Brickbat: Oh, Bother

DISNEYTONN STUDIOS/WALT DISNEY PICTURES / Album/Newscom

Chinese Internet censors have attempted to squelch any criticism of the Communist Party Council's decision to eliminate term limits so Xi Jiinping can serve more than two terms as president. They've banned references to Animal Farm, Brave New World, 1984, and… Winnie the Pooh. Chinese social media have long noted the resemblance between Pooh Bear and Xi and have used images of the character to mock the president. But now, censors are scurrying to remove any references to Winnie.

Comments

[David Nolan Michael Hihn]

No CYBERBULLYING of Emperor Xi!

[Pro Libertate]

I dunno, if I were China, I wouldn't take on the Mouse.

[This Machine Chips Fascists]

Soon it will be the season for suppressing things like "64" and "535".

[Rat on a train]

Have they banned the pronoun xe?

[Cyto]

And "451"?

[I am the 0.000000013%]

233?

[DiegoF]

In the dystopian future all references to Happy Days, fruit sushi, sandwiches, and even simple innocent racial slurs involving Shikha, will all be blocked and scrubbed from the H&R comments.

[Rat on a train]

You know what else you can pry from my cold, dead account?

[Leo Kovalensky II]

Hitler?

[mad.casual]

Orphans and monocles?
Mexican ass sex?
Artisanal deep dish pizza?
Fuck off, slaver?
Fuck you, cut spending?
STEVE SMITH????

[Rat on a train]

"Every time China deliberates on reforms and key decisions, effect on public opinion is worth pondering," the Global Times stated. "Misinformation and external forces' meddling will affect public opinion in China."

Take notes Congress. China knows how to stop foreign meddling.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Chinese social media have long noted the resemblance between Pooh Bear and Xi...

Cultural appropriation.

[Telcontar the Wanderer]

They've banned references to Animal Farm, Brave New World, 1984...

What kinda shitty-ass evil empire hasn't already done that, like, a zillion years ago?

[Nardz]

Good point

[Emotional Opposition Animal]

I can see Animal Farm and 1984, as they were primarily targeted at communist societies, but Brave New World? That bears no resemblance to China or communism and certainly doesn't match with Xi's power grab.

[Cloudbuster]

Your questioning of party decisions has earned you a free stay in re-education camp, comrade. Enjoy your Soma!

[Vernon Depner]

Is it possible that Xi has overreached and that we'll be seeing serious civic unrest and perhaps even a revolution in China?

[SQRLSY One]

Yes, and Winnie the Pooh will be there to lead it! And Tigger, too!

Their campaign slogan will be, "Winnie the Pooh, and Tigger, too!"

[Emotional Opposition Animal]

Donkeys live a long time.

[Longtobefree]

Thanks for noticing - - - -

[Rich]

You know who else looked like Winnie the Pooh?

[DavidC]

Winston Churchill, Chris Christie, and John Goodman come to mind.

[Telcontar the Wanderer]

"Galapagos tortoise", "pig corpse left in the sun for 3 days", and "tyrannosaur that needs to lay off the booze" are all more or less incompatible with Winnie the Pooh.

[Rich]

I was thinking Nathan Lane, but Hit--I mean, those are good, too.

[Telcontar the Wanderer]

Most shar-peis?

[Cyto]

I wonder if any of the relevant people here in the US will notice that their attitudes toward speech they disagree with is of a kind with the government that wants to ban Winnie the Pooh. See Frog, Pepe the.

(Ok, there's got to be a lot better example, but it was what I could come up with in 20 seconds on a Tuesday after the DST change. Well, and all you can eat wings and beer nigh last night. That might have played a role too. )

[cgr2727]

Those who are that far gone to the left see that as a feature, not a flaw.

[Mickey Rat]

The Chinese will not tolerate a foreigner agent like Winnie undermining the Chinese public's faith in their government. They are an inspiration to progresives everywhere.

[Novichok]

Maybe we'll give it a shot one day?

[Longtobefree]

been to a Tea Party rally lately?

[Novichok]

No, but I was in England recently. There's a small part of me there even now.

[I am the 0.000000013%]

NHS sex conversions are just the best

[Emotional Opposition Animal]

Winnie was cultural appropriation anyway.

[Novichok]

And species appropriation.

[Emotional Opposition Animal]

Say what you will about Hitler, at least he didn't ban Charlie Chaplin movies.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

Not even The Little Dictator?

[crufus]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Dictator
"...The film was banned in several Latin American countries, where there were active movements of Nazi sympathizers.

During the film's production, the British government had announced that it would prohibit its exhibition in the United Kingdom, in keeping with its appeasement policy concerning Nazi Germany. But by the time the film was released, the UK was at war with Germany and the film was welcomed in part for its obvious propaganda value. In 1941, London's Prince of Wales Theatre screened its UK premiere..."

[Longtobefree]

Timing is the key for the arts - - - -

[markm23]

Sometimes it is. Consider the film "Casablanca". It was based on a play. The playwright got the basic idea in 1938, before the war, but at a time when Jews were becoming increasingly willing to pay all they had just to get out of Germany and any nation that looked likely to become a victim. He finished it in mid-1940, soon after Germany overran France. Attempts to find financing to produce the play failed - but soon after Pearl Harbor, Warner's Brothers bought the rights. Finally, it was rushed into release two weeks after American troops landed in North Africa.

I hope that its quality would eventually have been noticed anyway, but its initial success was due to good timing.