Comments on: Ethnic Tensions Spark Brawl at China Factory-Report

By: MAC

MAC — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:30:15 +0000

Oh gosh, look- it’s Xinhua, but still-
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/06/rumor-monger-arrested-for-factory-brawl/

By: MAC

MAC — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:23:46 +0000

I don’t know, there might not be organized anti-Uyghur groups, but at least on the internet (where of course everything has to be taken with a grain of salt) I see pretty ugly stuff said all the time, all the way up to talk of extermination.

By: Old Tales Retold

Old Tales Retold — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:42:07 +0000

I’d amend that last paragraph: I meant to say, “… as, say, the attitudes of racists in the U.S.”

“Other countries” is a tad vague…

By: Old Tales Retold

Old Tales Retold — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:40:28 +0000

Well, there *is* a fair bit of bashing in China—complaints about theft by Uyghurs and Hui Muslims, accusations of affirmative action abuses in school admissions, grumbling about how police are supposedly easy on minorities, etc. Thankfully, not much of the bashing becomes violent.

Rumors are, as you say, “just that.” But they reflect real problems in the way people see each other.

I agree, though, that “race” is not always the best lens for viewing these problems. “Race” carries with it the whole history of Western colonialism and therefore arguably more entrenched attitudes.

I’ve never felt that Chinese thoughts about different ethnic groups really packed the same bunch as, say, the attitudes of racists in other countries. Interests and personal histories aren’t as wrapped up in stereotyping in China.

By: tack

tack — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:30:12 +0000

>I’m going to say… not very, given the power of rumor in China combined with the general attitude towards Uyghurs.

Rumors are just that, rumors. If the general public as you claim are so easily swayed by rumors regarding Uyghurs there’d be Uyghur bashing everyday with all those rumors floating around.

By: MAC

MAC — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:21:17 +0000

I’m not saying the rapes didn’t happen, but honestly, how hard would it be to get a bunch of Chinese factory workers to believe that Uyghurs were committing rape even if they weren’t? I’m going to say… not very, given the power of rumor in China combined with the general attitude towards Uyghurs.

By: Doc

Doc — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:06:06 +0000

Is this about race or is this about rape?

I guess to some people there’s no difference. Hmmm, what does that say about the person.

By: Ma Bole

Ma Bole — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:01:09 +0000

In 1955, Zhou Enlai said, “China is a nation uniquely without racism.” Boy was he wrong.

By: john chang

john chang — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:16:30 +0000

http://www.zonaeuropa.com/weblog.htm

Boxun: “At 22:00 on June 25, I came back from drinking with my colleagues and we found several police vehicles present at the factory. At first, we did not know what was going on. Then we learned that the Uighurs dragged one of my Han sisters into their dormitory and attempted to rape her. This caused our Han compatriots to become outraged. They wanted to go and beat up the perpetrator. But the factory security guards stopped them. Even when the female victim identified the perpetrator, the factory security guards still refused to arrest him. This caused even greater public anger as the people upstairs tossed all garbage downstairs.”