As we cruise into the last weeks of April, it's time once again to stop and smell the skunk cabbage and designate our
Left-Cheek Ass Clown for April, 2016
Two weeks ago, I decided to move away temporarily from the realm of political buffoonery in my search for an appropriate candidate, as I was tired of being criticized by those who felt I was being too hard on the poor, misunderstood GOP by naming Republicans so frequently. This week, I will continue to look farther afield, and have selected as our Left-Cheek Ass Clown for this month
The Chinese Ministry of State Security
The Ministry of State Security, or MSS, is one of a large number of organizations responsible for policing the behavior of Chinese citizens at home and abroad. This month's award recognizes the MSS for its latest approach to internal security: a 16-panel comic-book-style poster advising citizens not to date foreigners ... who, it implies, are interested only in suborning good Chinese citizens like the unfortunate Xiao Li ("Little Li") ...
and turning them into traitors subject to arrest by the stalwart heroes of the MSS ...
All nations, of course, act to protect their legitimate national security interests. Here at home, those who hold security clearances are required to report contact with foreign nationals*, particularly when those contacts involve requests for official information, however innocent. But by advising citizens not to date foreigners and implying that all such relationships lead to treason, the MSS has taken yet another step toward isolating China from the rest of the world** and preventing its citizens from making their own decisions about their country and events around the world.
For its heavy-handed attempt to shape Chinese dating habits in the interest of national security, the Chinese Ministry for State Security is named as our Left-Cheek Ass Clown for April, 2016.
May I see your papers, both physical and digital, please?
Have a good day, and come back tomorrow for Cartoon Saturday. More thoughts then.
Bilbo
* When you're married to a German and have lots of Russian friends, as I do, the paperwork tended to get a bit daunting.
** Already begun by its heavy-handed censorship of the Internet and the Great Firewall of China.
6 comments:
Dangerous Love - Chinese Propaganda Comic Poster
China is marking National Security Education Day with a poster warning young female government workers about dating handsome foreigners, who could turn out to have secret agendas.
Titled "Dangerous Love," the 16-panel, comic book-like poster tells the story of an attractive young Chinese civil servant nicknamed Xiao Li, or Little Li, who meets a red-headed foreign man at a dinner party and starts a relationship
http://goodstuffsworld.blogspot.com/2016/04/dangerous-love-chinese-propaganda-comic.html
"Dangerous Love" sounds like a cable channel reality show. They can be just as nutty as we are over there!
Now that's creative Ass Clownery!
"required to report contact"
That would be enough for me to say take this clearance and shove it. I used to have a secret clearance and don't remember having to do that.
An interesting and worthy choice. I hadn't heard about this, but I'm not surprised. The Chinese have a peculiar way of dealing with their citizens.
A nice detour from politics. It's good to spread the "wealth" around, especially as there are so many potential nominees.
Enjoy your retired weekend; you've earned it!
That was a great choice!
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