China: Foreign English Teacher Attacked by mob
Zhuzhou, China, (Hunan
Province) Sunday, April 20th, an angry mob protesting Carrefour (large French supermarket chain) brutally attacked a foreign US English teacher. The mob thought that the man was involved with the supermarket and began chanting, “Kill the French man!” while beating him. The teacher attempted to escape by dodging into a taxi, but was soon kicked out by the driver facing the mob again. Luckily, the police arrived before the teacher was seriously injured or even killed.
http://shanghaiist.com/2008/04/22/attack_on_an_american_volunteer.php
This can be seen as a lesson for all teachers alike. Teachers can be easily viewed as a “French man,” or “American
GIs” or just about any other nationality or race. When problems do arise you are an “outsider”, angry mobs or even individuals may look at you as the source of the problem and the outcome may not be good. As the Olympics approach and tension increase throughout
China, teachers may find themselves in awkward situations. It is best to use common sense in circumstances like these. Avoid protests by reading local newspapers and keeping an eye open. Don’t walk through large crowded areas that are not normally too crowded. Carry a cell phone to call for help. Try to travel to new places with a friend rather than alone.
By Korea Jim
This article has been updated:
http://blog.esldaily.org/2008/04/26/update-foreign-english-teacher-attacked-by-mob.aspx
Jim,
I am a little aggravated by this story. You have left out many important details and have spun this to look like the Chinese people are aggressive! I am disappoint but not surprised by the lack of objectivity. I will be removing my self from this website totally.
The boy crossed a protest line and that is why he was Hit. He would have been killed in the United States if he was so stupid! He should count his blessings that he was in China. I love how this is about the Chinese and not the fact this idiot caused this problem. I have seen the pictures outside the store and the people had huge signs, marching and chanting. Ok, he doesn't speak the language but he is not smart enough to figure out what is going on. Let me remind you that China has an English channel to keep you up with what is happening.
The facts on this are a little off and confusing to me. He said they were chanting kill the Frenchman. He just arrived in China and even if he had Chinese lesson he is in Shanghai where they speak a dialect. It would be impossible for him to know what is being said. Those are not words that he would have studied. The second issue is was with other men. Being a teacher, I total know how young men thinking in packs. He was with his buddies and they dared him to go through and buy something and come back. He thought since he was American nothing would happen. Well, guess what something did happen. The whole thing was totally the American's fault! I love how it is a problem with China. I saw pictures and this guy was not beaten. He only had red marks but not bruises or anything. You need to change that to hit! Beaten means much more than red marks.
My question is how do some many stupid people get visas to China? I live in Beijing and I am not attending the Olympics because American's can't behave. I will not stand by while my country is being embarrassed by people who's parents never taught them manners. That is the true problem and has nothing to do with the Chinese who are great hosts. American's in China make more money for the same job than any other nationality. You are painting a picture they American's are hated and have to be careful blaa blaa. You don't have to careful you have to be smart.
I am glad that guy when back to the US immediately. I hope he stays at home and never travels outside the US again since he is not mature enough to handle himself and act responsibly. If I get a hold of that idiot I would teach him the difference between beaten and hit. The media should not act like he is the victim. He is the reason this happened.
I expected more from this website. Thanks for rewriting the article and leaving out all the facts and putting a spin on it.
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I can understand your anger, I was angry when I lived in China too. After 2.5 years I left because of recent visa crap. You are living in a country that kills people for speaking out against the Government. You must compromise your ideals of right and wrong to live there, or are you as fascist as they are?
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The above story was seriously doubted on Dave's ESL cafe and the man concerned outraged at the way it was blown up out of all proportion. He was merely 'shouted at'. In a country this size, so apparently nationalistic, this is nothing.
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There was an update on the story. I posted it the following day. It was a crazy situation, I think it got blown out of proportion because of the language confusion. One scared and angry foreigner in
Thanks for the post
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Ths misleading anti- American rant just illustraes how some people can make complete fools of themselves.
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I have been to china seceral times over three years and some times for lengthy stays and I find this article inaccurate, and I believe a made up story. The people in china even when there has been tensions have never responed anything like this.
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You are right. The following day the news/story had changed. I put up an update the following day:
http://blog.esldaily.org/2008/04/26/update-foreign-english-teacher-attacked-by-mob.aspx
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I also have been the victim of Chinese mob violence. Five Chinese teens jumped me, beat me, kicked me. They could have easily taken my money or my bag if that was what they were after, but they didn't. Just kept kicking me after I was on the ground pleading them to stop. And the other Chinese around? They did nothing to help. Luckily, a German saved my life--put me in a cab, took me to the emergency room and paid for everything. I count myself lucky. I know of three foreigners in China who've been mugged and one who was murdered in cold blood in front of his family. Everybody can say whatever they want, but I'll say I'm glad I'm getting out of here and never coming back.
Truly,
K
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Mob violence in China is a result of their Confucian background. and there are often riots in the back provinces. If they think that they are right, then they will act as a mob...or not at all. they have a saying: "The first flying bird is the first to get shot down." or "The nail that sticks up the most gets hammered down." so an individual will seldom do anything. but put them in a self-righteous mob, and they all find the courage that they would never show alone. and Chinese people are the most ill-mannered people on the planet, and anyone who doesn't realize this knows nothing about China. so there, I hock it up and spit in your eye...Chinese style.
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