Allow me first explain why I said the compulsory excising program is based on a ridiculous reason, after all, excising is supposed to be good. The government said: "The distance running program is the multiplies of 60 - to celebrate the 60-year anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China. Pupils in elementary schools must run 120 kilometers every day, 180 kilometers for students in middle schools and 240 for high schoolers." Okay, apart from the fact that people should be free to choose whatever means of excise they want, the whole 60x thing is just stupid.
That's why I translated a recent article by Lian Yue, which was written on Sep. 20th, shortly after the poisonous milk powder story breakout and was muffled soon afterwards. Google the article title and the author, you can get 64,200 results (even now), though most of the links are dead and the contents are forcibly removed.
So much for the introduction, below are my translation and the original article in Chinese.
We Are The System
Tragedy after tragedy, the most frequently heard sentence has been: This is a problem of our system.
So is it? Most definitely, this is a problem of our political system.
From the outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) to the case of poisonous baby formula, our handling of such are the same: covering it at first; when that fails, making up some lies; when the lies were detected, admitting part of the problem; then sacking a few officials and publicizing it as a feat of the government.
But if the poisonous milk powder was an infectious disease, the whole world would suffer huge calamity - but who could make sure it won't be the case next time?
Yes, if we had freedom of speech, if we had the freedom to choose and impeach the government, if we had a strong and independent press, if we had the freedom to protest, if we had the freedom from fear... yes, only such system could protect us.
Do we have a system like that? No.
So it comes naturally: This is a problem of our system. Out goes Changjiang Li (former chief of quality inspection bureau) , and in comes Changjiang Zhang. (actually the new chief is Yong Wang). When the rice goes sour, have some vapid soup.
Therefore, forget it, whatever.
But wait, don't you forget, we are part of the system.
The existence of such system is based on OUR inaction.
We have to take action.
This is not to advocate violence, not to use violence against itself, which could only bring about a worse system.
This is not to let others to sacrifice, which is always a personal choice, as no one has the right to instigate the sacrifice of others.
This is something that calls for patience and long-time devotion.
Making Changjiang Li quit is a small step forward for our system; when his successor fails, let him quit too would be another step forward for the system. We have our eyes on whoever succeed the post - and that is a progress of the system.
They don't let us to speak up in the press, thus we make ourselves heard on the Internet; they don't let us post on the Internet, thus we tell others about it verbally. We keep discussing these issues and exposing their lies - and that is a progress in the system of free speech.
Regarding the enterprises that denies mistakes and responsibilities, we remember their brand and boycott their product for as long as it takes - and that is a progress in consumer culture.
We call for the fair and just trial of human-rights advocate Yang Jia; we call for the open and just trial of Wenhua Tian and Changjiang Li - and that is a progress in the justice system.
We don't need sacrifices; we don't need to be the leader of public opinion; and we don't need much power either. As long as you have the power to make a choice, you can make the system change for the better or for the worst.
We can improve the system; we can choose the system; we ARE the system.
When there is more of us then of them, the system would be changed.
"This is a problem of our system" - don't use such empty words to hammer your confidence as well as the confidence of other people.
When you say "forget it, whatever", you are casting a vote for the status-quo you hate.
We enjoy our lives. We stay with nice people. We maintain our skepticism. We criticize. We non-cooperate. We can change the system happily. We are the system.
If it would take a hundred years to change it, let's take a hundred years. If it would take a thousand years, let's take a thousand.
我们就是体制 连岳 @ 2008-9-20
毒奶粉事件发生到现在，听得最多的一句话就是：这是体制的问题。 在层出不穷的悲剧里，听得最多的一句话就是：这是体制的问题。 是不是体制的问题？是，这绝对是体制的问题。 从SARS到现在的毒奶，处理方法是一样的：先瞒、瞒不了骗、骗不了就承认一部分，然后撤几个官员了事，最后宣传包装成一件功劳。 如果这次毒奶粉是传染病毒，估计全球都得死伤惨重——可谁能保证下一次不是病毒呢？
是的，如果我们有言论自由，如果我们有选择及罢免政府的自由，如果我们有强大且独立的媒体，如果我们有游行示威的自由，如果我们有免于恐惧的自由……是的，这样的体制才能保护我们。 我们有没有这样体制？没有。 所以可以很自然地说出那句话：这是体制的问题。李长江下了，不过换个张长江。什锦八宝饭馊了，不过上碗平强汤。 所以，算了吧。 可是，且慢，你忘了，我们自己就是体制的一部分。 这体制的存在，有我们的不作为。 我们得有所作为。 这作为不是鼓吹暴力，不是以暴易暴。暴力只会带来一个更坏的体制。 这作为不是希望他人去牺牲，牺牲永远只是个人选项，一个人永远没有资格去鼓动他人牺牲。 这作为是忍耐地慢慢做一件事。 让李长江辞职，这是体制进了一小步；张长江还不行，让张长江辞职，这又是体制进了一小步。他换一个，我们盯一个，最后就是质检体制的进步。 他不让我们在媒体里说，我们网络上说；他不让我们在网络上说，我们在嘴上说；我们不停地议论，嘲讽他的谎言，最后就是言论体制的进步。 那些拒不认错的企业，那些强词夺理的企业，我们记住它们的名字，永不消费它们的产品，最后就是企业文化的进步。 我们呼吁杨佳应该得到公平、公正、公开的审判；接下来，我们呼吁田文华或者李长江应该得到公平、公正、公开的审判，最后就是法制的进步。 并不需要牺牲，并不需要成为意见领袖，并不需要多么大的权力，只要你有选择权，你就能让体制变坏，或者变好。 我们能改良体制，我们能选择体制，我们就是体制。 到了我们多过他们的那一天，体制就变了。 “这都是体制的问题”，不要用这么重的虚拟铁锤砸掉你的自信，砸掉他人的信心。 你说“算了，没用的”，就等于投了你憎恨的体制一票。 我们享受生活，我们和美好的人呆在一起，我们保持怀疑，我们批评，我们不合作，我们能快乐地改变这个体制，我们就是体制。 如果需要一百年，我们就花一百年。如果需要一千年，我们就花一千年。
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