These were GM's latest engine designs.
China also run's some of the Admin on GM computers from China how nice.
GM gave money celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China
Chinese government was pressuring GM to give away its proprietary electric car technology as a condition for exporting its electric cars to China.
GM again caves to Chinese pressure. In September it was the electric car. In April it was the Cadillac which will be built in China.
What difference does it make. GM has moved almost all of their offices and factories to China since their bailout with our tax dollars.
Why all the talk about China owning the US? They own only 8% of the US Treasury debt......almost exactly as much as Japan and England combined. So why not talk about the Japanese and Brits owning the US?
You people are as dumb as a stone. Have any of you ever looked up an actual fact before you shoot your mouth off? You must all be right wing Republicans.
A large number of Americans stand by apple pie , the flag and Motherhood , but, salute to the all mighty dollar.
Own wealth and our willingness to direct so much of our lives to the highest bidder or sell anything and the inherent greed attached to it and minions who follow like carrion ( for power) are the problem. Wise us. Henry Kissinger did more , behind the scenes, not only as part of the government but had significant impact on how and when American business was introduced into China. The Republicans funded a war on T Notes to China and kept it out of our books. Bill Clinton got most favored status granted on trade agreements with China, which helped spur their growth and our tight fiscal relationship with us. Jeff, go get some history books and read about how individuals , in both political parties , have aided in this, rather than bash someone who has done an outstanding job in securing our interests worldwide. Ahh, finally , trillions of dollars are floating out there since 2008 and prior. What are the central banks , companies and financial institutions doing with it to help the world fiscal situation? When you start to probe that question, you get a gist of the real problem.
Steve,
I agree with your information, though I would like to add one thing.
Between 2000 and 2003, when the GOP lost status in the House and Senate, the regulations protecting and controlling how much and how businesses were able to utilize the free trade agreement were relaxed so that the original design of the agreements were completely distorted. The original agreements allowed for US businesses to export a "portion" of their operations to other countries, largely allies of the US. Russia and China were included in the agreements to try and placate the tensions caused by the fall of the Soviet Union and to assist the Russians in jump starting their economy.
The key word here is; Portion.
I don't have the exact dates in front of me, but legislation was introduced to open the markets so that big business could combat what they considered "out of contol" labor unions. Other US companies could only compete if they dislodged their unions, or moved their manufacturing and assembly overseas. This cost the US over half the blue colar jobs we had. Add to that, the number of positions that were re-vamped at less than half the pay many of the skilled workers originally received.
I advocate control of the labor unions, just as I advocate the continuity of business regulation and removing life necessities from the trade-market. You may call it socialism, but I don't feel that food-production, Gas and Oil, Health Care and pharmacueticals, or utilities should be traded on Wall Street. Speculation has no business in any of those services.
Quality and innovation is what put the US on top of the World economy and it's the only thing that will put us back there. IF big business doesn't sink us first.
That said, China needs to heed what is within her borders and get the Hell out of our business. The Constitution is not going to be changed to placate China's "feelings".
The "all-mighty dollar" represents people's time and resources. It's a measure of prosperity, power, and success. Get over it. Or just live your life differently. Nobody says you have to "worship" it if you don't want to.
SF - but isnt it odd that christian conservatives ARE the ones worshipping it most?
"and again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 19:24
trust me, I dont worship the dollar...but it doesnt seem to matter, I cant survive in this nation without having a few in my pocket at all times...and in order to do that, I have to work jobs I dont like and am not happy working.
it's illegal to be homeless, or to beg for food, or to basically "stop worshipping the dollar"...every square inch of land in this nation is owned by someone, in some fashion...I cant just roam and live off the land, especially if i didnt work any jobs and pay any taxes for it.
so tell me again how we have a choice?
Jessica: You're wrong. Christain conservatives do not worship the $, on the contrary. There's another phase in the bible that states "God helps those that help themselves" Most Christian conservatives just believe that everyone who has the ability to work should be working and contributing their "fairshare." Unfortunately, we can't go back in time and become hunters and gatherers. Sometimes I wish we could, too.
China needs to realize that official state action to censor such free expressions will embolden their detractors, and turn the free thinking people against them. They need to realize that the science and design they use in their manufacturing is a direct result of effort enabled by related free thinking.
They achieve success from the fruits of free thought, yet condemn it when it affronts thier vanity.
Perhaps China would be more happy if the world said the following:
"Yes China, you are a perfect and pure people, superior to anyone else, your dear leaders are smarter and more powerful, you are the king of kings, the all knowing, the mighty and wise. You are the most handsome and strong. We all pale in your wake. You must take justice against enemies of the beautiful state, and execute all who question any of the above statements!"
Where is our Federal Government on this subject?? Do you REALLY think the Chinese Government would allow one of the U.S. Consulate Officials in PROC to PROTEST a Chinese City Government for similar actions or events????? Are we going to be relegated to 2nd or 3rd Class status as a Nation behind Countries such as China and Russia who slaughtered and starved their OWN CITIZENS to enable Communism?? Obama needs to GROW A PAIR!
Moderate, to put it nicely...you're an idiot. "Obama needs to GROW A PAIR", you need to grow a brain.
I prefer the federal government doesn't get involved... why offer China that level of respect in this situation. Let a local government explain the constitution to them.
Clam down Moderate.....you're freaking out dude. Mikeo is right on!
John I have to agree with you there. It definitely doesn't warrant paying any attention to. Let them cry all they want. They've got bigger fish to fry at the moment anyways.
Moderate,
You had my support until your last sentence...as I recall, no president in the last 25 years has made issue with China. China bought our debts because the BUSH administration wasn't paying them. 80% of the debt shift happened between 2006 and 2008. To use your sentiment; Obama wouldn't have needed to "grow a pair" if Bush hadn't lowered taxes on the wealthy and big corporations.
When millions are out of work, billions don't get paid in taxes.
Even though millions of jobs were lost in 2007, very few of the wealthy and corporations used part of their high salaries, or lower taxes to keep the jobs from going away...did they?
The economic war China started with us began in ernest when they started to under cut the price of finished steel. They kept under cutting it just to cripple our steel industries.
Then they started with consumer electronics. Stealing technology, research and development cost at zero, they came into our economy and destroyed what was left of American manufacturing. There were no trade embargos, there was no mirror import quota.
Constantly we hear about recalled food from China, Chinese children dying from booster put in milk products and so much more. Granted, once they catch a couple people, they shoot them but the profits have already been made and the graft already spent.
Try buying anything made in America. Our textile mills, once a thriving economy, are all closed. Why? Cheap products flooding our markets.
We have more to fear from China that just them demanding a mural being removed. China needs to pay their US taxes that have been floating for years here, as with Toyoto, Nissan into Korea with IG.
China's last consumer issue was our FDA going over there to try to find the cause of the continuing deaths of dogs eating Chinese made chicken jerky treats. The people the FDA sent were told by the Chinese that they could not take any samples back home to test. Any testing done was to be done by Chinese labs. Has a source of the contamination been found? No. But the dogs keep dying anyway because this news has been kept from the majority of the American people.
A War on our Economy is a war and our govt let them do it because of the same political pressure put to bear on the State Dept and trade delegations.
Just say NO to Chinese products. Screw 'em. It's not just Walmart that keeps them going.
military man,
Another democratic whinner who can't get past blaming Bush. Why not blame FDR and Truman for raising our national debt?
GET OVER IT!
CHUCK FINA.
Tell China to go f%^%%^^ themselves. Good for the mayor. Good for America. Get the f%%^^%^ out of Tibet. F%^%^ the corrupt communists.
Hey, China, we don't tell you what is or is not art nor do we tell you to remove anti=American anything from public view. It's called freedom of speech! According to Google Earth Tibet is an independent country so why are you using force to express your views on an independent country? Protest China by not buying any products from China. That includes toys, watches, and whatever comes from China. If it's made in China send it back. It's a quiet way of protesting, which is another right we have. Try protesting in China and you will end up in jail or dead.
Paul
that would include your iDevices, most cell phones, computers, televisions. While it sounds like a GREAT idea it isn't as easy as we would like to believe.
Er, regardless of what Google Earth says, Tibet is very far from independent. Did you mean Taiwan?
Also, I see no reason at all to boycott Chinese products just because our political systems are at odds. At least attach a real reason to it, like international exploitation or political executions.
Such an act by China demonstrates just how far that government is removed from democractic principles. It's time for the U.S. of A. to start reflecting on our core values.
What is everyone so concerned about China for? Without the US to sell goods to they are just a giant North Korea.
I applaud Corvallis and the mayor of that town. We need to spread a reminder of the constitution not only to China but also to ourselves. We must never take for granted that we will always be able to express ourselves without fear of jail.
I find it amusing that after this guy flee's his country (for the exact same oppression they are attempting right now) that China believes they can oppress his rights in a new country.
Will he get arrested if he were to return? Probably. But not here.
He came to the US from Taiwan in the 70s.
Officially Taiwan isn't part of China (although the Chinese government disagrees). Taiwan is a democracy. A very complicated relationship.
I suggest you go read some history.
Thanks but was already well aware of that. What did I post that was historically incorrect? You suggest I go read history - I suggest you learn how to read.
dsb,
You are correct about the relationship between China and Taiwan. However, even though Taiwan has been exerting it's independence for decades, China has repeatedly entered Taiwan and exacted punishments on the Taiwanese for "transgretions", arresting and punishing the Taiwanese for speaking out against the Chinese government, as if Taiwan were not an independent country.
The US, for the most part, has spoken up for Taiwan, but little more than that.
I don't recall, however, that there was EVER any recognition by the US that Taiwan is still part of China. The subject has rarely been addressed during trade discussions (largely controlled by China).
China refuses to buy US goods, and exacted large tarrifs to keep US goods out of competative markets there. The US, on the other hand, has not done the same to them. The trade imbalance is the result.
Military Man,
China has NOT repeatedly entered Taiwan and exacted punishments on the Taiwanese. The Republic of China on Taiwan has maintained full sovereignty over its territory ever since the end of the civil war, and the People's Republic of China on the Mainland has NOT entered that territory to arrest and punish Taiwanese. You can say and do whatever you want about China in Taiwan and Mainland Chinese officials won't do anything about it. Sorry, but this is fact.
Also, US explicitly acknowledged the One China position (the official position of both the mainland and Taiwan).
Moreover, China does not refuse to buy Chinese goods and don't exact large tarrifs to keep us goods out of their markets. American products are more expensive, if they even exist, but you can find them. China threatens to impose tariffs on American products if America does it to Chinese products, but at the moment no trade war exists. Now, it should be said the China does help some of their industries out giving them an unfair advantage over other countries, but that is not the same as imposing unilateral tariffs. Truth is many Chinese people would love to buy more high end products made in the USA, but sadly America doesn't make too many things these days.
Kudos to Mr. Lin. I hope that the town leaves the mural alone and in tact so everyone who sees it can know what has happened (and continues to happen?) in Tibet & Taiwan. If China doesn't like it, oh well....they can go & bully someone else.
I'd be careful about this with China. If they get mad they could invade and take control Oregon because of the chemical weapons stored there at the Umatilla Arsenal. It was OK for us in Iraq and they didn't even have any, the Oregonians really do.
The last of the chemical agents were destroyed in 2011 and the base is being decommissioned now. We Oregonians really don't.
China can just shut the Frick up in America. It is none of their business. We have free speech in America you Chinese dickheads!
Hey! Chinese Communist government, what's the problem? You can just force one of the artists that you've jailed over free speech issues to paint a mural depicting the "real truth", and then donate it to Oregon along with a good will panda bear!
This (China throwing its weight around) is not something you can blame on the left or right. It is the fault of the American consumer. Stop buying Chinese. Remember Tiananmen Square, 1989. Google that and search YouTube for videos, before you go shopping.
OMG! Are you saying you want us to stop shopping at WalMart? Don't you realize what that would do to our economy, to say nothing about the stock market?
dksouthern,
Walmart's textiles are produced in the Philipines, Bangladesh and India, in addition to China. If you buy by the label you should still be able to shop there.
Yes, if you stop shopping at walmart, the poster-child for outsourcing and foreign-made, disposable CRAP the economy will implode and the stock market will drop 100000000 points...next question.
"Stop buying Chinese"???
Is there any electronics\clothing even made in USA anymore?
If it was a mural that the muslims would not like, it would be down in a New York minute.
@rgculver- Obama would see to that (Obama Husein) Seen Husein on TV this morning in front of the White House talk about fake looking.
Ahhhh, I see the intellectual wing of the right has entered the discussion! You guys are really trolls, right?
Maybe. Making a political statement is different than attacking a religion. The social pressures that result are also very different.
Maybe if President Obama traveled to China and bowed to their leader he would soften their stance against Taiwan and Tibet
Maybe if you bowed low enough to stick your head back in the sand, we'd have a much more pleasant morning.
@we have-Obama cant go to China he is to bessy FU the US.
Romney-Ryan 2012
Gee, I'm so sorry I am missing your point, Mr. Ritter. I'm unfamiliar with the word "bessy". Please enlighten me with a definition.
I would NEVER have guessed you would support Romney/Ryan.
... uh ... guys ...chill ... we think this was ... sarcasm ... :c) (we hope!)
mike ritter deerhunt1,
Oh, yeah, Obama did it...right. He had sooo much to do after Bush got finished.
As short sighted as you are, you obviously only paid attention to when unemployment peeked, not at the fact that it was only 6 months into Obama's first year. You only paid attention to when the second half of the stimulous money was released, not at the first half, that had no controls or requirment for the businesses who received it to pay it back, like the requierements under Obama for the second $350 billion.
By the way, the companies who received the second stimulous have paid 40% of it back, are you aware of that?
You people like to point at the national debt, but what about the money that has been repayed? The Stimulous worked out to $1 (+) trillion, but over a quarter of it has been repaid.
For which we are truly thankful.
The people of Taiwan think they represent the 'real' China, not the mainland government.
Our politicians don't have any guts. This goes for the democrats and republicans. Thank God some people do. Who cares if China doesn't like us. Go ahead and STOP selling us stuff. Maybe, we'll start making it ourselves OR buy from someone else. Action...reaction. China is a prisoner of their own succes. They need us to boy their stuff. Let them complain. Let them take their balls and bats and go home if they can't win every game. When they get th f%^%^%^% out of Tibet, like Russia did with Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, the Ukraine, MAYBE they will gain a little respect. Not a lot. But a little. F%^%^% those communist cry babies.
China is a controlled society. Even Obama stated that he wished he could run the US like the Chinese politicians run China. The only reason the mural is not down is that it is an election year. If Obama wins, it will be down. Just like his deal with the Russians on missile defense.
"Even Obama stated that he wished he could run the US like the Chinese politicians run China."
Really? Please cite your source for this fascinating bit of information. Obama has CRITICIZED the Chinese government for its human rights record on several occasions, has critized its trade practices, has met with the Dali Lama despite their protests, and had an internet speech blocked by the Chinese government in China. If you actually believe that Mr. Obama wants America to be a "controlled society" like China, have no fear - just put on your tin foil hat and become invisible.
And as Richard Nixon, another illustrious national conservative republican president, eventually resigning beofre getting impeached, said to his secretary of state, should have been indicted as a war criminal, Henry Kissinger....(I paraphrase) "The Brown Shirts (Nazis in Germany),,,,why can't we do what the Brown Shirts did (take care of all the protesters)... Yeah, the republicans would like to get rid of all the not so happy people too...
How do you figure that? The POTUS doesn't have the power to demand the removal of artwork he finds offensive. Unless he were to literally deploy the military to remove it... that would make for quite the press event.
China has to realize this is NOT China and we have Freedom of Speech and they have to get over it and that is a fact.
Sounds to me like an old dog should be put down too. I didn't know dogs could get Alzheimer's too?
I live in Corvallis, the mayor is a mental midget and the city manager thinks his " " doesn't stink. These two represent about 10% of the city but by way of position speak for all of us. This is a lilly white place, black people?, only those we import for football, Asians?, only the 1100 we import to pay the outrageous out of state fees at OSU. We do have one black hatted Jew and I have witnessed him being harrassed when Israel kills one Arab terrorist or an innocent being used as a defensive shield, but there has not been one mention of the 6000 dead Syrians killed by a terrorist leader, not one word about the ongoing missiles being fired into Israel. Or how about the city council member who turns his back on the America flag, but at the same time raises the Cuban flag as the city council opens its meetings.
I want to tell china hands off Corvallis, but I also want to tell my fellow Americans that Corvallis is run with the same iron fist china uses to run it's government. What does Corvallis really look like? City police, campus police, sheriff dept. for county, state police because of state university, FBI because the university has a 2 meg reactor, plus an armory, not to mention by way of contract for federal funds Corvallis has a holding cell for 10,000 people, read the fine print.
When you listen to lilly white Julie Manning, don't, she is another moron who thinks some Jewish kid born of a virgin is going to return after 2 thousand years to wipe her sins away. What kind of moron would listen to someone who promotes a fairy tale? When you hear that the city manager is talking for people he works for, then you have a greater issue, he doesn't represent Corvallis, he just works here.
FREE TIBET, FREE CORVALLIS "from the abusive police city"
I have spent quite a bit of time in Corvalis. I find the people there to be some of the friendliest, open, and intelligent I know. Fortunately, I have missed meeting you, TwoDog, and I'm glad I have. Wouldn't want to spoil my impression of Corvalis. Maybe it's time for a change of scenery for you, but something tells me you'd be just as miserable anywhere else, too. So maybe you should look in the mirror for the source of your misery.
And yet, somehow, this police state hasn't locked you up yet.
So what's your complaint? That there aren't enough black people around? That there's a strong police presence? That people are religious? Apparently you're literally looking for things to be pissed off about, and that's the best you can do? I'd hate to think what you'd do if you lived somewhere with real problems.
@Two Dog and @dksouthern, you are both right.
Corvallis is a college town (in Oregon moreover) and as such has a lot of very liberal, open, safe people there. However, it is also in the middle of rural farm country and has lots of corporate and government influence, so also has little diversity, lots of very conservative people, and some potential downsides like the significant police presence.
Overall it is still a small town with a small town dynamic, skewed by the transient population of students.
I generally like Corvallis, my family is from there, but it isn't all the hippy haven that some people think.
FREE TIBET, FREE CORVALLIS! ------ waa ha ha ha ha! I love it!
Two Dog, you're an idiot. Secondly, good insider info on what it's like in Corvallis, except for the comparison stuff.
In Corvallis, you can't be given a long prison sentence or murdered for criticizing the government.
What a load of irrelevant crap you could say about 1000 cities across the country:
Maybe we could have the local police department serve on campus too, so morons like you won't panic over a 2nd police force for the university.