Stop F*ck#ng Censoring me, Fool!

Ok, so the major theme that Ha Jin CLEARLY addresses is the censorship of the Communist Party, and with his newfound freedom of speech *care of the marvelous USofA*, Jin happily writes his innermost thoughts and feelings concerning this issue. I mean, DUH! If Jin tried to write even one of these short stories in his homeland, he might have been another artist, student, teacher, voice sacrificed, not unlike his fellow Chinese that died in Tiananmen Square. (Or should I say, like those who never were killed at the place by the thing that also never existed and the whole thing never happened I mean WHAT? THOU SHALT THINK AS WE TELL YOU TO THINK! ARG!) Ok, I don't think the Chinese are supposed to have Bible/pirate voices. . .

Similarly, Conrad might never have recieved the fame and success of HoD had it been published in Poland because, well lets face it, since when have any of us ever been required to take a Polish Literature class? No offense to Poland, I'm probably just ignorant when it comes to world literature, but the fact remains that other countries stay on the top of the heap here. And where would postco lit be without the racist/non-racist writings of Conrad? Well, I know at least one African writer who would have been pretty bored. . .

So, one of the biggest Communist moments (to me) that Ha Jin discusses takes place in the story "Alive," during the arranged marriage weddings (29-31). No one seems to freakin' care that they have to marry complete strangers!!! We've all heard stories about arranged marraiges before-- NOT FUN!! "However, the wedding wasn't jolly and noisy, as weddings should be. Most of the brides looked rather somber; a few grooms stoof motionless, their arms crossed before their chests, as though they were spectators" (31). Well, yeah, I'd imagine that after losing the real love of my life I might be a little disapointed at being forced to marry a post-earthquake victim who may or may not be a mass murderer or have substantial facial scarring from the horrible event. I don't mean to sound superficial, because it would be different had they already been in love before the accident and loved them despite these characteristics, because as I said in class, LOVE CONQUERS ALL! However, this is not the case! No one questions, protests, nothing! Gross!

Ha Jin makes another huge statement with the story Saboteur. This story is actually most like the Tiananmen Square incident- the police abuse their power wholeheartedly, the people didn't do anything other than stand up for themselves with whatever was left of their voice, and they were forgotten almost as soon as they were disposed of. WEIRD, how these two events might mirror eachother a little bit. Don't know how that happened. . .

Basically, China sucks. The end.


Oh yeah! If you want to go to Avalanche, me and Amy are putting a group together for Tuesday after class. Please come to get your picture and extra credit! We want a semi big group so it's not so expensive!! :)