My dad is Li Gang
From China Digital Space
我爸是李刚 (wǒ bà shì Lǐ Gāng): my father is Li Gang
Massively popular and catchphrase from a tragic car accident that killed Chen Xiaofeng, a college girl in Hebei in October 2010. Chen had been in-line skating with a friend when they were both struck by a speeding car driven by intoxicated 22-year-old Li Qiming. The driver attempted to flee but was intercepted by security guards. Undeterred, he yelled, “Sue me if you dare, my dad is Li Gang!” and gave birth to one of China’s most popular Internet catch phrases to date. Li Gang was the deputy police chief in the Beishi district of Baoding, Hebei; his son’s supposed immunity is an example of how the behavior of the governing second generation can lead to popular outrage.
After Chen’s death, Chinese blogger Piggy Feet Beta started a contest inviting entrants to incorporate the phrase “my dad is Li Gang” into classical Chinese poetry. The contest received over 6,000 entries and helped propel the phrase to memedom.
In January 2011, Li Qiming was sentenced to 6 years in prison.
“My dad is Li Gang” was one of the first Internet memes to permeate offline language. People would use the phrase to shrug off responsibilities, from doing homework to turning out the light. It even found its way onto road signs, reminding drivers to drive carefully—after all, “your dad is not Li Gang.”
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