Don't want mention of communism and dissent
The Glorious People's Republic of China has been hacking around
with online versions of President Barack Obama's inauguration
speech. China's media censor has been visiting blog and news sites with
orders to remove references in the speech to communism and dissent.
The quote
which seems to have floored them was this one "Recall that earlier generations
faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with
sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.” But it all backfired when the
lines omission from Chinese translations drew even more attention to the words
on Internet forums.
When the State broadcaster China Central Television
broadcast the speech live the channel cut to an awkwardly smiling news reader
when the words were said. The other quote that got them cross was "To those
who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent,
know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand
if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
China's two biggest Internet
portals Sina and Sohu omitted the word communism from the translations of the
speech on their websites and cut the line about dissent entirely.
