Replies

In the rural Chinese area where we work, the people are being told there is no problem and everything is under control. We are told there are no cases in this city, or any other place in this province, save one case in the provincial capital.

But, two people have told us their grandparents have SARS, and the schools and other organizations have recently given papers to all their students telling them in detail how to wash their hands. (Mainland Chinese people often believe that simply rinsing the hands with water will clean them ((even if the water used is too dirty to drink)) and most don't know about/don't believe in the concept of germs.)

All their lives they've been thinking water was fine and got you clean. Now they are learning for the first time that soap is really and truly essential, and being told it is "to avoid all kinds of diseases." But, they still believe that there is no danger, no problem and no cases here.

A government who can pull the wool that easily over the eyes of millions of their own citizens, living right in the middle of something, often thinks it must be just as easy to pull the wool over the eyes of the world. They never account for, and can't quite understand, culturally, the concept of an independent, reasoning thinker.

5 posted on 04/20/2003 6:05:35 AM PDT by Ma Li (Never confuse excess of information for freedom of information)

Wow. Welcome to Free Republic. I look forward to reading your posts.

6 posted on 04/20/2003 1:33:04 PM PDT by gcruse (Saddam's last words. "I can see them. I can see 72.................VIRGILS???!!!?!?!")

To: per loin; Mother Abigail; Dog Gone; Petronski; riri; EternalHope; Domestic Church; aristeides; ...

7 posted on 04/20/2003 1:40:41 PM PDT by CathyRyan

I would have guessed that Free Republic was one of the internet sites blocked by the government. Are you posting directly from China?

8 posted on 04/20/2003 1:49:12 PM PDT by Dog Gone

Where in China are you?

9 posted on 04/20/2003 2:19:53 PM PDT by per loin

Wow. Welcome to Free Republic. I look forward to reading your posts

I second that.

10 posted on 04/20/2003 3:08:39 PM PDT by riri

Thanks for the post, Ma Li. You are part of the solution, no doubt.

13 posted on 04/20/2003 6:27:31 PM PDT by Dec31,1999 (You show me a country that doesn't have clear title to property, and I'll show you a poor country!)

A government who can pull the wool that easily over the eyes of millions of their own citizens, living right in the middle of something, often thinks it must be just as easy to pull the wool over the eyes of the world. They never account for, and can't quite understand, culturally, the concept of an independent, reasoning thinker.

Welcome, and BIG bump for the comments.

14 posted on 04/20/2003 6:31:16 PM PDT by maui_hawaii

...the people are being told there is no problem and everything is under control. We are told there are no cases in this city, or any other place in this province, save one case in the provincial capital.

I could certainly understand where you're coming from. The only news I hear in Shanghai is what is on the state run TV news. No one really seems concerned.

BTW, you have mail.

15 posted on 04/20/2003 9:32:21 PM PDT by InShanghai (I was born on the crest of a wave, and rocked in the cradle of the deep.)

Welcome to Free Republic. Thanks for the perspective from China. Keep posting!

I especially like your tagline.

38 posted on 04/22/2003 7:15:05 PM PDT by Semper911 (For some people, bread and circus are not enough. Hence, FreeRepublic.com)

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