英文阅读：Dabbling in real politics
As we all know, politics can be entertaining, and the entertainmentbusiness is full of politics. But when entertainers get into real politics, it
raises eyebrows.
Every time China's two Sessions get into full swing, a handful of
entertainment celebrities are thrust into the spotlight - not for their
achievements in their own fields, but for the way they represent their industry
in the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference.
If I were a member sitting next to them, I would be ignored by all the
reporters swarming around the movie stars and big-name directors. But you cannot
blame the media. What Gong Li or Feng Xiaogang blurt out will certainly arouse
more interest from many readers than, say, the three unknowns who represent
China's 100-million-plus migrant workers.
Our society is poisoned by celebrity worship. Reputations, good or bad, has
monetary value. Like it or not, the bigger the names, the more weight their
words carry. At least more influence. Viewed in another context, it is the
result of more openness in public discourse. Imagine the movie stars repeating
lines from a prepared script endorsed by their superiors.
So, do not laugh at Gong Li last year filing a motion titled "Environmental
protection should start with me". Yes, it sounds like a schoolgirl's essay
assignment, but it is clear she meant what she wrote.
We should understand that these high-profile stars are taking baby steps in
the initial stage of a political process called democracy. They were not born
with the talent to study social issues or sift through public opinion. Unlike
their professional performances, which are edited or rehearsed for public
consumption, climbing up the learning ladder in the Great Hall of the People, in
front of a cluster of cameras and microphones, can be awkward.
Fortunately, more of them come prepared. Feng Xiaogang, director of many
hit movies, proposed more punishment for the illegal downloading of films and
television shows. Ni Ping defended the use of dialects in drama, and her
arguments were convincing since she has the double roles of TV hostess and
actress. And then, there were the proposals typical of bleeding-heart liberals,
such as Pu Cunxin's call to ban smoking and Yang Lan's for energy-saving
architecture.
More vague than Gong Li's motion was Gong Hanlin's appeal to "raise the
aesthetic standard of the nation", which involves more filtering of content. I
admire his good intention, but has not he thought about the possible negative
fallout?
Not every entertainer-cum-temp politician treats this event with
seriousness. Some probably see their presence as window-dressing. For those not
politically inclined, the change of status - albeit temporary - could be
onerous. Representing the people, even a small number, is serious business. Some
are better off sticking to their day jobs, in which they excel. And I do not
blame Liu Xiang for his absence. He is contributing much more to his country by
competing in international games than, say, asking the government to pay more
attention to sports.
NPC deputies and CPPCC members should guard the interests of their
professions, but they should not go above national interests. When Ling Jiefang,
pen name February River, suggested tax exemption for writers "to stimulate
cultural creativity", he was rightly criticized, even by his peers.
The biggest news this year was Zhao Benshan's failure to make the cut as an
NPC deputies. The popular comedian is the "pride of Liaoning", but he was voted
out at the province level. People are making distinctions between good
entertainers and good representatives, and the media should follow suit.
E-mail: raymondzhou@chinadaily.com.cn
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