As we all know, politics can be entertaining, and the entertainment business is full of politics. But when entertainers get into real politics, it raises eyebrows. Every time China's two Sessions get into full swing, a handful of entertainment celebrities are thrust into the spotlight - not for their achievements in their own fields, but for the way they represent their industry in the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. If I were a member sitting next to them, I would be ignored by all the reporters swarming around the movie stars and big-name directors. But you cannot blame the media. What Gong Li or Feng Xiaogang blurt out will certainly arouse more interest from many readers than, say, the three unknowns who represent China's 100-million-plus migrant workers. Our society is poisoned by celebrity worship. Reputations, good or bad, has monetary value. Like it or not, the bigger the names, the more weight their words carry. At least more influence. Viewed in another context, it is the result of more openness in public discourse. Imagine the movie stars repeating lines from a prepared script endorsed by their superiors. So, do not laugh at Gong Li last year filing a motion titled "Environmental protection should start with me". Yes, it sounds like a schoolgirl's essay assignment, but it is clear she meant what she wrote. We should understand that these high-profile stars are taking baby steps in the initial stage of a political process called democracy. They were not born with the talent to study social issues or sift through public opinion. Unlike their professional performances, which are edited or rehearsed for public consumption, climbing up the learning ladder in the Great Hall of the People, in front of a cluster of cameras and microphones, can be awkward. |