Thread for my debate with Chukuang
posted by nk at 2:08 PM
Friday, February 03, 2006
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4 Comments:
I guess I'm still waiting for a definition of "freedom of the thought" and how it is distinct from freedom of expression. Until governments can legally read minds, everyone will always have freedom of thought. To say that the Chinese have historically had more freedom to express those thoughts than, say, the French, the Dutch, the Romans, or whoever, is just not accurate. And we also have to be careful about time periods here. The periods in which printing and gun powder, for example, were invented had LESS freedom of expression than the Warring States in that there was a much stronger and more controlling central government. The same holds true for the Qin, regardless of whether or not Qin Shihuang liked music
Freedom of expression is repressed by police, soldiers and laws. Freedom of thought is repressed by teachings from a young age which create an inescapable shell in one's mind: "This is the reality and there is no other". I am sorry that I can only express it in negatives. However, whereas as lack freedom of expression may be cured by a change in government, lack of freedom of thought can only be cured by a change in thinking by the people over generations. I do not know who said "the Chinese have historically had more freedom to express those thoughts than, say, the French, the Dutch, the Romans, or whoever". It certainly was not me.
Freedom of thought is repressed by teachings from a young age which create an inescapable shell in one's mind: "This is the reality and there is no other".
But this is exactly what Chinese children have been taught since the Han dynasty. You really need to do some research about the traditional educational system in China. There just nothing interesting in a debate that doesn't involve the actual historical facts in question. Sorry.
Anonymous,
You are very good in leading the debate to points in which you have strong arguments. But the issue we started discussing was the relationship between free thought and the benefits of civilization. I am neither a Chinese expert nor a Chinese apologist. You brought up the subject of Chinese history and I concede that your knowledge of that subject is much greater than mine. The issue, though, is the mentality of people who shout "Behead all who defame Islam".
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