Five More Artists Detained in Beijing

They'll probably be banned from China and will be unable to ever (as long as the CCP is in power) do anything from within China or Tibet that could be productive.

I have the highest respect for anyone supporting Tibet, but China is not governed by the US and I cannot stand, more than anything, when the US gets involved with the arrest(s) and detention(s) of outlaws on the turf of other nations. In the past, when the US intrudes, we get our citizens killed or they just disappear. it's a very tricky.

I have met Powderly on a handful of occasions through friends and always found him arrogant. I agree with his beliefs, but what did he think would happen? He'd get a slap on the wrist and released?

He should have traveled to China with an international lawyer.

The Chinese government has been able to control a billion people. If a BILLION people aren't going to rise up against an oppressive government, what do a couple of college kids armed with LED throwies think they are going to accomplish?

I guess exactly what happened. They went there, did their thing, and provoked the reaction. They took that chance, trusting that their US Citizenship will give them a free pass, and it likely will. Why should I feel bad for them?

Most of us learn an important survival skill early in life - adjust your behavior to suit your surroundings. Don't pick a fight with a bully unless you're prepared to take a punch.

I'd expect that throwing that crap on private property would result in arrest in the U.S. too, and we HAVE free speech rights.

There was a story yesterday about a 6 year old girl who was terribly burned in a fire. Despite that, she seemed to have a lot of spirit about the situation. THAT kid deserves sympathy and concern and help and support.

My heart goes out to that kid as well as anyone who suffers from any type of accident or act of violence. However this is a political issue and one that we can take a stand on through activism (a right we are lucky to have here). In doing so not only do you help some american kids but hopefully affect a political regime which appearently inflicts punishment on hundreds of thousands of thousands of its citizens. Check out the story today on some would be Chinese protestors who are off to labor camps for a year because they expressed interest in joining a demonstration. It's a terrible government and one that is losing it's grip, let's help them fall.

My above post was aimed at eyekantspel's response.

Wow. It's a good thing all the people that participated in the civil rights movement didn't think the way you do. ... We should always do what all governments and authorities tell us to without any kind of question or comment.

The civil rights movement was our own country, by and about our own citizens. And it was about civil rights. Going to China to protest about Tibet? You may as well go to Moscow and hang up a sign that says Free Georgia. Waste of time, and they got exactly the response they should have expected for breaking the local law. Detained, probably for a couple of days before they return home to bask in the glory of their noble act.

While these activists are experiencing China's repression, they are certainly not experiencing the same kind of repression reserved for native chinese or Tibetan dissidents. The way to Tibetan independence is through means far removed from "LED throwies". And talking about the real means to that end could land you in trouble in THIS country. The chinese are a patient people. They know that eventually, there will have to be major changes but they seek the long term evolutionary approach, not the western, impatient one. Impatient westerners get expelled, like a bad meal.

"The civil rights movement was our own country, by and about our own citizens. And it was about civil rights."

I totally agree with you.

I will tell whats happening to them right now. They are probably in some jail cell at a police station. Oh yeah thats what happens when you protest in a communist country that does not take kindly to criticism. What a bunch of morons.

The news this morning had a story about how the Chinese government was putting two 70 year old native Chinese into a 1 year work camp.

According to the story, their crime was having applied for a petition to protest (I didn't quite catch the purpose, I don't think it was about Tibet, but instead about their home being relocated-- China has eminent domain on steroids and has forced thousands and thousands out of their homes for public works projects and to give choice land to cronies). Given the interests involved, it's best to not to take any news on these issues at face value, but I'll assume that the underlying story is correct.

Anyway, I don't want my lack of sympathy for the L.E.D. protestors who get detained to be confused with a lack of sympathy for the plight of people who really get screwed and have no rights in China.

I think my basic problem with the L.E.D. protestors is the whiny aspect to the story/comments. These protestors should have EXPECTED to be detained. The rules were pretty clear. Their detention is the sacrifice they are making to get their point across. Gandhi understood this. Gandhi would get arrested and was willing to put his life on the line for his point, eventually forcing the government's hand. The willingness to endure suffering for your cause is what makes this kind of protest effective. If you aren't willing to pay that price, stay home.

Comparisons of these clowns to what people went through during the Civil Rights movement reflects a real lack of understanding and respect for the Civil Rights movement. People risked their lives, their jobs, their families during the Civil Rights movement. They stood up to our own police forces, our own military, and the prejudice of their own friends, families and neighbors. That takes way more sack than flying to the Olympics and pulling out a banner with the expectation that the people you are confronting won't really do anything because they wouldn't want to cause an international incident.

And I also agree with TheEdge here. There are so many problems, everywhere, including here, where work and money could improve people's lives. That would take real effort and commitment and sacrifice. Flying to China and waving a banner and then complaining that you were arrested is easy. Big deal.

They could have gone to Tibet, and done some real good for the people there, donated money, worked for a charity organization, whatever. The people who do that don't get their name in the paper, or a flashy story to impress their hipster friends with, but those people DO make a difference for causes that they care about.

well, presumably as China becomes more and more of a capitalist economy, the people will rise up against their government. Just like the USSR. Well, hopefully not exactly like the USSR.

great speculating going on in here. some good points thrown in hear and there, but all in all does nothing. talking on the gothamist won't do shit.