We like to voice our opinion. If there’s something we don’t like, we will act. As a matter of fact it happened last week. We successfully got the local café to stop using bacon that had been dropped on the floor in sandwiches.
Whilst our campaign was a small victory, someone had to try and do something better. And it was only bloody Bjork, who went out of her to try and make a difference to someone. However, in stark contrast between ourselves and the Icelandic pop queen, she didn’t really do much good. Instead of helping, she fucked off the whole of China and consequently the government there now wants to stop foreign artists entering the country.
Well done Bjork!
China is known for a lot of interesting cultural aspects. For instance, its terracotta army that will sort you out if you step out of line, its big fuck-off wall, its numbers 16, 33 and 56 which can be found at any tasty Chinese takeaway establishment, its knock-off designer goods from the likes of Rebook, Neek, Louise Vitton and Kalven Cleen and its job of hosting the upcoming Olympic games where America will win everything.
However, one of the biggest aspects of China is its rather rocky relationship with Tibet. We won’t bore you with a full-blown history lesson but, in a nutshell, China owns Tibet’s ass. A lot of people see China’s control of Tibet as slightly wrong and various campaigns have started and ended to free the country. On the other hand, China deems any talk of this subject as a big no no. In its eyes, Tibet is quite happy being under the thumb of China.
Amongst other things, China is very strict on its own media and bans any public opinion on such hot topics as Tibet. Likewise, the country rarely lets western bands in to play in case they breach the censorship laws. Despite this, the Chinese government recently asked Bjork to come and entertain a few people. It went slightly tits up.
At a recent gig in Shanghai, the singer and part-time airport fighter simply set the following:
“Tibet, Tibet.”
It may not seem like much, but it was enough to offend the government. The ministry for culture in China said Bjork “broke Chinese law and hurt Chinese people's feelings” and pledged to:
"Further tighten controls. We will further tighten controls on foreign artists performing in China in order to prevent similar cases from happening in the future. We shall never tolerate any attempt to separate Tibet from China and will no longer welcome any artists who deliberately do this."
Obviously, the Chinese have not yet developed tiny police officers who can fly into people's heads and control what comes out of their mouths. So it was highly possible Bjork would say something that could ruffle a few aromatic duck feathers. And, unlike Bono, Bjork has admitted that she wasn’t a part time politician and was simply expressing human emotions. Just coincidentally in China where the subject of Tibet is a wee bit iffy. If she had been slagging off kebabs at an English gig, we may have reacted in a similar way to the Chinese.
And Bjork’s punishment for her wrong doings? A warning of being banned in China if she does it again. Whilst that’s nothing too extreme, it is important to note that the country wants to tighten the influx of foreign artists due to her actions. Just in case they say Tibet.
This ultimately means that the population of China will never see the likes of Keane, Scouting For Girls and The Feeling grace their country. Actually, that’s not such a bad deal. Where can we sign up for citizenship?
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euclid says
“Obviously, the Chinese have not yet developed tiny police officers who can fly into people’s heads and control what comes out of their mouths. ”
Not yet fully developed….
They’re in testing.
mst3kster says
Bjork banned from China…
I guess this means the poor girl has to eat off paper plates from now on.
The Dread Pirate Sausage says
Next time do your research. http://www.endgaget.com/newtech/china/tinycops20080302.htm
boyd says
if it wasn’t her it would’ve been someone else.
people need to stand up to monsters.