and while there have been no overt “attacks” on specific western governments coming from chinese, they’ve (and rather cleverly i think), syndicated negative commentary for reprint and discussion.

“too busy moving forward” is a generous statement i should think, but it’ll serve.

My spin? I live in China and have taught at a small college in Guangdong for the past three years.

First, let’s talk about this “autocratic” government. It’s anything but. This is no miliary junta. It is a representative government, elected, I grant, by people who are qualified, both by talent and desire, by members of the Communist Party. It represents every facet of sciety and all ethnic groups. Best I can tell, leaders respond to the needs of all these elements and, again, best I can tell, they respond in an appropriate manner. Things come up from the bottom and they are dealt with at the top.

And they do respond. The Sichuan Disaster, which is ongoing as I write, is an example. Volumes will be written about this disaster and how the Chinese government, military, police, volunteers and ordinary people have marshalled resources and imposed their will on this most horrible of earthquakes. Did I mind three minutes of silence. I took my kids out to the flagpole in front of my teaching building and wept with them.

A short lesson in political science: China is a sovereign country, with borders and laws by which it is governed. As an expat, I have no problem with any of these laws as they seem reasonable, given the circumstances. If you don’t like the laws, you are free to leave. If you stay, muffle the criticism. It serves no purpose. If you want AM Talk Radio, go somewhere you can have it 24-hours a day.

I like this country and have been here long enough to be close to Chinese citizens. I have taught 600 of their college kids. On the subject of “mutual suspicion,” I have never heard, seen or read one word of criticism of the USA. Why do I read every day criticism, actual and veiled, of China? Let me suggest three reasons: The first is our general cynicism about anyone anywhere else and the need of the media for “software” to fill all that time and print; The second is fear, which I think is unfounded. The third is envy, because it seems to be working.

Why don’t the Chinese criticise us? They’re too busy moving forward.

it’s a carefully cultivated illusion. all governments (hell, all human beings) have an agenda which they advance, usually to the detriment of another. the Chinese living under authoritarian rule have no illusions about their ability to peacefully influence policy. the average flag waving democracy advocate is full of these illusions. five years of protest later, at home and abroad, there’s still a war in iraq (this, despite one of the vaunted “free elections” having taken place). from the outside looking in, we can only concede that either the war in iraq has the support of a (slim) majority of americans (and the revulsion of the rest of the world), or that democracy is broken.

the Truth is that even if there is “truth” in politics, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year – by politicians and corporations who have vested interest in policy – to subvert the process of democracy and limit the freedom of information. they can do this, because… hey, that’s the failsafe that’s been built into modern democracy. nothing has changed. information is the fuel that powers governments.

and where the internet has created a market for the free exchange of ideas, the dumbing power of poor education, news-entertainment and infomercials ensures the democratic people of the world continue to ignore geopolitical issues, and focus instead on consumption, britney’s on-again-off-again hair (on both ends) and how evil jeremiah wright is. brave new world indeed.

four legs good, two legs bad. four legs good, two legs bhaaaaaad.

Pierre-Philippe Martins last blog post..Time Lapse video of Los Angeles

Pierre-Philippe Martins last blog post..Sadest picture