p2pnet - rss feed: Bjork ‘Tibet’ outburst angers China
p2pnet news | Freedom:- Icelandic singer Bjork has touched a famous raw nerve in China.
China said its feelings were hurt when Bjork several times shouted Tibet! Tibet! after her song Declare Independence during a concert in Shanghai.
Now it’s, “to impose stricter rules on foreign rock and pop stars,” says the BBC.
Following Bjork’s outburst, “We will further tighten controls on foreign artists performing in China in order to prevent similar cases from happening in the future,” the culture ministry says in a statement on its website.
“We shall never tolerate any attempt to separate Tibet from China and will no longer welcome any artists who deliberately do this,” it declares, according to the Beeb, noting:
“Many Tibetans feel loyal to the exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, whom China considers a separatist threat.”
But CTV’s ShowBiz blog reckons it was an “idiotic move” for several reasons, to wit >>>
Firstly, China, for all intents and purposes and for better or worse, has its own set of standards and rules when it comes to what is appropriate political commentary on their soil, so when you’re invited to a country as guest, prudence dictates you follow their ascribed rules and avoid controversy, i.e. stay mum with your views on Tibet or Taiwan.
Secondly, when did the Icelandic chanteuse get her seat on the UN Security Council? Her Ph.D in geopolitical relations? While no one condones any type of brutal repression, the last time I checked into things Bjork was paid to perform and entertain not stump with political views. There are those, such as Bono, who have built concurrent careers as humanitarians and musicians, and their authority in this area is build up over time, so we grant them latitude. While it’s possible Bjork, in her private time, may in fact be the world’s most dedicated advocate of freedom, it still doesn’t mitigate her misguided decision to use Shanghai as a soapbox upon which to share her opinions.
Lastly, this is a clear cut case of one idiot throwing sand in the sandbox and ruining playtime for everyone else.
But, adds CTV, “What’s most galling about her ridiculousness is that her antics smack of a has-been opportunist grasping at straws, trying desperately to disingenuously bring attention to herself - last week she dedicated the same song to Kosovo while performing in Japan.”
However, “In a garbled, typo-ridden statement, the eccentric singer today defended her actions,” says Times Online, quoting her as saying >>>
i would like to put importance on that i am not a politician, i am first and last a musician and as such i feel my duty to try to express the whole range of human emotions.
the urge for declaring independence is just one of them but an important one that we all feel at some times in our lives. this song was written more with the personal in mind but the fact that it has translated to its broadest meaning, the struggle of a suppressed nation, gives me much pleasure. i would like to wish all individuals and nations good luck in their battle for independence.
She signed the statement off with: ‘justice!’ says the story.
Here’s a YouTube video of the incident:
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Also See:
Tibet! Tibet! - Bjork’s ‘Tibet, Tibet!’ China song, March 7, 2008
BBC - China to crack down on pop stars, March 7, 2008
ShowBiz - Shut up and sing, Bjork!, March 7, 2008
Times Online - Bjork defends Tibet outburst, March 5, 2008
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March 9th, 2008 at 3:30 am
Another case of a clueless person who feels that just because their views don’t fit with what is going on, they have a right to say anything they want, anywhere they want.
Bjork should be happy that she wasn’t SHOT (Many countries will not take comments like this, and will arrest the person who made the comment, if they aren’t placed in front of a firing squad).
Contrary to people who think that their “local” rights are universal, the minute that you step out of your country, those rights aren’t wroth the paper that your passport is printed on.
On top of that, once you leave your country, you are a foreigner with little or no inherent rights, in comparison to the local people. This is true whether you are a European or Asian in the US, a Canadian in Japan, or an South African in Brazil.
Being a Music or TV/Movie Star may allow for a better treatment, in comparison to Joe Normal backpacker, yet if you break the law, be prepared to pay the price, because governments (even the US and Canada) will not think twice before making you an example.
If you want to oppose something happening in another country, do all you want in your own country, and if you can’t keep you own thoughts to yourself overseas, then stay in your own country.
Just my two cents
March 9th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I can’t believe that anyone could possibly defend the chinese suppression of open political dialogue. Art is about speaking the truth as the artist sees it. While Bjork advocating Tibet’s independence might have upset her hosts, I’d suggest that we should reserve our outrage for the chinese government’s illegal and immoral treatment of the tibetan people, where they’re trying to exterminate their culture and religion. If the chinese had the commitment to free speech to stand up to their own army (remember Tienanmen Square?), you’d think blog posters would have at least enough courage to support freedom of speech from the safety of their homes.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
yeah i understood ,our chinese are monkey in you fuck west eyes.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
fuck of you chinese . in hell with your communist party . communist will see the doom one day
March 15th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
i have learnt chinese history .but there is no tibet involved in there history . what really the ming dynasty in which todays china is based was far away from there boundaries . there two races are completely different china was a peace full empire in history . when british conquered them they also conquered tibet and what chinese misunderstood that tibet was their integral part . chinese breed is a peace loving and intelligent bread . foot believe in communist no communist country is safe now except china because of its hard working people
March 16th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
you are a fucking idiot whoever wrote this. and a fucking facist as well. more people need to get political or one day your sorry ass will be imprisoned too.