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Andy Cripe / Corvallis Gazette-Times
David Lin, a Taiwanese-American, commissioned a political mural that has drawn the ire of Chinese officials. Despite pressure, Lin says he will not remove the mural.
The Chinese government has asked a small city in Oregon to remove a mural that depicts Chinese riot police beating Tibetans and Buddhist monks immolating themselves in protest of Chinese rule, the Corvallis Gazette-Times newspaper reported.
Officials from the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco wrote to Mayor Julie Manning of Corvallis, Ore., urging her to act to remove the mural.
"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," said the letter, dated Aug. 8.
"There is only one China in the world, and both Tibet and Taiwan are parts of China,” the letter said. “It is a fact recognized by the U.S. and most other countries in the world."
The mural was commissioned by David Lin, a Taiwanese-American businessman who owns the building on which it is painted. The mural, which measures 100 feet by 10 feet, is brightly colored and also includes landscapes and Tibetan prayer flags.
China has effectively ruled Tibet, which borders on India, since its military invaded in 1950; Beijing claims it has historical sovereignty over the Himalayan region. Beijing also lays claim to Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province.
The Chinese government aggressively battles efforts to promote independence—in reality or perception—of both.
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Manning refused to have the mural removed, citing freedom of speech. Plus, she said, it’s a private building over which city officials have little say.
Last week, following the mayor’s refusal, two Chinese officials flew up from San Francisco to meet with Manning and the city manager. Corvallis is about 80 miles south of Portland, Ore., and has about 54,500 residents. About 1,600 Chinese students attend Oregon State University there.
For the city officials, the discussion was about freedom of speech. But for Lin, the businessman, the conversation has become personal.
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He told the Gazette-Times that relatives worried they could be arrested if they traveled to China. But for now, Lin, who moved to the U.S. in the 1970s, told the newspaper that he intends to stand up against Chinese authorities.
NBC's Kari Huus and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Don't worry, the big-O will apologize to China and all will be well. Plus he'll have the mural removed. So Americans are not viewed as 'intolerant'.
Wow, 1st comment and already a lame stick at Obama.
That's because it's true!
Nothing lame about that comment,just the one after it.
Hey chinese government,shove some CHOPSTICKS UP YOUR A$$ and then USE THEM to EAT with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Would China repaint a mural that the U.S. objected to? Go @!$%# themselves!
We need a boycott China week! Hit them where it hurts right in the pocketbook!
as an artist i'd respond..Not just NO..HELL NO!!! China steps on the rights of everyone in their own country, they have no place to try and step on our rights.
Mayor Manning and Mr. Lin, you made the right choice. I applaud your decision to stand up for your right to free expression and the mayors decision to stand behind him.
To the Chinese Consolate, go pi$$ up a rope.
Kudos to Mr Lin and the mayor of Corvalis! China needs to be reminded from time to time, that just because they refuseto allow political dissent and it's people the freedom to express themselves, we allow and encourage it here. The Chinese government needs to told to go take a flying leap on this one!
So China,a communist country, wants free Americans to do something about our free expression. Hmmmmm, I don't think so. Oh wait a minute, they do own alot of America and they do produce almost everything we buy. Maybe we should.......Naaaaaaaaa! Hey China!, I'm giving you the finger right now. Go home and mind your own business and give us ours back.
The mural would be painted over in a heartbeat if it offended gays at Pawnee High School (for portraying a heterosexual married couple with children) or illegal immigrants in Austin (for portraying two men with sombreros).
Denver, darling, you don't seem to grasp the concept of free speech. The government cannot legally force people to take over murals or slogans. That is why garbage like the WBC picket funerals with "God Hates Fags" signs, even though they've been sued multiple times to stop. Their right to free speech doesn't allow the government to shut them down.
But having a right to free speech ONLY protects you from government persecution. Other citizens and private companies are perfectly free - they have that same right to free speech, you know - to tell you what an absolute @!$%#tard you are.
gia, darling, it was the school administration that forced a student to paint over the heterosexual married couple at Pawnee High School. It was the City of Austin that forced the removal of two men wearing sombreros. That would be the government, wouldn't it? That's why you have the right to call me names, but not to embarass them, dear. Get the difference, sweetie?
Denver, I don't know what type of building the City of Austin issue has, but the other one was at a High School, which is not a privately owned building, such as the one in Oregon...there is a difference, but of course you want to see it as some sexual thing and how people aren't giving you your rights, blah blah blah...
sleepinsadie,
You make my point. My posts were not about sexuality, but rather the disparity between how free speech issues are treated when government agencies are involved compared to when they aren't. You are free, however, to read into it whatever you will.
Well of course they are different bro...if it is a government agency, it is not an individual and therefore any mural on a wall would be associated with said agency (and our government should be promoting all, not the view of one) while if it is an individual, they can express their individual right to free speech on their own.
Let me ask you this - if the mural at a high school would have shown two men holding hands and kissing with their children, would you be as upset that the mural had to be taken down? If the answer is no, then the point is - you aren't worried about free speech so much as speech that you agree with.
It's not rocket science bro, it's common sense.
You must have missed the part of my response where I said my posts were not about sexuality. I have no emotional commitment to the content of the Pawnee High School mural, one way or the other. Neither do I have an emotional commitment to your example, one way or the other.
@!$%# China!!! America has freedom of expression. The guy owns the building and has the right to put on it whatever the hell he wants to. I wouldnt remove it thats for damn sure!!!!!!! They dont want to taint our relationship, then mind your friggin business. Its one guys building in Oregon, who gives a crap?!
The Chinese officials don't understand 2 valued factors in the U.S.: private property and freedom of speech.
The mural sounds like it accurately depicts the political situation the Tibetans and Taiwanese face.
Screw you China!
He is an American. It is his right to freedom of speech and expression. He knows the truth that China does not want us to know. If our Government makes him take it down, then Our Government also knows the truth and wants to cover it up as always.
Your thinking is a big part of the problem. "our government" is US. If we allow our government to force him to take it down then WE have forced him to take it down. OWN IT PEOPLE!
To the Chinese gov. this is the USA we have not ceded Corvalis to you and never will, mind your own biz , we have freedom of speech here, contrary to China where everyone have to kow tow to the communist government. where as is within your liberty to enter private dwellings in china and demolish anything that's not suitable to your mindset, understand that here we respect private property and freedom of speech. As of tainting relationship it's china that does not understand and wants to commit and enfoce every country to china rule/policy.China should allow everyone freedom of IT not censorship. IS china going to send thugs to damage the mural circle the building? it will be back up soon Cinese government have the forced african countries not to accept Dalai Lama visit please don't even try to foce USA.
FREE TIBET!!!!!!
China??? come on but their you have it keep buying at Walmart now they feel with power.
he used lead based paint,whats the problem?
Here is my vote- STICK IT CHINA!
The truth hurts, huh China? Maybe China should shut the f&ck up and let the US enjoy OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH -- something China doesn't have!
That is exactly what Obama should have told Egypt too.
Ummmm....no.
Wait, maybe my decision was made in haste...
Nope...still no.
We are coming to the point that we are going to have to fight for our freedoms again, it looks like.
China wants us to make a man take down a mural he painted on his own property. Libya and Egypt want Obama to prosecute the maker of the film they rioted against and for which Libyan Muslims killed four embassy personnel and if I am not mistaken, now they are saying one, maybe two Marines who tried to extract personnel from the safe house.
We damn well better elect a President who isn't afraid to say FU, or we will all be apologizing on our knees.
But remember folks,DONT PISS ON any DEAD MUSLIMS or OUR GOVERNMENT WILL "PUNISH"YOU!!!!!!!!
dreams of my father banned, re-reg of multiple accounter Leroy2112.
Don't pi$$ off the Chinese, they may call our notes due or stop all exports to Wal-mart!
Good time to go back to MADE IN AMERICA...
RFLOL CHINA GO HOME don't you have a few million babies to kill???
Dreams of My Father.....lets see your data to prove your claim.
Most peasants in Tibet do not want the wealthy religious zealous taking over the country again. The Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso came from one of the wealthiest family in Tibet and the religious community selected him to be their ruler at age 2. What is this the Lion King? Funny how all fourteen Dalai Lamas in history all came from wealthy and powerful families. Taiwanese have their own identity and no longer consider themselves as part of China.
We also have a flourishing democracy that doesn't want to be oppressed by the Mainland's jack booted regime.
The chinese should mind their own business. Starting with their lack of social freedom as well as abusing Tibet and Taiwan thru tring to steal Japanese territories and oil and gas fields that don't belong to them, etc...
Keep the murals they represent the truth.
Way to stand up for your rights Lin. Tell the Red Chinese Government to kiss your free American @$$! And if they don't like it, tell them we will send in donations so you can have a billboard in all 50 States that depict the same as on your building. I cannot believe the freaking commies unmitigated gall, telling us what we can or cannot do or say in our own country!
China needs to take a flying leap at the moon. Tibet and Taiwan have suffered at the hands of the Chinese.Due to the repression of it's citizens the United States shouldn't even be on speaking terms let alone borrow money or trade with China.You do what you please Mr.Lin.you are an American and don't have to take that crap from China.
Will someone remind china that in America, we respect disagreement even though we do not like the opposition. We do not stifle freedom of expression. The truth is, when you disagree with liberals, they insult you - call you names - and wish you were dead. Isn't that right, liberals?
sailor'52
why don't you shoot them?
Not exactly. I love free speech. Right wingers have the right to say whatever they want. This is how it works. I read or listen to what right wingers have to say. Then I form an opinion. Then I write or speak what I want to say. Something like: Why do right wingers use every low life tactic in the book: smear campaigns, name calling, pseudo facts, no facts, lies, select information. BECAUSE they have nothing else going. Thing is: It worked for a while. Try to have a debate. Try to point out errors or misinformation. They I realized it doesn't matter. Right wingers are NEVER interested in a fair debate. All they want to do is demean and insult. So, now, the name calling does not work anymore. I don't care what right wingers think, say, or do. They are idiots, losers, unhappy people, game players, and basically, people who can only look good by taking someone else down. So, stick it up your right wing a$%$$%. As for the Oregon sign, Go buddy. Keep the sign up and tell the Chinese to go f%^%^ themselves. As for you, take a hike.
Yeah that sounds about right except you misspelled Republican.
But seriously generalizations of "when you disagree with liberals, they insult you - call you names - and wish you were dead" are so far off base. If you were dead we wouldn't be able to have a healthy debate. Something that has been extremely lacking in the politics recently. When a statement is called out to be fact checked and corroborated with evidence the highest officials of your party, assuming you're Republican, scoff that they needn't fact check or utterly dismiss and carry on as though the debate we were having never occurred. The rhetoric is also much more intense coming from the your side where calling for the President's death is a rallying cry.
Of course though that is the extremes of your party. As ours also has such mirrored extremes. However, those of us that are more progressive/moderate welcome a healthy debate... you know as long as you're alive.
To all you REPUBLICANS out there: I am a (oh my God) DEMOCRAT. Not really. But I do HATE the Tea Party and I do HATE the right wing. So, here goes: NO NO NO!!! Do NOT take down that sign! NEVER. !. Free Speech: Something those two bit communists are scared to death of 2. China; Get the f%^%^%^ out of Tibet. 3. Don't seel stuff to us anymore. When it's NOT in the stores, someone, somewhere else will say.."Hey, if we make this stuff, people will buty it and we will make money, 4. I want MORE towns to put up FREE TIBET signs. 5. China: Don't tell us what to do. Go f%^%^%^ youself.
Don't forget: China needs to get its grubby fingers off of Taiwan. No means no, something the Mainland has no comprehension of.
I find all these comments about "free speech" interesting given that many didn't think Dan Cathy had the same rights!
Dan Cathy also promotes hate speech and the propagation of hate. If you actually listened to the opposition's message it wasn't focused on what he said, but what he donated to. On the topic of free speech: It is a two-way street just because someone else calls you out on your bullsh!t doesn't mean they're trying to suppress your rights. They are merely invoking their right to free speech as well or do you only believe that free speech is the right of the one who makes an inflammatory remark?
Leave that sign alone. China go home and take care of your own business. You may own many things here in the US but you don't own our independence and FREEDOM of speech.
Don't remove this mural for all the tea in China! Freedom!
Wow. One small step for David Lin; one giant step for China.
I usually try to post positive, encouraging, and objective statements, but the actions of the Chinese officials irritate the heck out of me!!
Beyond that, it is kind of scary how they are using "precious friendship" in an obviously threatening manner. Now I know how citizens from other countries feel when the US flexes muscle.