“No more media distortion!” This was the main theme for 6,000 plus demonstrators on Parliament Hill, April14th, a fact media broadly ignored. Freedom of the press is noth freedom to ignore and distort facts, or to invent them. This Chinese-Canadian demonstration’s purpose was to protest against media distortion of events in Tibet. Journalists broadly claimed its purpose was
to support Olympics 2008.
This demonstration was of historic importance. For once protest was not against governmental policy; it was against media distortions and lies. This new protest form has gone global: e.g., on April 14th some 20,000 Australians demonstrated against biased reporting concerning Tibet. Chinese-Canadians overwhelmingly feel angry and disgusted due to biased reporting. We not only protest; also we plan to boycott and attack those media that persist in surrounding and
suppressing truth with a bodyguard of myths.
Myth #1. Tibet became part of China in 1959 when China invaded Tibet. Fact #1. Tibet became an integral part of China in 1705. China contains 56 ethnic groups, and lacks a racist history.
Myth #2. Government troops killed 150 Tibetans. Fact #2.In Lhasa, a few hundred people turned a demonstration into a riot, killing about 20 innocent people and burning some 600 shops, owned by Han Chinese and Tibetan Chinese. There is no evidence of Chinese troops shooting rioters, or of governmental wrong-doing.
Myth #3 Cultural Genocide is occurring. Fact #3. Tibetans have their own language, their own TV stations, monasteries, and schools teaching in Tibetan. Accusations of cultural genocide square badly with the fact that some 90% of Tibetans cannot speak Chinese. There has been an influx of Han Chinese, especially business people drawn largely by great tourism opportunities that have emerged since 1984, and the need for related businesses and shops.
The media have misreported what happened in Tibet, apparently driven more by writers’ imaginations than factual evidence. This is “pack journalism.” Media, building stories based upon mutually shared fantasies, have created a meta-story that escaped all bounds of factuality.
One man can be wrong, but 6,000 people came from Toronto, Kingston, Montreal, Guelph, Waterloo, etc., spending some $100,000 for buses to demonstrate their frustration toward the media. Those media – which are creating bitter enemies among Chinese-Canadians – should wake up and listen.
to support Olympics 2008.
This demonstration was of historic importance. For once protest was not against governmental policy; it was against media distortions and lies. This new protest form has gone global: e.g., on April 14th some 20,000 Australians demonstrated against biased reporting concerning Tibet. Chinese-Canadians overwhelmingly feel angry and disgusted due to biased reporting. We not only protest; also we plan to boycott and attack those media that persist in surrounding and
suppressing truth with a bodyguard of myths.
Myth #1. Tibet became part of China in 1959 when China invaded Tibet. Fact #1. Tibet became an integral part of China in 1705. China contains 56 ethnic groups, and lacks a racist history.
Myth #2. Government troops killed 150 Tibetans. Fact #2.In Lhasa, a few hundred people turned a demonstration into a riot, killing about 20 innocent people and burning some 600 shops, owned by Han Chinese and Tibetan Chinese. There is no evidence of Chinese troops shooting rioters, or of governmental wrong-doing.
Myth #3 Cultural Genocide is occurring. Fact #3. Tibetans have their own language, their own TV stations, monasteries, and schools teaching in Tibetan. Accusations of cultural genocide square badly with the fact that some 90% of Tibetans cannot speak Chinese. There has been an influx of Han Chinese, especially business people drawn largely by great tourism opportunities that have emerged since 1984, and the need for related businesses and shops.
The media have misreported what happened in Tibet, apparently driven more by writers’ imaginations than factual evidence. This is “pack journalism.” Media, building stories based upon mutually shared fantasies, have created a meta-story that escaped all bounds of factuality.
One man can be wrong, but 6,000 people came from Toronto, Kingston, Montreal, Guelph, Waterloo, etc., spending some $100,000 for buses to demonstrate their frustration toward the media. Those media – which are creating bitter enemies among Chinese-Canadians – should wake up and listen.
