3 ms·

Li Wenliang was arrested and forced by the police to sign a letter admitting to “false comments.” These aren’t even remotely comparable.

whatshisface 7y ago
They are a little comparable, in that what the US is trying to do indicates that it would go the same way as in China if there was not a semi-functional press, a freedom-minded citizenry, and a mostly-functional democracy holding them back. The intent and "evil" is there, what makes the difference is what restrains it.
- droopyEyelids 7y ago
  So you're saying that if the USA was a different country, like China, then things would have gone the way they did in China?
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - dang 7y ago
    If you don't want to be banned on HN, please read https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22606977 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22606977 and do not post any more flamewar comments.
- cloverich 7y ago
  I get the point you are trying to make but I think you have missed the undertone, which is generally accepted in the US: Most people in the US agree that without freedom of press, "checks and balances", etc, the US government would indeed become an authoritarian state with all the evils that entails.
bildung 7y ago
Firstly, he wasn't arrested. Secondly, this isn't about who did more wrong. I don't really care if signing that letter or a transfer for disciplinary reasons is worse - both did the right thing and both should have been praised instead.
- grandmczeb 7y ago
  He was forced by the police to come to the police station and not allowed to leave until he admitted to disrupting the social order[1]. Call that whatever you want, but I think arrested accurately portrays the situation. Second, no one is defending the US’ actions, but you’re clearly trying to minimize China’s. [1] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/feb/07/coronavirus-chinese-rage-death-whistleblower-doctor-li-wenliang https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/feb/07/c...
selimthegrim 7y ago
No, but what about Helen Chu at UW? What about UPMC the other day as someone pointed out. Can the feds leave people alone when they know how to tie their own shoelaces and focus on getting ventilators deployed?
- grandmczeb 7y ago
  Again, not comparable at all. Find a case where someone was arrested and forced to sign a false confession.

whatshisface 7y ago

They are a little comparable, in that what the US is trying to do indicates that it would go the same way as in China if there was not a semi-functional press, a freedom-minded citizenry, and a mostly-functional democracy holding them back. The intent and "evil" is there, what makes the difference is what restrains it.

droopyEyelids 7y ago
So you're saying that if the USA was a different country, like China, then things would have gone the way they did in China?
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- dang 7y ago
  If you don't want to be banned on HN, please read https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22606977 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22606977 and do not post any more flamewar comments.
cloverich 7y ago
I get the point you are trying to make but I think you have missed the undertone, which is generally accepted in the US: Most people in the US agree that without freedom of press, "checks and balances", etc, the US government would indeed become an authoritarian state with all the evils that entails.

bildung 7y ago

Firstly, he wasn't arrested. Secondly, this isn't about who did more wrong. I don't really care if signing that letter or a transfer for disciplinary reasons is worse - both did the right thing and both should have been praised instead.

grandmczeb 7y ago
He was forced by the police to come to the police station and not allowed to leave until he admitted to disrupting the social order[1]. Call that whatever you want, but I think arrested accurately portrays the situation. Second, no one is defending the US’ actions, but you’re clearly trying to minimize China’s. [1] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/feb/07/coronavirus-chinese-rage-death-whistleblower-doctor-li-wenliang https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/feb/07/c...

selimthegrim 7y ago

No, but what about Helen Chu at UW? What about UPMC the other day as someone pointed out. Can the feds leave people alone when they know how to tie their own shoelaces and focus on getting ventilators deployed?

grandmczeb 7y ago
Again, not comparable at all. Find a case where someone was arrested and forced to sign a false confession.