When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

Already a subscriber? Log in.

You've reach your limit of free articles.

Get unlimited access to Worldcrunch

You can cancel anytime.

SUBSCRIBERS BENEFITS

Ad-free experience NEW

Exclusive international news coverage

Access to Worldcrunch archives

Monthly Access

30-day free trial, then $2.90 per month.

Annual Access BEST VALUE

$19.90 per year, save $14.90 compared to monthly billing.save $14.90.

Subscribe to Worldcrunch
CAIXINMEDIA

China's New Ban On The Work Of Celebrities With 'Moral Misdeeds'

No air time for Jaycee Chan, detained on drug charges.
No air time for Jaycee Chan, detained on drug charges.
Li Yihe

-OpEd-

BEIJING — There has been a recent spate of Chinese celebrities, including Jaycee Chan, son of the Hong Kong martial arts film star Jackie Chan, detained on drug charges. Others in the entertainment business have been accused or frequenting prostitutes.

Last week, China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) issued a formal notice suspending the broadcast of films, television programs, online dramas and clips involving the participation in or performance by these directors, script writers and actors, the ones "with misdeeds."

I personally don't agree with such a decree. Chinese law has long abided by the notion that once citizens have been subject to appropriate criminal or administrative penalties, they are not to be discriminated against in employment, work and life generally.

Not only does China's Prison Law stipulate that "released prisoners shall enjoy equal rights with other citizens," the Narcotics Law also says that those who have successfully undergone drug rehabilitation "are not to be discriminated against in education, employment, social security and other aspects."

It is also worth noting that taking drugs or being implicated in paying for sex are not criminal offenses, but rather violations of administrative regulations. Therefore, the recently exposed celebrities should enjoy equal rights with other citizens.

The careers of these artists are in show business. Banning their artistic works means employment discrimination, and is therefore a violation of the regulations and their spirit.

Model citizens?

People can advocate for public figures to set a moral example, but these figures shouldn't be punished more than the average citizen for their personal moral shortcomings. Because of their fame, the behavior and personal morality of public figures and celebrities arouse more attention and have a bigger impact on society as a whole. We tend to want these people to serve as role models for the rest of us.

This is the public expectation of celebrities. But because of basic human weaknesses, many artists are tempted by drugs and prostitution, just like the population at large. These mistakes belong to the personal moral sphere. If they are to be punished, they should be punished just like everyone else. Drug addicts are to be sent to compulsory rehabilitation while the act of resorting to prostitutes is punished with administrative detention or fines. Banning their artistic work goes beyond the punishment of average citizens.

Besides, personal morals don't necessarily have anything to do with creativity, so there is no foundation for banning people's work just because of their morals.

Wang Quan'an, accused of paying for sex, was awarded the prestigious Golden Bear at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival for his film, expand=1]Tuya's Marriage, and is one of the most prominent Chinese film directors.

In short, a personality such as Wang is a national treasure. We should cherish such artists like we cherish pandas. But because of their personal failings, our state apparatus inflicts treatment that not even criminal offenders should receive once they have served their sentences.

Such an approach turns well-intentioned advice and corrective state action into malicious harm. Reputations are ruined and careers are destroyed, and people risk facing financial hardship as a result.

Not only do such punitive measures violate the letter and the spirit of Chinese law, but they also reveal a more general tendency toward malice and brutality. We risk corrupting the relationship between the state apparatus and the people that undermines social harmony.

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

Society

Do We Need Our Parents When We Grow Up? Doubts Of A Young Father

As his son grows older, Argentine journalist Ignacio Pereyra wonders when a father is no longer necessary.

Do We Need Our Parents When We Grow Up? Doubts Of A Young Father

"Is it true that when I am older I won’t need a papá?," asked the author's son.

Ignacio Pereyra

It’s 2am, on a Wednesday. I am trying to write about anything but Lorenzo (my eldest son), who at four years old is one of the exclusive protagonists of this newsletter.

You see, I have a whole folder full of drafts — all written and ready to go, but not yet published. There’s 30 of them, alternatively titled: “Women who take on tasks because they think they can do them better than men”; “As a father, you’ll always be doing something wrong”; “Friendship between men”; “Impressing everyone”; “Wanderlust, or the crisis of monogamy”, “We do it like this because daddy say so”.

Keep reading...Show less

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

Already a subscriber? Log in.

You've reach your limit of free articles.

Get unlimited access to Worldcrunch

You can cancel anytime.

SUBSCRIBERS BENEFITS

Ad-free experience NEW

Exclusive international news coverage

Access to Worldcrunch archives

Monthly Access

30-day free trial, then $2.90 per month.

Annual Access BEST VALUE

$19.90 per year, save $14.90 compared to monthly billing.save $14.90.

Subscribe to Worldcrunch

The latest