Robert Scheer: Imitation Outrage: Faking Concern for the Chinese Masses

[marmar]

from truthdig:



Imitation Outrage: Faking Concern for the Chinese Masses

Posted on May 2, 2012
By Robert Scheer


Let’s stop jacking the Chinese around. We do not care a whit now—nor have we ever cared—about their human rights or any other aspect of their lives as long as they satiate our unbridled appetites. To pretend otherwise is to deny centuries of exploitative history in which the West drugged the Middle Kingdom and plundered it for its resources and cheap labor while obliterating any sign of popular resistance to our imperial sway.

From the Opium Wars to the contemplation of using nuclear weapons to bomb China back to the Stone Age because of our differences with it over Korea and Vietnam, the response of the West has been one of brute intimidation. Never have we been willing to acknowledge that China, for all of its immense contradictions, upheavals, sufferings and errant ways, represents the most complex and impressive example of national history.

Instead we intrude upon China in fitful moments of pique or treat it as a plaything. Who owns China? That was the question that marked the first period of U.S. involvement, when we joined other Western imperialists in carving up China into economic zones. And then came the bitter argument in the U.S. in the late 1940s and the ‘50s about “Who lost China?” Now Americans find themselves preoccupied with how best to exploit China’s amazing economic prowess while feigning interest in the well-being of its people.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton performed the expected diplomatic dance around the latest flare-up of pretend concern, involving a blind lawyer suddenly made world-famous when he escaped from house arrest in rural China. The fact that Chen Guangcheng was targeted by Chinese authorities because of his opposition to his nation’s oppressive population control policies added the United States’ “pro-life” lobby to the army of morally subjective China watchers. Now if we can get the pro-lifers to care about the human rights of fetuses after birth, the condition of the millions of severely exploited Chinese workers who float U.S. consumption and our national debt just might stand a chance of improvement. ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/immitation_outrage_faking_concern_for_the_chinese_masses_20120503/

[xchrom]

1. Du rec. Nt

[DURHAM D]

2. As bad as we are -

Chen Guangcheng fled to us and wants to fly out with SOS Clinton.

[limpyhobbler]

3. ok so...

There are many Americans who are sincerely concerned about human rights in China. Including labor rights, protection for ethnic minorities including in Tibet, and even those who have problems in China because of their religious beliefs.

Scheer says "What a great spin it is to pretend that we are the champions of universal human rights as we tweet about our great concern for the Chinese people on the very mobile devices that their exploited labor created."

I guess that's the 'royal we'? Beause I know he's not talking about me. I buy stuff made in China because I really don't have much of a realistic choice. That doesn't make me a hypocrite if I then talk about human rights in China.

Jeesh. That's the same gimmick Fox News used when the "exposed" the Zucotti Park occupiers as hypocrites because they criticized corporations while at the same time using corporate gadgets, like phones, and wearing corporate clothes.

Why pick on mobile devices anyway? Why not "You're such a hypocrite. You claim to support Chinese labor but you're wearing Chinese underwear. And socks."

I understand the point the article is trying to make, but he keeps suggesting all Americans don't care about humans in China really and anyone who says they do is pretending. Maybe he is just exaggerating to make a point or get a reaction. But it fell flat I thought. I'm sure he's a fine writer otherwise.