Comments on: China: Sexologist shuts up http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/16/china-sexologist-shuts-up/ The world is talking. Are you listening? Sun, 27 May 2012 16:56:01 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Catherine http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/16/china-sexologist-shuts-up/comment-page-1/#comment-763280 Catherine Sat, 24 Feb 2007 13:09:01 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/16/china-sexologist-shuts-up/#comment-763280 “the people shall not be deprived or abridged of the right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable." James Madison "I may disagree with everything that you say, but I shall defend to the death you're right to say it." Voltaire "People do not have to listen to people they find offensive, or read what people have written if they find it offensive, or watch entertainment they find offensive, or look at art they find offensive. They have the power and the right to censor for themselves, but not others or society." N Scott Mills As long as there are people who are willing to hear Li Yinhe, she has the right to speak. If no one hears her, she will shut up herself. No one has a right to stop her. There are always different ideas. There are always avant-gardes. In most cases, the most “unaccepted” idea at that time is always the most advanced idea. Why our society will advance? Bcause we think. Because we continuously raise different ideas. More than a hundred years ago in US when the suffragists raise the idea that women should have the right to vote, this idea was considered as most offensive and even " wrong" by the public. However, viewing the opinion of the suffragists today, we think their opinion most natural.But if the suffragists were forced to shut up a hundred years ago, what will happen? Maybe the American women will still be forbidden to vote. I think she can’t really blame others for her problems, Li Yinhe has brought this upon herself. Laozi (Lao Tzu) said, “what others fear, one must also fear.” These are the words of the wise, just the sort so-called “cynics” should follow more closely. Most people are afraid to talk about these things, it’s only you who dares, and now it’s put you in danger. This isn’t just Chinese characteristics, it’s just as much an international convention. Heroes sacrificing their lives behind slogans of “fighting for the truth” happens as much overseas as it does in China. I am ashamed of these sentences. Aren't we obliged to be willing to fight for and to die for the truth? If everyone follows this sentence "what others fear, one must also fear.”, how can we expect our society to advance? If no one is dare to question the authority, to question the public? “the people shall not be deprived or abridged of the right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.” James Madison
“I may disagree with everything that you say, but I shall defend to the death you’re right to say it.” Voltaire
“People do not have to listen to people they find offensive, or read what people have written if they find it offensive, or watch entertainment they find offensive, or look at art they find offensive. They have the power and the right to censor for themselves, but not others or society.” N Scott Mills

As long as there are people who are willing to hear Li Yinhe, she has the right to speak. If no one hears her, she will shut up herself. No one has a right to stop her.
There are always different ideas. There are always avant-gardes. In most cases, the most “unaccepted” idea at that time is always the most advanced idea. Why our society will advance? Bcause we think. Because we continuously raise different ideas.
More than a hundred years ago in US when the suffragists raise the idea that women should have the right to vote, this idea was considered as most offensive and even ” wrong” by the public. However, viewing the opinion of the suffragists today, we think their opinion most natural.But if the suffragists were forced to shut up a hundred years ago, what will happen? Maybe the American women will still be forbidden to vote.
I think she can’t really blame others for her problems, Li Yinhe has brought this upon herself. Laozi (Lao Tzu) said, “what others fear, one must also fear.” These are the words of the wise, just the sort so-called “cynics” should follow more closely. Most people are afraid to talk about these things, it’s only you who dares, and now it’s put you in danger. This isn’t just Chinese characteristics, it’s just as much an international convention. Heroes sacrificing their lives behind slogans of “fighting for the truth” happens as much overseas as it does in China.
I am ashamed of these sentences. Aren’t we obliged to be willing to fight for and to die for the truth? If everyone follows this sentence “what others fear, one must also fear.”, how can we expect our society to advance? If no one is dare to question the authority, to question the public?

]]> By: The China Scoop - China: Sexologist Shuts up http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/16/china-sexologist-shuts-up/comment-page-1/#comment-742134 The China Scoop - China: Sexologist Shuts up Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:37:21 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/16/china-sexologist-shuts-up/#comment-742134 [...] China: Sexologist Shuts up February 19th, 2007Renowned Chinese sociologist Li Yinhe (李银河) announced last week that she had been told in no uncertain terms, by people whose identity she declined to identify, to shut up. (globalvoices) [...] [...] China: Sexologist Shuts up February 19th, 2007Renowned Chinese sociologist Li Yinhe (李银河) announced last week that she had been told in no uncertain terms, by people whose identity she declined to identify, to shut up. (globalvoices) [...]

]]> By: qienkuen http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/16/china-sexologist-shuts-up/comment-page-1/#comment-736327 qienkuen Sun, 18 Feb 2007 06:32:38 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/16/china-sexologist-shuts-up/#comment-736327 A malformed society！ A malformed society！

]]> By: Peggy Lee http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/16/china-sexologist-shuts-up/comment-page-1/#comment-730329 Peggy Lee Sat, 17 Feb 2007 01:59:36 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/16/china-sexologist-shuts-up/#comment-730329 Whether its political or sexology research, the academia is a special space that can raise discussions and debates in an informed and critical manner. The closure of such spaces for whatever reason -be it political or moral- is a loss of freedom for all. Whether people agree or not with the views of public academics, they have in important role to play by raising ideas, stimulating people to think and to look critically at their own conceptions and misconceptions on a topic. The topic of sexual freedom of expression, if I am correct in characterizing Li Yinhe's writing, is pertinent to modern China now ever more so than before. We cannot deny that it is a reality that sexual culture is changing in China -people are having sex in a diversity of ways- and people need to look critically at themselves, their sexual practices and their notions of sexuality. To turn a blind a to a reality is only decieving oneself. More importantly there are things such as respect for people of diverse sexual orientations and practical realities of public health in terms of safer sex practice that need to be addressed in an open and informed manner. Whether its political or sexology research, the academia is a special space that can raise discussions and debates in an informed and critical manner. The closure of such spaces for whatever reason -be it political or moral- is a loss of freedom for all.

Whether people agree or not with the views of public academics, they have in important role to play by raising ideas, stimulating people to think and to look critically at their own conceptions and misconceptions on a topic.

The topic of sexual freedom of expression, if I am correct in characterizing Li Yinhe’s writing, is pertinent to modern China now ever more so than before. We cannot deny that it is a reality that sexual culture is changing in China -people are having sex in a diversity of ways- and people need to look critically at themselves, their sexual practices and their notions of sexuality. To turn a blind a to a reality is only decieving oneself.

More importantly there are things such as respect for people of diverse sexual orientations and practical realities of public health in terms of safer sex practice that need to be addressed in an open and informed manner.

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