It's an insane world!!
Hey Folks -
Here's a good case study of why the world is so screwed up!! This entire story is one insane contradiction after another.
A Holywood starlette with - I'm told - a drug problem visits Peru (where most people can't read Chinese characters) carrying a bag sold as a "fashion accesory" by the Capitalist country of Communist China.
The bag is (as the article states) "emblazoned with a red star and the words 'Serve the People' printed in Chinese, perhaps Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong's most famous political slogan," but Mao wasn't really "into" fashion. Moreover, the "Communist" government running China is responsible for ending Mao's Communist government and replacing it with the market-driven system now threatening to beat the West at its own game. Worse, Capitalism's most famous political slogan ISN'T "Serve the People"! "Buyer beware" maybe, but NOT "Serve the people."
That's Madison Avenue not the Maoist Road.
Then we have the "pain" caused by a slogan nobody could read on a small bag carried by one tourist in Peru. Moreover, the pain-inflicting phrase is "Serve the people." Now who wouldn't be pained by such sentiment ? It's almost as bad as if David Hasselhoff visited Italy wearing a lapel pin that demanded, "Make the trains run on time!" Golly, THAT would cause a stir !!
Also presented is the view that the pain is caused by the reminder of the Maoist Shining Path insurgency. But nothing is mentioned of the nasty military government it opposed or of Alberto Fujimori (our country's good pal) who opposed the insurgents but eventually fled the country to avoid criminal prosecution by his own people.
Finally, the stamp of approval to this hodge-podge of contradictions is given by a "human rights activist," supposedly a lefty, right? Well, George Bush claims he's for human rights, too. Talk is cheap.
- Uke Man
Cameron Diaz apologizes for Maoist bag
June 25, 2007 Associated Press
LIMA, Peru -
Cameron Diaz apologized Sunday for carrying a bag with a political slogan that evoked painful memories in Peru.
The voice of Princess Fiona in the animated "Shrek" films visited the Incan city of Machu Picchu in Peru's Andes on Friday carrying an olive green bag emblazoned with a red star and the words "Serve the People" printed in Chinese, perhaps Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong's most famous political slogan.
The bags are marketed as fashion accessories in some world capitals, but in Peru the slogan evokes memories of the Maoist Shining Path insurgency that fought the government in the 1980s and early 1990s in a bloody conflict that left nearly 70,000 people dead.
"I sincerely apologize to anyone I may have inadvertently offended. The bag was a purchase I made as a tourist in China and I did not realize the potentially hurtful nature of the slogan printed on it," Diaz said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press.
On Friday, one prominent Peruvian human rights activist said Diaz should have been a little more aware of local sensitivities when picking her accessories.
In Sunday's statement, the star of "There's Something About Mary" said the purpose of her visit was to participate in a television show that celebrates Peru's culture. The actress has been in Peru as part of "4 REAL," a Canadian TV production that focuses on young community leaders around the world.
"I'm sorry for any people's pain and suffering and it was certainly never my intention to reopen what I now know is a painful wound in this country's history," she said.
Diaz also spoke of Peruvians' beauty and warmth and said she wished "for their continued healing."
Here's a good case study of why the world is so screwed up!! This entire story is one insane contradiction after another.
A Holywood starlette with - I'm told - a drug problem visits Peru (where most people can't read Chinese characters) carrying a bag sold as a "fashion accesory" by the Capitalist country of Communist China.
The bag is (as the article states) "emblazoned with a red star and the words 'Serve the People' printed in Chinese, perhaps Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong's most famous political slogan," but Mao wasn't really "into" fashion. Moreover, the "Communist" government running China is responsible for ending Mao's Communist government and replacing it with the market-driven system now threatening to beat the West at its own game. Worse, Capitalism's most famous political slogan ISN'T "Serve the People"! "Buyer beware" maybe, but NOT "Serve the people."
That's Madison Avenue not the Maoist Road.
Then we have the "pain" caused by a slogan nobody could read on a small bag carried by one tourist in Peru. Moreover, the pain-inflicting phrase is "Serve the people." Now who wouldn't be pained by such sentiment ? It's almost as bad as if David Hasselhoff visited Italy wearing a lapel pin that demanded, "Make the trains run on time!" Golly, THAT would cause a stir !!
Also presented is the view that the pain is caused by the reminder of the Maoist Shining Path insurgency. But nothing is mentioned of the nasty military government it opposed or of Alberto Fujimori (our country's good pal) who opposed the insurgents but eventually fled the country to avoid criminal prosecution by his own people.
Finally, the stamp of approval to this hodge-podge of contradictions is given by a "human rights activist," supposedly a lefty, right? Well, George Bush claims he's for human rights, too. Talk is cheap.
- Uke Man
Cameron Diaz apologizes for Maoist bag
June 25, 2007 Associated Press
LIMA, Peru -
Cameron Diaz apologized Sunday for carrying a bag with a political slogan that evoked painful memories in Peru.
The voice of Princess Fiona in the animated "Shrek" films visited the Incan city of Machu Picchu in Peru's Andes on Friday carrying an olive green bag emblazoned with a red star and the words "Serve the People" printed in Chinese, perhaps Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong's most famous political slogan.
The bags are marketed as fashion accessories in some world capitals, but in Peru the slogan evokes memories of the Maoist Shining Path insurgency that fought the government in the 1980s and early 1990s in a bloody conflict that left nearly 70,000 people dead.
"I sincerely apologize to anyone I may have inadvertently offended. The bag was a purchase I made as a tourist in China and I did not realize the potentially hurtful nature of the slogan printed on it," Diaz said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press.
On Friday, one prominent Peruvian human rights activist said Diaz should have been a little more aware of local sensitivities when picking her accessories.
In Sunday's statement, the star of "There's Something About Mary" said the purpose of her visit was to participate in a television show that celebrates Peru's culture. The actress has been in Peru as part of "4 REAL," a Canadian TV production that focuses on young community leaders around the world.
"I'm sorry for any people's pain and suffering and it was certainly never my intention to reopen what I now know is a painful wound in this country's history," she said.
Diaz also spoke of Peruvians' beauty and warmth and said she wished "for their continued healing."
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