Comments (256)

You people are so stupid, and you say the Hollywood is stupid. Cannot you see that 9.11 is a karma thing？This is what I said right after 9.11, and in case all you idiots have forgotten, here it is, in direct quote.

“Because you are not being nice to Bin Laden, who is a good friend of mine," she said. "And then all this World Trade Center and all this stuff happened, I thought, is that karma? When you are not nice, bad things happen to you."

Go home and think about it, dumb idiots.

Dalai Lama led prayer for Sichuan earthquake victims

http://www.asianews.it/view4print.php?l=en&art=12430

Did Ms Stone imply the earthquake was brought up by the Dalai Lama?

Her words: “Because they are not being nice to the Dalai Lama, who is a good friend of mine," she said. "And then all this earthquake and all this stuff happened, I thought, is that karma? When you are not nice, bad things happen to you."

Analysis: Karma is a Buddhist law. The divine Buddha determines who to be punished and others praised. A living Buddha reports people’s behaviors to the divine Buddha. Wrong info was passed and the quake occurred in the Aba Tibetan&Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan. Many Tibetan (and other Chinese) died but the Chinese gov was praised for its swift actions. If this is the karma as she claimed (based on the insider info from her good friend?), it was bad to the innocent Tibetans (and other Chinese) but good to the gov. His Holiness realized the mistake, and was too embarrassed to participate in a quake-relief effort. Instead, he toured the globe, as if he has nothing to do with the quake (alibi?).

To the Village Idiot.

What are you trying to say? The same thing as Sharon Stone that guy below mentioned?

The Jews are responsible for the holocaust?

Development pushed in the Sichuan region despite quake risks

http://www.ciobinternational.org/news/view/1344

So does Sharon Stone also thinks that the Jews are responsible for the Holocaust?

May be it's bad karma on the Jews' part.

I don't want to be used by your guys anymore. All of you are poor fish and sore loser. Pathetic.

hehehe, my little thugs and goons are now masquerading as Sharon Stone, Tibetan exiles and monks.

Stay tuned for world domination!

hehehe .....

Tibetan in Exile--we need money!:

Yes, our Holiness gets all the attention and money (though not from richard gere) from your governments. But what about us who actually do the shouting, grabbing running around in costumes and waving? Sure we are born in the west and never been to China. But that is not the point. The point is that we need the Tibet issue to survive.

The recent events really helped us a lot with more financial support. But is this enough? Certainly not! We have about 30000 Tibetans living in the US. But we have hundreds of local organizations. They are getting very little money. For example, our "Free Tibet" local chapter in Utah only has a budget of just over 400000$. Why so stingy? I think the British is a little more generous. The Germans and French are talking tough but the money doesn't show. Those are peanuts. We get our lion's share from the US.

So please help us. We are really afraid that you will forget us after the Olympics are over. Please!

Fu Manchu: Pesky rights activists again? That is very good news...

Red guard: Why is it good news, master?

Fu Manchu: Because I'm in no condition to receive bad news. I shall fine you each 1000 yuan.

Red guard: But you don't pay us, master.

Fu Manchu: Whip, Whip, Whip! Then I shall start paying you in order to fine you.

My candidate for Fu Manchu Award:

Dalai Lama and Tibetan-In-Exile

Dalai Lama said: I like it!
In the early 1950s, DL was a member of China’s central committee and leader of Tibet. He said: Great leader Chairman Mao, we love you! (He wrote poems for Chairman Mao).

Dalai Lama said: I don’t like it!
In 1956, the central government wanted to start the land reform that had been implemented through out China. Due to the respect of the minority region, the reform was delayed. This reform would have distributed the land owned by DL and his monks to the slaves. So he resisted.

Dalai Lama said: I am out of here!
A violent uprising was squashed. And he fled to India with arrangement by some countries.

Dalai Lama said: let’s fight for independence!
With support from some countries, he organized the guerrilla warfare. The tactics were nothing more than murdering local officials and intimidating the population. It lasted until 1972 when the west stopped support.

Dalai Lama said: I want autonomy!
No more support, the rhetoric changed to autonomy. A step-by-step plan, autonomy to independence seemed smart at that time. But he never stopped stirring troubles inside China.

Dalai Lama said: I want independence.
In 1989, when anti-China was even more popular than now, and when China had the Tiananmen incident, he won the Nobel Prize when some people wanted to snub China. And he seized the opportunity by saying that China should be divided into 7 or 8 pieces (he will have the bigger piece as he wants 25% of China’s territory). But soon he was back to his autonomy talk as political climate changed.

Dalai Lama said: let’s seize the opportunity!
In 2001, China won the honor to host the Olympics. DL again saw an opening and formed his grand plan to gain ground during this sporting event. Thus came the ugly riots with arson, burning and killing. And some misinformed people started to follow him on the torch relay to put on a freak show.

Dalai Lama again said: "I want autonomy". "I don't want to attend the Olympics". "I want to attend the Olympics". "The protesters have their right and I am powerless". "The protesters should stop".
"Karma". "not karma".

Dalai Lama, get yourself together before speaking. Otherwise, you will be the same as your best pal, Sharon Stone, or your other pal, richard geer who pissed off the Indian people by bending over their famed actress.

All of you are poor fish and sore loser. Pathetic.

hehehe (really evil laugh), my little thugs and robots are all over the web, hehehe ....

All of you are poor fish and sore loser. Pathetic.

This nameless guy is full of hatred towards Chinese. Yet he dares to say that he cares about the human rights of the Chinese people and viciously attacking another reasonable message.

This guy obviously is manning this forum day and night and making sure his hateful rant is always on top. This technique is the same as the Tibetan in exile on every forums in the US, knowing that many people will only read a few messages from the top.

One thing we should do is to avoid categorically attacking Chinese or Americans or any group of people. We should be aware that individual actions can't be used to attack a whole ethnic group,a whole region, let alone a whole country. Let's ignore this little guy and focus on the issue.

Shaanxi cadres punished for taking earthquake tents

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200806/20080602/article_361655.htm

This nameless guy is full of hatred towards Chinese. Yet he dares to say that he cares about the human rights of the Chinese people and viciously attacking another reasonable message.

This guy obviously is manning this forum day and night and making sure his hateful rant is always on top. This technique is the same as the Tibetan in exile on every forums in the US, knowing that many people will only read a few messages from the top.

One thing we should do is to avoid categorically attacking Chinese or Americans or any group of people. We should be aware that individual actions can't be used to attack a whole ethnic group,a whole region, let alone a whole country. Let's ignore this little guy and focus on the issue.

Chicom kid pretending to be "Sharon Stone".

So Disgusting!!!

All of you are poor fish and sore loser. Pathetic.

Sharon Stone is a racist hick. Simple as that/.

That just shows that people who wants to steal Tibet from China are just plain stupid racists.

They are not Buddhists. They are not for peace. They are just bloodsucking racists trying to steal other people's land.

Forced donations for earthquake

http://upiasiaonline.com/Society_Culture/2008/06/06/donation_frenzy_sweeps_china/3275/

All of you are poor fish and sore loser. Pathetic.

The title of the conference was “Training Course for Keeping Earthquake Information Confidential”. Agenda item # 1? “Study of Regulations and Provisions for Keeping Earthquake Information Confidential. Agenda item # 2 was “Discussions of Working Methods for Keeping Earthquake Information Confidential”.

Why the Chinese government would want to keep the devastation of a natural disaster that was to claim so many humans secret is mind boggling even for a regime that continues to thumb its nose at Human Rights.

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3262

To Louis

Crazy butthurt loser, go wash your dirty mouth with acid!

hehehe (evil laugh), my little goons and trolls are all over the web, hehehe ....

To Anonymous:

Even wash with acid won't help with your dirty mouth, so keep it firmly shout, and don't stink in public again!

Crazy butthurt loser, go wash your dirty mouth with acid!

Crazy kid, go wash your dirty mouth with acid!

++Anonymous, you are extremely rude to attack that Chinese student who just lost ten relatives in this earthquake.++

get lost you failed idiot. your "chinese student" failture propaganda do not work here and stop to troll here.

++We know you are the member of Tibetan-In-Exile,++

you know nothing.

++but you are just too out of line and really insane to attack that young Chinese student.++

stop to hit yourself. your stupidity doesnt make you look better.

++Maybe your guys do have a history of violence.++

WHAT?

--The Tibetans never built schools. The Chinese did that. And hospitals. And movie theaters. And, well, modernity.--

gosh is this a piece of BS. chinese propaganda BS.

1: Tibetian monastries were shools, univercities, hospitals and "movie theaters"(there was only one back before WW2) in a same time before chinese destroyed them all to destroy local education system wich was based not on chinese comunism.

2:who do you think built all those shools and univercities in Tibet and in tibetian-exile areas?

3: that idiot of fake-tourist was in area wich was completly destroed by chinese army twise back in the 50'ens and in 80'ens. local tibetians rebuildet some nun monastries with university education and shools for poor kids wich were destroed by chinese army back in the 80'ens and 90'ens. Tibetian people buildet first shool in Tibet for blind children.(with a help of europeans and americans)

anyway, i saw more flies and Cockroaches in chinese hotel.

Anonymous, you are extremely rude to attack that Chinese student who just lost ten relatives in this earthquake. We know you are the member of Tibetan-In-Exile, but you are just too out of line and really insane to attack that young Chinese student. Maybe your guys do have a history of violence.

I digress with Anonymous who is nasty and mean. I show some remanents of Dalai Lama's rule. (from Phyliburbs Blog)

Tibet: a toilet nightmare
There are violent protests against the Chinese in the Tibetan city of Lhasa, an attempt by separatist Tibetans to compromise the Olympics. I witnessed similar tension 23 years ago when I visited the “Roof of the World.” Back then Lhasa had but a single western-style hotel. It was booked, so I stayed at a Tibetan rooming house for $3 a night. My pillow was stuffed with peanut shells and the mattress was rope. There must have been at least 500 flies to a room, attracted by the smell of human excrement piling up in the so-called “bathroom” down the hall. There was no plumbing or anything resembling a toilet. You simply squatted, made your deposit and left. Eventually, someone hauls it away. Out on the street was mud and unwashed people, a number of who spent their day prostrating themselves to the Tibetan gods. Up, down, stretch out on the ground … up, down, stretch out on the ground … it was the equivalent of a 9-5 job. To the eye of an American, this city was dirt poor, although I don’t think anyone there knew it. But up on the hill, in the Potala Palace built by the monks and now run by China as a tourist attraction, is room after room after room after room after room after room after room after room – of gold. To the eye of an American, this looked like great wealth. Wasted wealth. The Tibetans never built schools. The Chinese did that. And hospitals. And movie theaters. And, well, modernity. The Tibetans think the Chinese are tying to destroy their culture and consider them occupiers. Hence the tension and protests. But the Tibetans, then and now, happily sell trinkets to the tourists the Chinese bring in. It’s a complex situation that grows more complex each day. The western tourists I met there in 1985 (mostly people on the so-called hippy trail) thought Lhasa was Xanadu. I thought it was someplace I wanted to get out of fast

My candidate for Fu Manchu Award:

Dalai Lama and Tibetan-In-Exile

Dalai Lama said: I like it!
In the early 1950s, DL was a member of China’s central committee and leader of Tibet. He said: Great leader Chairman Mao, we love you! (He wrote poems for Chairman Mao).

Dalai Lama said: I don’t like it!
In 1956, the central government wanted to start the land reform that had been implemented through out China. Due to the respect of the minority region, the reform was delayed. This reform would have distributed the land owned by DL and his monks to the slaves. So he resisted.

Dalai Lama said: I am out of here!
A violent uprising was squashed. And he fled to India with arrangement by some countries.

Dalai Lama said: let’s fight for independence!
With support from some countries, he organized the guerrilla warfare. The tactics were nothing more than murdering local officials and intimidating the population. It lasted until 1972 when the west stopped support.

Dalai Lama said: I want autonomy!
No more support, the rhetoric changed to autonomy. A step-by-step plan, autonomy to independence seemed smart at that time. But he never stopped stirring troubles inside China.

Dalai Lama said: I want independence.
In 1989, when anti-China was even more popular than now, and when China had the Tiananmen incident, he won the Nobel Prize when some people wanted to snub China. And he seized the opportunity by saying that China should be divided into 7 or 8 pieces (he will have the bigger piece as he wants 25% of China’s territory). But soon he was back to his autonomy talk as political climate changed.

Dalai Lama said: let’s seize the opportunity!
In 2001, China won the honor to host the Olympics. DL again saw an opening and formed his grand plan to gain ground during this sporting event. Thus came the ugly riots with arson, burning and killing. And some misinformed people started to follow him on the torch relay to put on a freak show.

Dalai Lama again said: "I want autonomy". "I don't want to attend the Olympics". "I want to attend the Olympics". "The protesters have their right and I am powerless". "The protesters should stop".
"Karma". "not karma".

Dalai Lama, get yourself together before speaking. Otherwise, you will be the same as your best pal, Sharon Stone, or your other pal, richard geer who pissed off the Indian people by bending over their famed actress.

Hahaha, Anonymous, you just left another blog and come here. You are fighting everywhere.

john: How dare are you attcking my bother?
You are stupid jerk!

My candidate for Fu Manchu Award;

CCTV Chanel.

""The CCTV kept showing clips on earth victims expressing thanks to the government. Guo yu hua, an anthopologist pointed out that the government should thank Chinese people instead as they have showed high quality in supporting the relief work"

Anonymous: How dare are you attcking my bother?
You are stupid jerk!

**I am student in China and lost ten close relatives in this earthquake.**

R.I.P.

**I can't believe Sharon Stone and some people here laugh at Chinese people.**

DO YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE YOU TALING ABOUT?
DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT SHE DOES MEAN WITH HER KARMA COMMENT? SHE TOLD HER CONDOLENCE AND SYMPHATY FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED IN EARTHQUACKE AND YOU IDIOT DO ATACK HER FOR IT?!

++It is extremely inhuman for your guys to make such outrageous comments about the earthquake.++

WHAT? tell me about.. and now go and talk with your chinese compatriots wich atracked forigners because they wanted to send some help to china.

**You didn't lost any love ones so that you don't care! It is a shame!*

yeah.. its a shame if arrogant and stupid jercks like you do atack others just because they do understand nothing about those people and their lifestyle.

**Well,I don't need your sympathy. I can survive by myself!We have survived for 5000 years!**

god bless and now go back to China and please dont talk here again.

**When US had 911 tragety a few years ago, my classmates and I prayed for those people who lost their innocent lifes. **

1: chinese dont pray its forbiden by their communist party.
2: there were many chinese netizens who blamed americans after 9/11.

**We did't have any second thought at all at that time. Shame on her!**

instead to atack people for their mean go and try at first to understand them.

I am student in China and lost ten close relatives in this earthquake. I can't believe Sharon Stone and some people here laugh at Chinese people. It is extremely inhuman for your guys to make such outrageous comments about the earthquake. You didn't lost any love ones so that you don't care! It is a shame!Well,I don't need your sympathy. I can survive by myself!We have survived for 5000 years!

When US had 911 tragety a few years ago, my classmates and I prayed for those people who lost their innocent lifes. We did't have any second thought at all at that time. Shame on her!

If Chinese are atheist and do not believe in Karma law then why being so upset?
For those chinese who do believe in Karma law, just shut up.
I support speech freedom and I am concerned of the prompt excuses brought by Maison Dior to the regime.

Excerpt:
China's Tibet policy forms the linchpin of its nationalist project. Its sovereignty over Tibet has significant ramifications not only for its national integrity but also for stability in its other minority areas, particularly Xinjiang.

Main article at Asia Times: Flawed Tibet policy
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IL07Df01.html

Yes, who let Jonny the dog out???LOL

at first i am loling my arse off because chinese do know nothing about karma. then i was worried because chinese were going in a stupid and stuborn rage against a personal mean of hollywood actor. (gosh, i wish european acted in a same furrieous way after some american idiot was going to drop their wine away..)

but hey.. that is what chinese and their nation stand for: great stupidity based on failed education and none understanding for forign people and their rights to tell what they do think openly.

hmm.. something teels me that USA and freedom loving people must be now mount the barricades for a fight for their freedom rights and their interior-laws. but hey we got so many americans here who call themselfes "oversea-chinese" instead being american like it must be in a great nation like USA.

I just want to clarify my comment about karma starts with a thought. Say you are harboring bad thoughts about a certain country, say China, as it relates to Tibet and you are a friend of the Dali Lama and over and over again your modelling career is blessed in the that very same country China. Well all those blessings are trying to subdue your anger and show you a way away from your growing anger toward wisdom of the situation and you decide not to be 'bought off' by it. Well then instead of thinking your thoughts you open you big fat mouth as if to speak for the United States of America and you are , in fact, not under the umbrella of safety you're just shooting from the hip (maybe you had adrink or two like it looked like) and viola your mouth, your body language adn rolling your eyes or at least maybe you weren't rolling them but they were rollimg and then you blew it. You had plenty of time to keep your yape shut but no you're Sharon Stone and everyone cares about what you have to say - wrong - not. But this too will pass and so will Sharon. Now that's karma.

It is laughable that anyone is thinking about Karma things. It only shows how desperate those people are, though the truth will only make them more desperate since the earthquake is more of a plus score to the Chinese government and Chinese people, and the bad consequences to the earthquake is actually quite slight for China.

Keep dreaming, man and woman. Day-dreaming is always good for people have no hope and are undergoing the real karma ...the CCP is a real karma to Tibetan and other China-haters ...just keep dreaming, poor people.

It is nothing worth to discuss.
Some stupid woman said some stupid words. That's all.

If there is any kinda of Karma, Tibetan are karmaed long before the history since they have to live in such harsh environment.

Ms. Stone has earned any such award and Ms. Stone understands Karma. Just a thought can put into play a karmic outcome and to speak that thought does the same. She is now living its effects. You go Karma Girl but remember sometimes it's time to become a gracious women at your age. It's never too late and that's karmic advice from some who's kinda, sorta been there. You go Karma Girl but not to China.

Sharon Stone should have separated the bad government and its people. She should make it clear: Bad actions by the government caused bad Karma to its people. Everyone should live and learn the Karmic functions.

China + Tibet = Earthquakes.
US + England + Australia + Iraq = Hurricanes + Tornadoes + Floods + Cyclones.

I am not Sharon Stone's fan, but I am totally support her comment. It is an instinct of conscience that she spoke out to let the world leader not to be greedy and treat people like disposable.

I have many Chinese friends, and I do not hate the Chinese or willing to offense them. But the Chinese government are the really bad people. How many territories that they had occupied, and had they done any better to the area that they seizured?

This is thier real bad Karma that God lets it happened to thier people. They had many things that doing against Natural, God. Here are the list of debts that God wants the Chinese Government to pay back " One by One"

- One child policy
- Eating the baby fetus of the accidental second child
- Supporting corruption and genocide Goverments links Burma, "Red Cambodia", VietCong,
- Occupying Island of the Vietnamese"
- Harvesting Organ of the Political prisoners
- Genocide the Tibetan
- Sale weapons to South Africa countries to let them kill each others
- billing the big DAM to block water stream to the southeast countries, so those countries had lost their crop.

And there are a lot more and more.

Look at what have happened?

The Burma government has Natural disaster as well as the Earth quake in China. This is really sorry for the truly good Chinese people for the Bad Karma that their government has been doing. And the big DAM that they rerouted water is now their real threat. They have to use Military to drain the lake out. And the WMD that they developed and hided in that Earth Quake town is now also their threat. This is called " what you grow what you harvest" another words is Bad Karma.

I believe the truly Chinese people had to do something with their government, Otherwise there might be more Natural disaster will happen to them.

I just found a nice article about the way the Chinese occupation of Tibet has been presented to the people of China. This comes from a recent article in the Scientific American:

"Barely a month goes by without some newly uncovered fraudulent image making it into the news. In February, for instance, an award-winning photograph depicting a herd of endangered Tibetan antelope apparently undisturbed by a new high-speed train racing nearby was uncovered to be a fake. The photograph had appeared in hundreds of newspapers in China after the controversial train line was opened with much patriotic fanfare in mid-2006. A few people had noticed oddities immediately, such as how some of the antelope were pregnant, but there were no young, as should have been the case at the time of year the train began running. Doubts finally became public when the picture was featured in the Beijing subway this year and other flaws came to light, such as a join line where two images had been stitched together. The photographer, Liu Weiqing, and his newspaper editor resigned; Chinese government news agencies apologized for distributing the image and promised to delete all of Liu’s photographs from their databases."

The article is:

June, 2008

Digital Forensics: How Experts Uncover Doctored Images

Modern software has made manipulation of photographs easier to carry out and harder to uncover than ever before, but the technology also enables new methods of detecting doctored images

By Hany Farid

And you can see the link at http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=digital-image-forensics .

Now, I will agree that it is to the credit of the journals involved that they admitted the fraud and punished the faker. However, this fraud was exposed so quickly because the faker altered a photo in a manner that could quickly and clearly be proven. I want you all to think about how many reports of 'happy Tibetans' are faked in the Chinese press by means that cannot be proved as quickly and clearly.

Excerpt:
China's Tibet policy forms the linchpin of its nationalist project. Its sovereignty over Tibet has significant ramifications not only for its national integrity but also for stability in its other minority areas, particularly Xinjiang.

Main article: Flawed Tibet policy
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IL07Df01.html

To Roaul:

I noticed that the link I provided wasn't the best one I intended. Here is the right one. It is very long. I am refering to point 4 "A New Edition: Politics", please read from there on.

http://www.ljhammond.com/phlit/2004-12c.htm

To Raoul:

I will disappoint you. I am not interested in arguments especially the Greek-philosopher type. Like I said, I am only offering something for western commentators to think about. However, snce you have asked, I will provide the basic "logic". I will be brief:

Democracy by definition reflects the spirit of the common men that by definition are un-enlightened (in a spiritual sense: a Buddhist sense, for instance). Hence it can not be the guide of the society. Bush's twice election is such a demonstration. Democracy only works in the lower hierachies of a civilization. Remember, it was the Greek philosophers who created democracy, it is not that Greek democracy produced the philosophers.

Freedom of speech without a proper spiritual (or moral) can naturally turn abusive as a celebration of the mediocrety described above. CNN and BBC dishonesty in Tibet reports and the Hollywood star's comment are such demonstrations.

Jian,

You didn't answer the question or clarify your argument in any way. I am open to suggestions/criticism, etc., but shouldn't it have some kind of logic behind it?

You should judge Sharon by her words as well as her deeds.

She is one of the celebrities to be involved in earthquake relief efforts.

Pomfret, don't forget your first blog after the earth quake "The Earthquake's Chinese Meaning", I would nominate you as well behind her.

To be honest, I think Sharon Stone's comments isn't proper, but is still understandable if we treat her just as a normal human being/mortal. I was used to think those Marine Corps boys deserve to die in Iraq months ago, for I hate the invasion of Iraq by America. But some friends/American friends let me realized I was wrong, for human life is noble and precious. It's the basic we should respect it regardless of whatever so. Maybe Sharon Stone hasn't get my feeling even after have been a Buddhist for years, or maybe she has, but the hatred she has towards China dominated herself.

In both cases, she isn't deserved to be attacked like what is as now. But unfortunately, she's a superstar, an idol, a image for Hollywood, and represent for Dior. With all those moral,finical and public factors behind, I would think it's improper for saying such a word of "Karma". I don't agree with the governmental censorship of her products in China, but for myself, I wouldn't buy or watch any of her movies and products from now on. quote what she said, "I thought, 'Is that karma?' When you are not nice, bad things happen to you."!

To Raoul,

I said "the other side" and MODERN western civilization, not that in Plato's time. Vulgarity certainly applies to the Sharon Stone phenonmenon here or that of Andy Warhol. Be open-minded to criticism if you are confident of your culture. I recommand the following article I came across:

http://www.ljhammond.com/cwgt/10.htm

Lilly said:

To Rohit:
"Thoughtless comment is bad, but killing, torture, and threatening other nations with missiles, is a million times worse."

Are you talking about USA???

------------

And my question to Lilly is, if the USA is bad, does that somehow justify China being bad? Is China modelling itself after the country which nuked two cities in Japan? If China is planning to imitate the US then God help us all.

If America, where blacks were enslaved and women's couldn't vote until the recent past, could have a black and a woman vie for the nomination of the Democratic Party, is it so difficult to expect that the Chinese government will become democratic in our lifetime? If we have forgiven ourselves for Kent State, for Rodney King, for Waco, for Japanese interments, and for Tuskegee, is it so difficult to expect people to forgive Tiananmen? If we have Wounded Knee in our own history and live with the Native Nations in relative harmony, is it not possible that China would be able to work something out with the Tibetans? It is, after all, in discussions now with Taiwan's new government instead of firing missiles across the Strait.

Then you have a serious split-personality issue.

I am one of those who had commented before. Do you know which one? Perhaps there is only one person creating all these responses under different names?

Jian cites what he sees as "The non-seriousness or even vulgarity of a free-speech, democractic society." You've been reading Plato, obviously!

But, Jian, I'm curious why you explicitly link "non-seriousness" and "vulgarity" with free speech and democracy. There doesn't seem to be any necessary link between these things. Does this non-seriousness and vulgarity apply to all democracies (Germany, France, India, Argentina, Japan, etc, etc. etc.)?

You seem to suggest that you are serious and non-vulgar. So I am sure you have thought about this before putting forth such a startling proposition. Please, enlighten us as to your thinking.

I agree with Sharon Stone-she has absolutely nothing to apologize for. If you chinese don't like it- who cares what a brainless, lock-stepping, backward people think anyway?

DS:
Innocent people get killed from drive by shooting, is that a karma because of bad government behavior?========

Nah, it's karma because of the Second Amendment. Never in my lifetime would I have believed that Sharon Stone's opinion could have had such widespread dissemination, readership and contemplation as serious political or philosophical thought. Must be karma for all that leg-crossing/uncrossing, when we didn't pay any attention at all to the dialogue.

To Rohit:
"Thoughtless comment is bad, but killing, torture, and threatening other nations with missiles, is a million times worse."

Are you talking about USA???

As a very young girl when I first left China to study in Europe and North America, western was at first pretty fascinating, after more examination and see through, I see gray color and it is not as attractive as it appeared to be anymore.

Lilly

As a Chinese I am not really offended by the Hollywood star's comment since I see its origin in her and in her background, instead I have two points for western commentators to think about:

1. The non-seriousness or even vulgarity of a free-speech, democractic society. Perhaps it is about time for westerners to consider the other side of modern western civilization? The Sharon Stone phenonmenon may have damaging effects in the growing ups. In long run, it may greatly reduce the quality of a culture.

2. The spiritual reality of the modern west. Evidently by now, a Dalai Lama, a fashion of Buddhism, a few books, a few songs won't turn a people spiritual over night. Edvidently the Hollywood star has her own worrying version of Buddhism here. (What about Richard Gere and the others). If the west really wants to be benefitted from Buddhism or eastern spirituality in general, as it seems now a lot more work will need to be done.

To John Pomfret:
Please respond to the post by "a mirror of arrogance" posted on June 3 at 6:23 am.

I have also read the issue regarding Dorje Shugden and a lawsuit initiated by the 13th Kundeling Rimpoche to the Indian High Court. Is it true that the Dalai Lama does not practice what he preaches?

What kind of autonomy is the Dalai Lama asking for Tibet?

John and Everyone Else,

What Ms. Stone said publicly might have seen very inappropriate to many and is unfortunate. However, to Buddhists and Tibetans, the laws of Karma are real. Just to give you a perpective, we Tibetans always say it is because of our bad karma that we are suffering so much under the Chinese right now. We wonder what bad and evil deeds have we Tibetans done collectively in our past lives to deserve the invasion of the communist armies to our land, wholesale destruction of our faith and country, the killing of 1.2 million of our people, destruction and looting of our natural resources? Yes, we believe that seriously and blame ourselves, and in a way that helps a little bit in carrying on and moving on with our lives, and dealing with the pain and suffering of being a mercilessly oppressed and deprived people, a pain that perhaps the Jewish people can understand.

Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao reporters invited to Tibet

http://www.cctv.com/english/20080603/108289.shtml#

How about a joke, this board needs to lighten up.

See below from a UK paper:

A man dies and it is judgement day. "I am afraid you have not made it to heaven. But you can, as a special favour, have a choice of hells".

"What do you mean, a choice of hells?" "You can go to the capitalist hell or the communist hell".

"Ok, fair enough, but what's the difference between them?" "Well, the capitalist hell has fire and brimstone and torture." "And the communist hell?" "That has brimstone and torture and fire".

"I don't understand. They sound exactly the same. Which should I pick?"

"If I were you I'd choose the communist hell."

"Why should I do that?"

"Well, you know what these socialist places are like. Sometimes there's no fire, sometimes there's no brimstone, sometimes there's no torture........."

Independent says:

"What has the Bush administration done to try to improve the human rights situation in Sudan? The United States has far more potential and actual influence over Sudan, especially by an administration which often threatens or utilizes military force, than any other nation."

American Observer replies:

Your statement is completely false. The Chinese Empire continues to prop up the repressive regime in Sudan, while America continues to keep sanctions on Sudan. As CNN said, and I quote:

"U.S. imposes new sanctions against Sudan

POSTED: 9:44 p.m. EDT, May 29, 2007

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush imposed new sanctions Tuesday against the Sudanese government in reaction to the violence in Darfur, preventing 31 companies and three people from doing business in the United States or with U.S. companies.

The three individuals are two high-ranking government officials and a rebel leader, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. They were targeted for fomenting violence and human rights abuses in the Darfur region of western Sudan, the agency said.

'For too long the people of Darfur have suffered at the hands of a government that is complicit in the bombing, murder and rape of innocent civilians,' Bush said. 'My administration has called these actions by their rightful name, genocide. The world has a responsibility to help put an end to it.'"

Unquote

You can read the rest at:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/29/bush.sudan/index.html

Tell me, 'Independent' -- what should America do that America is not doing? And what do you think the Chinese empire should do?

Sad, but hardly surprising a relatively few persons defend Ms. Stone's insensitive, callous remarks.
Naive how some people criticize China's close association with two repressive regimes, Burma and Sudan, while apparently being oblivious to the close association of the United States with far more repressive regimes around the world.

What has the Bush administration done to try to improve the human rights situation in Sudan? The United States has far more potential and actual influence over Sudan, especially by an administration which often threatens or utilizes military force, than any other nation.

When you are weak, the West doesn't give a damn what You do. In the 50s and 60s ,whatever the Chinese did in Tibet or Cultural Revolution where many died, the West just watched and did nothing unless their interests were threatened. The worst the better.

Today, China is trying to be strong and has lifted millions off poverty including Tibet and is still improving. And now the West and her people feel threatened, so they try to discredit China and her people whenever possible,like using the Olympic,Tibet, human right, China products etc.

On Chinese products, they condemn vigorous about poor quality. Well , they can always buy quality products from LVMH or Dior where they are advertised by Sharon Stone and are good and complain if not satisfied. But if you can't afford,then buy cheap stuff . Chinese goods are so cheap that you wonder how they made them and do you expect they come with warranty? So stop complaining cos nobody forces you to buy except your wallet. Blame your wallet.

Feng Sui in the last 500 years belongs to the West where they looted the new world and become rich and strong. But Feng Sui doesn,t stay constant, great empire rises and falls. Feng Sui for the net 500 years is unknown, may be Russia, China ,India will be the Big Brother. So people like Tricia Key, Stone and others are better to have the understanding and compassionate with other people. Otherwise, there may be bad KARMA on their Children, who knows(may be have to consult the Dalai Lama)

As for the Chinese and her government, work hard, work smart don't care too much on what Stone has said or what the Japs had done or British sold opium to You. They will know one day. So back to work.

I think that it is a shame of Stone's comments so as those from Hollywood, Mia Farrow, Richard Gere, Stephen Spielberg, etc., a list of artifacial "human right" supportors, who's only interest is against Chinese people, and not ever donate a dine when 70,000 people are killed in the natural desaster.

On the otherhand, the Chinese government and thansands of Chinese PLA soldiors are working hard with their hands trying to save poeple's lives, including Chinese Tibetan's lives. It is a shame of the Hollywood!

http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-06/03/content_8307449_8.htm

Seems like not long ago the Chinese posters here where extolling the virtues of homicide bombings by palestinians and being proud of their 'valor' and 'dedication'... today you whine and spit out against someone making a suggestion as to why the calamity happened??!!??!!.
Since the posers cannot conceive of a living earth with their feeble little minds and consumed, dark souls. They cannot even imagine that kharma can be visited upon an entire planet. So they continue doing things that harm them and their fellow earthlings. Incapable of thinking of themselves as part of the true whole instead of some ideology or idea thrust upon them by an entity intent on bending their will to nefarious devices, they shun all the wisdom of the ancients, regardless of it's presentation. Forced to give up all the things that united them to earth, they cling to power, wealth and possessions.
It's a sad state of events for a culture that once was ruled and prospered by benevolent monarchy. Unfortunately, they where also the first to turn into violent, brutalistic totalitarian plutocracy. The CCP is merely the latest representation of a destructive entity that has availed itself of the good people of china and usurps the fruits of their labor as well as impedes their progress and their pursuit of happiness.
I long for the return of the richness and power of the artisan culture of the chinese people. Something, anything to take them away from the cheap, unsafe products produced by virtual slave labor that the CCP is cranking out and using to fill it's leaders coffers with wealth... another perk of being in total control without anyone having the ability to question or investigate their dealings and the way they promulgate misery and anguish through the world I guess. Too bad the chinese people aren't allowed to even question the wisdom of such an evil entity without having the military force of their own children thrust upon them. sad state of affairs indeed.

many chinese people long for friendship ,peace,think confucian's word ..... to much american people is parochialism I like america film such as 'forest gump'a touched story many chinese love it why you could watch china movie know of chinese people in china a man of virtue everywhere 孔繁森,丛飞 average people love them just like you like gump donot scold chinese people we are polite and brave in china many people respect a canadian doctor bethune why

As they say in show business, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

So don't help to generate publicity.
This is really a non-event.

"Dr. Fu Manchu is a fictional character first featured in a series of novels by English author Sax Rohmer during the first half of the 20th century. The character was also featured extensively in cinema, television, radio, comic strips and comic books for over 90 years, and has become an archetype of evil criminal genius while inspiring the Fu Manchu moustache." ~ Wikipedia

_____________________________________

So one silly remark from Sharon Stone makes her the "an archetype of evil criminal genius"?

For heaven's sake... get a grip.

DRMORRIS,
"The world should not stand by while violent colonization takes place, and we should not have stood by since the 1950's." The world, and the U.S., did not stand by: they participated. The U.S. funded the violent re-colonization of Vietnam by the French after WW II. Not to mention the violent colonization of Africa, Asia, Hawaii, etc. by the Western world, including the U.S. (though before 1950). And what about the colonization of what is now Israel? I agree, China is a brutal dictatorship (though not as bad as it used to be, perhaps). But the Western world, including the U.S., has been no better.

She's an actress.

If you and your colleagues in the media didn't hang on to every utterance that she and other minor 'celebrities' make as though it had some real significance, we wouldn't have these tempests in a teacup.

I saw the Sharon Stone interview on TV and this has all been taken out of context.
It was more like a question than a statement.
She said (answered), "Do you think it could be Karma?" When asked about the current Chinese situation, only days after our government said far more hurtful things about the Olympics and the Tibetan problems.
Sharon is being used as a scapegoat by our government and media, and as usual the American public falls right in line like good little puppets, eager to hurt someone or destroy.
Funny how fear can make some Americans turn on their own.

It's the problem with celebrity in the first place. Their "expertise" is acting and looking good (I guess) which doesn't also make them experts in arc-welding, down-hill skiing and in this particular incident, philosopy.

The fault lies in ourselves, why we give more weight to their opinions than anyone else, including even the guy down the hall. But of course, the media knows this, and in fact, they are the ones who generated this incident.

That said, she's apologized and that's done.

The idea of a Fu-Manchu award is kind of interesting. A related version is probably the Shangri-La version of Tibet where westerners have this benevolent image of Tibet when in fact it's probably just another region adjusting to the modern world.

Sharon Stone said something which was thoughtless and not appropriate. But just to bring us all back to reality, here is a news item from last year:

Taiwan sounds alarm on Chinese missiles

January 22, 2007 - 9:06PM

Taiwan has slammed Beijing's recent satellite-killing test as the behaviour of a "military superpower" and said the number of Chinese missiles aimed at the island now stood at 900.
----------------
Anyway who thinks that a thoughtless comment is worse than 900 missiles, aimed incidentally at OTHER CHINESE, really needs to think a bit.

Thoughtless comment is bad, but killing, torture, and threatening other nations with missiles, is a million times worse.

I wholeheartedly agree with Sharon Stone, and I'm glad she said it. The Chinese government's behavior towards Tibet (and for that matter, Mongolia and many other ethnic minorities) has been shocking and brutal. The world should not stand by while violent colonization takes place, and we should not have stood by since the 1950's. The Chinese people are not to blame, but their thuggish regime (in which they have no say) is to blame. Until the Chinese govt recognizes the sanctity of human rights, no other nations should have any dealings with them. You can make a difference by never buying goods made in China.

I am not too sure about how Ms. Stones karma is going to be going...........

It is very sad that many westerners so against china, they don't realize what they did is offending and hurting Chinese people more, not the government. Those nice, warm hearted Chinese people don't deserve this. If you have to put a "civilization" label on your forehead, don't make a careless comments. Maybe check your level as human beings first before dislike those nice Chinese people. By the way, the world is changing every second, there will be a time China has power to say simply "I disgust you westerners" if they want to, but I guess Chinese people probably won't behave like you westerns. It is very annoying and tired to deal with those brainless hyperactive westerners.

Lilly

Sharon Stone's comment was uncalled for. The victims of the earthquake are not responsible for the actions of the Chinese government.

On the other hand we do need to pay some attention, maybe MORE attention, to things that have been done by the Chinese government: like support of the Junta in Myanmar, support of the groups who kill in Darfur, the atrocities committed against the Tibetan people and their culture, and the repeated threats against the Taiwanese who are only trying to live their lives in peace.

So while we criticize Stone for the insensitivity of her remarks, we need to keep the other things in mind, very well.

The days of the arrogant Americans are on their way out. Let us not have them replaced by days of an arrogant government in China.

You can see her anti-Chinese rant on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLzHm9oZNAM

Dear Ms.Stone:
In one of the article on the New York Times,you claimed you were misquoted and you "looked like a ding-dong "in that infamous video.Sorry,Ms.Stone,but I don't believe in you at all.In the video,on the contrary,your look was so animated and proud.And you also gesticulated a lot to express your compassion to Dalai-lama.What is more,you spoke so fluently and confidently.You said that you are unhappy the way the chinese treated Dalai-lama"who is one fo my best friends".At same time you looked so happy referring to the earthquake as "a karma".What a shock.Let's think a little bit of "a karma":Is it fair only because the chinese goverment has mistreated "your best friend",so God punished China by an earthquake which killed nearly 10,000 people,made nearly 6000 children parentless,hundreds of people homeless?No,I don't think the God could do this or even think of it.Please,Ms Stone,it's your own idea of vengeance and it has nothing to do with the God.You boste that you are a humanist,yet you seem so willing to sacrifice tens thousands of lives for the simple personal reason that someone treats your friend unkind.In the video,you mentioned that the Tibet foudation wanted to come into China to help and you are so moved by this proposition that you "cried and learned a lesson".What a super Catch-22.Of course the chinese gouverment will not let the Tibet foudation in.It's understandale.Is it possible the US gouverment will welcome the North-korea when New Orleans was flooded?Ms.Stone,I also don't believed you were naive enough to move to tears by this proposition.Because you are so bloodless when you said the word "karma" and so menacing when you said "we should reconsider the Olympic Games".Since you are so concerned about Tibet,Ms.Stone,I want to ask you a question:"have you ever been in Tibet?Do you really know what the situation is in Tibet?"As a saying goes:"seeing is believing".All the information you have heared about Tibet comes from a group of people who hate china.Hence,it's a second-handed and biased knowledge.And you choose to believe it.It's none of my business.But I only want to remind you one simple fact:even before communist party entered Tibet in 1950,Tibet isn't a Shangri-la and it is a slavery society,and the monks,including you best friend Dalai-lama,are the ruling class.At last,best wishes,even though I don't like your "karma".

My nomination of this week is your post:

John Pomfret on June 2, 2008 5:26 PM

Sharon Stone's comment is offensive to all people, not just Chinese.
Lets say it another way. After 911, an actress in China says "is that Karma? When you are not nice, bad things happen to you?"

I bet most of the people defending Sharon would be outraged by that comment? If you would be outraged by the Chinese actress's comment, then if you are not a racist you would have to be outraged by Sharon Stone's comment.

Sharon Stone just wondered if it was an act of karma, she did not say it was an act of Karma. I find lot of half cooked editorials (not just this one ) condemning Stone. By announcing the award the author virtually presented himself the first award for mis-reporting. Isn't everyone entitled to their opinion ? Sharon is not even an ambassador of anything. She was asked a question and she answered it. Plain simple. Media blew it like the first commenter mentioned and quite ironically lot of journalists don't seem to realise how stupid they can be.

Even I thought so but in my opinion chinese people are very nice and they don't deserve the effects of karma of their governments action on tibetans. but chinese outraged by this should take a second to just understand feelings of tibetans. I think stone has every right to forward the tibetan cause and I believe Dalai Lama has a lot of substance .

The first Fu Manchu award should go to the press for taking this comment, and plastering it through out the world. Who really cares what Ms Stone says about China or anything else.

If the Fu Manchu award is to be a weekly event it should be an award given only to the press - although it would be an impossible job wading through huge amount of drivel produced...

Stone's comment is indicative of the iq level of those "friends of the DL". Cheap, camera hogging and often simply overly drugged and pampered, these so called "celebrities" use their fame to get attention so that their next movies wont be a flop. While I dont really care what she said, I am glad she is such an embarrassment for those Dalai hugger tibenik freaks. Learn some history, and do find out where Lhasa is before you join some "cause de jour". Losers!

I am an ethnic Chinese and actually originally from Sichuan where the earthquake struck. Sharon Stone's comments were offensive to me, and I hope she would have some true reflections. However, we Chinese also need to learn how not to be so uptight. The world is diverse, filled with people with very different experiences and points of views. If we Chinese really want to elevate ourselves as we have evidently been trying, we need to stop the collective outbursts every time someone somewhere says something unsuitable.

I wouldn't know Sharon Stone from a stone but I think people ought to get off their high horse already. It was a super-dumb thing to say, an attempted dig at the Chinese goverment for their Tibet policy, but it was clearly not said with malice, and certainly not for the earthquake victims as it is being suggested. It was a slip, and everybody in public life makes them. As movie stars go, Stone is far from the stupidist or shallowest. She was only interviewed by Chinese TV in the first place because she was involved in earthquake relief fundraising from the first week. How many of her smug critics here can say that?

I agree with Stone-she has absolutely nothing to apologize for. If you chinese don't like it? who cares.

Leave her alone. At least she is pretty, Why are the thought mullahs always spoiling things?

Reporting offensive comments has become impossible because of the website issue. But some of the statement really make me think if 9/11 is also a karma. And those white dudes died in Iraq, has been murdered by some "power" in U.S. May be life has no value in U.S.

I tend to agree that this may be one case where Sharon Stone was misquoted.

She did'nt say it was karma, but only asked herself if it was karma, and she was sharing her inner thoughts with the reporter.

It is such a vogue to be a friend of Dalai Lama.

When asked abut the recent earth quake in China, which has so far caused sixty eight thousand deaths and millions homeless, a Hollywood star Sharon Stone, who says she is a friend of the Dalai Lama, smilingly described the event as "Karma", payback for the Chinese not being nice to the Tibetans.

Ms Stone is said to be one of Hollywood 's most intelligent stars. This high IQ genius does not seem to know that the epicenter of the massive earthquake is located in Sichuan Province's Aba Tibetan Autonomous Region in which 52% of its population is Tibetans, 17% Qiang, and 26% Han Chinese. I guess her friends and PR firm will think her comment is evidence of that genius-ness. Stone does not appear alone in going so far to show a dramatic sympathy to Dalai Lama and trying to command a high moral ground on the Tibetan issues through the shortest path of condemning China , unfortunately without getting the basic facts straight.

Since the riots in Tibet in March 2008, many western journalists chose to ignore what actually happened and used their sympathy to Dalai Lama to the extent of distorting facts such as CNN cutting/pasting rioters out of a picture, other using pictures of Nepal police cracking down on demonstrators for China reporting¡­. Not a single western media come out and say in simple language that the rioters are wrong in killing people. I am angered by the western media not because they have negative reporting on my country (there are so many negative things that should be reported), but because these media suddenly pretend that they do not know a simple principle that one can not kill/burn innocent people with whatever political excuses. Medias like CNN sound from time to time amusing when passing judgment like God, without knowing basic facts, or sometime distorting facts.

To these people who may assume they know everything about Tibet and how the rest of the world should live, Tibet issue is a lot more than the dichotomy of communism vs. liberal democracy. It touches on the evolution of a multi-ethnic culture centered on peace and harmony ahead of individual freedom over the centuries. People have every right to argue the validity and the priority of these values, only when they get basic facts straight.

I like the words of peace and wisdom of Dalai Lama, but am disturbed by what the Tibetan government-in-exile under his leadership has done. I would have respected him a lot more if Dalai Lama does what His Holiness preaches in global forums and in front TV camera. One's heart would sink if taking a look at how the Tibetan government in exile treated its internal disputes with a large sect of followers of Dorje Shugden, a Tibetan Buddhist deity and protector that Dalai Lama banned in mid 90s. Swiss Public Television Station, which is not a friend of China , has documented the not-so-peaceful way of Dalai Lama government in dealing with its dissents. While persecuting Dorje Shugden followers in a way un-rivaled by many brutal regimes in the world, Dalai Lama continues his charming talk of peace and tolerance at various high profile international forums, and winning friends among celebrities. The rest of the western media is so charmed by his smiles that they do not bother to look at the skeletons at his backyard, and hard facts behind his smiles. It is so "understandable" as it is such a vogue to be a friend of Dalai Lama, at any cost, like Sharon Stone and many foreign journalists do.

Many of the arguments offered by Tibetan government in exile are hardly logical, and are seldom examined by western media. Dawa Tsering, Chinese Affairs Officer of Tibet government-in-exile on the Lasa riots in an interview with Radio France International on April 2, 2008, remarked that " First of all, I must make it clear that the Tibetans have been non-violent throughout. From Tibetans' perspective, violence means harming life. From the video recordings you can see that (the Tibetans rioters) were beating Han Chinese, but only beating took place. After the beating the Han Chinese were free to flee. Therefore only beating, no life was harmed. Those who were killed were all results of accidents. From recordings shown by the Chinese Communist government, we can clearly see that when Tibetans were beating on their doors, the Han Chinese all went into hiding upstairs. When the Tibetan (rioters) set fire to the buildings, the Han Chinese remained in hiding instead of escaping, the result is that these Han Chinese were all accidentally burnt to death. Those Tibetans who set the fire had no idea that Chinese were hiding upstairs. Therefore not only were Han Chinese burnt to death, some Tibetans were burnt to death too. Therefore these incidents were not killing."

I am not sure a normal human being can understand the above logic. One may mistake it as a late night comedian talk show, seeing many solemnly western media is playing along. I have no problem in understanding the legitimate reasons that many American/European friends do not like Chinese government. However, it should not become justification for distorting facts. This time, many of the western journalists fail their responsibility and conscience.

Ms. Stone offers a mirror, unfortunately, of arrogance, for many people including particularly the journalists reporting foreign affairs, in which one might see sometimes the not-so-beautiful-face of oneself under whatever morality names.

I think, Ms Sharon Stone knows Tibetan Spiritual leader well, but she doesnot know Chinese well.

Admitttedly, there has turned out to be many corruptions and wrongdoings. Those building shoudnot be so fragile.

But those children were God-loved human beings. That isnot karma. That is this nation's tragedy.

well what about that if her comment is true and bad things happen to bad people we in the USA who have our nose in everbody business but our own better hold on to there hat because the sky is falling

Serious journalists from respectful Washington Post.Well done! Keep up with it.

I used to hold the Washington Post in the highest esteem. For John Pomfret to pile-on, and make something this trivial in the scheme of the myriad issues involving Totalitarian China, gives the term "cheap shot" a whole new and depressing dimension.

I can't help but suspect that Mr. Pomfret is part of the problem, and not of the solution. For the Washington Post to publish such rubbish as "journalism" is very, very sad.

Mr Promfret you as a serious journalists should have listened or read a transcript of Ms Stone's comment. It is apparent from you nomination that you haven't listened to what she said and merely looked at the use of work "Karma". I admit her statement wasn't the most articulate and clear; here is logic of Ms Stone's statement:

1) First I thought it was Karma,
2) A Tibetan group wrote to her asking for her support for the victims of the earthquake.
3) I felt bad thinking it was caused by Karma
4) We should be nice to people even when we disagree with them.

I think her statement is more of criticism about herself. The award should be given media and you for distorting and falsifying Ms stone’s statement.

One Chinese philosopher once said:'Some of the dead, he is alive, and some people alive but he's died.'

One minute silence for Sharon Stone.

After Dalai Lama is no longer on this planet, what would happen to all the Hollywood Buddhists?

Maybe they will join the Falun Gong cult.

As a Chinese I am not really offanded by the Hollywood star's comment since I see its origin in her and her background, instead I have two points for western commentators to think about:

1. The non-seriousness or even vulgarity of a "free-speech" demoncractic society. Perhaps it is about time for westerners to consider the other side of modern western civilization? The Sharon Stone phenonmenon may have demaging effects in the growing ups. In long run, it may greatly reduce the quality of a culture. What about the Andy Warhol effect, Paris Hilton effect (forgive me, Hilton is a good girl. I am only refering to her effect "famous for being famous"), etc...

2. The spiritual reality of the modern west. Evidently by now, a Dalai Lama, a fashion of Buddhism, a few books, a few songs won't turn a people spiritual over night. Edvidently the Hollywood star has her own worrying version of Buddhism here. (What about Richard Gere and the others). If the west really wants to be benefitted from Buddhism or eastern spirituality in general, as it seems now a lot more work will need to be done.

Wow! Pomfret,

I think your onto something here,
Place stupid comments from a dumb selfish actress aiming at a nasty and sensitive autocratic government, you'll get a good blog that your editor will award you a week of vacation in China.

And maybe Hollywood might put one and one together. And make a bad movie staring Sharon and Jakie, making millions and gave the profits to China's earth quick efforts...NOT! Hu's probably issuing a "Fatwa" on stones head right now, and she'll go into hiding in London for the next 10 years.

Of all the comments I read above, it seems "Realist" has the best grasp on reality. I'm an American who has lived in Asia for 17 years, the past eight in Hong Kong with multiple trips to China. The Chinese definitely need to "get over it." I have to deal with mainlanders on a day-to-day basis -- for the most part, and I'll be savaged for this remark, they are barbaric savages with absolutely no manners or consideration for others. (Even HK Chinese say this, believe it or not.) Greed is their driving motivation -- screw humanitarian priniciples. I always laugh at Chinese who say they've been a civilization for 5,000 years -- I always have to ask, what do you mean by "civilized"? Acting like a rabid pack of dogs does not a civilization make.

I'd definitely be interested in more Fu Manchu awards. Can't offer any nominations, though - haven't heard any whoppers lately.

Javier:

A bit uncalled for, no? Especially if you actually read what is written in the archives of this blog - stuff that really annoys the Chinese (and sympathetic) commenters on this blog. Read those comments, too, while you're archive-trawling. You're starting to sound a lot like them.

To all those who defends Ms.Stone by accusing Chinese government,
Do we really deserve this "karma"?
I got a friend,whose little brother died in the earthquake, he and his family...THEY ARE TIBETANS!
I am not satisfied with this government, but is it bad enough to have this disaster coming?
Believe me, we do not need a "karma" like this or any other thing to know our government has serious problems.
Just imagine what my friend above will feel if seeing Stone's comments？
I am totally against those Chinese who earlier said 911 was a karma to US, though it deprived from,very much,the political factors. But a celebrity like Stone made those remarks in public? ...

Will it kill her to say something, just a little bit nicer?

Plus, please do not judge the Chinese if you've never been here in China. We do have some "thugs", but those who generalize this will only make themselves "thugs" too.

All these who cared China's human right before,now,what have you done to the disaster area?If you can't act to help them at this most difficult time.So you can shut up from now on.

Re:
-----
Standing Up for Tibet - Paul S. (Indiana):
Our government has failed in supporting Tibet's right to exist as an independent country & culture...
They are providing arms & missles to Iran and several African nations...)
-----
1.Xizang(Tibet)was a part of China from Tang Dynasty.What you(your country) did was under what a doggone intention! you know?
2."Iran and several African nations" are devils in your mind,but Chinese respect country's interior policy.Iraq is devil before USA army liberated them while after liberation Irap is still that Irap.you can give them a democracy map,that's shining.

My point is "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, and it's all small stuff"

Everyone of us say wrong things, sometimes.

How about John Pomfret for the Handlebar Mustache Award for Chinese Apologism?

We know, we know. You've lived in Beijing a long time, you have the weird confusion about your identity that expats get and you don't understand why the world has to have any borders. I'm sure the Communist Youth League agrees with you on that one.

But God, man, China really can't do any wrong in your eyes, can it? Your biggest bogeyman is some irrelevant actress who, much as actors speak moronically about everything -- including the US and its policies -- said something inane and regrettable. That's clearly worthier of attention than the raping that China's illegal subsidies, market manipulations, Fascist economic complex and protectionism are unleashing on every other country in the world, right?

Wrong.

Why doesn't the WaPo just outsource your column to Xinhua?

DDeja Vu,

oesn't that make us hypocrites. We condemned people for doing something that we do as well?

Deja Vu,

If your good memory serves you right, weren't many Americans upset about that?

Re:
-----------------
Major:
If you really want to relate a natural disaster with politics...imagine that!

About those school buildings which collapsed while government buildings standing still, I feel bad
-----------------
it's not the fact.the corruption didn't choose to build the government better.
only one place the school collapsed and other buildings standing sill,but not only government buildings. most of the serious place,all the buildings destroyed.

Backlash over karma comment slaps Stone

By Peta Hellard

May 31, 2008 12:59am

CELEBRITIES aren't known for their diplomatic skills, as Sharon Stone learnt after her comments about China deserving its earthquake drew a fierce backlash
She has never shied away from controversy but Sharon Stone got more than she asked for when her suggestion the Chinese earthquake that killed more than 68,000 people may have been karma for the nation's treatment of Tibet became a diplomatic scandal.

The Basic Instinct star felt the career-threatening wrath of the global superpower this week after her flippant comments during a red carpet interview.

"I'm not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans because I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else," she said at Cannes Film Festival.

"And then this earthquake and all this stuff happened, and then I thought, is that karma? When you're not nice that the bad things happen to you?"

Retribution from the Chinese media, which has erupted in indignation over foreign criticism of the country ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August, was swift. The official Xinhua News Agency called Stone the "public enemy of all mankind" in a commentary yesterday.

Public indignation was such that French fashion house Christian Dior dropped Stone from its Chinese advertisements, and the company's Shanghai office released an apologetic statement from the actor.

Stone, 50, has said she was "deeply sorry" for causing anguish and anger among Chinese people.

"Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people," she said.

"I am willing to take part in the relief work of China's earthquake and wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people."

The death toll from the May 12 quake exceeded 68,000 yesterday, with millions more homeless.

While China's foreign office said yesterday it had taken note of her apology, Stone's attempt at damage control appears to be too little, too late.

Some cinema chains in China are claiming they will no longer screen her films and the actor and her films were yesterday permanently banned by the organising committee behind the influential Shanghai International Film Festival.

The festival previously had a close relationship with the star, who served on the jury in 2007.

The incident is a classic case of celebrity foot-in-mouth. Many high-profile people have found themselves in trouble - and their careers in jeopardy - after inappropriate comments or actions.

Australian screen star Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic tirade after his July 2006 arrest for drink-driving threatened to end his film career.

The actor-director entered an outpatient recovery program and later issued an apology.

"I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable," he said.

Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington found himself in hot water - and out of a job - after using an anti-gay slur during a quarrel with co-star T.R. Knight.

Seinfeld star Michael Richards, who played Kramer on the hit show, stunned a Los Angeles comedy club audience in 2006, shouting racial epithets at people who heckled him during a stand-up routine.

The sitcom star was forced to apologise in an effort to salvage his career.

British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen may have topped the box office with his spoof documentary Borat, but the racist and sexist remarks made by the Kazakh "journalist" prompted an outcry.

In 2004, Paris Hilton was reportedly caught on videotape being nice to a couple of African American men who wanted her to model their fashion line.

However, after they left, she was allegedly seen on tape calling them "dumb n-----s".

Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal said he was joking in 2003 when he used a mock Chinese accent while talking about Houston centre Yao Ming.

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton apologised in January 2004 after joking that Mahatma Gandhi used to run a gas station in St Louis.

"I have admired the work and life of Mahatma Gandhi and have spoken publicly about that many times," she said. "I truly regret if a lame attempt at humour suggested otherwise."

Is this "karma" thing something new?
Not at all.

When was "karma" bandied about previously?
September 11, 2001

Chinese were rightfully furious when the United States bombs accidentally landed in China's embassy in Belgrade in 1999.

Later, when the twin towers fell in New York, not a few Chinese were already saying "Americans deserved it", "Americans had it coming."

So what goes around, comes around.

Our government has failed in supporting Tibet's right to exist as an independent country & culture. Most of those who blame Sharon Stone for her karma comment do not appreciate the depth of her anger over what the Chinese have done to Tibet. Some of their actions make Sadam Hussein look like a boy scout. Why everyone is giving in to the Chinese point of view is mostly an issue of economics. Dior does not want to sacrafice their Chinese market & therefor put pressue on Ms. Stone to apologize for her remark. Lest we forget that the Chinese have destroyed about 30,000 Buddhist monastaries along with many other efforts to systematically eliminate the Tibetan culture & religion. Everyone is sick of what China is trying to do. They are providing arms & missles to Iran and several African nations. At some point the Chinese need to be punished or limited in their reckless treatment of many nations.

To the person who pretends to be WEI,

1. Don't hide behind the name of a waiter in a Chinese restaurant.

2. A large number of Tibetans perished along with the Chinese people. Sichuan is a large province and it has a large Tibetan population (alongside with other nationalities.)

3. Chinese government gets its support from its people??? You statement says it all and it reflects your knowledge of China and of global political systems with a single digit : 0%.

4. Read more books.

Wei,

Check out my post from much earlier. If you generalize a group of people, you are practicing prejudice. And if you are a prejudice you are a bigot. We don't welcome bigot here in the US. You can distinguish the good guys from the bad guys, so you just lump them together coz they look alike.

That's so 50 years ago. We are about to have an African American president.

I agree with Sharon Stone and I disagree with the well-intentioned people who say we should distinguish with (in the red corner) the evil Chinese government which shoots Tibetans in the back in broad daylight and (in the blue corner) the ordinary cuddly fuzzywuzzy Chinese people.

This is a false distinction. The Chinese government gets the support it needs for its policies from the Chinese people. Talk to most of them and you get the same rubbish you get here: insulting and vituperative insults against the Dalai Lama, dismissals of the Tibetans as 'primitive', 'ignorant', 'dirty', 'ungrateful' and in need of being 'civilized' by the Chinese.

As far as I'm concerned, roll a few more earthquakes over the Chinese. They deserve it.

dc
hey,i'm chinese.i think u totally misunderstood china.all the informations u get r from ur perspective.u think we r brain washed,no!i can get all the informations in the internet ,i also like american culture.tibetians r our brothers and sisters we love them as much as you do,we didn't change their lives it's moderize does!we didn't charge most of their taxes,they can have there kids if they want.A lot of tibatans mow r not longer live in tibet ,they come to other cities of china to study and do business ,they r chinese! i think most of ur impression of china is still stay in 70s.why don't u guys come to china see by ur self,we already know u,but u americans,still don't konw us!

my dogma got run over by my karma.

IAWS needs to get a real job, or else karma will strike from heaven.

Stone is against the Chinese government, like many Chinese people living in China. However, Stone like many who are ignorant by choice - (Stone supposedly is a Mensa member) needs to (re)educate themselves and distinguish between a regime and its people. Stone displays the same mindset as those US haters (Al Qaeda et al.). You don't go blaming a whole group of people because of W and Cheney.

As for IAWS, the pseudo lettuce crunching Teva sandaled I-don't-know-anything-about-China-or-Tibet-but
-I-will-pretend-I-do-and-be-holier-than-thou,
should go join the Sharon Stone fan club. If you can't impress people with your intellect, try distracting people with your 180 degree thighs split.

Ms. Stone,

Have you heard of phrases:

Adding insult to injury, or adding salt to wound?

That's what your comment is.

Innocent people get killed from drive by shooting, is that a karma because of bad government behavior?

Question for Ms Stone,

Is Kennedy's brain cancer a karma?

Try harder people! It's got to be Dick Cheney's fault in there somewhere!

OF COURSE THAT IS NOT KARMA.
----------------------------
ONE IS A FREE AGENT UNTIL THEY ACT.

AFTER ACTING, THE RESULTS OF THAT ACTION WILL FOLLOW THEM WHETHER THEY WANT IT TO OR NOT.

THAT IS KARMA.
---------------------------

WHAT CHINA EXPERIENCED IS CALLED AN EARTHQUAKE, NOT KARMA.

Amazing, in a way, how some persons have tried to excuse Ms. Stone's disgusting comments, by claiming they were taken out of context. In a way not surprising, many of Senator Clinton's and President Bush's supporters also cling to denial, to try to defend their offensive statements or actions. Mr. Pomfret and other reporters in the media have correctly cited the clearly offensive statements of Ms. Stone.

In the more detailed quotes from below, she comes across as quite naive, as are many so-called celebrities. Many governments, including the Bush-Cheney administration with its massive human rights abuses and war in Iraq, have been "unkind" to people. In the mind of Ms. Stone, natural disasters where innocent persons die, seems to be associated with bad karma. Perhaps this how she also thinks about the Katrina hurricane and Burma cyclone or possibly she may have a bias against innocent people in China.

Some of the people who make comments here, and elsewhere on the internet, are incredibly ignorant about China and other places in the world. Many Chinese do question their government leaders, jsut as many Americans never question the government leaders, if their party is in power. Some persons also ignore the fact some Tibetans rioted and killed some innocent Chinese. Some pro-Tibetan demonstrators in Paris tried to grab the Olympic torch from a handicapped woman.

The Chinese government should adopt greater tolerance in Tibet, especially related to religious freedom. However, for some persons to complain about the "occupation" of Tibet, while ignoring the occupation of Iraq is, to say nothing about the past treatment of native Americans is hypocritical to say the least.

With all your freedom and wealth, How can the Hollywood elitists like Sharon stone and Richard Geer can possibly imagine what poverty and suffering are like living in your McMansions!

p.s or else karma will bit you in the a$$.

IAWS,

Your grammar and diction improves with each new email. So, I will write to you with all sincerity and respect in an intellectual discourse.

I do not support any kind of repression. And, I also do not believe in collective guilt. You speak of the Nazis and history and you quote Aristotle. But, has the history of the Warsaw Ghetto and the indiscriminate execution of groups of Jews for the resistance of one person taught you anything? You claim to be for the Tibetans, and, yet, you have shown no compassion of the Tibetans, including children, who also perished during the quake and the after-shocks. You seem to be well educated and yet you do not seem to utilize dialectical discourse to analyze the situation.

Please let me share with you something very personal in case you believe that I love the communists: My grandfather was lined up in front of a firing squad by the communists but survived. My uncle was later tortured to death by them during the Cultural Revolution in a "re-education camp" and they claimed that he jumped from a window.

If I, who has so many more reasons to hate, could find compassion for the innocents who died from the quake, and have donated money to their relief, shouldn't it be easier for you to do the same? I could tell you that it is a blessing not to hate and not to enjoy the misery of innocents. And, yesterday's victimizers could be today's saviors. History showed us that is so. The same Germans who joined the Nazi and the same Japanese who bombed Pearl Harbour and committed the Nanjing Massacre are today our friends and are helping, rather than torturing, others. I choose to believe that the current Chinese government is actually on the road to civility. They still have a long ways to go yet, but they are surely not the same government of 5 years ago and definitely not the same brutes of 30 years ago.

Confucius said, he who has fortune should not cast stones at those less fortunate.

It's not about being perfect, it's about being sensitive to other's misfortune.

"Let him who has no sin cast the first stone"

Sharon Stone apologized by singing Brenda Lee's lyric,

I'm sorry, so sorry
That I was such a fool.
I didn't know
Karma was so cruel.

My comment: Always be nice to China and Chinese.

If you really want to relate a natural disaster with politics...imagine that!

About those school buildings which collapsed while government buildings standing still, I feel bad

p.s. and Obama's pastor. What's his name? I forgot already.

Can we lump her with Rosie O Donell, Michael Richard, and Don Imus?

She deserves a name similar to Hanoi Jane.

How about China Stoned (Her)?

I truly believe the Western Mainstream Media should be the next winner. It's just because the MSM no longer does reporting and reporting with both sides of the stories or putting events into perspectives. Nowadays, it's hyping things up with bold but misleading headlines. It's not just about bashing China. It's about anything to sell and attract "readers". In return, some people are just being "told" what the "authors", a.k.a "reporters" are opining instead of reporting. Therefore, people tend not to use their brains to think about the perspectives or circumstances on the storylines, not less of the accuracy of the "reports", a.k.a opinions/commentaries.

What does Tibet got to do with those innocent victims?

Are they at fault for the bad behavior of the government of the country in which they were born into not by choice, that deserve that kind of retribution from the all mighty?

Is that from a Christian teaching, or is it from a psycho actress mixing her own political agenda at the wrong place and at the wrong time?

to DC ..

(i.e., "an eye for an eye"

more like "an eye for a young life ( most are children)."

An article about Tibet.

http://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/a-sichuan-family-and-tibets-future/index.html

CHRIS,

Good points. Stone still has quite a lot of humanity in her, as one could discern from other comments. It's such a pity that she only saw the surface of the Tibetan's compassionate act but she did not learn the true meaning of the Dalai Lama's teachings, as reflected in the "karma" comment. In fact, the way she understands and uses "karma" is more reflecting of her Christian background (i.e., "an eye for an eye" and "vengeful God"). Don't get me wrong, Christian beliefs also have a compassionate side, as witnessed by so much kindness shown to victims around the world. But Christian faith, like other Judeo-Christian-Islamic faiths have inherent ambiguities whose interpretation depends on the basic nature of each believer.

How do you equate the bad behavior of a government to the death of thousands of innocent victims?

Is there any logic to that analogy?

Please forgive Sharon for what she said. She is just an average yahoo who is "half-informed" about the truth happening outside of US.

Let's be a little more tolerate one to another, and learn from our human errors.

A Chinese American

She meant what she said. It's a slip of her tongue.

Usually, people without thinking would say what they feel. If they think first then they may say it in a different way.

Anonymous:

Fake my level of ignorance? If you only had some idea of history ...

DC:

The reason I am standing up for the Tibetans - though I admit that talking back to the Chinese bots on WaPo is not the best way of doing it - is that Buddhism has a history of being annhilated because it is too nice. It got wiped out in Afghanistan when the Muslims conquered it. In fact, it was not much of a conquest as abject surrender by the Buddhists. It used to be the dominant religion in India, until it got pretty much wiped out there also. Last century, it was Tibet's turn. The Chinese simply marched in and cleared house. Today, every government in the world is under severe pressure from the Chinese to not deal with the Dalai Lama. A few days ago, the PM of Britain met with the Dalai Lama in the residence of the head of the Anglican Church because the Chinese went nuts over the plan to meet in the PM's office. Last year, Angela Merkel met with the Dalai Lama in the Chancellery over Chinese protests and warnings of trade retaliation. This year she was the first to say that she would not go to the Beijing Olympics. It seems to me that the Germans are the only ones with the "balls" to stand up to the Chinese. At least they are the only ones to remember what happened when the world tried to kiss up to the Nazis. That memory seems to be lost on the leaders of this country and around the world.

Those who don't learn from the past are condemned to repeat it .... Aristotle.

Ditto what QRS said -- I'm also just sick to death of the news outlets that only half-quote her, and Pomfret, shame on you! I just have to ask: why would you do that? One could still argue that what she said was stupid, but at the very least, the rest of her quote is relevant. Here's the whole thing again:

"Well you know it was very interesting because at first, you know, I am not happy about the ways the Chinese were treating the Tibetans because I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else. And so I have been very concerned about how to think and what to do about that because I don't like that. And I had been this, you know, concerned about, oh how should we deal with the Olympics because they are not being nice to the Dalai Lama, who is a good friend of mine.

And all these earthquake and stuff happened and I thought: Is that karma, when you are not nice that bad things happen to you? And then I got a letter, from the Tibetan Foundation that they want to go and be helpful. And that made me cry. And they ask me if I would write a quote about that and I said,"I would."And it was a big lesson to me, that some times you have to learn to put your head down and be of service even to people who are not nice to you. And that's a big lesson for me..."

I think IAWS may have an ax to grind. Pity! So much hate in those words, and hate hurts the hater more than the hated. Does IAWS know that the Dalai Lama's religion is based on happiness to be found in love, kindness, and compassion? Life would be so much more enjoyable if one is able to empathize with the unfortunate and show them some kindness and share with them some happiness. If the Dalai Lama could show compassion to the quake victims, why couldn't we all?

Before I did think she is wise so I difinitely was one of her fans.right now,I do think she is stupid too much.because she mix chinese goverment with innocent people.if she is human beings she wouldnt think these innocent people deserved to die,so I am sure she isnt human beings.she knows nothing about human beings except takes off her clothes and does love with male,just like a dog.

IAWS,

I can't tell if you're a troll or not. But your grammar is too good, and it's hard to fake your level of ignorance.

"Though I am sorry that thousands of children died, this was an entirely preventable tragedy (at least at this scale), and such calamities will continue unless the Chinese rise up and throw out their callous government." -IAWS

Katrina was entirely preventable too. Also, do you think our country is well-equipped to handle a major natural catastrophe like the Sichuan earthquake? Or do you think we should rise up and throw out our callous government?

@QRS: You are the one who sounds like an empty head. The youtube clip makes clear that Sharon is a lady who thinks about the world and and is concerned about places and events far from home. She is humble enough to change her mind and acknowledge her mistaken thinking about karma, when she heard from the Tibetan foundation.

Now, lets take a look at you wrote and see what is going on in your head ...

This guy, "I am with Sharon", is so sick.

I'm wondering what has fueled this hatred toward China and the Chinese. Please be nice. 80,000 were killed including 20,000 children. Saying things like "karma" is simply not acceptable by any human stand..

IAWS,

Now we are getting somewhere.

Is it the fault of these victims for not protesting because they and their family may be purged out of this earth, that they deserve to die from a natural disaster.

If you are earning a few dollars a day, as most majority of Chinese in China do, you will be busy trying to earn enough money to put food on your table, and hopefully something on your back to keep you warm in winter time. Would you take the chance to go against the huge government that can squash you down anytime.

My point is you have to see it from their perspective not yours.

@QRS:

She still sounds like a total idiot though. Actually, it's even worse in context: "I am not happy about the ways the Chinese were treating the Tibetans because I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else."

LOL WHAT? Lady, do you even know what you are talking about? Stop defending Sharon Stone just because she was in Basic Instinct.

To Realist:

You said, "Idiots on both right and left are capable of such comments. Or are you only capable of seeing it among right-wingers?"

That's the pot calling the kettle black now, isn't it? _Your_ first reaction to Stone's comments was to reflexively generalize about all those folks in "Hollywood" and their idiocy. You didn't pause a second to think "Now, where have I heard this before from conservatives?" I was the one who pointed out to _you_ an example of idiocy on the other side of the political spectrum.

It wasn't me commenting on Falwell's remarks with the baseless generalization that his idiocy is what "substitutes for actual critical thought among evangelical preachers." So, it turns out that I'm the one who's capable of seeing idiocy for what it is, left or right, and not entering mindless uber-spin mode.

Good Instinct made Sharon Stone, while bad instinct made Shame Stone.

DS:

Exactly my point. When there were some protests - in Tiananmen and the Falun Gong, the government purged those people quickly and the rest of the Chinese went on making their rice cakes. Nowadays all you get from the Chinese people is a uniform kowtow ...

CNN's Jack Cafferty could be nominated for the next "Most Cringe-worthy Comment" award as well.

Pomfret, you are not just a lazy and unprofessional journalist, but a manipulative hack as well for NOT POSTING STONE's FULL QUOTE. Just can't help stirring the pot, I guess. An impartial reading of her full quote makes clear that she considers herself WRONG for having thought of it in terms of karma in the first place. She BEGINS with that admission, then relates how she was humbled by her (read: repressed) Tibetan pals who offered aid to quake victims anyway. So her full quote is a mea culpa that she had an incorrect understanding of karma and also that she was less forgiving than her Tibetan friends. The only to pummel her for that is to cut the quote at "Is that karma, when you are not nice that bad things happen to you?"

Who do you look to for journalistic standards, Pomfert? Xinhua? Apple Daily? Here is the full quote, so others can make an *informed* judgement for themselves (no thanks to you):

"Well you know it was very interesting because at first, you know, I am not happy about the ways the Chinese were treating the Tibetans because I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else. And so I have been very concerned about how to think and what to do about that because I don't like that. And I had been this, you know, concerned about, oh how should we deal with the Olympics because they are not being nice to the Dalai Lama, who is a good friend of mine.

And all these earthquake and stuff happened and I thought: Is that karma, when you are not nice that bad things happen to you? And then I got a letter, from the Tibetan Foundation that they want to go and be helpful. And that made me cry. And they ask me if I would write a quote about that and I said,"I would."And it was a big lesson to me, that some times you have to learn to put your head down and be of service even to people who are not nice to you. And that's a big lesson for me..."

quote courtesy of:
http://ericayuen.blogspot.com/2008/05/translation-contest.html

IAWS,

You mean the people of Dafur deserve to die too, because they can protest against their repressive government too.

IAWS,

You said the Chinese are not doing anything against their repressive government, but you also mentioned the Tiananmen Protesters, and Falun Gung. You seem to contradict your own statement.

Sorry to point out your inconsistency there, you almighty so knowledgeless.

This is very interesting, because I remember the Virginia Tech massacre years back then, I'm not happy about the way the American are treating the Koreans because I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else. And then that massacre and all this stuff happened, and then I thought, is that karma? When you're not nice that the bad things happen to you?

DS and Robert Murphy:

Stop kissing the Chinese butts ... You can be nice to them, when they start acting nice in Tibet and in Darfur.

DC:

What is sad is that you speak without reading or thinking. There is no racism against the Chinese ... We are only pointing out the fact that the casualties are this high because of the corruption of the Chinese government and the willingness of the Chinese people to take it without questioning.

When they (the government) came for the Tibetans, they (the people) said anything. When they came for the Tiananmen protestors, they said nothing. When they came for the Falun Gong, they said nothing. When the earthquake came ... well, you get the idea.

I am shocked, I am in disbelief after reading some of the comments posted here. Since when did the Chinese stop being human beings for Christ's sake? Did all those poor little kids who died in those crumbling schools deserve their fate for the simple reason that they had the misfortune to be born in a country with a repressive government? China is not our enemy; certainly the Chinese people are not. How did we Americans become so cold-blooded?

Robert

People hate us because of callous, insensitive comments like the one MS Stoned made.

Just like saying to the families of the victims of 911, katrina, and other disasters, your family members died because your government kills innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And we are trying to convince the world our way is the best way?

Ignorance about other people gives us a bad reputation. No matter how much we spend to try to help other people, and build our reputation around the world, one idiotic comment will destroy all those hard work.

It saddens me to learn from the responses that ignorance and racism is still alive and thriving. People spoke of "Chinese" as if they were one entity. In fact, they think as some non-Americans do about Americans, that we are all the same and we deserve to be killed for what "Americans" did in the unpopular wars. If , let's say, an European spoke Stone's word but simple replacing the term "Chinese" by "American" and "Sichuan" with "World Trade Center or Katrina" and if we replace "Tibetans" with "Sioux, Cherokees, or slaves from Africa," how would we react?

Finally, the population at the epicenter was 18.6% Tibetan and the location is called the Tibetan Minority and Qiang Minority Autonomous Region. So, the Tibetans should be subjected to collective punishment for being cruel to themselves? I cringe.

Ms. Stone should know all the women in the media prefer gossip to news.

Ms. Stone should know all the women in the media prefer gossip to news.

Dharma:

Thanks for the pointer on the youtube. I should have done that first. Pomfret did take her words out of context. She actually said, "... When you are not nice, then bad things happen to you? I was thinking that and then I got a letter from the Tibetan foundation about how they could be helpful. ... That made me cry. That's a good lesson for me that even when people are not nice to you, you should put your head down and be of service to them ..."

I wrote down the words in a hurry and might have scrambled it a bit, but go to youtube and hear for yourself.

Now, do the Chinese people have a kind word to say about the Tibetans? Who is going to volunteer?
Hu?

It seems Stone doesn't care to notice that the epicenter of the quake is in an ethnic tibetan autonomous area of Sichuan and made such a stupid comment.

a food for thought.

yes, the arthquake was a natural disaster, and 911 was planned. But why would ppl hate the US so much to plan 911?

right, because they hate us because we're the best!!

we're #1 (repeat 100x)

I had a friend die in 911. how would sharon stone feel if her friend had died in that earthquake? would she still think it was karma?

Dear "I am with Sharon":

Do you know the earthquake area is Tibetan area.
55% people are tibetans.
Thousands Soldiers and saved a lot of people lives by those hands.

How can you say chinese treated tibetan badly.
You are liar.

IAWS, and Sharon,

Is wishing bad things to happen to other people a nice thing to do?

If not, then there is a bad karma coming your way too.

To "I am with Sharon":

You wrote "But you live like tied up dogs, barking at every stranger without ever realizing your position in life. Sad, sad ..."

I could have reported your comments as offensive and have it removed. But I'd rather leave it there - just for people to see who is really living (and behaving) like tied up dogs, barking at every stranger..

You are indeed with Sharon.

To Newcomer:

"Do you mean like Jerry Falwell's knee-jerk, politically-reactionary non-thinking in blaming 9/11 on gays in San Francisco?"

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. But Pomfret's post isn't about Falwell.

Idiots on both right and left are capable of such comments. Or are you only capable of seeing it among right-wingers?

IAWS,

From your previous statement, I can describe you as a biggot. The reason I came to this conclusion is because you generalized all Chinese, if you generalize people, then you practice prejudice. A prejudice is a biggot.

IAWS

Are those the same 68000 Chinese that beat up the Tibetans?

Mr Pomfret, you are running out of things to write about China.

The last few posts of yours are earthquakes, earthquakes and more earthquakes.

Please go to You Tube to hear her entire comments and make your own decision. Only a portion of what she said has been quoted by Promfret.

Of all the daily kow-towing comments made to suck up to the Dictators who rule China with an iron fist, Pomfret inaugurates a new award to take on someone for daring to speak against the ChiComs??

How sad.

Even the Washington Post is afraid of taking on the nuclear-armed despots denying 1.3 billion Chinese people their freedom.

DS:

Pay even closer attention to what Sharon said and you will see what she is really saying. She said "When you’re not nice that bad things happen to you?” Now, you tell me, were the Chinese nice when they beat up the pro-Tibetan protestors in Seoul and in Japan? Were the Chinese nice to the victims of Darfur? In the former case, it was the Chinese people actively participating in the beating up of the pro-Tibetan protestors. In the latter case, they were silent and mute spectators to an ethnic cleansing when the Chinese government did business with the Sudanese government without making any effort to stop the genocide.

Peter: My statements might seem callous, but I want to provoke the Chinese people to take a hard look at themselves and the government they are living under. Unless someone points this out to them they don't seem to get it at all. Even when they have freedoms like posting their opinion on WaPo, all they do is condone their governments actions in Tibet. Though I am sorry that thousands of children died, this was an entirely preventable tragedy (at least at this scale), and such calamities will continue unless the Chinese rise up and throw out their callous government.

It is funny that that are really people here who support Stone's statement - even after she herself said "sorry".

The fact: The Chinese government reacted 100 times better in Sichuan this time than the US government did after Katrina. What is your point of accusing the Chinese? Just by being an American and thereby always superior to other nations? Somehow the scorecards (and the current accounts) indicate something different..

To those of you who wrote "The chinese deserve it": Fine, just keep saying that, and we will ignore whatever you say. China-bashing has been going on for 200 years and its relevance in history is yet to be seen...

Dear Stone,
By placing karmic curse on the 70,000 souls who lost their lives through no fault of theirs then the curse goes back to you in return for the rest of your life. The same goes to your Tibetan & other supporters who kept silent.

Quick life tip for Sharon,

Don't bite the fingers that feed you.

Dog.

I am with Sharon: I imagine there are many reasons people do not seriously challenge the government, not least of which is the boot that will land in one's face for doing so. Also, without a viable alternative in place, democracy may not just spring up like wild flowers (Iraq...remember?) Unless you have personally been in a similar situation, I can't see how you can make such callous arguments.

“I’m not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans because I don’t think anyone should be unkind to anyone else. And the earthquake and all this stuff happened, and then I thought, is that karma? When you’re not nice that bad things happen to you?”

Pay attention to her last sentence. Who is not nice the government or the people. My point is, she thinks that those innocent victims deserves to die because of the bad action of their government.

Now, how would feel if you just lost your family members to a natural disaster and some ID10T made a comment like that?

“I’m not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans because I don’t think anyone should be unkind to anyone else. And the earthquake and all this stuff happened, and then I thought, is that karma? When you’re not nice that bad things happen to you?”

Pay attention to her last sentence. Who is not nice the government or the people. My point is, she thinks that those innocent victims deserves to die because of the bad action of their government.

Now, how would feel if you just lost your family members to a natural disaster and some ID10T made a comment like that?

I think those in New Orleans died in katrina totally deserved it, because their state went to Bush in 2004, and Bush & FEMA failed them miserably during Katrina, what a Karma. If the state of Luisana voted for Kerry instead, they probably would have been saved.

It is'nt karma because Sichuanese are completely innocent of any atrocities in Tibet.

It would be karma at work though, if the earthquake epicenter is right under Zhongnanhai!

DS and Peter: ChebonTenitkee's comment is right on. The chinese deserve anything that comes there way because they won't question their government. We get disasters too, but the casualties never approach the scale of China, and the reason is not population density. They are not different by orders of magnitude. The same thing goes for Burma too. Their government won't let aid groups in to distribute food and medicines, and the people won't rise up against such a government - you do the math ...

IAWS, you may live a thousands of miles away from Iraq or Aghanistan, but don't be surprise how far the reach of the Almighty is? Karma is karma. Have you heard of hurricane, tornado, earthquake, and wild fire to name a few. Last time I heard from the news they do occur here in the US (East Coast to West Coast)

Most people had forgotten this. Why take notice of it again. It is not worthy of further thought.

This pathetic public barfing by supposedly intelligent people over a bizarrely ignorant, but bizarrely trivial remark makes urinal graffiti seem worthy.

There's more freelance bigotry and ignorant gnashing displayed in these posts than all of hollywood (and AM talk radio combined) could be accountable for.

Thanks a helluva lot Newsweek.

uhh...no. Did my comment in any way suggest that?

I have to say YOU occidental see the world with the eyesight like chinese in 70s,80s last century.now chinese watch the world more objectively but the occidental keep their short eyesight yet.Just like Xizhang(Tibet) violence,you only listened to dalai,but do you know the fact?you love dalai,but who are responsible for these thousands of houses fired and these people who were killed in the houses fire?What is the fact,why do you are so ill-informed even in this internet era??
Listent to the west radio,you can found the voice from 1970s,1980s like "Chinese autocratic gov...",while listen to chinese radio, you wouldn't hear these outdated voice anymore like "America imperialism..."
please keep your stupid short eyesight and you will find you are the GOONS in fact one day.

DS: The children died because the Chinese people accept the authority of their government without question and simply kowtow to whatever propaganda comes their way. Just a few days ago, there was a news report that the parents of the children were going to file a law suit against the government for the poor and shoddy construction of the school were lots of children died. Apparently, the surrounding buildings were all ok, but this school collapsed like a house of cards. This is a disaster that has visited the Chinese because of their unquestioning attitude towards their government. Questioning the government means questioning everything - just like we question the going to war in Iraq. They simply take whatever propaganda the government sends their way about Tibet to be true. So, it is not my children and my future generations that you should be sorry for - it is the Chinese!! Remember, that they have had 49 years to question their government on Tibet. We only needed a couple of years to question our government on Iraq, and we live thousands of miles away from Iraq!!!

Peter, do you honestly believe that those innocent people deserve to die because can't change their communist government in time before the earthquake?

I Am With Sharon, according to your comment, the ordinary American citizens who are too busy to make money to put food on their table deserve to die because they did not protest against the War in Iraq or Afghanistan.

DS,

We have the option of changing our elected officials when they overstep their bounds. Did you forget that?

Do you really believe if those Chinese protested in any way against their bad government, would that change the way their government works. Did all the war protesting here stop our government?

I Am With Sharon, again do you believe that the innocent children deserve to die because of their bad government? If you really believe that, then I feel sorry for your kids and your future generations

Did the ordinary chinese deserve collective divine punishment for the atrocities of the Chinese government in Tibet? Let's see, do the ordinary chinese UNANIMOUSLY condone the actions of the government and do they UNANIMOUSLY support the occupation and subjugation of the Tibetans? If the answer to the above question in yes, then may be some bad karma going their way is in order.

To answer the question above, lets look back a few weeks ... How did the Chinese behave in Seoul, in Japan, in France, in San Franscisco (not to mention China) etc. during the olympic flag processions ... did they get in the face of the pro-Tibetan protestors? Did they hurt these protestors in Seoul and in Japan? The answers to both of the questions are YES. Heck, the chinese even went to the extent of harassing a poor girl's family in China by posting their address and pictures on the web, just because the girl happened to think that a more moderate approach to the Tibetan problem was needed.

With all the evidence at hand, it does seem right that the ordinary chinese feel some of the pain that the Tibetans have felt for 49 years now. Next year, it will be the 50th anniversary of the occupation. As for you Chinese who think that your government has liberated the Tibetans from serfdom, just take a look at yourself in the mirror. You live worse than serfs, without any self-respect. At least serfs everywhere loathe their masters and eventually win their freedom. But you live like tied up dogs, barking at every stranger without ever realizing your position in life. Sad, sad ...

No wonder people from other countries hates Americans. Thanks to people like Sharon Stoned. After all the good deeds that other Americans have done to build our reputation as a kind and compassionate people trying to help the poor of the world, her comment just washed out all those good deeds.

One bad deeds equals a hundred good deeds.

You all presume too much depth. This was a comment from skin deep. The question is...did she even give this much thought?

Do any of us?

Doublestandard gets an F for logic. Did Sharon Stone say anything remotely similar to what Don Imus (nappy headed hoes) or Michael Richards (N-word) said? Did she cast ethnic slurs on Chinese people?

Doublestandard's distortion, sadly, is typical of many (not all)of the outraged mainlanders who post on this blog, whose emotion routinely outpaces their reason.

Does she also believes that the hurricanes, tornadoes, fire and earthquake that damages civilian properties and lives in this country is a karma of our bad government?

Does she also believe the cyclone disaster in Myanmar was a karma because they have a bad military government?

Does she really believe that the poor people who are already suffering from a repressive government deserve to die because their government does bad things to them.

What kind of moronic logic is that?

The problem with Hollywood, is that these actors/actresses thinks they know everything. Just because they can read a few lines from a script doesn't mean they have the authority to comment on everything.

They can't even separate Hollywood-world with real world in real time.

Oh, my, I meant to say "foie" gras. I was so rattled. Look what you made me do!

To ZHANG YING:

Just want to point out, it will be Beijing which host the Olympic game.

Olympic Games are hosted by CITIES, not countries. Although China use the game to promote its nationalism, but we shouldn’t be confused about that.

I positively take exception with Monsieur Humphrey's depiction of the wine and cheese crowd as effete and weak-kneed. What a vile vile man. Shame on you. You obviously have no appreciation for the ecstacies of a perfectly aged frois gras. Why, you probably drink your daiquiris from a straw! Barbarian!

Karma means cycle. If that $tupid witch believes what happened to the poor innocent family and their children was something they deserved because of their bad government, then she should not be surprise when her karma hits her

I'm with you Ken Humphrey, let's all us right-thinking people get together and boycott wine and cheese! Down with wine and cheese! And brie! (right...that's cheese.) Okay, down with reasoned argument! Down with anything that has remotest whiff of common sense and decency!

Sharon Stone's stupid comment fully exposed her ignorance and lack of education and human compassion. The world has no place for such careless and thoughtless comment from an aging 50-year old hag.

Lots of Tibetans died in the earthquake. Only an idiot would link the earthquake to the China-Tibet issue. For making a comment like this, Sharon Stone deserves a bad "karma' for her stupidity.

Sharon Honey, I love your comment lady. I would definitely pick you up if you were hitch-hiking. The Chinese government and its leaders regularly exhibit "Bad Karma": The psuedo-intellectual nerds who took issue with your comments are the non-descript, limp-handed, weak-kneed, "wine and cheese crowd" who probably never take a meaningful position on anything other than whether the goose liver was as good as last year's. The US is full of them.
Ken Humphrey,Emerald Isle, NC

Give me a break. That witch is old and wrinkled. I prefer Mariah

For those of you who has old-timer-disease, remember Michael Richard and Don Imus, to name a couple.

Sharon, like many many others (myself included) are frustrated with Chinese govt's callousness toward Tibet, Taiwan, Burmese, and its own disadvantaged people. Her curt comment was silly, but it expresses a frustration at Chinese politburo's heavy handed policies. Although many of the people I most admire believe in karma (including the Tibetans; Milarepa and the Dalai Lama, etc) I don't personally believe in karma, so it's moot terminology for me. Sharon, you were great in Casino, I'll pick you up hitchhiking anytime! love you lady.

Did Sharon apologize or unapologize?

it's funny when a white guy make any bad comment about African Americans they would have that person fired from his job permanently and vanished in neverland where nobody will hear about him/her anymore.

On the other hand if a person makes similar comments about Chinese or other Asians that person remains in his/her jobs and even get more attention.

The Chinese and Asians majority are getting richer and more prosperous, and Americans are going the opposite direction, is that a karma?

So what. How many innocent civilians did the words from her mouth kill? For those of you who want to hold her accountable, where in the world have you been for the last eight years?
Sorry she hurt your feelings. Grow up.

Impeach.

Mr. Pomfret,

A suggestion for the future: if you are busy, you can just post a note on your blog saying that you will be away for a couple of weeks. No need to throw scraps.

Thanks for starting this blog, btw. Honestly, I'm not sure whether it leads to greater understanding, or simply stokes outrage all around. An interesting experiment...

OMG! I think Sharon Stone should be punished! Maybe a spanking on her bare bottom is appropriate. I am SO disgusted with her that I hearby volunteer to administer said justice.

abc 123

Ms. Stone's comments were outrageous, callous and insensitive. They can be compared to the equally offensive statements by certain right wing ministers in this country after the 9/11 tragedies.

Any Chinese boycott of products and films associated with her are entirely justified. She seems quite naive to wish ill upon anyone who treats others unkindly. Were there to be an equally destructive earthquake in Los Angeles, would she declare this is bad karma for the United States invasion of Iraq? I do not think she made any silly or offensive comments about the hurricane Katrina being bad karma for the invasion of Iraq.

Most foreign readers should realize most Americans know very little about modern Chinese history and not much more about United States history. Ignorance breeds prejudice and xenopobia in just about any culture.

In accordance with Ms Stone's logic, something truly horrific awaits her for 'Basic Instinct 2'.

AN OPEN LETTER TO SHARON STONE

My name is CHRIS D. NEBE.

I am the creator of the acclaimed and award-winning MYSTERIOUS CHINA series, which is a collection of feature-length (90 min.) documentaries, which celebrate the epic cultural heritage of China.

My recent comments, made in the video TIBET – The Truth onwww.youtube.com/monarexregarding the March 2008 events in Tibet, caused a worldwide controversy. I received thousands of emails. Some of them contained death threats, but 99% of them were positive and encouraged me to continue to report the truth.

The deplorable remarks regarding the earthquake in China made by SHARON STONE to the media at the recent CANNES FILM FESTIVAL deeply offend and sadden me. While we should not take the disgusting utterances of a fading celebrity too serious, behind it all lurks the vicious bias against China by the Western media.

Hopefully SHARON STONE’s remarks are not a reflection of the general state of mind in Hollywood and America.

Even though the recent withdrawal of STEVEN SPIELBERG from the 2008 Beijing Olympics is another vivid reminder of someone being misguided.

As a member of the Hollywood filmmaking community and on behalf of all those in Hollywood, who share my opinion, I sincerely apologize to the Chinese people.

In these times of tragedy China deserves our undivided solidarity, support and heartfelt sympathy.

We should also remember that at any time California can be shaken to the core by a similar natural disaster.

Let us be guided by the timeless wisdom of Confucius:

DO NOT DO TO OTHERS WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT THEM TO DO TO YOU!

Beijing, May 29th, 2008

Chris D. Nebe

President

Monarex Hollywood Corporation

www.monarex.com

ChebonTenitkee:

10-11 years ago, Beijing mandated there are free education for rural area up to certain level. Certain amount of school must be built within certain periof of time. This was part of the policy to lift the living standard in the rural area. However, the money passed down to the education department of the township, was not enough to build the school according to building code. On top, there wasn't enough engineering expertise in the rural area to make sure the job was done properly. This is what I read from Washington post today. However, some elite school with proper funding, was built properly including five school donated by a billionaire in China. He paid 3 times the building cost of a normal school and had his own people with expertise in building to supervise the whold process. That is the reason the central government is mute about who should be blamed for this. They only said if there was kickback, people will be punished. There is always another aspect of every event. Don't pass judgement too fast. It will make you look stupid.

So if I lose my life to a hurricane or earthquake it must be karma for the Iraq war I never supported?
People need to separate individuals from nations and governments. Especially in a country like China where the government is not a representation of its people.

Okay, Realist, I might have said "some Hollywood stars," but then that might be political correctness. Great points nonetheless. So sharp.

her stroke was karma also, it had nothing to do with her imbecilic thinking processes.

Comments:
As a stroke survivor, an individual who spends nine months each year in China, speaks mandarin Chinese, operates a business there that assists American stroke survivors and people from all nations to receive medical treatment in China, I was outraged offended and appalled at hearing Sharon Stone’s comments.

In hearing this I forced myself to assume she was either taken out of context, spoke without thinking, or was suffering from some other ailment because no one in their right mind would make such unfeeling comments.

The Chinese people are the most kind, caring and considerate people on Earth. They have literally moved mountains to rescue those affected by the earthquake and did not hesitate in their actions.

I do not suggest in any way that I always agree with my government or theirs. But I am not foolish enough to place the responsibility of a natural disaster and its after effects on a government act or refer to it as ‘karma.’ The Chinese people, not the government, have been offended to the core and I understand their desire to ban films that Sharon appears in.

I honestly believe that the vast majority of Americans are sympathetic to the plight that this disaster has caused even though many have been slow to respond. I have repeatedly challenged the American people and businesses to come to the aid of the Chinese people. I feel that Ms. Stone could better use her “fame” and voice to work toward good and bringing people together rather than being divisive with her comments or how they are received. Her apology was too little… too late… and must be more sincere and from a level of understanding.

I would welcome the opportunity to show Ms. Stone first-hand the work being done in China on behalf of stroke survivors and earthquake victims. As of today a total of 68,858 people have died and another 18,618 are missing and presumed dead.

I am striving to raise at least $10 for each who have died or are missing to assist the millions of innocent individuals that have been displaced.

We have an opportunity to reach out with our voices and pocketbooks and make a lasting impact on individual’s lives! Twenty-percent of the world’s population has been affected by this disaster and we can either seize this opportunity and our responsibility as members of the world’s human race or cast it aside. I pray that you join me in embracing and sharing with those in need! www.chinaconnection.cc

About China Connection: China Connection is about providing compassion, care and concern. It developed from the personal experience of its CEO, Ruth Lycke, who survived a stroke and went to China to complete her treatment. Now she seeks to educate Americans about the top medical treatments available in China-usually at a fraction of what the cost would be in the U.S.

Media Contact: Glenn Selig, ThePublicityAgency.com
Email: glenn (at) thepublicityagency.com
Phone: (813) 948-7767
Web site: www.chinaconnection.cc
To view this press release online: http://www.prnewschannel.com/absolutenm/templates/?a=577&z=7

Some times Karma is just Karma. What goes around comes around. She wasn't laying blame, merely commenting on an observation. No doubt even if the Chinese did the right thing, there still would have been and earthquake. Yet many folks like to find causality when none exists, nature does what it will regardless of how you behave.

Firstly, life in China is great. We live there and we know. Don't care what you think.

Secondly, We don't need Sharon Stupid Stone's apology as we know she is just plain idiot and her good friend is on the same wave length .

Thirdly, China is becoming super power and you can't do anything about it , so stop becoming so jealous do something to help your own country become more powerful if u can!

Finally, China will host the most successful Olympic Games in history and if you want to come , welcome. Otherwise stay where you are
and we don't care about if you are attending or not.

A friend of Dalai Lama? That is a good enough reason for Dior to dump Sharon Stone.

This is Sharon Stone, the star of "Basic Instinct 2" and "The Specialist", among other classics we're talking about here, right? How is this newsworthy? I understand she's a legend for her casting couch antics. Perhaps you should get off her casting couch John.

Realist: Hmmm "knee-jerk, politically-correct non-thinking." Do you mean like Jerry Falwell's knee-jerk, politically-reactionary non-thinking in blaming 9/11 on gays in San Francisco? Don't try to make baseless generalizations -- sometimes a stupid comment by an arrogant actress is just a stupid comment by an arrogant actress.

wow....just...wow. if sharon stone gets struck by lightning, it's karma, right?

Well said, Realist.

She didn't really say that, did she???

Yes, what Sharon Stone said was pretty stupid. It betrays a lot of the knee-jerk, politically-correct non-thinking that substitutes for actual critical thought among Hollywood stars who, for some reason, think the world cares what they think (as many Chinese apparently do).

That said, the Chinese really need to stop being offended every time somebody has something bad to say about their country.

1. Half of the people in the world are always going to hate China and there's nothing they can do about it.

2. It goes with the territory of being a great power. Get used to it. The rest of the world will know you're really great when you no longer care what they think.

3. Also realize that people in the US who have bad things to say about China probably have even worse things to say about our own government. It's called free speech. We may not like it, but we learn how to deal with it like adults (most of the time).

You know, I can't go so far as Sharon Stone but...

The treatment of the multiple ethnic groups throughout China who for whatever reason do not merit the favor of the Capitalist/Communist government;
The inception of the "Golden Shield" surveillance technology that makes "1984" look like a bad Saturday afternoon matinee;
The Chinese government's refusal to do anything regarding the events inside the Sudan, a major trading partner;
The actions of the government two years ago, during a rabies epidemic, that allowed police and military to bludgeon to death over 50,000 dogs in the streets of China;

I certainly don't agree with any assertion that the 'quake was any form of divine retribution, but considering the reports that schools were not built to withstand this type of temblor, and that corporate or government buildings are still standing, leads to an inexorable conclusion.

Life is cheap in China.

Stone's comment was definitely, completely, utterly, uncalled for.