OPINION> Commentary
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OPINION> Commentary
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Much ado about nothing
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-25 07:48 The authors of China is Unhappy will be happy if the book's sensational title sparks a debate and, thereafter, raise its sales. And if that were to happen, they would have killed two birds with one stone. The authors of the book grieve over almost everything they feel is not to their taste or judgment. But will they be bothered about who is happy and who is not when they count the money from royalty as the book's sales climb up? Irrespective of the label attached to it, the aim of the authors and publishers is to create a fuss. So sticking labels such as "nationalism" or "cynicism", or even "nihilism" to the book would only mean playing into their hands. Not surprisingly, the fact that any of the "isms" can be used to make a killing sends a strong message about how pluralistic Chinese society is. What then is the moral of the story? One book, no matter how sensational its title and subject are, can never be taken as a yardstick of judging a society.
That reminds one of another book, China Can Say No, published 13 years ago. Incidentally, one of the authors of that book is a leading contributor to China is Unhappy. There was much ado over China Can Say No, too. Some Westerners even saw it as the rise of nationalism in China and were worried that it would sway the government's policy. What happened instead is that the book sold well, and its authors and publishers made a lot of money, but sensible readers considered most of the ideas advocated in the book as nonsense. Now China is Unhappy is being publicized in exactly the same manner. When it comes to the content of the two books, we find the new one to be a sequel to China Can Say No. As an online introduction to the book says, it is the result of a three-day brainstorming session by a group of people. Can a three-day brainstorming session pass a judgment on a society? We leave the readers to do the judgment. Of course, these authors have the freedom and right to express their views on anything they feel is not right according to their understanding as long as they follow relevant legal codes. There's no reason why the publisher should be accused of giving the book a sensational title. What is tricky here is the misleading nature of the book. Domestic, as well as overseas readers who buy it should be prepared to be duped over facts even in the age of information. The game of titles is played everyday on the Internet and TV, and in newspapers across the world. Giving eye-catching headlines to draw readers to reports and viewers to programs is an age-old game. And it seems the same game is being played out with the book, especially because the mention of the word China can sensationalize things in the West. The West has always tried to read between the lines, and has almost always drawn the wrong conclusion, to see what the Chinese authorities want to convey in a subtle way. That's why despite the great interest shown by some people in China is Unhappy and the guesswork about the story behind it, the book will be nothing but a fuss. The ripples it creates will soon evaporate without making any difference to anything or anybody. (China Daily 03/25/2009 page8) |
