NEWS: China prevents Pope discussion on the Internet

China has blocked any Internet discussion about the recent death of Pope John Paul II. Internet portals are allowing members to post their thoughts and wishes about the pope but are preventing others from seeing their threads.



Welcome to Communism, would you like Censorship with that?

It's no surprise that China would block internet users from exercising their 'Religious freedom' within the country. Even though Chinese officials claim that they didn't enforce any mandates to restrict internet users from posting their Pop John Paul comments, I would venture to say that they suggested very strongly that these websites block these well wishes towards the religious figure.

[edit on 4/5/2005 by Simulacra]

[edit on 4/5/2005 by Simulacra]

[edit on 4/5/2005 by Simulacra]

What?...this is not possible... According to some people, communism does not exist in China anymore.....

Interesting that they, the chinese, can post their thoughts but not see others.......I wonder what the reasoning is.

It never existed, it's called "Socialism." If it was Communism, I think the government would be run by the people and not just a few who elected themselves - same goes for the once "communist" Russia.

Impossible to censor. If Chinese really want to discuss about the pope, they will be using proxies.

Chinese often use proxies, even for playing games (which is in fact earning money for some of them).


Blobber

[edit on 5-4-2005 by Blobber]

Maybe they are allowing people to post to log who harbors christian sentiments.... I don't know. At least people can post their thoughts and put out their grief in a way, even if noone gets to read it.

This is the Chinese way of doing two things:
* continuing to suppression of religion in China
* paying the Pope back for the numerous times he condemned the Chinese for the continued suppression of religion in China.






seekerof

Originally posted by EmbryonicEssence
It never existed, it's called "Socialism." If it was Communism, I think the government would be run by the people and not just a few who elected themselves - same goes for the once "communist" Russia.

Embryonic, ask this of any hard core Chinese communist and see what he/she tells you. Communist China is called, People's Republic of China. It is the same name and motto that all communists give to their countries. They were all supposedly fighting for the liberation of the people, but the whole Marxist doctrine is just a way to lure people into a dictatorship, as they embrace all the ideals of a "people's revolution."

Although you are right, all communists call themselves socialist revolutionaries. The communists lure people into their cause by claiming the power will be given to them, but it never happens. All it does is destroy countries, and spawns oppressive regimes.

B.S. I live in a communist country and I have read about it on the internet. I have posted about on the internet. I have seen it on the internet. I have seen it on tv.

If it's not first hand information, consider the source. Don't be a lemming.

Let's see. There's Cuba, North Korea, and China. Am I forgetting anyone? Whence ye?

Mauddib, China was never Communist because no one has ever being Communist.

That is the essence of the argument.

True Communism has simply being unattainable.

Singapore to a certain extent.LOL.With all that authoritarianism running around..Heh, yet for those Americans who seemed so revolted by the Patriot Act, let me tell you..Singapore has the Internal Security Act since independance.Anyone arrested under the ISA has no avenue for a public trial and the Minister for Home Affairs decides unilaterally whether he or she is fit for release or continued detention.

Anyway, going back on track..What if the next Pope were to be Chinese?

Yeah typical China bashing here. Ostriches throwing stones as well.

Dont agree with the censorship but dont kid yourselves that this is China's exclusive domain.

You can debate whether or not China is actually a Communist society anymore or not, but you can't debate that the government remains an evil, repressive, totalitarian one that crushes any dissent and tramples human rights. I'm surprised that the same cabal of people here that jump to criticize the U.S. and European democracies for passing new laws to help defend their citizens for any slight perceived encroachment on civil rights are the same ones to jump up and be apologists for China with its atrocious record.

[edit on 4/6/2005 by djohnsto77]

any slight perceived encroachment on civil rights

Are you serious? If you want to believe that go ahead.

I dont think im being a China apologist and neither are other people who criticise US and European laws. Im just of the opinion that we should focus our attention on our own Western governments abuses before we demonise and go after China.

When we have good goverments and fair societies here in the West then and ONLY THEN should we criticise China.

China is held up by the US to redirect attention from all the clandestine usurping of our rights thats going on in the West.

If you feel everything is hunky dory on the homefront and we have the luxury to cast stones at the Chinese then your mistaken.

China isn't the only place where this happens. Governments and private groups block the channels of communication all the time.
I've seen it last week, I've even seen it today.

Maybe its time everyone opened their eyes and realize that power corrupts. Even those who have the best intentions become corrupt with power.
Once something negative is said to someone with power it gets swept away.
Every community faces this, what are we to do?

What are we to do? Well if your to believe Bush and Blair we are to focus all our attention on the likes of China, Iran and North Korea and sign over our rights to them personally and trust them to respect them.

China's censoring of the Internet is wrong I agree, I dont make any excuses for it. I just wish Americans and Westerners in general would just see that we are no better off here and do something about it.

For example Britain's online casinos block Americans from using their sites because it goes against American laws. Whether you agree with America's gambling laws or not does not change the fact that Britain censors its websites.

The majority of people believe that religon shouldnt be supressed (myself included) but that is the law in China so is it any different?

ACLU's fight against American Internet Censorship

Internet Censorship Laws (World)

p.s. Im going to continue to be a fly in the ointment for xenophobic criticism until the West, where I live, is free from the exact same problems.