I've realized that I haven't been sharing the whole story of my life in China or the real picture of China in general. I've been positive at times; negative at times, but I haven't clearly illustrated how my perspective has changed recently. Now, I try to dwell in an in between non-biased space and give events that happen a deeper look.
China is not a terrible communist monster trying to destroy the World. Come on let's be fair. It's not really that complicated either in my opinion. It's a country that has become driven by economic development, modernization and money and has cut corners and slacked off on other areas of society in order to do so. Somehow this sounds familiar...It's a path that many countries have traveled down including America, the good ol' US of A.
Let's be real. I personally think that any country that has its own dark spots in history and experiences with the discrimination of native peoples should back off from the harsh criticism and try to lend more of a lending friend of a wise friend. W are aware of the history of the Aborigines, the Native American tribes, the Jews of various times, the many African tribes and indigenous Latin American peoples. They all have similar stories of the oppression that comes when nations exert power. Those nations who have learned from these situations can aid China in this time as they struggle with Tibet. The negativity and criticism is not cutting it. It's not doing any good and only making things worse.
Now China is on the defensive with loads of propaganda because they are uncomfortable being portrayed in a shameful light. It's a huge deal to look bad in front of others in Chinese culture. If we want to create real change, we must take a more gentle approach and consider our audience. The messages will be received based upon the background of the listener. Open criticism through the media is not the answer. It is my opinion that leaders should secretly organize a forum that is closed to the media and hammer out China's human rights issues in private. Maybe it's a crackpot idea, but I think it would work. We need to minimize the shame. Shame does not always bring people to positive action.
Thus, I've continually tried to be fair to China and hold my American biases back. It's hard to do. This post is my stab at it anyways.
You know, although i am asian but i have no idea about the real whereabouts of China, your description has gave me a new perspective of China ^_^
k@y!n9
Great description. I have never viewed China as badly as some have. The chinese are some of the nicest peopleI have ever meet. They respect their parents and frankly I have never encountered a mean chinese person. I am not trying to be racist or anything this is just my experience. I am glad you expressed this though for people that think it is a horriable place.
You have a great point about Native American, and other races. Although I do not look like it I am part Native American, besides the billion other nationalities that my ancenstors breed me to be lol. I am a totally mutt I think my family really explored different cultures. Scottish, Native American, Czech, Hungarian, French, Dutch, Irish, German. I could go on. This would be why I look so funny.
Sorry about that lol. Good points you make a China though. Like I said before I never saw them as a bad country and I don't see why others do.
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
Love comments? I do too!
In fact, you kinda look like me and I think we are quite attractive if I may be so bold. I have Native American blood in my veins as well.
All cultures can look like monsters if you spin it right.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
Be so bold.
Be bold take a chance. lol I don't believe I have seen a picture, the one you used to have was far away. But I agree. I don't find people unattractive unless they are very mean rude people. Everyone is attractive in there own way. I have a bad view of myself as most people judge themselves badly.
I know it is sad that some people have bad situations in a country and their outlook changes.
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
Love comments? I do too!
Good blog.
It's amazing how perspectives of a country can change or be solidified after spending some time there. I agree that many people aren't fair in their accusations towards China. It's good to hear some opinions from someone who's actually spending time there.
I haven't been to China yet, but since being in Japan I've realized many things about Japan that people think (insanely technological, smart, excellent schools, to mention a few) aren't really true. It's great to have an inside look at another country, huh?
It is indeed great to get the chance to peek in on the inside if a culture is so gracious. Not everyone who visits a country actually gets to look in on the inside. If your view to too positive or too negative, then somethings up. A real look on the inside is messy and I continually sift through things every day.
What about Japan? Are there things that we should know so that our biases are torn down?
On a side note, have you been to a Japanese bathhouse?
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
I have not yet been to an onsen (hot springs bath), but I have gone to a hot-rock sweat house. Sounds miserable, I know, but it's actually very relaxing! You can lay on a bed of hot stones and it causes you to sweat like you've never sweat before. But it's a different kind of sweat than work-out sweat. It's not at all sticky or smelly. It's strange. Basically, it removes toxins from your body. Fun times!
Misconceptions about Japan: people are ultra-smart, schools are super good, and technology is incredible. I love Japan and I think they it has some very intelligent people (just like any country, there are smart people and less-smart people), however, the idea of the school system producing super-smart kids isn't true. On the contrary... the Japanese school system produces little robots: kids who can memorize anything and regurgitate info for exams like no others. However, they're completely lacking in critical thinking skills and personal opinions. Schools teach the kids to sit, listen, and memorize. Kids aren't taught to think or reason. So, this conception of a Japanese superior educational system producing ultra-smart students? Busted.
Advanced technology? Sure, the cell phones are CRAZY!! Also, robotic technology is great in this country as well. Another advanced technology are the toilets. No joke. They rock!!! I'm going to miss the super cool noise-making, seat-heating, butt-washing wonders. They're an experience!!
However, when it comes to technology such as computers, Japan is majorly behind. Yes, Japan has just as good of computers as any other developed nation. However, as a general rule, people can't use them as well as people from America, for example. Most of my junior college students (these kids are 18!) can't type. Really. Also, it took me quite a while to figure out why the computer in the labs kept being left on. Finally I realized that a good number of the students didn't know how to turn off a computer!! Wow.
What are some causes of this computer illiteracy? First: cell phones! The cell phones here are a good couple years ahead of the ones in the states. People do EVERYTHING on their cell phones. Almost anything we do on computers, they do on their cell phones. Also, things like resumes and cover letters that have long since been computerized in the Western World, are still mostly done by hand in Japan.
So there ya have it... some common misconceptions busted! I have to say, though, that I absolutely love Japan. I was very surprised to learn these things about it, but it hasn't caused me to lose respect for the country. Sure, I get frustrated when my students don't know how to think. However, Japan is a traditional culture and they haven't quite gotten to the point of letting that go yet.
Maybe if the Chinese don't like being publicly shamed they will cease their shameful behaviors? There are the little matters of their continued threats towards their neighbor Taiwan which clearly wants nothing to do with them and then there is their continuing brutal treatment of their neighbor Nepal.
I agree with you that their are plenty of dark episodes in our history. There are some going on now and there undoubtedly will be more in the future. Shame and public protest have played a role is getting things headed in the right direction. I don't think the Chinese people are intrinsically evil any more than I would say that about Americans. But the history of their government is far darker than ours. I have no problem with discussing their current behavior in the cleansing light of the public square.
I don't think our government will accomplish much with shaming gestures like for example boycotting the Olympics but our free press should in no way hold their tongue because if they did then the people of the world would not know what is going on and that is what the Chinese would prefer. Without awareness there would be no motivation for change.
I'd like to know more about your opinion if that's ok.
How do you see that the Chinese government's history is darker?
Why does the rest of the World need to know everything that is going on?
I'm still wading through some things in my mind. Thanks for your comment.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
To set the context, I'll mention some of the darkest episodes in our history. There has been our treatment of Native American, slavery, the Japanese Internments, and some very unsavory things like the Tuskeegee experiments. These are certainly not things to be proud of but on the otherhand given what went on in most other countries around the world in that same 200+ year period, our government has looked positively enlightened. And we have mostly been a force for good. For example, almost every Democracy in the world has us to thank.
The history of the China of course is far older than our own but the current Communist Government dates back to only about WWII. In that time it has NEVER acted in an enlightened towards its people. It has engaged in political purges, supression of basic freedom (Tienomon Square), re-education camps, forced labor, systematic starvation, murdered Christians, forced relocations, forced collectivization, forced abortions and the list goes on and on. Practically the entire history of the Chinese government has been dark. It is totalitarian and it is my opinion that it more closely resembles fascism than communism. As recently as two weeks ago they were murdering the people who they claim are their citizens in Tibet. I really can't think of anything good to say about the Chinese Government except that they were finally smart enough to figure out that China would be richer and more powerful if it opened its markets to capitalism. That has been a big help to the Chinese people. But there basic civil rights are still suppressed.
The world needs to know because if evil is left unchecked (like for example in Nazi Germany) then it has a way of spilling out and doing all of us enormous harm. It seems that the Chinese have a sense of shame and that might be the one thing short of violent confrentation that could cause China to mend its ways. I really hope they do. I would much prefer to live in a world with a friendly enlightened China then a world where we are always afraid that we are going to have to fight a country that could line up people in a huge line 10 abreast and march them in to sea and literally keep that up forever without running out of people.
I'm seeing the reaction of the government and thinking that the public shame isn't doing any good, but when you mention it, I start to wonder.
The Chinese government has been flooding the TV stations with anti-Dalai Lama stuff and programs that illustrate all that China has done for Tibet. China has indeed developed Tibet and some Tibetans have prospered, but I get the feeling that the majority has definitely not gained a higher standard of living. Chinese people all around the World are fighting the public shame by throwing out all the good things China has done. They don't admit their shame, so is it doing any good? I want to agree with you an say yes, but my gut says no.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
As a point of pride, in the short term they will not change because it would be tantamount to admitting they were wrong which they are loathe to do.
But experiencing shame will perhaps keep them from doing things in the future that will cause them to have to live through the shame again.
I have no idea if it will work. But if they experience no negative feedback they certainly will have no reason to change.
out in the free world. Every Chinese person is proud of what China was and optimistic over what it could be, but know the communists have destroyed Chinese culture in China leaving only what might best be called a Communist culture with a slight infusion of Chinese thought. The only way to combat this change is for free world Chinese to continually do everything in its power to make sure their people know what China is capable of and force them to publicly acknowledge it.
It is just so difficult because the Chinese in China don't think like Chinese people. They think like communists. It is reinforced by communists who changed the Chinese language specifically so they can control the populace. All media published in simplified Chinese is controlled by the communist government. Even if the Chinese inside China manage to get themselves a Chinese newspaper from outside China, they couldn't read it.
It is so sad they are so brainwashed, but hopefully, as the country opens up more, the people will eventually revolt.
Can you talk more about this term? What exactly does it mean? Chinese citizens overseas?
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
of China.
Interestingly, the Chinese outside of China hold more authentically Chinese ideology and traditions than people inside of China. Everything on the inside seems to have a flavor of China, but with a strange Communist twist.
http://www.loveearth.com/uk/film/
Chinese people are dealing with the same governmental criminals as the US is dealing with.
They are all around the continent of Africa, the reasons why they have a good foot upon this continent is because they cut deals with dictators and they absolutely don’t care about human rights or the abuse arising from the deals they make behind the curtain.
Other than that Chinese are alright.
;-)
I'd have to agree friend. China is just like any other country when it all comes down to it. The dealings in Darfur are particularly atrocious given the genocide situation.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina