Okay, some other blogger wrote that line (so says the L.A. Times). But it's a good way to capture what's going on here. If you know the background to this picture, you would know it's beauty without a wordy blogger's thoughts polluting the drama. This is an epic picture. One for the history books. So let me briefly explain.
Called the "Nail House," this picture was taken in Chongqing, China. Just two weeks ago, the National People's Congress passed incredible and unheard of legislation in an effort to protect private property rights.
And this, the "Nail House," is private property.
This house is owned by Yang Wu, and Wu Ping. As husband and wife, they own land, and they are (in order to prove a point) in a standoff with government backed land development projects that are forcing private land owners to sell at huge losses. China doesn't allow independent apprasial, so the government is paying these people slop for what they are so proud to own...in China. A communist country. And these owners have gone "all in," betting/hoping that the National People's Congress is not just a store-front facade, boasting free-market idealism in an attempt to attract world markets, while maintaining a communism designed to empower the few.
This is a picture that confronts a system.
Not just communism. Not just free-market greed. This picture confronts the system that says the winner climbs to the top of the heap, no matter what...no matter who you hurt. "Stay on top at all costs." This picture confronts the system that demands winners become "King of the Hill."
The Times quotes Zhou Xiaozheng: "They should leave this house standing as a monument to the Chinese people's struggle for property rights." Owner Wu Ping was quoted, "People must live with dignity." Teng Biao said, "In the future, there will be more nail houses like this one. The government will have to think twice before striking them down."
So, in this picture, who's "King of the Hill." It's a modern day Masada.
Called the "Nail House," this picture was taken in Chongqing, China. Just two weeks ago, the National People's Congress passed incredible and unheard of legislation in an effort to protect private property rights.
And this, the "Nail House," is private property.
This house is owned by Yang Wu, and Wu Ping. As husband and wife, they own land, and they are (in order to prove a point) in a standoff with government backed land development projects that are forcing private land owners to sell at huge losses. China doesn't allow independent apprasial, so the government is paying these people slop for what they are so proud to own...in China. A communist country. And these owners have gone "all in," betting/hoping that the National People's Congress is not just a store-front facade, boasting free-market idealism in an attempt to attract world markets, while maintaining a communism designed to empower the few.
This is a picture that confronts a system.
Not just communism. Not just free-market greed. This picture confronts the system that says the winner climbs to the top of the heap, no matter what...no matter who you hurt. "Stay on top at all costs." This picture confronts the system that demands winners become "King of the Hill."
The Times quotes Zhou Xiaozheng: "They should leave this house standing as a monument to the Chinese people's struggle for property rights." Owner Wu Ping was quoted, "People must live with dignity." Teng Biao said, "In the future, there will be more nail houses like this one. The government will have to think twice before striking them down."
So, in this picture, who's "King of the Hill." It's a modern day Masada.
1 comment:
This is great info to know.
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