New Britain herald., 1919-02-13
COMMUNICATED.
OBJECTS TO CERTAIN MOVIES.
American Motion Pictures and the
 Chinese People.

f-SOpfc.
 Ed1tor of New Britain Herald: me universally recognized princi- pie underlying the esta bljshuent of moCon pictures is that it Is a social agency 10 give the public, at it's lei
 sure moments recreative and instruc- tive pleasures. Failing instruction if loses half it's value as such: failing instruction and recreation. it. loses it's
 entire value; while failing both. and showing disa greeable indecent and perniCious scenes it not onIN loses all it's value, but also becomes a social hindrance in the way of progress, en- lightenm ent, and civilization.
 Although it has accomplished, it must be admitted, much toward these two ends-instruction and recreation
 the American moving picture show is yet not free from at least one seri- ous defect. This has to do with the shows concerning the character of the Chinese people in this country. So far as I know, what they display about the Chinese may be summed up in few words--Smoking opium, fighting, gam bling, robbery, murder, and other bad things. It is needless to say that these shows certainly eX- aggerate what is really committed by the Chinese.
 However,, it would not be so bad if they merely exaggerated the dark side of the Chinese immigrants. But
 unfortunately, they profoundly mis- lead the American public by the ire quency and monOtOny of these shows
 to think that such are all the Chinese h inI1 This is a misconception. It would be
 just as great a mistake for the Chi
 nese to exemplify the American peo-
 pie by what they have seen of the
 American tramps, drunkards, ras- cals-unfortunately there some such-ln some Chinese ports, as for the AmerJcan to pick Up a, few Of the meanest ~Chinese in this country as examples of the Chinese people. No people has the right to denounce an other people simply because some in dividuals of that people do not be- have them selves.
 Granted, that the film truly repre- Sents what is done by the Chinese and by all the Chinese. vet there is no necessity, no advisability of introduce ing such shows to the public. In the first place, they do not educate the
  gestions, which ought to be eliminat- ed as much as possible for the sake of social morality. In the second place, they do not really afford pleas ure Or recreation, because they are, as 8 rule horrible, disagreeable, uD- pleasant, and uninterestng. And as a, result Of their influence they pro- duce and intensity racial prejudice, friction, and dsdain, which benefit no Ame erican, but injure the Chinese with regard to their feeling and rep utation. What good results, then, can be obtained from such shows?
 Furthermore, shortcomings and weak points are common to all peo- ples, for human beings are not per feet. What reason or reasons have 1 the film companies to single out the l Chinese with such unfair attacks? Like any other people, the Chinese | also possess good traits. That all the 1 ancient peoples faded away one after another, but the Chinese alone re- 1 main, tells truly that there must be | something in the quality of the Chi nese themselves. Why not show some good things about the Chinese to the | American public so that they may be i benefited thereby? Would it not be 1 better to show some of Natures beau- ] ties. grandeurs, and sublmites some of the modern establishments and 1 achievements in China, which would 1 open the eyes as well as anuse the l minds of the spectators, than to eX- hibit disa greeable and untrue scenes about the Chinese that are neither nor instructive?
 Such a modification of the shows would not only educate the public, but would also create a better atti tude between each other. Then, can it be expected that the friendly re- between China and Amer ica, already established through dip lom atic, comm mercial, religious, and channels, may be so as to last forever for the best interest and benefit of both peoples. Otherwise, if the American film companies, disrcgarding reason justice, and humanity continue their immoral and pernicious practice of making money at the expense of the reputation and honor of the Chinese one obvious thing is certain to come.
 WILLIAM CHANG.