And now for a celebrity moment: Hollywood star Sharon Stone has single-handedly united Chinese in outrage, suggesting the Sichuan earthquake was “karma” payback for China’s handling of Tibet.
Stone was caught on a runway the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival with a question about the disaster. Here’s what she said, according to the YouTube clip above:
“Well, you know, it was very interesting because at first I’m not happy about the 
way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans because I don’t think anyone should be unkind to anyone else. And so I have been very concerned about how to think and what to do about that because I don’t like that.
“And I’ve been just, you know, concerned about, oh, how we should deal with the Olympics because they’re not being nice to the Dalai Lama, who’s a good friend of mine. And then this earthquake and all this stuff happened, and I thought, ‘Is that karma when you’re not nice that the bad things happen to you?’
“And then I got a letter from the Tibetan Foundation that they wanted to go and be helpful, and that made me cry. And they asked me if I would write a quote about that. And I said I would, that it was a big lesson to me, that sometimes you have to learn to put your head down and be of service even if people aren’t nice to you, and that’s a big lesson for me.”
Now, China’s cinemas have banned films featuring Sharon Stone, and the internet here is filling with video clips and comments berating Stone. She has become the latest target of wrath, following Chinese anger last month at Jack Cafferty, the CNN commentator whose remarks about “goons and thugs” in China led the network to issue a formal apology.
Below is a typical English language rebuttal to Stone.
Geeze, can't we get these people to do something important like organize fund raisers for the reconstruction effort?
Posted by: A B | May 28, 2008 at 01:21 AM
The psychology of this news is rather interesting. Doesn't it make you wonder how it goes when Sharon Stone and the Dalai Lama speak privately? Obviously Sharon Stone doesn't have much love for the Chinese. Obviously she doesn't think ethnic Tibetans who have died in the earthquake are worth anything. Can we conclude that her pro-stance are strictly towards the Tibetans in exile?
Also, interesting to see if the Dalai Lama distances himself from these comments. If not, what does that say about the Dalai Lama?
http://www.thechinesecentury.org/2008/05/sharon-stone-calls-china-314-earthquake.html
Patrick French had some interesting comments too few weeks ago in NYT. Click above link for additonal thoughts by our blog as well as views expressed by some of our readers.
Posted by: the Chinese Century blog | May 28, 2008 at 01:44 AM
Dalai Lama did distance himself from the quake-is-karma crowd. His holiness offered prayer for the quake victims.
But for god's sake, get over these self-perceived victim-hood. Sharon Stone didn't say the right thing but she's an actress. Let her have her couple minutes of fame in front of the camera. We all say dumb things when we are showered with attention.
It's not like she's the president of a country. It's a waste of energy to react to these kind of silliness.
Posted by: Tian | May 28, 2008 at 02:47 AM
What exactly is Karma? Is that a religious concept? Can an atheist country have karma? How does it work? Is the outrage from China her Karma? It seems to be a Hindu and Buddhist belief about past lives affecting this one, and it seems kind of superstitious, but obviously, it struck a nerve.
I really admired that chinese student's speech, asking for an apology, he was reaching out in a very dignified manner, and you could tell he was hurting.
Posted by: Wilbur Varela | May 28, 2008 at 04:15 AM
Sharon Stone is a pampered millionaire actress, of red carpets and fund raisers. She's raised a lot of money for africa. But her remarks are rude and hurtful, at such a painful time, and worth condemning. But she's not the only one wondering if the rulers of china have lost their "mandate from heaven".
As rational citizens that share the same planet, we know this was a natural event, random in so much as it's earthquake country, and could happen here in LA, or will happen, to be more exact. Lets hope the chinese send us help, and let us help them in their hour of need.
Posted by: Wilbur Varela | May 28, 2008 at 04:17 AM
Which has-been/nonentity will the Chinese victimoholics be offended by next? A boycott of Flock of Seagulls after the group's former lead singer says he always feels hungry an hour after eating Chinese food?
Posted by: Mick | May 28, 2008 at 07:18 AM
AB, below is what you wrote as a comment at: http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/china/2008/05/a-good-sign-on.html So it is okay for Chinese to believe in karma but not for non-chinese? Please take your own advice and "do something important like organize fund raisers for the reconstruction effort" instead of wasting your time here. ----------------------- "I wonder if anyone noticed that traditional Chinese beliefs accord natural disasters (like earthquakes) as a signal that heaven and earth is angry with authority and thus, is signaling that it is time for a dynastic change. The 1976 earthquake in Tangshan in Hebei Province (not far from Beijing) was the signal that Mao's dynasty was at an end. If we were to interpret according to Chinese traditional beliefs the 2008 earthquake with its epicenter in Wenchuan County, in the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, a perfectly reasonable conclusion is that heaven and earth is angry at the activities of the Dailai Lama and other Tibetan extremists who have upset heaven and earth by their activities. It is notable that the epicenter of the quake is well into the areas claimed by the "Tibetan government in exile" and populated by many Tibetans. Other bad omens include the particular calamity directed at school children, which seems to strike at the heart of the special dispensation given to Tibetans who do not have to comply with the one child policy. The traditional Chinese could not but help interpret this upset of heaven and earth as being caused by the activities of the Dai Lai Lama, who offered nothing beyond some words of condolences and prayer, but not a Yuan or fen of aid for the victims, which include many Tibetans."
Posted by: MT | May 28, 2008 at 09:47 AM
I hate to be the spoil sport.... but the campaigns I have been involved in almost certainly have raised more money than every single poster on this blog (or for that matter, all the McClatchy blogs including McClatchy Newspapers) combined.
Sorry, I earned my blogging privileges.
Posted by: A B | May 28, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Let's forgive Sharon Stone. She is too beautiful. Daliar Lama personally enlightened her. It is not her fault.
Posted by: jeff | May 28, 2008 at 10:43 AM
jeff,
Sharon Stone is a pretty lousy date.
Old, obsolete, and if you want to be Chinese about it.... barren (her 3 kids are adopted).
Mischa is much hotter.
Posted by: A B | May 28, 2008 at 10:54 AM
AB, I still didn't hear an apology for what you wrote. (Or is it the case that rules of decency don't apply to you?)
Posted by: MT | May 28, 2008 at 10:58 AM
A B
Yeah, Mischa is hotter. I officially switch to Mischa from now on. Hope the picture frame won't remind me of Sharon Stone. It holds Sharon Stone for quite sometime now.
Posted by: jeff | May 28, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Sharon Stone showed her true character ( as in basic instinct). I will not watch her in TV, Movie and Internet now on wards.
Posted by: Byas, USA | May 28, 2008 at 01:07 PM
I'm just curious about Dalai Lama's relationship with these actors and actresses. Does he know, for example, the movie Basic Instinct? What does he think of it?
Posted by: wz | May 28, 2008 at 02:00 PM
WZ
Do you think Daliar Lama even cares? Who knows what he thought of when he used fresh human intestines and virgins for his rituals. He only cared somebody got them following his decree. People can argue that he was a boy at that time. But did he care about the suffering of those purged Tibetans after his decree to ban a certain sect of his religion? It happened not long ago.
Posted by: Jeff | May 28, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Senor Jeff, whay are you so afraid of the Dalai lama? And why are your historical references so selective? It's obvious your hatred of buddhism is irrational. The Dalai lama has said tibet is part of china, he has prayed for those who died in the quake, and he has continually said Chinese are human beings who deserve good things. How come you refuse to give him the same courtesy? Thinking the entire world is out to get you is called paranoia.
Posted by: Wilbur Varela | May 28, 2008 at 04:09 PM
Jeff,
You are constantly defending the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which was murdered millions of people (both Chinese and Tibetan) during the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. The CCP has never apologized for the above, it still has many people responsible in high positions in the CCP and Mao's picture is displayed in the middle of Tiananmen Square.
Compared to all this, anything you allege the Dalai Lama has done (where are your references?) is rather minor.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Leap_Forward
Posted by: MT | May 28, 2008 at 04:17 PM
If China starts boycotting every singer, actor or entertainer that says something they disagree with, i.e., Bjork, Sharon Stone, Ang Lee, Sylvester Stallone, Richard Gere....pretty soon , all they will have are endless repeats of the classic opera, "The East is Red". Remember the cultural revolution? Everyone trying to be more "correct" and more Chinese than the next guy? How did that work out? I believe it was the great helmsman himself who said, "Let a thousand flowers bloom."
Posted by: Wilbur Varela | May 28, 2008 at 04:38 PM
We had a similar issue with the Dixie Chicks when they spoke out against Bush and the war. Some people admired them, others called for burning them at the stake. My response? Their politics are their own. Sure they made me mad. But they are free, just like us. If their music stinks, don't listen. If you like their music, okay. They don't make policy, so who cares?
Posted by: Wilbur Varela | May 28, 2008 at 04:43 PM
Wilbur Varela
I have no hatreds toward buddhism. Buddhism is deep in the culture of Chinese. My parent believes in buddhism. You are mixing buddhism with the people of buddhism. I am a Christian. I don't hate Catholic only because some of the priest show special interest in boys.
Posted by: Jeff | May 28, 2008 at 04:56 PM
MT
Am I defending CCP? Why you guys accuse everyone having different oppions from you defending CCP? Have problem with the way of Fa-wheel spin in your stomach lately? I was one of the students taking hunger strike in Tiananmen Square in 1996. What were you doing at that time? Sucking milk from a bottle?
Posted by: Jeff | May 28, 2008 at 05:07 PM
@jeff,
Why is it that I get the feeling that Mischa Barton has pretty much realized she has flamed out, and is seeking an end game kind of like Katie Holmes....
Posted by: A B | May 28, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Correction for my last comment. It is 1989 instead of 1996.
A B
I did some digging on Mischa Barton. She is too good a lady for me. I still need someone b*tchy like Sharon Stone. LOL
Posted by: jeff | May 28, 2008 at 08:34 PM
Seems to me she was just talking 'off the cuff' and if you listen to the whole thing, her real point was that it touched her that the Tibetan foundation wanted to help victims of the quake, regardless of Chinese actions towards Tibet. It made her realize that human kindness, compassion trump 'deserving' help.
If I understand the concept of karma right, she did express it accurately, that some believe that when bad things happen to you it is because you or your ancestors did something negative or bad. I don't believe in karma myself. My advice to the Chinese (I am American) is not to let yourselves get all upset by the comments of private citizens, whether they are celebrities or not. They speak for no one but themselves. Now if a government (any government) representative made such a comment, then go ahead, make a fuss.
Posted by: Eve | May 28, 2008 at 09:38 PM
Jeff,
You are so quick to criticize Dalai Lama and call him names and make false accusations. I have never seen you mention all the historical atrocities committed by the CCP. In my opinion compared to the CCP, the Dalai Lama is really a saint (in spite of of any minor faults you may find with him). You really have to learn to judge people by objective and fair standards, instead of being blinded by nationalism.
Posted by: MT | May 28, 2008 at 10:38 PM