Global Times editorial on terror in Paris. (IMO, a very balanced take on things)

[AgentOrange]

Condemn terror, but query cartoon content - Global Times

Condemn terror, but query cartoon content

Source:Global Times Published: 2015-1-9 0:38:01

Many countries have condemned the brutality of the terror attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris. But in some non-Western societies, particularly Islamic societies, the responses may be much more complex. While recognizing diversified values, we believe that at this time, condemnation of terrorist attacks should be unconditional. Any other choice does not serve the common interests of humanity.

The West often shows a lack of firmness when responding to terrorist attacks that have happened in China. Even after China officially determines their terrorist nature, Western mainstream media puts quotation marks when describing these bloody assaults as "terrorist," saying that it is a claim of the Chinese government. This always upsets Chinese people.

Now Chinese society has to make a choice when such attacks happened in a Western country: Should we behave in a tit for tat manner or reject these double standards to resolutely join in the global condemnation? We choose the latter, as we have done on each and every occasion.

Combating terrorism needs a high level of solidarity among the international community. The world is always unified in its response to terrorist attacks that happened in the West, but when it's the West's turn to react to such attacks in countries like China and Russia, they often beat about the bush.

From the perspective of the East, what Charlie Hebdo has published is not completely defendable and it is understandable that some Muslims feel hurt by the cartoons in the magazine. But it cannot be used to justify such an attack that has gone beyond the civil boundaries of all societies. Almost all terrorist attacks bear their own deep-seated causes, but people should only hold one response toward them: resolute opposition and crackdown.

We notice that many Western leaders and mainstream media outlets highlighted their support for press freedom when commenting on the incident. This remains open to question. Press freedom lies as part of the West's political and social systems and is a core value. But in these globalized times, when their acts contradict with the core values of other societies, the West should have the awareness to ease conflicts, instead of heightening them in accordance with its own values in a zero-sum manner.

As the West holds absolute dominance in global opinion, non-Western societies can scarcely get their disagreements heard by the world. The West has to consciously control its use of "soft power" that can verbally abuse those it doesn't favor.

Some Islamic groups indeed feel hurt during their clashes with the West due to artworks. Even if the West thinks it is right to uphold press freedom, it's still worthwhile respecting the feelings of others. If the West thinks of globalization as an absolute expansion and victory of certain values, then it is in for endless trouble.

Whatever is said here won't reduce our condemnation of the Paris attack and unshaken opposition against using violence to address cultural contradictions. Terrorist attacks are absolutely inexcusable, but meanwhile, it would be wise not to intensify the sensitive elements against the complicated backgrounds. Condemning terrorism doesn't necessarily mean supporting controversial cartoons.

It's inspiring that mainstream opinion worldwide supports Paris. But if the West can be milder in expressing cultural clashes and consider the feelings of many others, it would be very rewarding and respectable.

 

[Aepsilons]

It pains me to read about the detestable and dastardly deeds of some extremists --- over there yonder in France. What concerns me is the plausibility of something hitting 'secure' nations such as say Japan, South Korea and China. Security should be enhanced in our borders. What really hits me --- @AgentOrange --- is that those attackers were French Citizens.

 

[Steve781]

Condemn terror, but query cartoon content - Global Times

Condemn terror, but query cartoon content

Source:Global Times Published: 2015-1-9 0:38:01

Many countries have condemned the brutality of the terror attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris. But in some non-Western societies, particularly Islamic societies, the responses may be much more complex. While recognizing diversified values, we believe that at this time, condemnation of terrorist attacks should be unconditional. Any other choice does not serve the common interests of humanity.

The West often shows a lack of firmness when responding to terrorist attacks that have happened in China. Even after China officially determines their terrorist nature, Western mainstream media puts quotation marks when describing these bloody assaults as "terrorist," saying that it is a claim of the Chinese government. This always upsets Chinese people.

Now Chinese society has to make a choice when such attacks happened in a Western country: Should we behave in a tit for tat manner or reject these double standards to resolutely join in the global condemnation? We choose the latter, as we have done on each and every occasion.

Combating terrorism needs a high level of solidarity among the international community. The world is always unified in its response to terrorist attacks that happened in the West, but when it's the West's turn to react to such attacks in countries like China and Russia, they often beat about the bush.

From the perspective of the East, what Charlie Hebdo has published is not completely defendable and it is understandable that some Muslims feel hurt by the cartoons in the magazine. But it cannot be used to justify such an attack that has gone beyond the civil boundaries of all societies. Almost all terrorist attacks bear their own deep-seated causes, but people should only hold one response toward them: resolute opposition and crackdown.

We notice that many Western leaders and mainstream media outlets highlighted their support for press freedom when commenting on the incident. This remains open to question. Press freedom lies as part of the West's political and social systems and is a core value. But in these globalized times, when their acts contradict with the core values of other societies, the West should have the awareness to ease conflicts, instead of heightening them in accordance with its own values in a zero-sum manner.

As the West holds absolute dominance in global opinion, non-Western societies can scarcely get their disagreements heard by the world. The West has to consciously control its use of "soft power" that can verbally abuse those it doesn't favor.

Some Islamic groups indeed feel hurt during their clashes with the West due to artworks. Even if the West thinks it is right to uphold press freedom, it's still worthwhile respecting the feelings of others. If the West thinks of globalization as an absolute expansion and victory of certain values, then it is in for endless trouble.

Whatever is said here won't reduce our condemnation of the Paris attack and unshaken opposition against using violence to address cultural contradictions. Terrorist attacks are absolutely inexcusable, but meanwhile, it would be wise not to intensify the sensitive elements against the complicated backgrounds. Condemning terrorism doesn't necessarily mean supporting controversial cartoons.

It's inspiring that mainstream opinion worldwide supports Paris. But if the West can be milder in expressing cultural clashes and consider the feelings of many others, it would be very rewarding and respectable.

Hey, China guess what? Nobody cares what your opinion is.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

The West often shows a lack of firmness when responding to terrorist attacks that have happened in China. Even after China officially determines their terrorist nature, Western mainstream media puts quotation marks when describing these bloody assaults as "terrorist," saying that it is a claim of the Chinese government. This always upsets Chinese people.

Yes it is very annoying when Western media always tries to undermine China's fight against terrorism, referring to terrorists in Xinjiang as "terrorists" in quotation marks.

Always so-called "terrorists" or so-called "attackers" (quotation marks in this sense are essentially the same as winking).

Often they don't even USE the word "terrorist" at all, preferring just "attackers".

BBC News - China kills Xinjiang 'attackers' in Wushi

Now Chinese society has to make a choice when such attacks happened in a Western country: Should we behave in a tit for tat manner or reject these double standards to resolutely join in the global condemnation? We choose the latter, as we have done on each and every occasion.

Exactly, terrorist attacks against innocent civilians are ALWAYS wrong. Always.

There is no time for petty political games when it comes to terrorism.

No tit-for-tat, the innocent victims deserve more than that.

 

[AgentOrange]

It pains me to read about the detestable and dastardly deeds of some extremists --- over there yonder in France. What concerns me is the plausibility of something hitting 'secure' nations such as say Japan, South Korea and China. Security should be enhanced in our borders. What really hits me --- @AgentOrange --- is that those attackers were French Citizens.

Good points. They weren't immigrants - they were born and raised there. And the perpetrators were male and female, white, middle-eastern, and black. And probably across economic lines as well.

IMO the one thing that works to the advantage of Japan, South Korea, and China is our relatively homogenous ethnic makeup. Japan and SK in particular. Extremism will have a hard time taking root since our shared background of Confucian culture values peace and order. East Asia isn't "fertile territory" for jihad. South Korea, the most "religiously vulnerable" is already so hardcore Christian that we're more likely to see a Crusade being launched from Seoul than any kind of jihadi terrorist attack.

China is a slightly different case but not by much. China, while overwhelmingly Han, has a significant Muslim population - the vast majority of whom are well integrated because they're Han Muslims. However, China has suffered from terror attacks from Uighur extremists in the past (and probably again in the future). On the other hand, China, being an authoritarian government, is very effective in monitoring, co-opting, and clamping down on troublesome political or religious groups.

Furthermore, probably 95-99% of the Chinese population is fully on board with doing what needs to be done for the sake of stability. So any terrorist attacks on China are pinpricks even as the very ethnic group responsible for most of China's terrorists slowly shrinks and is assimilated. Both as a matter of demographics and government policy of economic and social integration.

And finally, for better or worse, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups currently have their hands full with the West in a long, drawn out struggle that will last generations. East Asia isn't really on their radar. So we have that going for us. Which is nice.

Hey, China guess what? Nobody cares what your opinion is.

Obviously you do. Thanks for commenting.

 

[Aepsilons]

IMO the one thing that works to the advantage of Japan, South Korea, and China is our relatively homogenous ethnic makeup. Japan and SK in particular. Extremism will have a hard time taking root since our shared background of Confucian culture values peace and order. East Asia isn't "fertile territory" for jihad. South Korea, the most "religiously vulnerable" is already so hardcore Christian that we're more likely to see a Crusade being launched from Seoul than any kind of jihadi terrorist attack.

I agree with you, Christianity is practically non-existent in Japan, compared to the overall population, which is either Buddhist-Shinto , or just agnostic. China has a considerable Christian population, nevertheless, compared to the overall Chinese population (a whopping 1.4 Billion!!!) , their numbers are relatively insignificant. I was just surprised to see that Korea's Christians make up some 30% of the entire SK national population.

China is a slightly different case but not by much. China, while overwhelmingly Han, has a significant Muslim population - the vast majority of whom are well integrated because they're Han Muslims. However, China has suffered from terror attacks from Uighur extremists in the past (and probably again in the future). On the other hand, China, being an authoritarian government, is very effective in monitoring, co-opting, and clamping down on troublesome political or religious groups.

Furthermore, probably 95-99% of the Chinese population is fully on board with doing what needs to be done for the sake of stability. So any terrorist attacks on China are pinpricks even as the very ethnic group responsible for most of China's terrorists slowly shrinks and is assimilated. Both as a matter of demographics and government policy of economic and social integration.

And finally, for better or worse, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups currently have their hands full with the West in a long, drawn out struggle that will last generations. East Asia isn't really on their radar. So we have that going for us. Which is nice.

It is , indeed, a shame to see such wanton destruction happening in the Middle East right now...

Good points. They weren't immigrants - they were born and raised there. And the perpetrators were male and female, white, middle-eastern, and black. And probably across economic lines as well.

 

[powastick]

Its just like making 'yo moma' jokes with strangers. Eventually somebody is going to find your jokes very offensive. Debating is fine, not making fun of religion.

 

[TaiShang]

Good points. They weren't immigrants - they were born and raised there. And the perpetrators were male and female, white, middle-eastern, and black. And probably across economic lines as well.

IMO the one thing that works to the advantage of Japan, South Korea, and China is our relatively homogenous ethnic makeup. Japan and SK in particular. Extremism will have a hard time taking root since our shared background of Confucian culture values peace and order. East Asia isn't "fertile territory" for jihad. South Korea, the most "religiously vulnerable" is already so hardcore Christian that we're more likely to see a Crusade being launched from Seoul than any kind of jihadi terrorist attack.

China is a slightly different case but not by much. China, while overwhelmingly Han, has a significant Muslim population - the vast majority of whom are well integrated because they're Han Muslims. However, China has suffered from terror attacks from Uighur extremists in the past (and probably again in the future). On the other hand, China, being an authoritarian government, is very effective in monitoring, co-opting, and clamping down on troublesome political or religious groups.

Furthermore, probably 95-99% of the Chinese population is fully on board with doing what needs to be done for the sake of stability. So any terrorist attacks on China are pinpricks even as the very ethnic group responsible for most of China's terrorists slowly shrinks and is assimilated. Both as a matter of demographics and government policy of economic and social integration.

And finally, for better or worse, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups currently have their hands full with the West in a long, drawn out struggle that will last generations. East Asia isn't really on their radar. So we have that going for us. Which is nice.

Obviously you do. Thanks for commenting.

One of East Asia's strengths against religious extremism is its deep-seated secularism-worldliness. Even, for example, some Chinese in Taiwan prefer to become Christian, he or she mostly adds just another godly figure to the colorful parade of gods. Religion has little moving power and moving toward self-sacrifice/bloodshed for an eternal reward is almost impossible. People will simply not buy that story. The silk you can touch here and today is preferable to the silk in the hereafter as promised by some religious zealot.

Xinjiang issue is as political as it is religious. And I am sure that, the key is to effectively control foreign influence; religious from Saudi Arabia and political from Turkey. Sustainable and innovative development is the cure of religious radicalization; China's drive towards greater national mobility, connectivity and innovation will certainly contain the remaining religious extremist groups in Xinjiang.

As the West holds absolute dominance in global opinion, non-Western societies can scarcely get their disagreements heard by the world. The West has to consciously control its use of "soft power" that can verbally abuse those it doesn't favor.

The article is very articulately-written and the above sentence is probably one of the most striking. Again, hopefully, with development and greater national/political consciousness, China will be able to provide international news services.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Hey, China guess what? Nobody cares what your opinion is.

You can also say on the other way around.

Yes it is very annoying when Western media always tries to undermine China's fight against terrorism, referring to terrorists in Xinjiang as "terrorists" in quotation marks.

Always so-called "terrorists" or so-called "attackers" (quotation marks in this sense are essentially the same as winking).

Often they don't even USE the word "terrorist" at all, preferring just "attackers".



Exactly, terrorist attacks against innocent civilians are ALWAYS wrong. Always.

There is no time for petty political games when it comes to terrorism.

No tit-for-tat, the innocent victims deserve more than that.

We are condemning what happened in Paris recently.

But when it happened even worse in China, those terrorists went into a rampage mode and killed anyone in their sight, but the West still took the pleasure at China's misfortune.

However, we are mature, and we won't take the double standard approach like the West and put the salt in people's wound.

RIP to the victims

 

[IPen]

Regretably this kind of balanced view is not the mainstream of the west, but it will surely and gradually be as our progress to a high level of civilization.Let the ideology disputes go to hell!

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

You can also say on the other way around.



We are condemning what happened in Paris recently.

But when it happened even worse in China, those terrorists went into a rampage mode and killed anyone in their sight, but the West still took the pleasure at China's misfortune.

However, we are mature, and we won't take the double standard approach like the West and put the salt in people's wound.

RIP to the victims

We're killing "attackers". We are bad Chinese!

BBC News - China kills Xinjiang 'attackers' in Wushi

 

[Aepsilons]

We are condemning what happened in Paris recently.

But when it happened even worse in China, those terrorists went into a rampage mode and killed anyone in their sight, but the West still took the pleasure at China's misfortune.

However, we are mature, and we won't take the double standard approach like the West and put the salt in people's wound.

RIP to the victims

Well said. In the end, Terrorism is Terrorism -- whether it happens in China, India, Pakistan, France, USA or in the Middle East.

We're killing "attackers". We are bad Chinese!

BBC News - China kills Xinjiang 'attackers' in Wushi

Whoever wrote that article should have shown some more sympathy, for Goodness' sakes. Innocent Chinese civilians were killed by those terrorists, and they're dead, will never wake up again or go to their loved ones. Its apparent that terrorism is a problem that affects all of us. And it should be dealt with collectively.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Whoever wrote that article should have shown some more sympathy, for Goodness' sakes. Innocent Chinese civilians were killed by those terrorists, and they're dead, will never wake up again or go to their loved ones. Its apparent that terrorism is a problem that affects all of us. And it should be dealt with collectively.

Exactly.

Then the BBC article goes on to say this:

"China claims to be battling Muslim separatists, but exiled Uighur groups accuse Beijing of repression."

They have no sympathy for us at all when we are on the receiving end of terrorist attacks. It's always OUR fault.

 

[Aepsilons]

Exactly.

Then the BBC article goes on to say this:

"China claims to be battling Muslim separatists, but exiled Uighur groups accuse Beijing of repression."

They have no sympathy for us at all when we are on the receiving end of terrorist attacks. It's always SOMEHOW our fault.

There are always going to be groups who will be against , no matter what the situation, even if one is the victim. The BBC is known for its biased journalism that always tries to pick fun at the social "disgraces" of any nation , be it in Japan, be it in China, be it in India, but when it comes to British interests -- its a no no.

That's why i rarely ever read anything from BBC. For anything international related, i prefer cnn, cctv, ap, reuters or wsj.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

There are always going to be groups who will be against , no matter what the situation, even if one is the victim. The BBC is known for its biased journalism that always tries to pick fun at the social "disgraces" of any nation , be it in Japan, be it in China, be it in India, but when it comes to British interests -- its a no no.

That's why i rarely ever read anything from BBC. For anything international related, i prefer cnn, cctv, ap, reuters or wsj.

I hope that when innocent Chinese civilians are killed by terrorists, they will show us even 1% of the sympathy they are showing to the innocent French civilians who were killed by terrorists in the past few days.

Putting politics before the lives of innocent people, that is a scummy thing to do.