Death by Cell Phone?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/01/16/china.blogger/index.html#cnnSTCText

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wei_Wenhua

The title maybe a little disingenuous, it should be ‘death by journalism’, but I don’t know what to think when I read this on CNN last week.

In one fell swoop, China’s world prominence by its recent economic boom and President Hu’s constant claim of a “harmonious society” and “peaceful rise” were blown into smithereens.

Why? “… Wei was driving his car when he witnessed an ugly scene: a team of about 50 city inspectors beating villagers who tried to block trucks from unloading trash near their homes.
Wei took out his cell phone and began taking pictures. The city inspectors saw Wei and then attacked him in a beating that lasted five minutes. By the time it was over, the 41-year-old Wei was slumped unconscious. He was rushed to the hospital but was dead on arrival.” according to CNN.com

Part of me wants to believe this this type of things happen in China all the time and he was just so happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Part of me felt angry and ashamed that senseless violence is still commonplace.

Let’s talk about the typical Chinese psyche that contributed to Wei’s death. First, “mind your own business”, Chinese generally don’t like to jeopardize their own well being to ’stick their necks out’ for other people even in the face of injustice. If it’s not bothering them and there are anything “in it” for them, they will not lend a hand even in life and death situations. This is probably why no one came to Wei and the attacked villager’s rescue.

Wei on the other hand, indirectly took the matter in his own hands and started filming the scene. Personally I’m not sure of his intent. He might video blog about it or he might be doing it for his own amusement. At any rate, because Wei didn’t “mind his own business”… he paid with his life.

The closest thing I can think of is … “don’t snitch”, a popular phrase/philosophy often used/practiced to warn witnesses of a crime to not to talk to law enforcement. Otherwise, you will either be labeled as a ’snitch’ or worse, attacked by the friends of the perpetrator.

Well, rest in peace Wei, not until we do something about the Chinese psyche, events such as this will happen over and over again. Whether the Chinese in the communist rule of the People’s Republic of China or imperial Ming Dynasty, it won’t make any difference.