MovieChat Forums > Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion (2003) Discussion > Waaaay too American

Waaaay too American

posted 20 years ago by WRFan
7 replies | jump to latest

Americans just love making movies about alleged injustices in other parts of the world. Hollywood just supports the prevalent ideology of the US. A movie about political discrimination in the former UDSSR here, another movie about Tibet discrimination there. Look, how democratic we are! Hey, but the Chinese are now Americans' friends in the mutual struggle against international terrorism. So maybe it's not such a good idea to piss the Chinese off?

I would like to see how the US would react if let's say Kalifornia all of a sudden proclaimed its independence from the US federal state. Next day Bush would send airplanes to bomb San Francisco and Los Angeles. But as long as it's the ideology and territory of some other country that is questioned, the US's got no probs with it.

[–] cryofthesnowlion 20 years ago

I wonder if WRFan saw the film? If they did, I think they would have seen that the U.S. isn't exactly portrayed as playing a heroic role with regard to Tibet.

So the U.S.A. isn't perfect... the fact remains that American filmmakers are free to criticize the U.S. government, as well as other governments -- a freedom denied to Tibetans, Chinese, and millions more around the world.

[–] ChrisL138 20 years ago

You're waaaay full of *beep*.

"I would like to see how the US would react if let's say Kalifornia all of a sudden proclaimed its independence from the US federal state. Next day Bush would send airplanes to bomb San Francisco and Los Angeles. But as long as it's the ideology and territory of some other country that is questioned, the US's got no probs with it. "

Not even worth a response, buddy. But try spelling Califonia with a C in the future. Us natives hate it when folks like you use a K.

[–] syp218 19 years ago

wrfan is obviously a disgruntled chinese man who doesn't like their evil revealed to the world. when california secedes and is bombed make a movie about it beeatch.

[–] D_Parton 19 years ago

You know I think part of the USA did break away. They made them join back up pretty quickly with their big guns and sheer numbers. But of course that completely different.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] konchok_dorje 17 years ago

Actually, it's very different. To make a long story short, the 13 original colonies, unlike Tibet and the 17 point agreement, VOLUNTARILY signed what became the Constitution of the United States of America. Further, all other territories that were prospective states VOLUNTARILY ratified the constitution prior to becoming accepted as a state.

One of the provisions of the Constitution is that states cannot secede from the Union. Therefore the formation of the Confederacy was a violation of the Constitution.

In short, your attempt prove a point is overly simplistic and easily dismissed.

One of the things that you will find is that in America, even the most ardent patriot will admit that some pretty digusting things have been done in the name of nationalism, or national security. The difference between us and others however is that there is significant debate over how to make things right. Reparations have been made to Japanese interned during the 2nd world war, Indian reservations are given monthly stipend to be spent in whatever fashion they choose. This is the embodiment of freedom. American military cadres do not oversee Indian reservations and prohibit the free worship and practice of religion. Indians are not precluded from holding jobs (affirmative action is attempt to help them).

In many respects, we are still doing wrong by our Indian brothers....but we recognize this, and some people are trying to make right.

The problem with those Chinese that defend their actions/policies in Tibet by pointing out similair (or worse) behavior by America....is that they haven't learned the lesson the "2 wrongs don't make a right."

[–] Kibosh 18 years ago

Regardless of a possible degree of bias (I don't have enough expertise on the subject to express my personal views), the movie contains enough actual documental footage (gruesome monk beatings, torture descriptions and photos, etc) that shows early Communist China's inhumane policies and actions way too well. The People's Republic of China is infamous for its systematic human rights violations that are still widespread today (http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/chn-summary-eng). I agree that the support for basic human rights is indeed a prevalent ideology in the United States. What I fail to see is how American people, their government, or their internal or foreign policies can be held responsible for China's very own atrocities. The way I see it, you're just trying to change the focus of the discussion.

By the way, I found the documentary very interesting and educational. To paraphrase one of the reviewers, even you may not agree with the political viewpoints of it, it is still a very good film. And if you have any concern for human right violations or any interest in the history of Tibet, this documentary is a definite 'must see'.