November 3, 2010
Since my last post, I've:
1. Watched my Chinese friend get pummeled by a group of Beijing Xenophobes. My friend ended up in the hospital with 8 stitches for the broken bottle he took across his neck. My friend was apparently defending us (the foreigners) when the racists went crazy on him. I tried to do something but was violently restrained. I ran to the police station not far from the altercation. The police passed out cigarettes and worked out a 2000 元 ($293) deal to keep the main instigator out of jail.
That's how the police work here: pass out cigarettes to everyone and then make a deal. No one seems to go to jail. This is the second time I've seen this tactic.
2. I put myself on suicide watch for a friend who was very low at the Halloween Party. He's much better now, but depression and alcohol are a bad mix.
3. I arrogantly pronounced I was going to have a drama-free week on Monday. To be honest, my nerves can only take so much.
Telling the world you don't want drama, and what it gives you, well . . .
1. Watched my Chinese friend get pummeled by a group of Beijing Xenophobes. My friend ended up in the hospital with 8 stitches for the broken bottle he took across his neck. My friend was apparently defending us (the foreigners) when the racists went crazy on him. I tried to do something but was violently restrained. I ran to the police station not far from the altercation. The police passed out cigarettes and worked out a 2000 元 ($293) deal to keep the main instigator out of jail.
That's how the police work here: pass out cigarettes to everyone and then make a deal. No one seems to go to jail. This is the second time I've seen this tactic.
2. I put myself on suicide watch for a friend who was very low at the Halloween Party. He's much better now, but depression and alcohol are a bad mix.
3. I arrogantly pronounced I was going to have a drama-free week on Monday. To be honest, my nerves can only take so much.
Telling the world you don't want drama, and what it gives you, well . . .
posted by Mr. Horton at 1:11 AM
3 Comments:
Jesus Hairy Christ, Dee Double Aitch. That's a crazy bad cloud hovering over the week. Glad to hear you're alright, frazzled nerves notwithstanding.
Perhaps some "Running With the Devil" might do yr psyche some good....
Cheerscheers,
Chad
Hi David,
How widespread & on the grow is this kind of xenophobic violence? I read about it on your blog (though this incident seems more intense), but nowhere else in the media blitz here on the "new China". Maybe I'm reading the wrong sources? Glad you're OK and hope your valiant friend is on the mend.
Rodney, nothing like anti-Mexican violence in the States, but growing. In Beijing though, it's totally unexpected.
Thanks everyone else who contacted me about this.
I still got bruises (Nov 10), I still got Detroit ideas of the next time I see them, but I'm putting the cap on a super-shitty week.
Onward, forward.
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