October 21, 2019

"Hong Kong activists wear Joker and Winnie-the-Pooh masks as they form human chains in defiance of ban on face coverings."

The Daily Mail reports.
Chinese internet users have joked that Chinese president Xi Jinping resembles AA Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh - leading the country's censors to scrub online references to it. Many protesters have been seen wearing masks of the character in an apparent effort to mock the leader....
The photo at the link doesn't show a Winnie-the-Pooh mask, but an image that combines Winnie-the-Pooh and Xi:



It's hard for me to absorb the mockery, if that is what is intended. I feel nothing but affection toward Winnie-the-Pooh. In fact, I was just listening to this lovely song...



... so resembling Winnie-the-Pooh feels totally positive.

21 comments:

Nonapod said...

In fairness, Xi just doesn't want to be reminded of that time he got his head stuck in a honey pot, silly old bear that he is.

Lucid-Ideas said...

We live in a country where people made a giant floating 'baby-Trump', a Chinese artist made a 'Trump-chicken', and a rodeo clown put on an Obama mask.

They live in a country where wearing a 'JinPing-Pooh' mask or making the analogy will get you jailed or worse - disappears (yes...look it up).

Nice play NBA.

Bill, Republic of Texas said...

so resembling Winnie-the-Pooh feels totally positive.

Check your privilege Althouse. How DARE YOU!!! A white woman lecturing minorities about their cultural deficiencies. Why i can't even . . . This is literally like the Holocaust.

From the BBC:

"It is not only that China's censors will not tolerate ridicule of the country's leader, they do not want this beloved children's character becoming a kind of online euphemism for the Communist Party's general secretary.

In other countries such comparisons might be thought of as harmless enough and some might even think that having Winnie as your mascot could even be quite endearing: not in China.

Here the president is Mr Grey. He doesn't do silly things; he has no quirky elements; he makes no mistakes and that is why he is above the population and unable to be questioned."

oleh said...

I think the whole Winnie the Pooh but started out more as an innocent fun. But the Chi-Coms reacted in a manner that prompted the gentle ribbing to become mockery.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/07/china-bans-winnie-the-pooh-film-to-stop-comparisons-to-president-xi

Seeing Red said...

I think Xi banned that movie.

It’s not about how you feel about Pooh. It’s about how he feels about Saving Face. It’s like Putin and Dobby or the English making fun of the French PM a few years ago because a French paper tried and was closed or scolded or something.

This kind of stuff is banned a lot more than we know.

Bay Area Guy said...

Free Hong Kong!

William said...

I wonder how this will end. Everything always ends with mass slaughter in the Middle East. China's past history in handling pro-democracy demonstrations is not commendable. They've got strong reasons for showing restraint at least for the present time, but restraint is not what they do. I'm thinking of Werner Herzog's Grizzly Man rather than Winnie the Pooh.

robother said...

Can furries still be safely mocked anywhere? Will Beto stand up for fellow Furry Xi?

readering said...

Xi does not like to be called pudgy.

Birkel said...

Trenchant analysis from readering.
Shorter list: Name the people who prefer to be called pudgy.

cubanbob said...

I suspect that Xi hasn't cracked down hard yet because he still doesn't have absolute control of the Politburo. Not that there is any pro democracy sentiment in the Politburo but rather too many members of it have too much money in HK and don't to risk losing it. Still, something is going to happen as things can't stay the status quo, but what and when remains to be seen. All the same I doubt that it will be pretty.

WhoKnew said...

Enough about Xi. Thanks for posting the Loggins and Messina clip. I've always liked that band. Underrated and kind of forgotten these days but still one of my favorites.

narciso said...

he doesn't have any opposition in the politburo, but those sanctions are biting like piranha, add the devaluation, and the pork shortage,

readering said...

Bike exactly. But name all those with power to censor beloved storybook character.

Carter Wood said...


Twydale's Lament by Half Man Half Biscuit:

I saw a young professional couple playing Poohsticks on a Cotswold bridge
I watched them walk along the banks of the Windrush eating jasmine ice cream
Before heading north to Warwick Arts Centre and Marianne Faithfull
Splendid


https://genius.com/Half-man-half-biscuit-twydales-lament-lyrics

readering said...

One problem with moderated comments: Not catching annoying autocorrect immediately. Sorry Birkel.

Rusty said...

Blogger readering said...
"Xi does not like to be called pudgy."
Tough shit.
I have a friend among the protesters. The CCP bots on his facebook page like to say disparaging things about Americans and Trump. Until I pointed out that both he and I can make as much fun of America and Donald Trump as we like, but only I can make fun of China and Xi with impunity. Our constitution fucks with them every time.
Free Hong Kong.

Bilwick said...

"I'm going to jail for demonstrating against tyranny? Oh, bother!"

Heartless Aztec said...

Just saw Kenny. The man gives good show.

Assistant Village Idiot said...

AA Milne was way ahead on the pronouns thing and gender. Don't you know what "ther" is?

Lazarus said...

"Poo corner" may man something different in China ... or in San Francisco.