|
Our Amazing World of
Connectivity
originally posted
March 04, 2011
I subscribe online to the
Washington Post and the New York Times. Both send me email
notification when they have stories or opinion pieces, and often those
opinion pieces have to do with China. One of the more recent ones
carried the headline:
Why China Is Nervous About the Arab Uprisings
It's an interesting article, but even more interesting
were the comments under the article. Along with the usual China
bashing, there were some very interesting thoughts from Americans who
actually seem to understand modern China and its position in the world,
and how essential it is to the welfare of western countries and western
economies.. What REALLY got me excited was the realization that
many of the comments were coming directly from China.
- Peter Parks/Agence France-Presse -- Getty Images
These direct from China comments
included the usual party line flag waving, like these:
|
SCUI
Beijing, CN
March 1st, 2011 3:37 pm
Long live the Chinese People! Long live the Chinese Communist Party!
Chen Shui-bian
Taipei, Republic of China
March 1st, 2011 2:08 pm
Some Westerners, 'Taiwan' separatists, and oh, yes, of course, the Dalai
Lama and his ilk would give their eye teeth to see China disintegrate
like the Soviet Union. Dream on!
Lady Gagas Biggest Fan
Mars
March 1st, 2011 4:15 pm
Yeah. Instigate all you want. For a populist/democratic movement, you
need PEOPLE. Nobody in China wants a revolution.
This whole thing is a perfect example of how the West projects its own
distorted visions onto the Chinese people.
|
But the point is, this was in a
major American newspaper, being read by people all over the world, and
these particular comments came directly from China. There were any
number of thoughtful and intelligent comments from both sides of the big
pond. Here are a few of them:
|
helen
CD, China
March 1st, 2011 12:47 pm
Instead of covering mass protests elsewhere in the world like in
India and on its own soil, the U.S. media tend to fabricate
protests that have slim chance to happen in China. The hypocrisy
stinks. People in China cherish their hard-earned peace and
prosperity and hate those (including the redneck Jon Meade
Huntsman, Jr., and the Fa Lun Gong followers) intend to stir chaos
in China
Aron Lee
Shanghai,China
March 1st, 2011 11:04 pm
In China, most people are busy doing daily work necessary for the
betterment of life. Most of the time, they just concentrate their
full energy on their lives and won't try to protest out of their
dissatisfaction about the system unless they have no choice.
However, they don't think that time has come. For the workers,
they have to focus on their work, and students have to focus on
their study. Everyone is just too busy to go to a square to
protest under the threat of ruining one's career. And someone who
is really disappointed with the present government always remain
scattered and disunited so that they will never form a real impact
to introduce a drastic reform towards a Western-styled political
system.
As for the Jasmine Revolution in China, it's just an illusory
concept in the present China. This concept is almost completely
unknown to most of the people. Only those few capable of
circumventing the Fire Wall have the chance to be informed.
However, it's also unrealistic to launch a Middle-East styled
protest on these ones.
Before the transformation to a more democratic society of China, a
revolution or enlightenment of thought will be desperately needed.
The ideas of democracy, liberty, equality are almost insulated
from the people. This has prevented the people from forming a true
force to adopt the social change
Without healthy organizations and full progress in the mind of the
people, true democracy will never come to China.
A. Smith
DC
March 2nd, 2011 1:12 am
One thing China has that we don't: Leaders that actually know what
they're doing.
Their leadership are from backgrounds of economics, engineering,
chemistry etc. Our political leaders are just bunch of liberal
arts majors.
kc
new england
March 2nd, 2011 3:15 am
"would give their eye teeth to see China disintegrate"
This is false. No one in their right mind wishes ill to China.
What this article points up is government control of
communication. Here, this effort is headed by Governors
engaging in union busting. In China it is official policy.
Americans need to be aware. The crackdown in China is normal and
logical in a totalitarian governmental design. Here, it is normal
when the wealthy have the opportunity to buy Governors. |
I've selected just a few of the
many comments from beneath this article. I hope my students will
go and read them all.
Think about this. For the
first time in the history of the world, people in China can find out
instantly what is being said about them in major American newspapers,
and FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER they can talk back. Is this not
amazing and wonderful?
I've told my students how easy it
is to subscribe to the New York Times or the Washington Post. Just
click on these links:
New York Times
or
Washington Post
and sign up. Then, just as I do, my students can get a
notification of any opinion pieces. They can drop in on articles that
mention China and let their own opinion be heard in America.
Instantly. How cool.
Students, if you think China is
misunderstood or misrepresented in America, make your voice heard there.
You have the technology to speak directly to the American people.
Use it.
Comment on this Post
First time comments will not appear until they have been approved.
Your comment will not appear until you have refreshed this page.
The Man in China archive index
The
Incredible Summer of 2010 Wedding and Honeymoon
The Man in China Home
|