Saturday, January 21, 2012

Chinese Intellectuals Forced to Take Side

A high school dropout successfully forced every Chinese intellectuals to take side, twice.

Han Han is an integration of everything a person could have dreamed, in a most wildest dream.

Han published his first novel in sophomore year in high school, a tremendous success by the way. By the age of 30, he had been named the World's 50 Most Influential Figures 2010 by New Statesman. Han also made in the 2010 TIME 100 (No. 2 overall by popular vote). Han a born athlete in long distance running, owned the Chinese race car competitions by collecting 5 year-end champions out of last 8. And as a side note, almost every notable Chinese actresses and models were crazy about Han, some publicly begged for a night.

Han built up a follower base with tens of millions of enthusiastic fans in the younger generation without drawing persecution from the weary communism authority. Han spoke up in almost every public instances, but made every effort not to complain, not even a bit. When his books were banned from publication, he quietly trucked them to a paper processing plant without a word. Micro-blogging has become the most popular platform in China, but Han refused to use it, although Internet companies promised multi-million dollar contract as long as he open an account.

When President Obama visited China, Han rejected an invitation from the US Embassy.

So much about this high school dropout...

Han had been known as a flag of the desire and determination to freedom and liberty of the younger generation. However, when he released three essays at the end of year 2011, half of his fans chose to part the way. In 'Revolution', 'Democracy' and 'Liberty', Han mocked the wishful-thinking of the idea that a revolution would be the solution to the complains people have, and suggested instead people should start working on individual liberty.

Many notable Chinese intellectuals labeled the 'Three Essays' a sign Han surrendered to the authority. Some lamented Han lack of formal training in reasoning, being a high school dropout. Some accused Han as a puppet of a disillusioned writing team.

Han took the Chinese online community to another intersection of roads when Mr. Fang Zhouzi jumped on the wagon to join Han's criticizer. Fang made his name in China and abroad as an impartial magistrate, orginally in the academic fields; while quietly Chanted for government agenda on the sideline. As Fang carefully covers his real mission under disguise of public interest, his words have been held as an ever-self-growing bible for many Chinese who can't see through it.

After the fire-exchange between Fang and Han, Chinese Netizens had to mull on the likeliness of which side is working on a commission from the government. Elite and privileged intellectuals must take side in public. The incident is likened by 萧瀚 as the Affaire Dreyfus which would divide the Chinese intellectuals in the years to come.

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