Driving home today, I’m listening to NPR (yes, that happens from time to time) and heard a story that was equal parts fascinating and infuriating: Why Does China Want a Mural in Oregon Destroyed?
Seems they’re a little upset about a private citizen exercising his free speech rights to commission a mural which depicts a Tibetan monk immolating himself. A little bit of bare-knuckled social commentary, there.
NPR did a remarkably good job of telling the story – which they often do, if you can ignore the ever-present bias filter. Nothing to complain about in this one, though:
The Chinese consulate in San Francisco sent a pointed letter to Corvallis’ mayor insisting the mural be removed before it “tainted” U.S.-China relations.
As the letter from the Chinese consulate makes clear, the government there isn’t ignoring Lin’s attempt to promote political independence for Tibet and his native Taiwan. The letter was a surprise to Julie Manning, the mayor of the small college town, population 54,000, about 80 miles south of Portland.
And the mayor of Corvallis politely tells them to go pound sand:
Manning wrote the consulate back that “the mural reflects protected speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”
After receiving the mayor’s letter, consular officials flew to Oregon to talk with her. Manning calls the meeting “cordial.” She says she told the Chinese officials she couldn’t order the painting destroyed and she wouldn’t even if she could. Chinese consulate officials in San Francisco didn’t respond to requests for comment.
She handled it much better than I would have, which is just one of many reasons why I’m not in politics. My reaction would have been along these lines:
“Our customs may seem a bit quaint, if not downright alien to you. So lean in, and listen very closely: GO. TO. HELL.”
Got that? Good.
So here’s a little reminder for the People’s Republic:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
To which I would add, “suck on that, Commies”. Here’s another hint: if you don’t want to be associated with disturbing imagery of people setting themselves on fire, then don’t do things that make people want to set themselves on fire.
Also note this is apparently not the first time they’ve expressed their discontent to US citizens inside of our borders: it only gets national attention when they work their way all the way down to the small-town level.
Which brings us to this story’s one glaring omission, and that would be the part where our Federal government steps in and tells the ChiComs to kindly mind their own #%$@! business. You’re in our house, beeches. That means our citizens can say and do pretty much whatever they damned well please.
Unless it upsets the Islamofascists, that is:
On second thought, it’s not surprising that our government didn’t step in. Perhaps they need a remedial course in Civics 101 as well. Class is in session Nov. 6th. Tea will be provided.
The Chiles Files 