Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Karen Karpet — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:37:28 GMT

The poor Chineese need freedom of speech and expression. I suppose if they expressed ideas other than were approved by their clutch control governemnt, they would be amazed. They have no idea what freedom is.

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Jim Allen, Atlanta, GA — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:16 GMT

There is a beauty and irony to this article that Adrienne Mong may NOT realize.

What has given life to China is not Democracy or Communism but Consumerism.

What makes a company, product, or society successful is profits, NOT prophets. However, with the expansion of technology, wealth (profits of the society as a whole) doesn’t come from ownership, but comes from trade and consumption of goods and services - Consumerism.

China has gone from a society that produces “inexpensive” items for consumption by other countries to a society where the wealth of that production now allows it to consume those goods itself. The objective recognition of the value of Consumerism will keep China honest and create an “open press” like it hopefully will do in the United States. (Some major American companies and the perpetrators of “Weapons of Mass Destruction” are still trying to hide the truth.)

Ironically, having China send 350,000 Peace Keeping soldiers to Iraq may also be the ONLY solution to providing the physical security that will allow that country to stop its cultural hemorrhaging. Our bungling in Iraq has prevented us from disarming the country door-to-door and border-to-border which is the ONLY way that the fighting will end. Fundamentalist Islam creates NO wealth and is self-destructive. Only by disarming the criminal society left behind by Saddam Hussein will there ever be peace in Iraq (and/or Afghanistan).

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:04:52 GMT

Zhang is a free man. The truth does that to you.

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

David Balaban, Monroe NJ — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:10:02 GMT

Just returned from a trip to Beijing and Zhang's comment echo those of our guide. When we approached any official building she said, "don't discuss anything political once we are outside as it will create great trouble for me."

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Tze C Lee, New York City, New York — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:55:54 GMT

GOOD FOR HIM. We need more people like him to made any different all around the world.

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

canrun — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:04:46 GMT

"I think what I do is very natural," said Zhang. "I am telling the truth. It is the basic need of a human being."

I'll counter with this:
____________________

"This is not the conclusion of an incident, but a new beginning. Lies written in ink can never disguise facts written in blood."
Lu Xun, 1926

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Ken Anderson, Burlington, Ontario — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:04:41 GMT

This is a very brave and important man in a country still shrouded in mystery and suppression. He is running a risk every day of being censured or arrested. Teaching these things to young people is important as China develops and changes. This might not be viewed by the powers-that-be, and the enemies of change, as highly desireable. Kudos Zhang.

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Rick Jensen , Fort Frances, Ontario , Canada — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:52:21 GMT

I am impressed withZhang's resourcefulness.It is true that the truth is what most of humanity seeks.I applaud him for doing so in such a restrictive country as China. Sadly we in the west have a lot to learn from such a man where "Truth in Advertising and in Polatics is a joke of the highest order.

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Holly, Beijing, CHINA — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:39:11 GMT

Tiger Temple is inspiring. First, he comes from the older generation and has a modern mentality but without loosing his respect for his own country. Level-headed and free-spirited, he broadens my view of China. I am an ex-pat living in Beijing, so his comments are relevant to my life. I feel hopeful when reading this story - hopeful that China can in fact move forward but take its heritage with it. As the tug-of-war between old and new goes on here, I feel Tiger Temple embodies a balance of the two sides. This article compels me to investigate his comments and visit his blog. Thanks for bringing this story to us - not sure I would've known of it otherwise.

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Andreas Xenatos — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:07:20 GMT

I am admiring Chinese culure but most the truth

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

ralph penley — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:08:51 GMT

a good man.....creative mind plus an overview of the person, the action, the street, the city, the country, the planet.....gives him the skill necessary to traverse his subject matter in a style that allows it to speak to his readers. his thoughts and feelings can be deduced without him having to even mention them. it is a style that works well for the environment in which he finds himself. and it is a mimimalist approach that i find very appealing. and it is my impression that it is in the very essence of the asian culture. it reveals itself in all the asian art forms of the last 3000 years. it's so subtle and nuanced...very clean and efficient. bravo!

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Dan Dewson, toronto, canada — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:55:03 GMT

wow,the government in china is so in control that people are believing the truth is whatever the communist party tells them, the truth is propaganda apparently...

and i quote mr.zhang-->
"I am telling the truth."
"It's propaganda"
"...we live in china, we know how things work here"

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Jason J. Oceanside California — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:17:12 GMT

China is moving at a fast rate technologically, they are trying to catch up the rest of the world, the people want knowledge, but the government is constricting it, with so much control and censorship, you wonder what the country has in hand for those visiting the country in the 2008 summer olympics.

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

a j sessa cape coral florida — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:28:17 GMT

at some time i don't know when mankind will wake up to the fact that we are all one people and while we may disagree on some things there is one thing we must agree upon and that is this we must get along, for the world is getting smaller and smaller lets hope our leaders learn that before it is too late. tony

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Qhing Z. Xhiao / Kunshan, China — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:31:09 GMT

The guy is not all that impressive. He is clearly afraid enough of what might happen if he offends the Commies that he censors himself. He plainly admits as much.

As a matter of fact, though people talk about censorship in China, the vast majority is self-imposed. People are afraid, or wary, so they censor themselves.

No one wants trouble with any government, of course, and certainly no one wants to lose a business or other money making venture due to saying anything controversial.

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

chetan, lafayette, indiana — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:34:38 GMT

Mr. Dewson, you misunderstand what Mr. Zhang portrays very clearly. The truth is an object, propaganda is the interaction among people with this object. Any open line of communication is, by necessity, propaganda. Mr. Zhang is wise to understand this, and he is enviable in his carefulness to disseminate his truth. As Mr. Dewson has shown us, it is not easy to correctly interact with truth.

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

John Hsu — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:45:44 GMT

Salute! Mr. Zhang. Many Thanks.

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Ron Serino, Prescott, Arizona — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:24:27 GMT

Be careful, unregulated consumerism has a dark side as many consumers are arrogantly ignorant.
I have health insurance but cannot afford to have my hip replaced after I fell of a skate board and broke my hip. I can hardly walk because I bought a health insurance policy that does not adequatly cover my problem. There are health insurance companys that prey on ignorant consumers like me because the lobbyest have bought the ear of politicans who should regulate health insurance companys. To make a differnce I started selling high quality health insurance for the lowest cost in the US. Yet when I try to warn consumers by using myself as an example many don't want to hear it and will not listen until it is to late. Consumerism has many shapes. It can be the key to freedom but it can also be shaped into a noose to hang one's self if it is not regulated or used properly.

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

djn — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:30:20 GMT

Seek the truth! and it shall set you free...

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

123 — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:55:42 GMT

in fact, it's more free to talk about politics, much better than before.
I am a common citizen in china, feel good.
there is not so severe as this article describes...

Tiger Temple: China’s Netizen of the People

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:08:51 GMT

There are plenty of people in the USA who spout the Party Line and yes, it too is self imposed. They think that if they do it, they will be invited in and share in the largesse. It doesn't happen though. The world has a ways to go before everyone is truly 'Free'. Free is relative, just like Truth.