Comments on: China Executes Brit, Provokes Outrage http://matadorabroad.com/china-executes-brit-provokes-outrage/ study abroad programs Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:58:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Robyn http://matadorabroad.com/china-executes-brit-provokes-outrage/comment-page-1/#comment-6279 Robyn Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:04:56 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2864#comment-6279 I know this is an old post, but I'm interested bec I am possibly going to be teaching in China next fall via a Teacher Exchange Program. I'd like to know if others have taught and/or lived extensively there. I know this is an old post, but I’m interested bec I am possibly going to be teaching in China next fall via a Teacher Exchange Program. I’d like to know if others have taught and/or lived extensively there.

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]]> By: 7 Activities That Could Get You Jailed (or Killed) While Traveling http://matadorabroad.com/china-executes-brit-provokes-outrage/comment-page-1/#comment-6141 7 Activities That Could Get You Jailed (or Killed) While Traveling Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:00:11 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2864#comment-6141 [...] British man was recently executed in China after being suspected of smuggling heroin. The facts of this case are unclear despite the [...] [...] British man was recently executed in China after being suspected of smuggling heroin. The facts of this case are unclear despite the [...]

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]]> By: Luca http://matadorabroad.com/china-executes-brit-provokes-outrage/comment-page-1/#comment-5254 Luca Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:04:00 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2864#comment-5254 "In so many Asian cultures, there’s a tendency to keep foreigners at a distance when it comes to fitting in. As long as you play your part as the tourist, locals generally don’t have a problem with you. But should you say “I like it here, and I want to stay”, and find yourself treated the same way from all sides, well, what then?" Turner, that's when we experience how it is to be a minority in a society. Similar to those who are not Caucasian (or even Black) in America, or in Europe, even after a family has been born and raised in that particular country for generations. “In so many Asian cultures, there’s a tendency to keep foreigners at a distance when it comes to fitting in. As long as you play your part as the tourist, locals generally don’t have a problem with you. But should you say “I like it here, and I want to stay”, and find yourself treated the same way from all sides, well, what then?”

Turner, that’s when we experience how it is to be a minority in a society. Similar to those who are not Caucasian (or even Black) in America, or in Europe, even after a family has been born and raised in that particular country for generations.

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]]> By: Tim Patterson http://matadorabroad.com/china-executes-brit-provokes-outrage/comment-page-1/#comment-5227 Tim Patterson Sat, 02 Jan 2010 05:09:11 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2864#comment-5227 I hear your point, Hal, but boycotting travel to China entirely is an unproductive reaction. China is a big, important country and lots of people live there. We need more cross-cultural exchange, not less. I hear your point, Hal, but boycotting travel to China entirely is an unproductive reaction. China is a big, important country and lots of people live there. We need more cross-cultural exchange, not less.

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]]> By: Hal http://matadorabroad.com/china-executes-brit-provokes-outrage/comment-page-1/#comment-5226 Hal Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:15:06 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2864#comment-5226 I'm absolutely opposed to the death penalty anywhere, but what about the Chinese wider massacres in places like Tibet in '08 and then in this other province of theirs this past summer? In fact I'm opposed to travel to China whatsoever until it starts observing the minimal human rights. The "rule of law" is what the self-serving interests of the Chinese Communist Party dictate. They were even issuing death threats pre-Beijing Olympics against U.S. correspondents in any way critical of the Tibetan situation. All facts conveniently overlooked by some travel bloggers who make a buck out of China travel, George Bush and Olympic athletes each for their own self-serving, selfish motives. I’m absolutely opposed to the death penalty anywhere, but what about the Chinese wider massacres in places like Tibet in ‘08 and then in this other province of theirs this past summer? In fact I’m opposed to travel to China whatsoever until it starts observing the minimal human rights. The “rule of law” is what the self-serving interests of the Chinese Communist Party dictate. They were even issuing death threats pre-Beijing Olympics against U.S. correspondents in any way critical of the Tibetan situation. All facts conveniently overlooked by some travel bloggers who make a buck out of China travel, George Bush and Olympic athletes each for their own self-serving, selfish motives.

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]]> By: Caitlin http://matadorabroad.com/china-executes-brit-provokes-outrage/comment-page-1/#comment-5224 Caitlin Fri, 01 Jan 2010 11:17:56 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2864#comment-5224 I think if he'd been arrested in eastern China I would have assumed he'd flown in. Somehow because he was found in the western half of the country, I assumed he'd been there a while. And there was also the phrasing of the article - it's weird that it didn't mention he'd been arrested at the airport, just a vague mention of him being "found with the suitcase". Still, no excuse really! I'm a journalist so I shouldn't make such assumptions. All the same, my other points and concerns still hold. I think if he’d been arrested in eastern China I would have assumed he’d flown in. Somehow because he was found in the western half of the country, I assumed he’d been there a while. And there was also the phrasing of the article – it’s weird that it didn’t mention he’d been arrested at the airport, just a vague mention of him being “found with the suitcase”. Still, no excuse really! I’m a journalist so I shouldn’t make such assumptions.

All the same, my other points and concerns still hold.

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]]> By: Caitlin http://matadorabroad.com/china-executes-brit-provokes-outrage/comment-page-1/#comment-5223 Caitlin Fri, 01 Jan 2010 11:11:37 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2864#comment-5223 I don't know why I made that assumption either. The stories I read just said he was found with a suitcase of heroin in Urumqi, which didn't make me think of the airport. You are correct - he was arrested at Urumqi airport. But jeez, reading the story of his life, it sounds like he'd been mentally ill for years. Seriously, what a tale of woe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akmal_Shaikh The Chinese courts just laughed at his incoherent testimony and refused to permit any kind of psychiatric evaluation. Their position was that since he hadn't previously been diagnosed with a mental illness, this was proof that he wasn't mentally ill. I don’t know why I made that assumption either. The stories I read just said he was found with a suitcase of heroin in Urumqi, which didn’t make me think of the airport. You are correct – he was arrested at Urumqi airport.

But jeez, reading the story of his life, it sounds like he’d been mentally ill for years. Seriously, what a tale of woe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akmal_Shaikh

The Chinese courts just laughed at his incoherent testimony and refused to permit any kind of psychiatric evaluation. Their position was that since he hadn’t previously been diagnosed with a mental illness, this was proof that he wasn’t mentally ill.

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]]> By: Pius Lee http://matadorabroad.com/china-executes-brit-provokes-outrage/comment-page-1/#comment-5222 Pius Lee Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:33:10 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2864#comment-5222 I see where you're confused. I'm curious why you assume he crossed a land border. He flew in. I see where you’re confused. I’m curious why you assume he crossed a land border.

He flew in.

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]]> By: Caitlin http://matadorabroad.com/china-executes-brit-provokes-outrage/comment-page-1/#comment-5221 Caitlin Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:19:09 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2864#comment-5221 You (and many other commenters) seem to be taking it on face value that the guy was guilty, when the facts are far less clear (see above). You (and many other commenters) seem to be taking it on face value that the guy was guilty, when the facts are far less clear (see above).

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]]> By: Frank http://matadorabroad.com/china-executes-brit-provokes-outrage/comment-page-1/#comment-5220 Frank Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:15:22 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=2864#comment-5220 China executed over 1700 people this year, many for committing crimes far less egregious than importing heroin. The Chinese fought two wars against the British Empire when it attempted to get the entire country addicted to opium, so it is somewhat understandable why they have a zero tolerance for narcotics. Is no one ever held accountable for one's actions? China executed over 1700 people this year, many for committing crimes far less egregious than importing heroin. The Chinese fought two wars against the British Empire when it attempted to get the entire country addicted to opium, so it is somewhat understandable why they have a zero tolerance for narcotics. Is no one ever held accountable for one’s actions?

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