Okay, I don't get what the big deal is here. He was doing promotional stuff for "work" and said something his bosses wanted him to apologize for, so he apologized. Why is this an issue? He wasn't making a political statement of his own beliefs or anything he was promoting Fast 9. Why does it make him a pussy to choose not to die on that hill?
sharebecause communism sucks and hollywood and other groups (the nba for one) have sold out.
shareLet me 'splain,
John Cena has a mouth.
John Cena is responsible for what comes out of his mouth.
NEXT.
Uh huh. And that 'splains nuthin.
I will ask you the same thing I asked trevor321. Would you be willing to lose your job, and possibly be blacklisted in your field over not making an apology? It's not an actual judgement here, I am honestly curious if you would.
he didn't say anything wrong.
shareWhere did I say that he said something wrong? It has nothing to do with what I believe, it has to do with him promoting a movie. If he didn't apologize and China stopped the release of the movie, the studio would lose a ton of money. If China decided to not show any of his movies, what studio would cast him? Should he give up his livelihood? Would you give up your livelihood over it?
shareA lot of companies and individuals lost money when sanctions were put on South Africa.
shareSo you are saying that you would be willing to lose your job and the ability to work in your field.
shareI assume you don't support the boycott Israel movement. That's good to hear.
shareWhy would you assume that? I've already emailed my MP about Israel and Palestine and Canada's relationship with Netanyahu
You are also assuming that because I don't blame Cena for apologizing that I support China too?
That's not the case. I'm simply saying that John Cena not apologizing isn't going to do a damn thing for the Taiwanese, nor would him no longer being able to work.
If people really care about the Taiwanese, they would put pressure on the government representatives to put pressure on China, and Israel for that matter. Sanctions have worked, tariffs? Perhaps putting pressure on Walmart and dollar stores could help as well. There are options.
Have you sent a email to your MP about Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, Cuba or Venezuela?
shareSaudi Arabia yes, Iran, I did with Harper, the others no. I've marched in protests as well.
I don't really understand your hostility. I care about human rights. I spend half my time on this site arguing with people about them. What else would you like me to do? All I've said is that I wouldn't give up my source of income over something said on social media if I could avoid it with an apology. If that makes me a horrible person, then I give up. I don't know what else I can do or say. What have you done and how have you helped, and how can you help me to help?
Because a free Taiwan (and Hong Kong) is a human rights issue. The Chinese government is very effective at shutting down any dissent and a studio shutting down John Cena is a insignificant but telling example of how effective the Chinese government is. You should be able to recognize this.
shareAgain, I understand that. I'm not saying that I don't. What do you want to happen? How are you helping?
I think it's a horrible situation. But, you have deflected every time I've asked you if you would be willing to give up your livelihood over this. Would you be willing to lose your job and potentially every other chance at employment in your field over it? How would that help? How would that save anyone? If it would actually change anything I would be all over that. Unfortunately, I don't think it will. I know that Cena is a millionaire, and he wouldn't need to work another day in his life, but I still think that the principle is the same. Unless our governments start standing up to these countries, nothing we do will matter. It's not even like protests here would reach the citizens in China to encourage them to stand up, as internet there is completely censored. So again, what are you doing to make a difference and why did I suddenly become your enemy?
I am not your enemy. I am one of those people who tries his best not to buy anything made in China. I would never buy a Vizio TV or a Lenovo laptop. I work in retail and I make it a point to try and find out where products are made. This past winter I bought a new snow shovel which was made in the USA. There were cheaper ones made in China I could have bought but I did not. This is not always practical because some products and parts are made and assembled in various countries because of globalization. I would never vacation in China or Cuba. I try and do my part.
I do the same, and I prefer to buy Canadian over American whenever possible because I wish to support my country.
You still have not told me if you would give up your career to let the Chinese know that you think Taiwan is it's own country.
The John Cena thing is part of a larger problem. All the studios/streaming services and sports leagues should be boycotting China because they don't respect intellectual property rights and copyright law. That would be a start but that is above anything I can do about it. I will continue to do my small part and avoid financing China as much as possible.
Your take on Cena and his forced apology was inconsistent with your other views on human rights. That's why I engaged in this debate. I don't hate you and I don't see you as an enemy. I hope more actors /sports stars will speak out against China and their horrendous human rights record. You should be supportive of this.
I don't see it as being inconsistent. I said repeatedly with Gina Carano that if she wanted to keep her job, all she had to do was stop tweeting. She chose not to so she faced the consequences. With Cena, he chose to keep his job. I've never even said that I admire him, I just understand why he chose to do what he did. Same with Ruffalo. I am not pleased at all with the flip flop there, but I do see the difference between what Ruffalo did, and what Cena did. Cena essentially was doing a promotion for work. For all I know he was reading a script that some PR people gave him. Ruffalo was speaking from his heart, and then changed his mind.
I would like it if Hollywood stopped pandering to China, but that also means that if we wish to continue to see big budget blockbusters (which I don't really care about) then we (as in the western audience) will have to go out and pay for these movies.
I am also pretty insulted that you think that from anything that I've said that I don't support boycotts of China. I have only been speaking about Cena, and why he apologized, I haven't really touched on China at all. I think that boycotting Chinese products is a good idea as well, and I have been for years anyway, but unless our governments do something about it, it's not going to change. That could mean another world war.
And I will point out one more time that you have not answered my question.
I agree with you for the most part and have addressed the question in my previous post. I wish Cena would have taken a stand but totally get why he didn't. I probably would have done the same unless I thought I never needed to work again. China is evil and threatening the freedom of 23 million Taiwanese. There is a parable about this, I think. I'm not proud.
But I have a side question based on something you said: If Israel didn't retaliate after being attacked by over 100 missiles, would you have marched and emailed in protest of the Palestinians?
I have a tough time with Israel. Yes Hamas has attacked, I'm not denying that, but when looking at the territory changes and the loss of Palestinian land over the years I understand that why they would fight back. It's essentially an apartheid system. Then, if I'm honest, I question myself, because my country was settled as an apartheid system as well. We just don't ever call it that. Does that make me a hypocrite? I don't know.
I also want to protest the antiemetic attacks that have increased in the last year.
I will bring out the beauty pageant contestant in me and say "I just want world peace."
Every territory change and land loss has been in response to violence and attacks by Palestinians (actually by the those who control and are influencing them). They launch missiles from spot A, Israel counter attacks and takes spot A. Over and over. Israel never started it and never starts it but they get more flack for fighting back than Hamas ever gets.
Don't know how anyone ever supports Hamas. You know what they do to homosexuals, right?
Anyhow, not attacking you. Only exchanging ideas and beliefs. I understand the worry over potential apartheid similarities.
I, too, only want peace.
I do not feel attacked. I don't support Hamas, and I don't support Netanyahu. I think they are both vile. I do feel for the citizens who are caught in the middle and punished. I think that when people are desperate they become radical, and that's how they end up supporting Hamas. Psychologically speaking, it is interesting to see how everyday, "normal" people can become radicalized so easily.
shareIt's incredibly concerning someone could lose their job over calling Taiwan a country.
shareI agree, but China is hollywood's biggest box office right now, and if they ban your movie over something someone said, that would hurt the bottom line. We all know that hollywood and those in it only care about making money.
shareBut we have to draw the line somewhere. It wasn't even a political statement. China has been giving everyone so much crap, I think it's time for the world to take a stand.
shareI don't disagree. There are many things I would like to take China to task for, but I'm not sure that I would be willing personally to lose my livelihood doing it. Yes that is selfish, but if China essentially paid my salary, and could blacklist me from my entire industry, I'd apologize too, and then implore my government to do something about it. Sanctions, or whatever they can do. Probably wouldn't do anything, but I do have to look after myself too.
shareIt's almost too absurd to imagine that I could be fired for calling Taiwan a country, but I honestly don't think I could work for such an employer. Cena is not a poor man and has a bigger platform than most of us, so I don't think he needed to apologize, unless there was a clause in his contract or something.
shareI'm sure there is a clause in the contract as he was promoting the movie at the time. If it was not related to the movie, I'd agree that he didn't need to apologize. My work has a clause in regards to social media and our workplace.
shareThen it would be great if someone in Hollywood started a hash tag against clauses like that.
shareWhat if they were a Nazi regime?
shareThen I would hope that they weren't one of the most powerful countries in the world as China is ranked second most powerful second only to the US.
sharebut you would be furious if he apologized to a Nazi regime?
shareBut he didn't.
I can't honestly answer that hypothetical question. If said nazi regime had the same world influence as China does we would be living in a different world. It also depends on how much of an ally said regime is to our Country. I mean look at the situation in Israel. If our country was in bed with such a regime chances are I wouldn't have a chance to speak out on how I felt about an apology.