The Smurfs are saying no to "Smurf Emancipation Day"...oops, that's actually "Serf Emancipation Day", a new holiday to be held annually on March 28 in Tibet.
The date of this new holiday is no accident. The Chinese government are fearful that a protest, similar to the Tibetan Uprising of March 10, 1959 could occur again. The Chinese solution? A new holiday is being foisted upon Tibetans in order to keep them docile during the month of March. In response, the "Smurfs" of Tibet banded together to protest their newly imposed "holiday".
Smurf Emancipation Day
When the smurf did this all begin? And what does it have to do with Serfs...er, Smurfs? The story begins in 1950 when 40,000 Chinese soldiers invaded Tibet. In an attempt to re-write history, the Chinese say they rescued the Tibetan population from a "serf" lifestyle. Eventually, Tibetans rebelled - and 26,000 were killed by the Chinese army in 1959. The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dali Lama, was forced to flee.
Like all communist countries, China has a forceful approach to law and order - jail, torture and murder. Dissent and protest, the staples of democracy, are suppressed. The Tibetans protested peacefully in 2008 and 2009, and were met with a brutal crackdown. The "Smurf Emancipation Day" protests are a way of calling attention to the ridiculousness of an imposed "holiday" for Tibetans... especially since the country has been in a state of forced occupation since 1950.
Smurf Emancipation Day Protest
A Smurf, who wore a mask and cannot be named to protect his identity, said: "For centuries, us Smurfs lived harmoniously in our village, picking smurfberries and smurfing happily all day long. Then Chairman Gargamel took our village and began to destroy our happy, smurfy culture. Smurf Emancipation Day is a joke; Smurfs want our freedom!"
Smurf Emancipation Day
Squeaky Smurf Member # 2416
posted 01-06-201107:23 PM
How sad to see the little blue guys being used in a mere political gamble, something that has nothing to do with them. I wonder if Peyo's family heard of all of that then.
Peazjelly Member # 3101
posted 01-07-201106:28 AM
It looks like Peyo has taken their position, in support of China. Regardless as to whether or not Peyo is aware of the protests, their display at the 2010 expo shows that Peyo supports the current Chinese government.
Pinkie Member # 3182
posted 01-07-201102:13 PM
Good point, Peazjelly.
Squeaky Smurf Member # 2416
posted 01-15-201101:17 PM
Hmmmm... I don't know. For all I understood the main intention in Shangai Expo 2010 was to promote change of ideas and intelligent sollutions among countries regarding the planet development with no aggression to its natural conditions, involving recycling and cheap energy. And who's better than the Smurfs to represent Belgium concerning that, since they've always lived in harmony with the environment? So, in my opinion this doesn't really mean that Peyo's family seconds Chinese government.
jack smurf Member # 4532
posted 07-18-201206:32 AM
"grotesque and frivolous".This is what I use for the administrator's review on Smurf Emancipation Day.The person who protest current china government are serf owners' decendent who benefit from the old political system which oppress tibetan people.they use smurfs to be the tool of political gamble. Poor smurfs!
Sweet Smurf 2 Member # 5136
posted 10-17-201410:55 PM
Thanks for the wise advice, Papa Smurf! I am also planning a Smurf Emancipation Day festival to help give the Tibetans hope! (Get it? Because in the DC universe, blue represents hope in the emotional spectrum)
Sweet Smurf 2 Member # 5136
posted 03-26-201511:30 AM
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to set it up since tomorrow is the 28th March (the day "Smurf"/Serf Emanicipation Day is said to be held in Tibet).
Sweet Smurf 2 Member # 5136
posted 06-02-201509:46 PM
Here's a comic I made featuring Garfield about Smurf Emancipation Day:
What do you think?
Squeaky Smurf Member # 2416
posted 06-03-201511:50 AM
Yes, very well reminded, Sweet Smurf 2!
Sweet Smurf 2 Member # 5136
posted 06-08-201512:54 PM
Thanks, Squeaky! Also, here my book/document on Smurf Emancipation Day (this was actually the first document/book I worked on):