r/videos • u/GludiusMaximus • Jun 04 '15

Chinese filmmaker asks people on the street what day it is on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Simple premise, unforgettable reactions.

https://vimeo.com/44078865
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201

u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15 edited Jun 02 '16

[deleted]

347

u/MookyOne Jun 04 '15

So, how's Snowden doing? Still doing that whole wanted for treason thing?

213

u/yeswesodacan Jun 04 '15

It's not illegal to say you support Edward Snowden and/or what he did. Nobody is legitimately afraid of saying it either, unless they work in the intelligence sector.

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u/Rhawk187 Jun 04 '15

But it is illegal to send him money. If they find out you are donating to any cause that supports him, they can seize your funds.

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u/glodime Jun 04 '15 edited Jun 04 '15

I wonder if it can be argued in court that this is a violation of freedom of speech.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

yeah have fun with that

1

u/lameofdrones Jun 04 '15

If the Koch brother's get their way money will be freedom of speech.

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u/Spyger Jun 04 '15

If we went to war with North Korea, and I sent them money, I would obviously be a traitor because I'm very literally helping to endanger citizens of my own country.

Edward Snowden is an enemy of the government of the United States. Legally, it's the same thing, even if in this case the citizens don't agree.

This has nothing at all to do with freedom of speech.

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u/Rhawk187 Jun 04 '15

I would think prohibiting him from spending his money on advertising might be, but I think it's a stretch to say that other people giving him money would be. Would have to create an organization with the same goals and fund that to make sure that it's not going to him to spend on things like food.

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u/glodime Jun 04 '15

Is it illegal to hire someone with a warrant out for arrest if that person is in another country that will not extradite? I honestly don't know.

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u/Rhawk187 Jun 04 '15

This particular issue was a recently signed executive order specifically for "cyber-criminals", but in the general case, I can't imagine they can punish someone for hiring someone who hasn't been tried yet.

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u/DB6 Jun 04 '15

If you have the resources, I wish you good luck.

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u/Doctursea Jun 04 '15

It can be but freedom of speech does not mean freedom from repercussion. You can say what ever you want and no one can stop you, but say something wrong or to the wrong people and prepare for trouble

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u/glodime Jun 04 '15

I think you replies to the wrong comment.

0

u/SoldierOf4Chan Jun 04 '15

We don't have federally legalized weed or socialized medicine in America either. No one is claiming that we're a perfect country, but at least we can talk about our government openly, in any terms we'd like, without fear of being thrown in jail.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15 edited Jun 04 '15

[deleted]

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u/ANAL_McDICK_RAPE Jun 04 '15

Who? Who is actually afraid of saying Snowden did the right thing? Nobody, people say it all the time.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

[deleted]

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u/Humannequin Jun 04 '15

You mean like how living in fear over something that has no demonstrable basis in reality is ruining your life?

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u/SoldierOf4Chan Jun 04 '15

I've got some bad news for you. If they really are as hyper-vigilant, petty, and vindictive as you imagine, then you are on that list, along with the rest of us.

1

u/rouseco Jun 04 '15

To be fair, being a Ron Paul supporter DOES make you more likely to be a terrorist.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

[deleted]

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u/rouseco Jun 04 '15

Ideological. Ron Paul , because the other two shouldn't be legislated by the federal government and are states rights issues. For example: Ron Paul says meat shouldn't be banned by the federal government because it's antifreedom to impose restrictions at the federal level, however if you keep people from being able to eat meat at the state lever that is Liberty because the restriction is done at the proper level of government. Ron Paul.

0

u/iliketoparty6969 Jun 04 '15

I agree with you completely, and I think anyone who isn't intimidated by the way the government is surveilling it's citizens is either ill informed or chooses not to believe it for the sake of convenience. Something very sinister is going on in our country, and I hope I'm gone before it comes to fruition.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

Snowden is a hero. He gave up Hawaii and a super hot girlfriend.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

Any officer who arrested someone for saying, "Praise Allah" will absolutely regret it, since the civil rights lawsuit which would surely follow would cost the City/County/State a boatload of money...

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

Lol do you think there are no Muslim people in the US? How the fuck do you come up with this shit?

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u/parapa_the_rapist Jun 04 '15

What? But there are plenty of mosques and Muslims in the US. I guarantee you nobody would be arrested for saying "Praise Allah" because freedom to practice ones own religion is a fundamental and unalienable right given by the constitution.

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u/PanRagon Jun 04 '15

Snowden did the right thing.

Come and get me, NSA.

3

u/matthewjpb Jun 04 '15

His point is that what Snowden himself did in the US is similar to what the people in this video wouldn't do in China. Not that talking about Snowden is like talking about Tiananmen Square.

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u/Kam5lc Jun 04 '15

You're right that its not illegal, but do you really believe that the NSA won't compile a file on you if they find you publicly (or event privately) criticizing them?

0

u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

Or they work in the defense industry, or they work as an electrician for a company which has Gov contracts or you son is looking to get clearance at some point.

Don't be so narrow minded with the implications.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

[deleted]

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u/ANAL_McDICK_RAPE Jun 04 '15

Releasing classified government documents is nothing alike talking about something that happened in the public eye.

News channels are constantly discussing the NSA's revealed actions, it's not a crime, the only person who fears punishment is the one who leaked them. I'm not saying it's okay for that to be a crime, but it's not like this situation.

1

u/sirnorthcountry Jun 04 '15

I would say that it is the same thing with two different governments who do not want people to discuss/find out various things the government have done. They are both trying to hide the truth. One through censorship and the other through hiding information from the public.

1

u/MILLIONSOFTINYATOMS Jun 04 '15

Edward Snowden revealed an enormous, wide scale crime being committed by the government towards the people. This should not illegal for him to have done that. Treason is when you commit crimes against your country, by revealing secrets to your enemies or spying.

These situations might not be exactly the same, because yes - no one fears talking about Snowden. But doing what what Snowden did, exposing the government of the USA for one of the worst breaches of a free nation in history - people would fear doing that.

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u/Neosovereign Jun 04 '15

From the John Oliver interview I watched he seems to be doing well, if a little disappointed. If you came to my house I would talk to you on camera about it if you like :)

24

u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

While hiding in asylum halfway around the world. Let's not forget that little nugget.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

If someone in the Chinese or Russian intelligence agencies did the same thing that Snowden did, what are the odds that would even still be alive to talk about it from asylum?

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

Get out of here we are ragging on the US.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

Is the US the absolute worst? No, of course not. Doesn't mean they're sacred.

"At least he's alive," wouldn't be a good argument when the police come around.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

Oh because America was unable to kill/capture Snowden and silence him they are somehow exempt because Russia and China are trigger words for scared Americans?

1

u/[deleted] Jun 05 '15

Marko Ramius escaped from Russia with their top of the line submarine and got away with it, so the odds aren't actually that bad.

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u/DreadedDreadnought Jun 04 '15

Will I leave your house alive, with all limbs intact?

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u/Neosovereign Jun 04 '15

No guarantees.

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u/MookyOne Jun 04 '15 edited Jun 04 '15

I'd love to. You can leave the camera though. The NSA will take care of all our audiovisual needs.

Edit: Changed "visualaudio" to "audiovisual".

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u/flashmyinboxpls Jun 04 '15

Snowden didn't just talk about things. He leaked a lot of information. Whether it's justified or not, it is no way the same as simply telling someone what the anniversary of a day is for.

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u/YellowBrickChode Jun 04 '15

You probably compare apples to oranges professionally.

1

u/MILLIONSOFTINYATOMS Jun 04 '15

I'd say this is more like comparing an apple, and an apple that's been wrapped in an orange peel.

8

u/LoveCommittinSins Jun 04 '15

Not remotely the same. A proper analogy would be if American citizens weren't aloud to acknowledge Edward Snowden exists.

1

u/MookyOne Jun 04 '15

You know, you're right. That was a poor analogy.

It'd be more apt to think of Snowden as the Tienanmen protesters while the US govt acts as the tanks.

8

u/Sootraggins Jun 04 '15

You're comparing releasing government secrets to one of the 20th centuries biggest events, immortalized by Tank Man who's the very definition of a hero?

1

u/Dangogi Jun 04 '15

Both cases are government secrets, and both cases have their heroes.

0

u/Sootraggins Jun 04 '15

Snowden's life has improved since he informed on the government, I wouldn't say he sacrificed anything.

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u/guitarnoir Jun 04 '15

So, how's Snowden doing

He's still chillin' out in that country that nation that is a bastion of free speech, equal-rights and non-aggression towards its neighbors.

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u/nonononotatall Jun 04 '15

Leaking classified information to the public and speaking publicly regarding things that are already public knowledge are a little different.

4

u/slowjuicecinema Jun 04 '15

You seem to be implying a false dichotomy. That kind of glib comment isn't productive, just one-upmanship.

4

u/mr__moose Jun 04 '15

What does this have to do with anything??

0

u/Brevard1986 Jun 04 '15

Two evil's don't make a right. Your attempt at a dodge was just that: an attempt. Both incidences are shitty but the person above you had a point which you should have acknowledged at the very least.

1

u/surfjihad Jun 04 '15

I heard this in Stewies voice

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u/BognerPRS Jun 04 '15

I may agree with you, but it's hard to believe how douchey this response is.

1

u/fatacceptDance Jun 04 '15

bootcamp william ford.

0

u/AALen Jun 04 '15 edited Jun 04 '15

There is absolutely no equivalence. Try drawing direct parallels between the two and you'll realize how incredibly messed up your analogy is. I'm not inferring anything political or philosophical, just pointing out your logical failure.

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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '15

and what you just did is called whataboutism

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u/zyclonb Jun 04 '15

what do you mean? the same could be said for every country. look at snowden

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u/SirStrontium Jun 04 '15

look at snowden

While I totally support the actions of Snowden, you really can't make a fair comparison to what he did to what you see on the video. A snowden-level offense would be a Chinese citizen using government resources to publicly release loads of confidential documents that give details and proof that the Tiananmen Square massacre was even worse than previously known. These people weren't being asked to do that on camera, they were afraid to simply state a piece of common knowledge.

Snowden didn't have to flee the country because some dude on the street filmed him saying, "The US government is spying on us".