This week in Shanghaiist
NOTE: The opinions expressed in "Opinionist" columns are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Shanghaiist.
After logging on to various networking sites and instant messengers this week I started to see a similar sentence attached to a number of handles and headers. They were all some variation on the following idea: China is my adopted country, I love it here but recent events in Tibet are giving me a moral headache.
I have given this idea a lot of thought myself, but what struck me was the relative lack of variations on this similar idea: The UK/USA is my country, I like it there but recent events in Iraq are giving me a moral headache. We could go on, using any number of neo-colonial conflicts or policies in the world today.
As a UK citizen I can look back and see that Zimbabwe only became independent in 1980, for example. Then there was the Falklands War and then bombs have been falling on Iraq non-stop from 1990 until present. The awarding of the Olympics to London is no less controversial than to Beijing. No less controversial to me. I feel for the civilian victims of all authoritarian violence regardless of its reason, real or stated.
In the future, our time will be named and dated just like any other part of recorded history. What kind of era do we live in? We live in an era where the entire world’s surface is mapped and known, divided up and owned. We live in the time of nation states and its unavoidable mode of thought: nationalism. A time of borders, VISAs, passports and IDs. Nation states function as mental, as well as physical, prisons for us all. To talk about the world of nation states is to talk in terms of nationalism.
The Lhasa riots should give us a headache. The five year anniversary of the full invasion of Iraq should make us think. Darfur should make us think, as should Palestine. But instead of getting pulled into a web of personalities, excuses, sovereign powers, comparison and denial: let’s think about all suffering in our single human race, all born into one natural world. Then perhaps we can move towards the next era.
This month is the five year anniversary of the full invasion of Iraq.
Have you got an opinion? On selected weekends, Shanghaiist will publish an opinion piece from readers or site contributors. If you feel like you've got something to get off your chest, email it to us at info AT shanghaiist DOT com and if we like it, we will publish it under this column. All views expressed by writers under this column are their own and do not indicate any official position taken by Shanghaiist.
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that was beautiful
to reach that clarity we need to practice everyday our human manners, and include social conscience, respect and compassion (humble compassion or empathy).
we are not living in a world with many enlightened leaders right now. so the way to really improve is to practice consequence in our own personal-REAL-life; stop looking to the side and avoid our own values on behalf of short term benefits, that's the way to produce changes now and so improve the quality of life and reach a sustainable global development.
you just opened a window!
thanks for the air
Hey, man, that's a joint not a microphone.
Wow, Andy Best, your grasp of global politics would be flattering if describe as tenuous. Shanghaiist has had its fair share of worthless posts in the past, but I think this takes the cake. I understand your sentiment which you unfortunately can't verbally shape, and with the issues you've outlined you've had plenty of time to formulate something a bit more coherent (the Falklands??? are you fucking kidding me?), but please give us all a break. Boo hoo, the world is not fair and things suck. Agreed, but posting such a nonsensical, lame-ass call to arms over the current Tibetan issue I see as spitting in the face of every person who has so far lost their life in the recent troubles. Just because you have the password to post a blog entry to Shanghaiist does not mean you have to share your scattered thoughts about the state of the world today. Sorry, I expect better from this site. I don't see it as a forum for contributors to feel their way through the process of coming to terms with regional issues.
And as you left us with your rather sad, contrived post: flowers, moonbeams, free love, and naked naivete, which unfortunately is a symptom of pure unadulterated ignorance.
For people who blame China on Tibet issue, may work or educated by the western hostility power.
They simply cannot forget and forgive their own mistakes:they forgot to take Tibet through their friend-the Lama of Tibet aristocracy-Dalai to get into China, instead lost so many people and money on Korean and Vietnam battlefield, included president-Kennedy.
So they still try their best to find all the possibilities to have China, the cooperation work with Dalai is much cheaper compare to start a war, after they had be defeated twice.
This is the grudge deeply hiding in the hostility power. They are bloody murderers, disguising and concealment of the facts by all kinds of way.
universeview:
Wow, I think you misunderstood what he was trying to say. Sure, all the powers have blood on their hands. But you seem to believe that what goes on in Tibet is not even hostile. It's one thing to claim "we are no worse than you" but to rave about how bad the "western hostility power" is and then act as though the actions of China are, in fact, just, simply misses the point.
We need to recognize many injustices, by the west, and by China. Do not come on here and claim that the Tibetans have somehow been liberated from their "aristracy-Dalai" and they spew the idea that he is behind this uprising. The uprising is a natural reaction to opp;ression. It is the same reaction we see across the globe to oppression. This was the point of the man's post.
Westerners may be hypocrites to criticize China before criticizing their own governments BUT you are a hypocrite for criticizing the West while believing that your actions in Tibet are just.
Of course you can say we feel sorry for all the sufferings. it is easy to say that. Taking Tibet for example, both Tibetans who feel they are culturally supressed, and Han and Hui Chinese who were killed in the riot, deserve our sympathy. But does that solve any problem? nothing.
The most important flaw of human being is self-rightiousness. Westerners are perfect exmaples of that
I have to agree, are you fucking kidding me? Acting as if there is one universal issue? I don't think Iraq should have been invaded, but the link between what China is doing/has done in Tibet is really incredibly weak.
You seem to be taking the same tactic as the idiot Chinese who come here (sorry, but the Chinese people who come here genuinely are idiots who are more comedic than anything) - no country is perfect, it's all fundamentally equivalent. Nobody can criticize China unless the country they're from has been 100% spotless. The things those countries is bad, but somehow their activities grant China a right to do bad things too.
But really they're not the same. It's one thing to invade Iraq due to some geo-political goal, de-stabilize it, install a government that doesn't use WMDs against its own people or brutally suppress certain ethnicities, almost immediately give the people a large degree of self-rule, and then start pulling out troops. It's another thing to take over a former puppet state, kill a huge percentage of the population, severely restrict religious and cultural activities, damage or destroy essentially all cultural relics, announce that it's a permanent occupation, turn the locals into second class citizens and ethnic minorities in their own country, and rule them with basically no self-government.
Fijo Fojif. Americans didn't invade Iraq and then give them self-rule. They disbanded the army and let people loot and pillage all while sitting and watching. Cultural relics were looted from museums, and though nobody in America wants to admit it, the writing is on the wall regarding what the neo-cons true intentions are.
A military base larger than the Vatican, thousands of contract armies and companies being paid to do the same jobs as those enlisted with higher pay, not to mention all of the money oil companies are making from Iraqi oil. You think the Iraqi people are seeing any of that money? Think again.
I see an Iraq that is under U.S occupation for a very long time if not indefinitely. Want proof? I'm pretty sure that John McCain said he believes we will be in Iraq for at least 100 years.
"Westerners may be hypocrites to criticize China before criticizing their own governments BUT you are a hypocrite for criticizing the West while believing that your actions in Tibet are just"
What Chinese garbage, Westerners criticize their governments all the time. What is shocking, saddening and pathetic is how silent the world's leaders, world's organizations and media has become about the massacre in Tibet.
No one was quiet about Iraq.
I enjoyed that post, especially this bit:
"In the future, our time will be named and dated just like any other part of recorded history. What kind of era do we live in? We live in an era where the entire world’s surface is mapped and known, divided up and owned."
And I laughed out loud at this:
"Hey, man, that's a joint not a microphone."
tee-hee!
Thanks for all the quick replies everyone.
So for those who think the post is outrageous toss. If you dont agree with the idea that all human suffering is equal then perhaps some of you can suggest some kind of ranking system?
It's ok just to cast stones, but better if you can explain your own viewpoint on the issue itself ... please do.
AB
I like this article, and I am also a fan of H.W Van Loon's book -- Tolerance.
However, seems the ideal world Van Loon described is still far away from us, and tolerance is based on people have the certain level of education (although diversified) because tolerance cannot be a one way street, it is also about mutual respect.
Therefore,above all, people's priority should be fighting against poverty and protecting the environment, so that every human can have the right of survival and the chance for proper education.
'But really they're not the same. It's one thing to invade Iraq due to some geo-political goal, de-stabilize it, install a government that doesn't use WMDs against its own people or brutally suppress certain ethnicities, almost immediately give the people a large degree of self-rule, and then start pulling out troops. It's another thing to take over a former puppet state, kill a huge percentage of the population, severely restrict religious and cultural activities, damage or destroy essentially all cultural relics, announce that it's a permanent occupation, turn the locals into second class citizens and ethnic minorities in their own country, and rule them with basically no self-government.'
Evidence? Prove it, not from the mouth of the complicities.
Why 'What Chinese garbage, Westerners criticize their governments all the time. What is shocking, saddening and pathetic is how silent the world's leaders, world's organizations and media has become about the massacre in Tibet.'
Because this is not true!
Example of calumniation
'You seem to be taking the same tactic as the idiot Chinese who come here (sorry, but the Chinese people who come here genuinely are idiots who are more comedic than anything) - no country is perfect, it's all fundamentally equivalent. Nobody can criticize China unless the country they're from has been 100% spotless. The things those countries is bad, but somehow their activities grant China a right to do bad things too.'
A judgement about the world, China and other countries by ignorance.
But still nothing from panda licker Bush:
EU parliament president says Olympic boycott should not be ruled out
Nanheyangrouchuan
Posting an entire article which is not your own in the comments is spamming the comments.
The link itself is enough and I'm going to shorten it to that.
AB
I found 2 good video chips from web (not GFW'ed)
True Reason behind the Tibet Riot
http://virtualreview.org/china/zoom/520838/true-reason-behind-the-tibet-riot
Unbiased History of Tibet
http://virtualreview.org/china/zoom/522240/unbiased-history-of-tibet
fjiofojif,
Your name is genuinely idiotic and less comedic than you hope it to be,
and don't get started on the Iraq shit. Where are the fucking WMDs? You are just sad for taking all the bullshit from Bush.
Shanghai is sorry for having you.
To everyone else,
Why not take a straightforward approach, and interpret the blog as a cry for world peace? But so many people manage to twist his words and start insulting other countries.
It's true. The Tibetan issue is not like Iraq. Iraq was much worse: a promise for democracy, which is nowhere near to be realized, at a cost of at least 100000 civilian lives.
The Chinese media is biased, but then so is FOX and CNN, so if you wanna know what's really going on and make a difference in Tibet, go there and do it yourself! You'll find that the airport they use to land your plane is built by "Chinese", and the roads too, which they use to ship in food and supplies cuz not much grows at that altitude, and don't always blame governments, Chinese or Western. The Western govs have political analysts too and they're probably more informed on this than you are, and do you believe the Chinese gov would like killing Tibetans whom they consider to be Chinese? They know better than the people who exterminated the native Indians with smallpox.
David11, not to split hairs or anything here, but in your address to 'everyone else' you manage to insult (or, at the very least accuse) 'other countries' of genocide. Didn't you just accuse other people of massaging this post in order to squeeze out some sort of political vitriol?
I think one should be able to judge the ethical violations of one country's actions without having to use conditional phrases that because their own country or another country has done worse things the acts of another cannot be judged upon.
The author of this post can make up his or her own mind on what he or she feels about global issues without having to apologize for the nation's actions that he or she was born.
matty
chicago
sorry, I should have proof read what I wrote - I hope you get the general idea anyway. :D
Hi Matty
Thanks for the comment. I'm the author.
Like it says in the post - we should care about Tibet - and therefore, as sane human beings, care about all human suffering.
I use the UK not as an 'equivalent' politcal action but as an example that agression and suffering is ongoing all over the world and we should expend the same energies on those too.
It's not conditional - it's unconditional :)
AB
It's amusing to see this guy voicing righteous opinions about the suffering in the world when he obviously knows nothing about the suffering and nothing about the world.
Thanks for commenting on my post, Howie.
So you disagree with the post. No problem.
So how would you go about ranking the world's conflicts and sufferings?
What is the world like? What are the parts I know nothing about?
Please explain.
Andy
("this guy")
Suffering - listening to some corny art school fuck ranting on and on about the suffering of the world he feels so passionately about while never actually witnessed or lived through the "suffering". It's like you watch a 30 minute special on the discovery channel and all of a sudden you're mother Teresa. Holy shit, ex-Princess Diana seemed genuine compared to you.
The world - is not going to be changed by you blogging away. People who doesn't know his/her place only adds to the confusion and chaos.
Howie
You still haven't said anything about the topic at all. All you are doing is throwing insults at the speaker (me).
If that's how you want to represent yourself on this blog then that's fine, troll away, but I would like hear what you think about the topic itself - varying attitudes to specific conflicts around the globe.
If you have anything.
dude, do not equal iraq invasion to tibet .
tibet has been under control of China for hundreds of years since Yuan dynasty. tibet has been never recognized as a independent country.
and iraq, never been part of USA!
concor1
That's not what the post suggests. Not in the sense you mean. You may need to read it again.
It seems that your idea here is that Tibet shouldn't be independant, even if it wants to be? Again, not something I discuss in the piece.
Conflicts and suffering has been around long before you were born and will continue long after you're dead. It's perfectly natural. Your supposed insights are so dumb and naive I'm surprised that anyone would waste the time to debate in detail with you. Get over it and get over yourself. It's just a phase you're going through.
Howie
So, your view is just that all the conflicts in the world right now are 'natural'. Ok, noted. So that extends to Tibet? Do continue.
You could have made your ... errr ...'point', without all the insults and attacks. It's not so hard.
It's a pretty long phase I'm going through, Howie Wang, I'm 10 years older than you.
AB
As far as "representing yourself" goes, I don't mind that you're trying to establish a peace, love and happiness with rainbows and lolipops persona, just don't be too blatantly fake about it. Stick to art reviews, geopolitics isn't for everyone.
OK.
Well, thanks for coming on the thread. I shall strive to one day reach your level of understanding on geopolitics:
"Conflicts and suffering has been around long before you were born and will continue long after you're dead. It's perfectly natural."
Feel free to add to that if you have any other insights, but I won't be responding if it's more of the same 'you suck' debating.
AB
Howie: geopolitics isn't your cup of tea either.
concur: Tibet has been independent during most of its existence, your Chinese history books are only good for heat and cooking fuel.
Freedom should be regulated. Some people, when given a leash long enough, will just end up stangling themselves. Tibetans are a prime example, just look at parts of Astoria, NY.
I think the idea is that there is no leash.
Yeah, but do you really think that people (plural form) are intelligent enough to handle that?
Howie, you accuse Andy Best of being naive and foolishly idealistic, but you come off like a socially maladjusted college sophomore with a hard-on for Ayn Rand.
Power should be regulated. Some people, when they seize a leash and presume to tame and lead inevitably end up strangling others. China offers many prime examples. So does Tibet (historically...it was a long time ago, but the Tibetan Empire was pretty extensive and powerful, and, of course, as Chinese never tire of pointing out, more recently, the Tibetan Buddhist monks were hardly paragons of human-rights observance). So does the US, but at least representative democracy and an independent judiciary can check and balance executive power (though, of course, Bush & Cheney have been hard at work trying to make the US more like China with their "unitary executive" theory and unscrupulous scheming... but they'll be out of office soon).
everything should be regulated.
by whom?
... emm USA or Anglo-Saxon culture :-D
(just joking, pls donot be angry ...)
i feel it likes chicken and egg questions, sort of...
Yeah, totally. I mean the chicken-egg, not the USA/Anglo culture.
Daoism's kinda nice.
hmm...if i live in countryside, farming, having no worry about everything, etc, then I will be in favour of Daoism. Unfortunately, I am living in reality.
Daoism is more like a place to let people escape from reality.
Anglo-saxon culture is good, at least it is quite successful. what i am really interested to know is how to mix up chinese culture and anglo-saxon culture, and let both sides of people accept this 'mixture'.
Need some very intelligent people to do this job. But i believe i can see it before i can finally reach that Daoism 'untouchable' spirit.
Watchbag, Ayn Rand have some great philosophical works. I recommend "The Virtue of Selfishness".
I have to clean my teeth after saying A*n R*nd.
I read Atlas Shrugged and felt like my brain had been raped. A bunch of economists start a foundation for her works because it's works in their favour as neo-liberal propaganda and suddenly it's 'philosophy'.
You may have noticed here that I'm not a fan of Ayn Rand.
The sane version of Atlas is where all those 'talented' people dissapear and then the rest of us get on with a peaceful existence - now that's Daoism.
I'm with Andy Best on Ayn Rand. And HowieW, I don't need to read any more than I already have of AR, thanks.
Bamboos, I was kind of kidding about Daoism, but then again, not kidding. I look at the "reality" that's largely been created the "successful" "Anglo-Saxon" culture (industrial/post-industrial) and I see a hell of a lot of problems, mostly having to do with the horrible degree of environmental degradation brought about by overvaluing economic growth and development in the short term without concern for long-term consequences. China's vigorously pursued a growth model patterned in large part on Western "success" after various failed experiments with collectivization and centralized economic models. As a result, it looks like within about a decade or two, the north of China will be bone dry (whether or not they steal water from the south to try to keep the north watered), the glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau will be disappearing (as Chinese scientist recently reported), many many millions of Chinese will have cancer and other diseases resulting from pollution, and the entire globe will be scrambling to deal with the effects of global warming-driven climate change. And lots of poor, sick, thirsty and hungry people is hardly a recipe for social stability.
Perhaps the Daoist insistence on balance within nature is way more practical in the long run than it looks. China's economy and the global economy that's come to depend on it are not sustainable under current models. Burning loads of coal, for example, to keep "growth" going is only going to make future costs higher and more deadly.
And yeah, we have crackpot apologists for "selfishness" like Ayn Rand to thank, in part.
An excellent piece on similarities and differences in media and society in the US and China by Shanhgai resident Howard French (NY Times/International Herald Tribune).
Um, thought I linked that sucker up, but guess not. Here's the URL to the French story: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/27/asia/letter.php
James Lovelock's famous Gaia Hypothesis was known to early Daoism two thousand years before.
Yet cheeky subscribers to "Western Civilisation" myths often refer to it as a new theory or idea.
But this is another nationalism thing: building mythical histories and ascribing events to that nation or 'race' even though they didn't exist in the same sense at the time.
Or in that case, events that can be already found in readily available works from other cultures.
WatchbagDVD, thanks for find that article, a good one.
Reflecting in business field: if you are in a meeting sitting together with your Chinese co-workers, how many native Chinese employees will clearly say no to you face to face during a meeting? almost no one.
In most cases, Chinese might email you after the meeting to express their disagreement, or discuss with you after the meeting individually, or, just be quite and follow whatever you say, but do not put their energy in that project.
to change this Culture ....that could be a huge project.
Bamboos . . . I know I argued with you in a previous post, but I have to admit that as a Chinese perspective you are a breath of fresh air - the other comments I've read on message boards and article (Economist, NY Times, CD) from PRC citizens have honestly frightened me. Thank you for having a (more) open mind, and arguing your side with eloquence and reason.
Too bad you guys don't agree with Ayn Rand. I don't agree with all of her ideas either but some of them are right on the spot. Hopefully your ideals of peace, love and sorrow for all those that suffer will one day feed and clothe you. But I wouldn't want to hold my breath waiting for that day.
"The world will change when you are ready to pronounce this oath: I swear
Cutoff*
"The world will change when you are ready to pronounce this oath: I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for the sake of mine:
"The world will change when you are ready to pronounce this oath: I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for the sake of mine"
Harsh dude...
Alec, many thanks for your comments on me.
...if we could discuss Lhasa event ruling out all political influence, then i feel the dispute between China and West is due to culture misunderstanding.
I am not sure which comments for which articles on Economist/NYTime frightened you, but i can assure you that most Chinese are similar to me, reasonable and understandable. If they wrote anything rude there, it is because they were really irritated, just like me...pls kindly neglect... (the patriotic feeling can be measured by distance: the farther away from their homeland, the deeper the love)
Had a chitchat with friends today, discussing about Chinese and West culture different. We feel lucky that we are in the era when 2 cultures are trying to/have to communicate, or understand, or be tolerant with each others.
(...hmm, btw, sorry to say that we all think that we will no longer believe whatever CNN says, because it has 'successfully' insulted Chinese People as a whole)
Why are PAP thugs dressing up as monks?
"http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/69-30601.aspx"
Bamboos--
Can't ever rule out political influence (it's all political) and I've met a lot of Chinese who live abroad who don't confuse their love of homeland with support of government propaganda and policy (many of them having been victims of government oppression and propaganda). Also met a few here, though they only speak their minds freely behind closed doors.
Likewise, I've been gone from the US for a couple of years and don't confuse the fact I miss my friends and family and a lot of things about my home with the fact that the US executive branch is currently run by despicable criminals who've mired the country in a war that's completely illegal by any reasonable definition of international law. I can love a lot of things about America and recognize that the country's being run by immoral, lying thugs. Is that possible for the "most Chinese" to do? Like I say, I've met more than a few who feel that way. Do you know any?
Individual people can communicate; abstractions like "cultures" and "nations" can't, really, except through individual people. So cheers to you and your participation in this discussion!
nanheyangrouchuan are you a paid disinformation source?
WatchBagDVD,
i am aware that political influence is always there, so i said 'if we *COULD*......'
You wrote Daoist on your previous comment, so I thought you would like to use some Daoism spirits to calm down all the arguments,which i feel to be a good idea. Sorry that i misunderstood your intention.
As I said before, I am not related in media or politics area at all, and I have no interested in them either, as far as society is stable with continuous economic growth. An old Chinese Saying: 不在其位，不谋其政(donot participate unless you are on that position to make decision). I am not on the position to make performance appraisal of Beijing.
I have not criticized USA.(i have never criticized any countries) Whatever your government does should have their reason, because your government said they are 'for the people, of the people and by the people'. What I decided was only to ignore CNN info, is that made you unhappy?
...hmmm, Actually, CNN should be proud of that 2008 hip phrase 'Donot be like CNN', because the 2007 hip phrase is 'Do not be CCTV' :-D~~~ Chinese think CNN is the same as CCTV. What an honour!!! CNN editor should celebrate it.
Our government is not perfect, but they are improving. We should always look to the strong points instead of focusing on its weakness. This is the method we recruit new employee, the way we treat our friends and the wisdom for daily life. I,and some of my friends, made the decision to come back and stay in China, because we have confidence that this country is getting better. Rome does not build up in one day, and China is the oldest living nation with a continuous culture, as a result, aggressive transformation (USSR/Russia style) is not appropriate. I am a big fan of UK, of its culture, system, environment, I especially admire their gradually transforming concept, which is peaceful, rational, and fitting with its tradition.
China has a different culture and tradition and history from Anglo, so please donot expect us will exactly follow your USA style. Thanks.
Bamboos
Thanks for all the comments here. However, the post is about renouncing nationalism and I feel you embrace it happily.
If you look over history you'll find that things are not so different in the 'East' and 'West'. In fact - what's the 'West', for example? Europe has many countries all with different histories and cultures. Within those again there are many people of varying types who don't all think the same.
If we want to group people then I think the most valid group is 'humans'.
'Humans' accounts for all the similarities ...but 'East and West' doesn't make any sense of the differences.
Also, as a member of a society you can comment on it all you want. Don't think you can't comment on it just because you're not a decision maker or an 'expert'. Go for it.
Oh really? *Rolls eyes*
@ Less:
I am paid to tell it to the masses and get them off their a**$s.
Bamboos--
I'm not trying to offend you, really. But I do strongly disagree with a few things you write. And I'm not trying to push some "Anglo" view, as I think is clear from my previous comments though, yes, of course much of what I write is shaped by Western thinking--but that's not some kind of rote ideology, that's a tradition that at its best foregrounds critiquing *itself* and remaining open to other ways of doing things.
Now look: If you agree that "political influence is always there" but "I am not related in media or politics area at all," then I'm confused. Are you saying that, though you realize politics shapes everything that it somehow doesn't relate to you, or you to it? Or are you saying that despite your realization, you willfully choose not to have anything to do with it, even though you realize such a choice is logically impossible? And wait... aren't we in large part arguing politics here? And as for media, *this*, Shanghaiist, *is* part of the media. Here's an ancient American saying: "You're soaking in it."
And if you're not in a position to participate in the processes that shape your own life and society, what are you doing? That strikes me as a sad, deluded way of life: everything is political, as you grant, but you're purely passive (but you're not: you're actually arguing politics here in a new media space) and accepting of authoritarian rule.
I've heard this line of argument a number of times recently, and though I'm fighting the temptation to think so, it's beginning to sound "typically Chinese." But I've heard it plenty in the US, too, when the US has been at its worst--in the run-up to the US invasion of Iraq, for instance: Dissenters (who of course turned out to be largely right) were attacked by "patriots" who argued that it was inherently wrong to question the government and it was time to stop criticizing and step into line (those "patriots" have since been proven horribly wrong, of course... or maybe you disagree?).
And I can't trust anyone, fellow Americans included (especially them), who has "not criticized USA." I'll criticize USA all day long--the only hope for it becoming a better country is if its citizens all criticize it and push it in a better direction rather than giving into the temptation to let authoritarians like Dick Cheney run the show.
And what is this equation of "Anglo" with "USA"? The next president is quite possibly going to be a black man with an ethnic and cultural heritage that spans the globe. We kicked the British Empire out and though "Anglos" still hold a lot of power and influence in the US, it's become something far different than an expression of English character on another continent.
So think things through a bit, please, and try to avoid China Daily talking points. I promise in turn to avoid CNN talking points, or FOX or CNBC or NPR or even Democracy Now! talking points, for that matter.
And I like Daoism, as I suggested before, for its emphasis on a balance between humans and non-human nature (something government of contemporary China clearly doesn't respect, being run largely by authoritarian capitalist "scientific" engineers). I also like it because it critiques and rejects centralized power and authority.
Andy Best,
Yes, I agree with you that 'Humans' accounts for all the similarities, but people are different in reality. there is something born in blood.
It is nice that if we could have a world in peace and harmony. it is ideal that if we could focus on similarities and bury all the difference, and I can understand your intention of trying to smooth out all the arguments focusing on something fundamentally as human. it is good that we believe this ultimate truth.
However, similarity cannot be achieved by merely ignoring the difference, similarity can only be realized by mutual understanding and respect. To respect your peace pleading , i will rest my argument here.
Of 'member of a society and comment' topic: it is not i cannot, it is about i do not like. as you can see, I have never commented on any other countries either. Politics is not my concern. I even didnot care about 2008 Olympics, didnot think it was a good idea to have it in China, UNTIL that date when i read so many 'boycott' on news. You can name me selfish or lack of social responsibility. My social awareness only wakes up when my society got in trouble, otherwise, i am happy with my '一亩三分地‘.
Andy, as a native English speaker, a British by origin who created English language, maybe you could tell me what is the difference between Nationalism and Patriotism? thanks.
WatchBagDVD,
first, pls accept my apology. i didnot think too much when i wrote that Anglo and USA stuff. Sorry...
Your government issue will be decided and sorted out by your people, i donot know the detail stories, which makes me feel that i am not qualified to make comments. Meanwhile I have no interest to know. Of course, if one day, US would blame China on that iraq war, then i might start to understand those issues. This is also a Taoism spirit: no action (无为)
I agree the environment protection in China need to improve. i believe whoever is sitting in Beijing is and will fight for the improvement, because we are stationed here, cannot escape to somewhere else. it is a problem of survival. ... hmm...Three-gorge dam is a very stupid idea. history will remember those persons whoever advocate that project, and tell the later generations to avoid the same mistake.
Taoism is a sophisticated, it also advocates 出世 (out of society), emptiness... Do you know Yin, Yutang? you can find this name in wikipedia. Here, I'd like to recommend 2 books of his, to those who want to know China and Chinese.
Patriotism includes the responsibility to tongue lash, harass and apply social and fiscal pressure to the political and financial leadership as well as the social fabric of your own country as well as standing up for your own country when foreigners criticize it.
Nationalism means that your country is never wrong and no one else can criticize it.
Sorry, typo at above, should be:
Lin, Yutang (October 10, 1895 – March 26, 1976)
-- 1) My Country and My People
-- 2) Moment in Peking
(nominated for 1975 Nobel Prize in Literature.) pls ignore that TV drama with the same name.
Both books were written in English. However, it seems not easy to find its English version in Shanghai.
Hey Bamboos
First of all, just want to repeat something Watchbag said - even if we are disagreeing I'm very happy you have chosen to come onto my article and express your views in a polite manner. Thank you.
Now, you say 'somethings are in the blood' ... there's something right there - we all have the same biology as humans, we have blood in common, not as a difference.
Also, all words such as nationalism and patriotism have all kinds of meanings - but when you look at our world today here's how I'd define them:
Nationalism - a political system of nation states and of being defined by belonging/not belonging to them.
Patriotism - following this system.
Bamboos - I don't think the troubles in the world are all natural at all. I don't believe in a perfect society - but the current problems are very extreme and are kept that way by powers splitting us into groups that can't sympathise with each other.