Freedom of Speech

When we say freedom, we need to specify freedom from what? Freedom is, in this sense, a relative concept. Freedom from censorship? freedom from pressure? or freedom from misinterpretation?

When people discuss about freedom of speech, they probably have freedom from censorship in mind. In this regard, China is not doing a good job.(This is in absolute terms, and I say nothing about this issue in relative terms, i.e. I am not commenting on how other nations are doing compared to China)-- Sensitive information concerning 1989 riots, Fa Lun Gong, and Tibet is still heavily censored (Once again, to insure freedom from misinterpretation, I have to add, I say nothing if they should be censored). Many neglect, however, China does much worse in terms of freedom of speech from pressure.

Lack of freedom of speech from pressure results from intolerance of the general public. It is so common to see on Chinese forums to see one fraction calling another "dogs for the government" and the other group retorting back "traitors". Unfortunately, in recent years, China witnessed a surge of creativity in the area of name-calling, and the system so developed has become increasingly intricate--after a weeks' absence from those forums, I was confused which names should be assigned to me. Sooner or later, we can expect to see different tests to categorize ourselves into these different tags, much as psychological tests assign people into different groups based on their personality.

I adore creativity, but I am not a big fan of the kind of creativity displayed in cursing, name-calling, ridiculing, and mockery. Those activities, by bringing embarrassment and humiliation to the inflictee, are designed to exert pressure on people who dissent from the inflicter.

Mo Yan, when delivering his Nobel Prize speech, made the following statement: when crying has turned into a show, it is still alright not to cry". Let me paraphrase it, "when bashing the government has turned into a show, it is still all right not to do so". Unfortunately and ironically, many dissenters in China do not understand this. They have interpreted dissent too narrowly--for them to dissent is not only a right, but also an obligation--those who do not dissent from (their enemy) is problematic. Ai Weiwei for example, was quick to bash Mo Yan, calling his speech as "powerless, disgraceful, a betrayal and a sellout". For those who truly tolerate others' opinion, this judgement comes a little bit to harsh.

Pressuring the other fraction via name-calling and cursing are common tactics for both fractions. It is just unsettling for me to see such irony and inconsistency from the dissenters' group, who claim to die for human rights. I envision one day (though I do not look forward to), when they grab power, they would not be a hypocrite and censor your comments, but they will probably have an army to "pressure" you. That I hardly feel it is any better.