Posted on 01/13/2013 7:13:01 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Americans know Jackie Chan best for his cheery, acrobatic performances in action movies such as “Rumble in the Bronx” and “Rush Hour,” made successful by his amazing martial artistry and self-effacing comedy. Chinese know Chan, a Hong Kong native, for largely the same reasons.
But they also know him for something most Americans might find surprising: He is passionately political, a staunch defender of the Chinese Communist Party and harsh critic of anyone he sees as opposing Beijing. Today, that includes the United States.
Chan, responding to widespread criticism of China’s recent censorship of a popular newspaper, insisted in a Chinese TV interview that the United States is “the most corrupt country in the world.” He scolded Chinese who criticize their country in a way that foreigners can hear or see, adding that he’s careful to only praise China when giving interviews in the U.S.
Here are his comments, translated into English by Ministry of Tofu, which also has the video. It’s worth watching to see how animated he becomes when criticizing the U.S. and defending China. I don’t speak Chinese, unfortunately, but if you’re like me then you can follow him a little by listening for the word “Meiguo,” which means America. (Fun fact: It translates literally to “beautiful country.”)
Jackie Chan: The New China. The real success has been made in the past dozen of years. Our country’s president also admits they have the corruption problem, and some other stuff, but we are making progress. What I can see is our country is continuously making progress and learning. If you talk about corruption, the entire world, the United State, has no corruption?
Host: America.
Chan: The most corrupt in the world.
Host: Really?
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
He is not wrong. The problem in the U.S. is that corruption is institutionalized and legal. When someone does get caught, the penalties are very minimal, especially compared to the harm done to the country.
What the U.S. and americans do not see is the kind of day to day corruption at the street level as is the case in China. For example, a taxi driver having to take 50 lbs of rice to the home of a police officer so he can get his taxi out of impound the next day.
But starting in earnest with Chairman Jung Ze Min, the Chinese government started to crack down hard on party officials and local party leaders that were corrupt. Then, they mostly lost their positions.
A few years back, the Chinese stepped up the effort with very serious penalties that escalate in severity based on the amount of money involved ($500,000, one year in jail; $5 million, 10 years in jail or perhaps death).
If the U.S. is not the most corrupt country in the world as Jackie Chan says, it is not far from the top of the list and laws in the U.S. need to be changed to make that corruption illegal.
Chan is by no means a minority amongst Chinese in this view.
I agree with Jackie. The Obama administration is the most corrupt in the world...
Go to Beijing, have a glass of tap water and breathe deeply while protesting the government......then tell me how bad America is.
I never liked his movies. Saw 2.
Preferred chuck Norris & David carradine.
Bruce lee.
He's not wrong! As China moves more and more away from Communism, its people are becoming more and more prosperous. As the US moves more and more toward Communism, our people are becoming less and less prosperous.
Not yet, but we are definitely in the running and going for the title. Thanks for noticing!
A couple more years or less of progressively being covered in what's oozing, gushing and flowing out and down from the owe-bama clan's Chicago way and that title is ours!
You are correct, but like the posters who point out we have a problem with legal AND illegal immigration- we have straight up corruption, as well.
Vote fraud, illegal immigration, drug violence, bribes, welfare fraud, racial bias- we’ve got tons of it.
Totally and completely off subject.
He is passionately political, a staunch defender of the Chinese Communist Party and harsh critic of anyone he sees as opposing Beijing. Today, that includes the United States. Chan, responding to widespread criticism of China’s recent censorship of a popular newspaper, insisted in a Chinese TV interview that the United States is "the most corrupt country in the world." He scolded Chinese who criticize their country in a way that foreigners can hear or see, adding that he’s careful to only praise China when giving interviews in the U.S.What's his FR nick? For that matter, what nick does he use over on Lew Rockwell?
Drink Chinese tap water... LOL not even the Chinese do that. It took more 2 years to get my Chinese wife to drink from the tap when she moved here.
What Americans seem to understand is that people,from communist nations are held hostage especially when traveling. Chan likely has children and extended family in China and their well being and ability to get out likely depends on Chan’s opinions expressed. For him it is really a small price to pay. Similarly in the US I have seen well known people, turn into government spokespeople, and I cant help but wonder what the feds have them. The Estefans (Gloria and Emilio) and attorney Roy Black, who writes ridiculous daily facebook posts that coincide perfectly with whitehouse talking points, are examples of people who’s strange sudden support of Obama does’t make sense. I have those hunches with Petraeus and colin Powell as well. Somebody has dirt on them, tax evasion etc., and are being made to sing or tow the line.
Be that as it may, would you prefer to live in the US or China? If America is so corrupt, why does Chan live here?
China’s economic model for the last 2 decades has been built on corruption. They steal foreign intellectual capital and corporate secrets. Party leaders sit on corporate boards. The Princelings are now rich and are taking over.
while I agree with you that’s not the corruption were talking about in this thread
Chan is a Chinese communist stooge. But America does have a corruption problem.
Not really. Do you think those conditions exist because they are highly ethical?
I disagree. Compared to other countries we’re far and above what is considered normal in other countries.
First, there is a lot more corruption here than many realize. Second, part of my point is that immigrants both legal and illegal are importing the corrupt attitudes of their home countries. Third, I’m not comparing I’m commenting.
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