Posted on 07/25/2008 2:46:56 AM PDT by robertvance
While Mao’s body has been amazingly preserved since his death in 1976, it seems that his spirit has not survived the test of time. He may lie in eternal peace inside his Mausoleum but the world around him has changed considerably; China is no longer the gray and drab country that it was during Mao’s time. It is now a place where people can dream and then go out and make that dream come true. It is not like the old days. People other than just high government officials can drive cars. Chinese people can do business and store up wealth for themselves. Peasants can go to the university now; finding food to eat is no longer such a grave concern. Just around the corner from where Chairman Mao lies in State, the American restaurant chain McDonald’s is full of Chinese people enjoying greasy food and a cool environment. Inside homes, people can watch Western movies on DVD and even occasionally on state owned television. The world is just a mouse click away for the millions of Chinese people who have access to the Internet. Friends and family are no longer afraid of discussing politics with each other. It is even acceptable to criticize the government behind closed doors. All this is happening as Chairman Mao sleeps peacefully at Tiananmen Square. If only he knew.
(Excerpt) Read more at teachabroadchina.com ...
Is censoring the internet “robust debate”?
No, it's a tribute to us and our system. It really does breed success. (China is yet another economic example, notwithstanding the silly name they give it.) It also breeds hope, better standards of living, etc.
China's government has been eager to implement the economic freedoms, but it reticent to start with the social reforms. This was expected on all sides. Our logic was/is that once the people taste some freedom and success, they'll want more. Many scoff at the notion, but it seems to have some merit. The CCP's current story is that social reforms cannot begin until the economic reforms are stable. I have heard this tired line from MANY of my Chinese friends. They seem to accept the idea, and have some measure of trust in the government. I try to tell them, as often as possible, that if they wait until the economy is utterly stable, the social reforms will never come. (Heck, look at the US economy. When could it be said to have been "totally stable"? In a healthy capitalistic economy, there are downturns... sometimes bad ones.)
Just like Iran (with it's largely pro-Western younger generations), it seems like a victory for the good side is inevitable in the long run... but the bad guys certainly don't want to leave before making a mess of things. Enjoy the good news when you can find it in the media!
Why don’t you tell us about your trips to China, and the changes you’ve seen over the years?
Freerepublic.com is not censored. I spend many hours reading and posting from our layover hotel in Beijing.
China is now Prime SuperFascist State.
All the hallmarks. One political entity, limited individual rights, free speech only when permitted, and a overriding corporate structure with private ownership, along with the military controlling key parts and some not so key, but very, very profitable parts of the economy, an effective domestic police spying apparatus.
This is a tired and old statement quoted many times for those critical of free market reforms in China. It was stated by Lenin a long time ago and has nothing to do with China today.
Only through capitalism, can China raise her standard of living. The US and the West has won the ideological battle. So, it's time to let countries like China prosper as a result.
What is happening with China today reminds me of a documentary I saw about Japan back in 1990 or so (before their decade long recession). It went into detail about Japans post war prosperity. And some discussion about American animosity towards it. At the end of the program, an American business man in Japan said "When we defeated Japan, there were three things we wanted from them, to give up military pursuits, be peace at the world, and to devote their energy to economic pursuits. We got all three and now we're unhappy". He chuckled a little at the end of the quote.
But I see the same thing happening with China. The US and her allies has won the idealogical war. And now, there is an uneasiness about China pursuing the same thing the West is. China is developing increased economic cooperation from countries in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and the Pacific Rim. The exact same thing America is doing. Something that is a result of China abandoning Marxism and embracing capitalism.
Democracy is coming to China for sure. But when it arrives, suspicion and animosity from the US towards China will still be present..... well, at least from today's generation.
I think, in a few decades, China will be a democratic country with a plurality of Christians. It will be the world's biggest democracy, economy and military power.
We will probably be living in a multi-polar world, with China playing the role of a stabilizing regional power in East Asia. That may make people in the US today uncomfortable, but it will probably be a good thing for this country as we won't have to play the role of policemen to the entire world.
BS
I think the US will play the role as the world's policemen even if China does become the larger player (economically) in the world. Only cause America will be so accustomed to it...and China will not be so anxious to fill that role.
This is actually not news. The Chinese are still very anxious to not stand out except in prescribed ways and they still rely on the top Gov’t as the ultimate authority. This might not be Communism and maybe it never was.
“It will be the world’s biggest democracy, economy and military power.”
“China playing the role of a stabilizing regional power in East Asia.”
Wow...lots of Chicom trolls and enablers have signed up in the last couple of months.
Did Lead ChiCom Troll “compound w” send you to this forum?
How could I have read it any other way than to assume you were attacking market reform?
By what measure? Totalitarianism seems to be working out fine for them. Nobody in the international community is even calling them on it anymore. Meanwhile Socialism and Authoritarianism continue their creep into our society.
China's current acceptance, at the moment, of an authortarian government has to do with its efficiency in building up her infrastructure. The Chinese people know, that wranglings can delay major projects through democracy. But there will be a time for it once everything is built.
Pure speculation. I'll see that and raise:
If and when 'democracy' does come to China, it will strongly resemble the 1930's German version..
You're making arguement for arguement's sake. 1930's Germany went from a democracy to a dictorship. China is heading the other way. It went from a dictatorship (Mao) to the current authoritarian government today. And more and more provinces are gaining greater autonomy. Local elections continue to grow. And mass protests are occuring today, something that would have been unheard of just a couple decades ago. And would have been unheard of in 1930's Germany.
My posts are my own and I have no ties to China whatsoever. I’ve never even been to Asia.
I followed it’s trail.
Did you know if you clicked on a person it would tell you when he registered?
I seldom post though at least not in the last few years.
Dali Lama hasn’t been there recently has he. Millions others rot in Chinas political prisons, or are murdered for their organs. Why would I go to a country where what I say will put me in prison and they might just steal my heart literally. I am not insane.
That I haven't seen. I've heard that people caught with these things will have their dishes confiscated and incur heavy fines.
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