disaster democracy
by JVS on May.17, 2008, under 2008
“This will be very positive for China’s civil society, for volunteer and charity work. People are being lifted to a higher moral ground. They are emotionally involved. When they see the media coverage, they feel that it is real and true. A more open and transparent society is mobilizing people to take positive action.”
Wenran Jiang, Political Scientist, University of Alberta (Globe and Mail, May 17, Shock of Consciousness)
It’s amazing to see the democratizing influence an earthquake can have. What decades of external diplomatic pressure and years of Tibetan protests and Tiananmens have been unable to dislodge; a tremblor has seemingly unleashed.
It almost seems miraculous, redemptive, like an act of God.
