History may or may not repeat itself, (The Propellerheads suggest it does, I disagree but I think it comes close enough every once in awhile to scare the bejeezus out of the human race.) But like flu epidemics and movies starring Colin Farrell, certain rhetoric has a nasty habit of reappearing every so often with the same putridity but a new mutation (or marketing campaign) which has fooled us into thinking it’s something new and different.
Sixty years before Guantanamo and arguments over military tribunals and “enemies among us,” the US government imprisoned 120,00 people for the crime of having Japanese ancestry. While the historical situation was different, the rhetoric used to justify the internment in the “War aganst Fascism” is eerily reminiscent of the current debate in the face of a “War on Terror.” For those interested in reading more on this dark period in US history, the WaPo Short Stacks blog lists five books on the stories of Japanese-Americans in the internment camps. (h/t Angry Asian Man)
Speaking of closely examining past government misdeeds from a historical perspective, back in 1989…oh wait, sorry this is China, never mind.
Nevertheless, Quixotic crusading jouro that he is, John Pomfret offers his thoughts on the last 20 years of China’s history. I like Pomfret, he kind of reminds me of Sting. You know how when you put on a Sting album, even one you’ve just bought, you know EXACTLY what you’re going to get every time? Doesn’t mean it’s not good, it’s always solid, but also oddly comforting in its predictability. (Note to self: As experiement, switch Friday night ‘romantic dinner’ music from “Bring on the Night” to the audiobook version of “Chinese Lessons” and observe any change in reaction or mood.)
Finally, the website The Smoking Gun, in between showing pictures of unusual and wacky mugshots, will also occasionally post the tour riders (the backstage requirements) of famous music acts. I’d be willing to bet that some of the set-ups for our young exam scholars this week might almost be Van Halen “pick out all of the brown M&Ms” worthy. Parents renting hotel rooms near the test center so that the precious little boy-child can rest during lunch? Check. Favorite foods on offer at all times? Check. Team of Swiss nurses for rubdowns and group showering? Wouldn’t surprise me a bit.
Enjoy your Tuesday.
