Comments (220)

Peacock.

Dish.

Dish washer.

Clampett,

Chicken talking to the duck. It is hard to say who is more frustrated here.

However, hope your message have reached the "truely conscequencial" ones on earth, and intelligent life in non-human forms in the universe.

Good luck.

forgive me, I thought you had understanding.
I had hoped that we could have a meaningful conversation but it is painfully obvious that your mind distorts things too much to make this possible. I never said USA was good for natives, you put that word in yourself. I was referring to freedom loving peoples, I really don't think you would understand what that means.
As for the rests of your post? no need to respond to any of it, it's merely your attempt to support a distorted view anyways. Perhaps my words have reached others that can understand and act acordingly. whether you do or not doesn't really matter. You see, in the grand scheme of things you are truly inconsequential until you find your calling.

BTW - do you think human life is the only 'intelligent' form of life in the universe?

Maya calendar that you mentioned: perhaps they didn't like to handle the 1/4 day the usual way but still regonized the 4 year periodic. That is, they regonized that it will take 1460 years for the calendar to repeat itself. And perhaps this 1460-year period served like some end-point in their calendar.

If they noticed the extra share of the day but didn't arrive at a conlusion of the 4 year periodic (due to some discrepancies in the 1/4 day) then they would have arrived at an infinite sequence ("convergent sequence", please Wiki. no higher math involved). Given the mathematical level of Maya, that is easily possible. In this case, the end-point of their calendar might be the year (or date) where they have decided to cut off the tail of the sequence. I happen to be a mathematician, but I don't know much about historic calendar making and all I know about Maya calendar is your saying, so this is purely a fun guess. However, if your 21.12.2012 has anything to do with Maya calender end-points, then the 1460 years magnitube fits in well. But then if so, it is more technical but mystical. The rest is to locate the beginning point of the calendar, which is likely mystical, and the mysticality of the beginning point could have been carried to its end-point by its intrepraters.

"Enslaved, abuse, torture, poison, enemy of mankind..." How do you have all these in your head? I am not sure if I should be worried about you more or you should be worried about me more. I think you are projecting native Americans' experiences at hands of western powers to China and Chinese people.

People die in many ways, but the only ultimate way is aging, the rest is conditional or accidental. Same with civilizations. I was identifying the ultimate fall of civilization is the civilization over-powering culture. Of course, I can not exhaust all possible ways for the falls of civilizations in a paragraph.

I think you should stop belittling the other side. According to you, I am supposed to be "distorted, poisoned, absued..." and "clumsy" and so. And you don't seem to have any faith in Chinese people. Perhaps you should just have a monologue with youself if we are so hopeless? Unless you think you are Christ.

I don't think you should pretend knowing an other soul too. (like you know how to analize my "subconsciousness") In fact, CG Jung's idea of subcousciouness is very problemetic. It re-ensures the division of the mind (one step further from Decartes' body/mind division). It has a very stronge stamp of western culture. In the ultimate case (for example, enlightenment in the Buddhist sense), the "surface consciouness" is the same as the subcousciousness. It is through.

I think I overestimated your last post of yesterday. I thought there was a change for more objective, friendly attitude.

And there is no "enemy to mankind".

Clampett,

I don't understand how you undertood my saying. I know that USA treats natives badly, but then I heard you saying that USA is already among the beast places for natives. Which means natives are treated even worse is other places, and I feel stronge sympathy for natives for this reason. Why is this hypocritical??

I don't want to argue with your discription of the "racist" me. It is simply unture.

I hope you have respect for Chinese people. Your tone and terms ("enslaved" ...etc.) already sound judgemental to me, yet the same time you criticise me for my sense of superiority. But I am not going to argue the situation of my country and my people with you. If you truely care, you will find out later.

I am not going to argue with China's history either.

"Most advanced civilizations fallen from invasion". Yes, on surface...But then Why did Egypt not fall earlier amid all invasions? Why India and China are still around?

"If at 16 (if even this is true)..." What do you mean??

You really need to stop viewing people in terms of race. The way you use stereotypes to describe everyone around you is quite frightening. If you at 16(if that is even true) have all these unfounded racist views, What are the people that led you to this belief like? I would venture to say they instill a racist view of all others, an air of superiority if you will, in order to mobilize them to fight against their fellow man. You should realize we are all part of the HUMAN race, and any other subdivisions are imagined and contrived merely to manipulate the people for another's benefit.

"Regarding my country, given the tone of your other posts, it still seems that you have a very limmited understanding of it, and your feeling seems very personal". It is merely you being ruled by your subconsious rather than ruling yourself by means of reason. "I thought USA is bad enough for natives, so it is already one of the best? I feel stronge sympathy for your peoples" Can you possibly explain the hypocresy in your statements? In psychology it's called projection, comes from your mind being so damaged from the negative thoughts flooding it, that it starts to blame others for the negative actions that it involves itself in. This is why soldiers get PTSD, the mind becomes so poisoned by the acts of murder and destruction it is forced to take part in that it shuts down. This is natures self defense mechanism to protect creation. Unfortunately, centuries of negative influence have made this mechanism more and more difficult to make work. It's our enemies way of making us destroy ourselves. Quite brilliant if you think about it, effective and efficient too. Yes it's personal, I live on this world, the only one reachable capable of sustaining human life, and those working todestroy it affect me personaly and make my reincarnation even more precarious. Why would it not be personal when my homeworld is being systematically destroyed? Why is it not personal to you? Oh, yea. It is, you just dont realize it because your subconcious works to blind you to truth and valid self exploration.

How can anyone undestand your definition when you have made it as general and open to interpretation as possible? Perhaps something gets lost in the translation, but since it is you trying to use english, it is you that needs to understand it and clarify your meaning. Just taking my definition and making it yours merely shows a lack of imagination and creativity.

Hard to believe your stance on the history of your nation. Was the conquest by the mongols not a complete change in leadership and therefore the nation? Then it was mongolia, not china. And then afterwards, successive lords have owned the country as their own source of personal material wealth. The CCP is merely the latest despotic emperor to enslaven the people of China(and probably the worst).
I can remember china from the experiences recorded in my spirit. Do you get all your information from what the 'dragon' feeds you? Probably very hard to avoid that in your totalitarian nation.

You talk about cultures and civilizations as if you understood what either is, while clumsily avoiding the issue. Do you truly not understand the gravity of the situation, or are you merely trying to help the enemy by working against your fellow human beings?
With very few exceptions, most advanced civilizations have fallen from external invasion. Just look at what happened in my part of the world. Even today, spain argues in court for ownership of a sunken ship loaded with treasure in international waters. Shouldn't that treasure rightfully belong to the native people's of the americas?
Sometimes civilizations implode, but this is usually from the government becoming abusive and exploitative of it's people and those around them, eventually leading to war with other nations or their own people.
Once again, the natural self defense system of nature at work. Everything in nature is geared towards cooperation and advancement in prosperity and happines. Anyone who works against this suffers from natures self defense mechanisms, cancer is very prevalent in our world because of this. Not because of too much organizing, because of too much exploitation. Nature does not like this.

You are just not figuring that out that you can't change peoples views by incesantly repeating a flawed point, insulting and ridiculing them? You sure have alot to learn. The quicker you access the memories stored in your soul, the better off you will be to deal with what is being prepared for us. Just what has been done to the trees and wildlife to understand what will happen to us. Try reading some of your ancient philosophers, they understood what ails us and secretly put in code to help us liberate ourselves. Try meditation and exercise. Do it secretly though, if they see you and understand what you are trying to do, they will accuse you of being a member of Falung Gong and send you to reeducation. BTW- ever heard of anyone coming from reeducation a better person? Or is it merely another prison system designed to brake the will and separate you from your link to spirit?

Perhaps your disdain for Mr. Pomfret comes from the lack of understanding of the english language and your excessive tendency to distort reality. hmmm, I wonder what causees that?

Hope things will work out for all peoples. Don't let your racism exclude others or yourself. We are all on the same ship in the universe, our fates are all linked and it's time we realize that.

I thought USA is bad enough for natives, so it is already one of the best? I feel stronge sympathy for your peoples.

If you understand "treating others like strangers" in my definition for "babarian" properly, you would see that my definition is inclusive with yours in general.

Regarding my country, given the tone of your other posts, it still seems that you have a very limmited understanding of it, and your feeling seems very personal (pardon me if I am wrong). Well I don't defend my country (if you recall my other posts, you may realize that I was merely attacking what I consider fake and hypocritical), my confidence in China's civilization is un-movable, I don't feel the need to defend anything. All I would like to say to you is that Communist China is 60 years old, Chinese China is 5000 years old.

Regarding the loss of ancient cultures, my view is: We should distinguish culture from civilization. "Civilizing" only means organizing. If culture (resulted in nature and life)is like flowers, then civilization is like building a garden to organize them. Progress of civilization means overly organizing, that is overly garden building smothers the flowers and thus finally kills the flowers: Culture. This is the Daoist view. Most large civilizations didn't escape this fate. Modern western civilization is much more organized and much more organizing than any others ever... Well, I should stop saying any further...

Though I have figured that I can not change your view (and everyone else in here), and in fact not truely intested in Pomfret's site (I think he is a hypocrite), but most meaningfully, your last post is friendly. I hope this final post of mine looks friendly to you too.

Hope things will work out for natives and blacks.

Unless you are in my head, you have no idea what my world view is. Even the few things I've mentioned you have distorted. Not a good thing, but very common these days.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I am not white or from the US. I am native american from the southern hemisphere.

Unfortunately, the US has taken a very bad route of late. This is quite bad for all of us, since the US was one of the last places where we were less exploited. The Bush administration and to some extent the Clinton administration changed that.

Your definition of barberian is a bit simplistic. To me barberians are those that take advantage of others because they are in a better economic position or a more advanced place in education(strange, some people can go to school, get a degree and be very successful, and still act like an uneducated fool). These are the people that pay a few cents an hour on a contract that gives him enough to pay a few dollars. This person doesn't care that the employee doesn't even make enough to feed his family and has to live in squallor while he lives in a mansion, drives a mercedes and has more money saved that he or his children can spend in their lifetimes. Those that have poor manners, and rude behaviour, those are the ones that have become modern day barberians.
But don't judge them too harshly. The conditions set up for life are much different than they were in the past. It was easier to live the right way before this thing that affects us started barbarizing the population. Don't let it make you it's victim as well.

I really like chinese history and culture. I feel i must have lived there before in a much happier time when I traveled this wonderful world of ours. Did you know that most of earth's true history has been thoroughly erased and distorted? Here in the americas we had some very advanced knowledge about healing and the way the world works. Under the guise of religion, all those works were destroyed. Same with egypt and other great lands. It is sad that the same has happened to china.
One culture I find extremely interesting are the maya. It is spellbinding to me that the maya, with all their knowledge and undesrtanding of nature, would make a calendar with a definate beginning and end. I always wonder why they gave it an end rather than leaving it open as all other calendars.
Perhaps it is a timer rather than merely a calendar.
What is it that it is trying to tell us?

My apology for the "give up on you" phrase.

No, I don't think of Mongols or Tibetans as "barbarians". I already defined it "a modern day barbarian is someone who treats everybody else like strangers". You again have an assumption at me.

Yes, I have certainly stronge negative feels about many things(but not everything like you said) western and especially that of US, but justifiably I believe. I think many of these things I don't like are among those that have led you to your vision of today's world.

However, do hope you read my last post.

BTW - your racism and hatred for all things american, or western rather, only you know what that means (I imagine you use it to describe anyone not of asian origin), evidences itself in just about every post. Too bad that you seem to recognize the things that need to be done, yet don't recognize when you are doing the opposite. Why is that? Does you subconscious not allow you to recognize your own shortcomings? best of luck with that girlie.

I find it hillarious that you would try to teach the ways of spirit to someone whose been there and back many times. But it is rather amusing to see your brain spinning itself in circles over something you know nothing about. Perhaps one day you will understand, perhaps not.

Don't make negative assumptions about you, how can you possibly ask that when that is all that you do? Absolutely no common sense.

I picked mongol because I know that there's no way you are tibetan, they understand the value of politeness, not jumping to conclusions and following the middle way. I used mongol because I know you HUns... pardon me HANs, have much dislike for those people, consider them barberians... mainly because they took over china and turned it into a prosperous, peaceful nation. Kublia the great is a father of chinese cultured tradition, brought cleanliness and prosperity to the people. Quite the opposite of the Chairman you seem to have such admiration for.

So you give up on me? wow, should I feel hurt, my feelings damaged? Talk about full of pride in yourself. You give up all you want my friend. We will not until earth is free from it's tormentor.
I would answer directly to your last post, but why even bother reading it, you don't have much to say that isn't loaded with negativity anyway. Why bother reading filth, it only serves to poison the well. Go ahead, keep drinking the water, does it make you tingle with pride when you post it? Watch out, pretty soon, you'll be completely under it's control. The good news is, it's easy to eliminate it, just travel the righteous path and do good for others, spirit rewards those that do so without expectation of reward.

Peace, wish you luck in your endeavours and prosperous life. Drop your selfishness and it can be achieved.

OK, Spiritual Clampett, I have another hour. Random answers to your points:

I don't distain prositudes in the street for at least it could happen to me. If you want to enlighten me, don't make negative assumptions about me. I pointed out already: Treating one like a stranger is Barbaric. Spritual communication can not happen between a barbarian and his stranger (pardon me for these terms). If you consider me "a stupid ass" (your word), you can't give me "freedom" (your phrase). Your whole world view is negative, but then logically you can not help the world. Simply put, you can't help someone or something if you don't trust him or it and thinks he or it is stupid.

Unlike you said, I am not done with my world view at all. I am constantly shocked by others' maturity and natural gifts. But unfortunately you and Pomfret and many arrogant western posters here don't happen to be among my inspirations. I am forever in the mindset of a student, which I consider, the most spiritual mindset. But I can be rudely unforgiving when I am faced with things I consider hopycritical or fake. Facing these things, I am as firm as Egypt's pyramid, but when I am faced with the truthful and real, I am as patient as China's Great Wall.

China's situation today is the end point of the sequence of self defenses from western powers(and the westernized Japan and perhaps Russia). You don't have to sympathize us, but cursing is not appreciated. China is China, not an entity in your grand spiritual chess board. We were there with the Egyptians, and we are still here when the Egyptians are no more here. And we will still be here when "westerners" will bebome an undefinable identity. If you want to help SINCERELY AND RESPECTFULLY, welcome, we will HELP YOU TO HELP. If with an attitude, we don't need it, we don't need YOUR HELP TO HELP.

Your whole attitude is "I am a good man" kind of attitude, a typical one with the white men. Which is very none-spiritual, and will be in-effective in practice. If you are indeed an Inca (whatever persent, I am not good with non-Chinese last names), I think you have been brain-washed by the white men's culture. I don't believe an Inca who chants to the Sun would hold this mannerism.

You claim morality, but you don't understand Ethics (at least in the Confucian scense). Ethics is a sort like mutual morality (impersonal morality). Yes, morally speaking, Hitler can criticise Bush for his Irap invasion, but not ethically speaking, unless Hitler confesses his own sins and has himself morally reborn first. And even then he must approach Bush in a humble, appologizing, friendly way, never in a protesting, shouting, spitting, disrespecful way. Unfortunately, this is the way of the westerners as edvident in events of the last few months whom I openly called in my other post "unconfessing descendants of slave owners, global colonists, genociders, war profiteers, on going invaders..." Such behavior is automatically considered by Chinese people as insincere, hypocritical, barbaric, rude, un-cultured and will be recieved with contempts. The Communists have not destroyed our culture all, we still have this minimal intelligence and dignity to tell the real and the fake, and sincere and the intended. Cultural differences? Maybe, but I myself consider this Confucian ethical principle universal and a measure of the degree of culture of a people. I am sorry to say that western people have failed my test. I hope your people understand that.

The west is watching China, indeed, but China is watching the west too. The image of the west is a very bad one as well. Contempt from oneside is bad enough, mutual contempt should be worse. I hope you and your people understand this as well.

(This post is intended for Pomfret and many western posters in this site as well.)

Spiritual Clampett,

Before I give up, I think I should add one last thing since you spoke of Dalai's Buddhism a lot, I should let your effort un-answered.

I am not Buddha himself, but I am quite sure he would be against the Tibetan tradition of how spirituality and politics mixed together (like that in the medieval Europe). In fact, there is a rule in at least pure-land Buddhism: When one declares oneself as the return of a former Buddha, he must leaves the world immidiately. If still stick around (let alone claiming ruling power), one is judged as fake and most seriously sinned (since in pursuit of things in name of Buddha). In this sense, "living Buddha" is an immpossible concept since no one should know until the very last moment of the self-declared one. I am not judging the spiritual legitimacy of Dalai and BanChan or the validity of the whole Tibetan system. Creativity and modification are allowed in the spiritual world I suppose. Dalai has immpressed the west in this popularity mostly as a result of the spiritual poverty of the westerners and his political roll but the universality of the Tibetan version of Buddhism. The western men are like a farmer who one day picks up a piece of gold in the field, and thinks this is the only treasure in the world.

Essential Buddhism is also against pursueing supper natural power and any form of mysticism (this is actually a western term) for they lead to wonders, excitements and confussions (dis-harmony of events in the space-time continuum in western modern language) but peace among the common men. Many followers went side way on that. In this sense, Buddhism is also against prophecies (so, no 21.12.2012) since prophecies are a form of wonder in the temperal dimension.

There are many more later similar additives along the developements of Buddhism after the Buddha's time. And many of those things are supposed to be removed as to return Buddhism to its truthful form (which is plain, simple, easy and flat).

Spiritual Clampett,

Thanks for the long post, effort alone is appreciated.

I typed a long post too but it got lost. With it I exlpained my "comprehension" and some other things. I don't have the mood to type it again.

I don't hate white people. I hate only their unconfessing stubborn hypocrisy. I was returning the term they created: "white men".

You should litsen to yourselve: all those words "hatred", "torture" etc. Who is imaginging at whom? Who is putting things in whose mind?

Well, if you teach your tradition, I would understand the Chant better. However I intreprated the chant in a possitive respectful way. You are full of negative assumptions on me, my country and my people. I don't think your understanding of us is even nearly as good as my understanding of the American chant, and not nearly as respectfully.

Dalai Lama is a respectable person but he is not the only sage in the world. Giving too much political weight on "an ordinary monk" (his own word) is already outstripping his spiritual weight.

Buddhism isn't the only spiritual tradition. And since you used the term "God", I should point out that there is no God in Buddhism, not that I am challenging anything.

Anti-China (or Chinese) or not is not important. China or Chinese are not anti-able. I am here for you, not China.

Not 14 but 16 (that is already 17 or 18 by Chinese tradition).

If you mock me as "little mongol in the village", why not "Little Tibetan in the mountain"? Mongols and Tibetans became parts of China's world in similar ways and in the similar time.

"Papertiger" is Mao's word for the capitalistic west in his time. Not that I like him, only that I am seeing the same as he saw. Only this time it is in the moral sphere.

I am giving up on you.

Amazing, your imagination is working overtime, and usually imagines terrible things from others. You think I'm antichinese because I want to see the oppressor gone from this planet. I guess you enjoy having your fellow humans as enslaved as you are to the powers of hatred.
No matter. We will have our planet back one way or another. All contracts are off, They've cheated, lied and stolen the spirits of my bretheren and for that that will not be allowed to go home with their prize.

Your simple little mind and totally blackened spirit. I doubt you will ever understand that other humans are not your enemy. Your blindness will never allow you to see what it is that turns brother against brother merely to profit another. You can't possibly see that the prostitute down the street you disdain so, is actually a victim of human slavery and exploitation, just like you, merely in a more extreme level.

Here's a little piece that you probably won't accept or even begin to understand. The chanting of the native americans was done to THANK spirit for the rising and setting of the sun, and to ask spirit to never allow the cycle to end. Christians misrepresented this because of their lack of understanding and voidance of a connection with spirit. The fact that you believe the same way belies the same lack of connection or even willingness to understand. Of course you wouldn't understand that, in your simple little world, you are the epitomy of all and could not even conceive of a higher power. Hell, your beloved CCP won't even allow you to consider there may be anything more powerful than it. Why? because a slave must recognize it's master, while a student listens to his teacher and acts the way spirit commands, always knowing that his will allows him independance. The state does not allow independant thinking. Machines don't like individuality. Spirit on the other hand encourages it, to the point that one day you will achieve true freedom and perhaps will return to this existance to help others.

Of course, it seems obvious you already have your mind made up about what everything is in the world. Quite a feat for a 14 year old. Now that you have nothing to learn and nothing more to achieve, isn't your life done and now your body needs to start the process of destruction? That is exactly what you are telling your body with the negativity and hardheadedness. Good Job, genious. Look up EPIGENOME.

BTW- the whole planet is my home. First and foremost I am Terran, and I seek freedom for all my people, including your stupid ass. I will do anything to protect my teacher and protector, including helping her bring on the floods to wash it clean again if it becomes necessary. you see little boy, we understand our permanence on this world and won't give it up for shiny little toys, we know that our next life may be as a rabbit, but even so, we will still be bringing REAL life back to TERRA. We understand fully well what it means that the Dalai is in it's 14th encarnation. And also what it means that China has turned on it's once cherished spiritual advisers even to the extent of hatred.
It comes from fear of having to share control and thereby profits, eventually, they will do to you exactly what you describe, enslaven you and commit total genocide, seems your past and culture where given an almost fatal blow by the cultural revolution.
You are merely describing your own future... perhaps you should learn to cultivate that ability to foretel. You may be able to find your hidden ability and actually help protect your people instead of merely spewing hatred and the voice of the true enemy of humanity.

Spiritual Clampett,

Not interested in your history. Enough to know that you consider yourselve Proud Inca Warrior (though just 1%). Then I have one last suggestion:

Since the whole USA is the real Tibet resulted in complete, succussful genocides and cultural genocides by the white men, perhaps you should follow the example of your hero Dalai Lama: Claim America back from the white men (political independence or not, but cultural independence at least). But I am afraid this time CNN and BBC won't be as cooperative as they have been in the Chinese case since you will undermine their world and resurface their shameful history. And most likely you will end up in their prisons.

Or, then, you could teach your culture to the world: the languages, the chanting, the arts etc., then Chinese will learn from you. Whether chanting will keep the sun rise the next day is less important, but the spirit is right. Why don't you teach this to the white men (C. G. Jung was humbled and shamed by how sick his own culture was as he realized the purpose of the chanting)? Forgetting your anscenstors and jointing those who have enslaved and murdered them in bashing a "distant" (your word) nation (I suppose you are as far from me as I am far from you) by pretending knowing it, what kind of proud Inca you are. Your anscenstors won't approve this behavior.

well well, the little mongol thinks he knows people at a distance. He's never been too far out of his village, but he thinks because I can write in english I must be a native born american. Well, I am, but not USA american. MORON!!
Do you not have enough comprehension of the world to understand that the internet allows us to be anywhere we wish without actually being there?
Here's a little point... though it may fly over your head since youre so 'grounded'. I never said the world would end. I guess in your imagination you read something else into it. This is a lack of comprehension caused by the incessant negative voice in your head. Get rid of it and you may start realizing what the right way is. You may even understand the wisdom of the Dalai when he says the middle way is the right way.
Your jumping to conclusions causes you a great disservice. You'll always be mislead by the voice in your head, when you should be listening to your heart.
You see, even though humanity may not be here in the same numbers, or perhaps completely extinct, depending on it's actions over the next few years. the choice depends on humans understanding what the true enemy of mankind is.
If you didn't spend you time simply negating what others have to say and actually read in the way the ancients did, listening to the writer rather than your own voice, you may actually be able to gather knowledge, instead of spewing out misinformation given to you by those who wish to abuse you.

By the way, I do not believe in the validity of the term "white men" either. Yet who have invented it? I am only using the word that you are the most familiar with (the non-Inca-warrior part of you). Karma, in Miss. Sharon Stone's terminology.

More, if the 1% Inca counts in you, then go to USA and help the natives. The whole USA is the real, true, complete Tibet with true and completted genocide and cultural genocide! Natives have become a minority in their homeland in "special regions" (or casinoss?)! What are you 1% Inca warrior doing here in a white man's China bashing website and preaching to whom??

Psycho!

"An Inca warrior"?! 1%? Like anyone in USA with some African blood is black? If you were an Inca warrior, then ask your anscestors who the enimies to mankind is?! Who destroyed the American civilizations!? A white man hiding behind his 1% Inca doesn't make him an Inca warrior!

Speaking of original American culture (that I respect very much), when CG Jung traveled across it he saw a group natives chanting everyday the same time to the Sun, and only found out that it was their ritual to chant to the sun so that it will rise again the next day and so that the world will live to immortality. And you! "World ends on 21.12.2012"! A Roman! that is what you are! A spiritual terrorist! That is what what you are!

And by the way, I'm a proud inca warrior, nothing to do with your white/red/yellow/brown/black labelists. So you can stop your racist rants, they do not affect me or even identify me, so take your prejudicial nature back to the hell planet your masters came from.
When you grow past your teens, perhaps you can have some informed opinion. Right now, it is merely the ranting of a snotty nosed youngster that knows nothing of the REAL world and is too stupid to realize it. What's worse, you take the word of the enemy of humanity as if it was gospel. Hope you become enlightened soon, the alternative is not very nice.

Well, seems that with that last post you show your true nature. Not much good or classy there, huh? perhaps you should have spent some time studying the philosophy of confucious or perhaps the DaoJing instead of poetry.

What you life experience was like is inconsequential you ASS. I don't give a rat's left nut if you studied under the rocks of the highest temples in shangri-la, you've obviously learned only the bad lessons in life. It is obvious you have nothing more to offer than vileness and stupidity, so much so, that you can't even recognize when an ancient is trying to warn you about what is about to happen to the world.
If you would realize that you are oppossed to my warning my fellow men because you have already been unwittingly enlisted to help the enemy of mankind, as so many others greater than you have, perhaps you would stop your soulless-feline behaviour... perhaps not. Either way. you picked the right nickname... a violent actor that tries to look tough but actually has no substance.

Hey, Spiritual terrorist Clampett,

F**k you!

(Regonize this standard high class English? That shows my "stature" "great knowledge" and my grand "comprehension" for you...) (Pomfret, Don't even think of deletting this comment. I am only answering to Clampett's pertension. Enlightenment sometimes requires ear-pulling, face-slapping, butt kicking etc. It is part of Zen Buddhism. Since you are a China expert, you must know and respect this tradition.)

And what "stature" "great knowledge" you are talking about? I am from the village having only a middle school diploma so far. And what "comprehension" you are bragging about?

"Great knowledge" "stature" "comprehension" all these are created by you right here and hence you are pretending them.

Spiritual terrorist Clampett,

What "tortured mind"? I am young and happy. I spent the first 14 years of my life in the peaceful village with loving parents and Tang dynasty poetry and the last few years among teachers that I reapected infinitely and friends/classmates whose talents and maturity take me by great suprises constantly. I thounght each country in the world was as old as China and each had its own language as beautiful as Chinese. If I suffer any "mind torture" at all, it came with my interaction with the white men. A white American "friend" always asked me "Are there black people in China?...". It took me very long time to have realized that he looked down at blacks with contempts but had no guts to addmit it and thus wanted to lure me into saying bad things against them. Who else would do this sort of sneaky things but your sneaky white men? This sort of experience is indeed a "mind torture" for me. It is like poison in my memory!

As well, thanks to white men like you or Pomfret and some if not many others for having inspired me a updated modern definition for Barbarian: A BARBARIAN IS ONE WHO TREATS EVERYBODY ELSE LIKE A STRANGER! And here you Roman barbarians teach morality and spitituality to your Chinese strangers! Before you care about Chinese or Hans or Tibetans, perhaps you should learn to be a bit nicer to your classmates, sisters, parents, teachers etc. A spiritual barbarian is still a barbarian. As long as you stay a barbarian, others will always stay strangers to you! So, wake up! white men! "A journey of thousands of li actualized with the first step"! The fisrt step is in you! Show some respects to the world and some patience with yourselves!

If you chose to stick in your end-of-the-world mind world, fine! Don't TORTURE others' minds with it. Speaking of "tortured mind"! Perhaps, western civilization should indeed end on 21.12.2012 like you psycho have decided, it is your bussiness, don't stab it at others like a barking gladiator since the children in the village still need to go to sleep!

Perhaps your inner voice doesn't allow you to recognize a warning, a call to change for the better. Your tortured mind doesn't even allow you the benefit of comprehension. Since you are wound up like a spring, any little vibration makes you release energy without direction or valid purpose.

It's interesting how history and natures teachings hold true. Those that think themselves and portray themselves as having great knowledge typically have neither stature nor knowledge and typically, very little capacity for comprehension.

So all these time I have been talking with psychos?? Stupid me!!!!!!!!

What is wrong with your people? I can't really figure it out. What a terrible mind world you live in. No wonder you always feel the need to harm others. You are like Mike Tyson with AIDS, all you can do is beating others since this is your only ways to feel strong. When left alone, you know that you are hopeless.

How pitiful with this end-of-world attitude.

A few years back in middle school, I even defended western civilization and western personality against some friends. Stupid me!! As it is made clear by now, You folks are just a bunch of hypocritcal, desperate descendants of the Roman barbarians.

Good Bye.

Another embarrassing end-of-world threat.

White men's spirituality... Spiritual barbarianism or spiritual terrorism.

Or we just have a psycho here.

Romans, Romans...

After Dec 21, 2012 it will all belong to God again. The ones who have survived will learn to work as teams and in unison once again or perish. Nature will once again rule the earth as it has always done. Man, in his insane attempt to work against nature, bend her to his will, destroy it's creations will ultimately seal his fate. Humanity will recognize in the most dificult of ways that it was better to comprehend and copy nature instead of trying to master her. The result will always be the same. She will always win.

So go ahead, continue using inflamatory language to cause dischord and anymosity. Enjoy your time making life hard for others. You won't have much more time to do it. You will soon find out how much deception has been cast on the people of earth and what the consequences of following that deception are.

First and foremost realize that the energy of human life cannot be destroyed. It can only be dissipated or consumed or re-materialized. If you give up your energy to materialism and wealth rather than nature and community, you will be removed from the system and used as fuel for our tormentors. You don't have much time. Work now to change your own outlook and core personality to something positive or you will be picked up by the magnet that attracts all things negative.

Papertiger writes, "Indeed. Thanks. Yet 9/11 and Katrina have failed to do the same to USA's heart. Perhaps you should write an article on it, which may be more beneficial for your own people. Don't you think?"

Interesting response...and worthy of consideration. But the unwillingness to engage the issue in this blog, which is named "Pomfret's China" (not Pomfret's America, or Pomfret's Views of World Trends), suggests that Papertiger is unwilling to look in the mirror. In his response, he immediately deflects attention from consideration of China, its government and society -- this is strange, given that this blog is devoted to considering just this subject.

Ostensibly, people who visit this blog do so to debate the issues addressed in Pomfret's blog posting. Papertiger's response suggests that he visits this blog merely to deflect attention from China by casting aspersions on the United States.

Surely, there are a multitude of blogs devoted to addressing US problems and shortcomings -- this is what a free press ensures. Why does Papertiger choose this blog to sing his one note tune?

>

China can be a "normal country" next year but not this year.

Too many unusual things happening this year.

To Pomfret:

"Earthquake Revives China's Heart."

Indeed. Thanks. Yet 9/11 and Katrina have failed to do the same to USA's heart. Perhaps you should write an article on it, which may be more beneficial for your own people. Don't you think?

To that Anonymous: Tibet is one part of China,no matter how you clamor and badmouth China for this and that and try to be a smart ass making cute remarks here. You only represent you and you only.

You are welcome to be a ethereal creatures here.If one day you want your incarnation,you still have to suffering the pain on your ass in this world.

Let's see what your cute and ingenious retort would be .But sadly,I will not ever pay a dim and another second to come back to read it. Cheer up.You are always the last one hanging in here,and in this ense,you are the winner. Congratualtion!

RKS, are you talking about your dearest U.S.A.?

Under no circumstances you should use conclusive phases like "this country" or "the people" to describe a certain group of peoples' behaviours. Thanks.

This country is not changing. They will continue to swing wildly between bouts of fanatic xenophobia and overblown attempts to portray themselves as a "normal" country. A normal country they are not. They are a bunch of people living in the Matrix, the state needs their bodies but demands their brains (the property of being able to think for themselves) remain turned off.

China detains critic of schools collapsed by quake

"A retired Chinese schoolteacher who criticized the construction of schools that collapsed in last month's powerful earthquake has been detained."

Police detained Zeng Hongling in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, on charges of "inciting state subversion,"

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gBr_dOzJ9Pnc_U9gSgtTgE-cR-KwD91CEGP80

Anonymous said:"whahahahaha! whahaha! whahahaha.. you are such butthurt biatch.. hahahaha.."

Dear anonymous, your words are hurtful. Goodbye

With regards to feelings of self-importance and self-righteousness, I think western media as a whole committed more of this than the communist party during the Tibet riots.

Chinese dissident who criticized authorities has been detained for allegedly possessing state secrets

"The watchdog group Human Rights in China said Tuesday that Huang was detained June 10 after visiting areas affected by a powerful May 12 earthquake centered in Sichuan and writing about parents who lost their children."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/17/news/China-Online-Dissent.php

Security agents hoping to prevent displays of defiance jogged alongside Olympic torchbearers Tuesday as the flame began its journey through China's restive West, drawing cheers from carefully controlled crowds.

Police and troops closely watched thousands of onlookers, hand-picked by officials, as they waved the national flag and shouted "Go China!" from behind metal barriers in Urumqi, the capital of the predominantly Muslim Xinjiang region. Sniffer dogs patrolled Muslim areas while torchbearers high-fived each other as they passed the flame.

Organizers urged a "safe and orderly viewing of the relay" through a state-run newspaper.

Although the Olympic torch has had a smooth run in China — uninterrupted by the protests over Tibet and human rights that hounded parts of its international tour — stops in Xinjiang and Tibet are the most sensitive, and the precautions underscore Beijing's concerns.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gEtQD-yS0Xp4_sizYjZ8SE7bG_1gD91BML0O1

___I love Dalai Lama too, he looks cool.

whahahahaha! whahaha! whahahaha.. you are such butthurt biatch.. hahahaha..

__My tibetan college friend left our college last semester because he broke up with his girlfriend here

hahahahaha.. delisious! hahahahahaha..

China's Ethnic Tension Isn't Limited to Tibet

"Tension in Xinjiang Remains High Between Local Turkic Uighurs and Han Settlers"

http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB120735402342591389.html

Anonymous said:"hahahahahah.. "previous tibetan college" hahahaha.. "

Dear Anonymous, what is it so funny about this one? My tibetan college friend left our college last semester because he broke up with his girlfriend here (his girlfriend said he fell in love with another girl, but he said she was cheating on him, so who knows)and he decided to transfer to another college to continue his study, and of course, continue driving his BMW in Beijing.

Anonymous said :"its already noted here, you idiot."

Dear Anonymous, can i just love being called a "dump idiot" again and again by you? It makes me happier when i hear it again!! I love you....a lot.

I love Dalai Lama too, he looks cool. But if he can take his glasses off and not looking so nerdy, he'll look even cooler! Maybe he should try contact lens or laser eye surgeries.

Interesting summary of latest interview of DL.
What makes him change his position ?
DL: "To be part of China is good for Tibetans. We do not want self-governed. We just want the rights guaranteed within the frame-work of Chinese Constitution. Greater Tibet, Inner Tibet, Smaller Tibet. It does not matter. As long as Tibetans are granted the right guaranteed by Chinese Constitution where-ever they live, it should be fine. "
That is a very reasonable request.
DL said he just want to go back and be a monk from now on.
Wow.
Interesting piece.

Authorities in China's troubled far-western region of Xinjiang are telling people who want to watch the Olympic torch as it passes through the area to stay at home and tune into the television instead.

In other parts of China spectators have thronged streets to get a glimpse of the torch relay, but in Xinjiang they have been banned from climbing trees or collecting on bridges under which the flame will pass, state media said on Monday.

"Considering that too many people will cause a lack of safety, we are recommending that everyone watches on the television from home," the official Xinjiang Daily quoted the Communist Party boss of the region's sports administration, Li Guangming, as saying.

"The government expects tens of thousands of people will shout encouragement on the streets who have come in groups with their work units," Li said.

___Dear Anonymous, how do you know tibetans are not rich?

hahahahahahaha.. dumb question hahahaha

__My previous tibetan college mates were driving BMWs in Beijing while we were all paddling on our bikes.

hahahahahah.. "previous tibetan college" hahahaha..

hahahahahaha "while we were all paddling" hahahahahah

__so yes i am a dumb idiot. Haha. I love you, very much!

its already noted here, you idiot.

Anonymous said:"btw. tibetans are not chinese you dumb idiot"

Dear Anonymous, i love it when you called me "dumb idiot". hahaha, so much of fun. I know where to buy nice clothes and makeups because i love shopping and hanging out with my girlfriends but i really dont know much about politics and religions and boring stuff like those.... so yes i am a dumb idiot. Haha. I love you, very much!

Anonymous said:"hahahahaha.. yeahh sure.. thats why they have money to buy a student and tourist visa.. hahahahaha so rich tibetans are.. hahahahaha.."

Dear Anonymous, how do you know tibetans are not rich? My previous tibetan college mates were driving BMWs in Beijing while we were all paddling on our bikes. hahahaha. I love you.

--Btw, they might as well come from Tibet province, you'll never know, hahahaha.

hahahahaha.. yeahh sure.. thats why they have money to buy a student and tourist visa.. hahahahaha so rich tibetans are.. hahahahaha..

btw. tibetans are not chinese you dumb idiot

_And with 1.3 billion people in China, you can always find many disadvantaged and ripped off Chinese no matter how much economic boom we are going through.

gosh.. another stupid idiot, who doesnt know when he talks about LEGAL immigration and when about ILLIGAL immigration.

<<South Korea is no dirty barbarian place like many toilets

tell that not me tell that chinese

Anonymous asked:"Why are they going into dirty and barbarian Korea when their homeland has such great cultural claims and is economicaly booming?"

Dear Anonymous, South Korea is no dirty barbarian place like many toilets (a s**t hole in the ground)in Tibet province. And with 1.3 billion people in China, you can always find many disadvantaged and ripped off Chinese no matter how much economic boom we are going through. Btw, they might as well come from Tibet province, you'll never know, hahahaha.

AN INCREASING number of Chinese tourists to South Korea's Jeju Island are being turned away and flown home, say airport immigration police.

Up to 257 people have been refused entry to the island since February, when Chinese tourists were allowed visa-free entry to Jeju.

The new policy has attracted more Chinese tourists, but immigration authorities in South Korea have been strictly supervising travelers.

In the 14 months before February, 13 Chinese were repatriated to Pudong International Airport by South Korean authorities who suspected their reason for visiting was "not in line with a tourist visit," said airport immigration police.

In the four months since February, up to 257 Chinese were turned back from the island.

On April 12, a record 44 Chinese travelers were repatriated from Jeju Island, said immigration police.

After questioning, local police found some travelers had intended to overstay their trip and work in South Korea, but other passengers might have been innocent, they said.

Reasons for repatriation included not having bookings at a local hotel, failing to carry enough funds and being dressed badly, they said.

Pudong immigration authority advised Chinese travelers to use professional travel agencies, book hotels in advance, and understand immigration rules before setting off to avoid trouble.

----------------------------------------------

why are they going into dirty and barbarian Korea when their homeland has such great cultural claims and is economicaly booming?

The investigation on school buildings collapsed during earthquake had been widely reported within Chinese media within China.

In one report, all parties invovled in the design and construction of the building (which was built back in 80s) were interviewed -- and the basic conclusion is the lack of financial resources to build earthquake-resistant buildings.

Just passing by...

Dear Anonymous,

As i said, you are soooooo adorable.....hahahaha

Dear Anonymous,

As i said, you are sooooooo adorable......hahahahaha

XOXOXO

English excerpt: Full implementation of free religious belief

Chinese President Hu Jintao in December 2007 reiterated a policy of free religious belief while stressing law-abiding management on religious affairs and support to self-governance of religious groups.

Hu, also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the statement at a meeting of the members of the Political Bureau of the 17th CPC Central Committee in their study on religious issues at home and abroad.

"We shall fully carry out the Party's policy of free religious belief and manage the relevant affairs in line with the law," he said.

The Party and government shall encourage believers of all religions to keep their patriotic tradition and contribute to the development of Chinese society and unification of the motherland, he said.

China's management of religion would be based on human understanding, he said, adding mutual respect was a must.

"The Party and government shall reach out to religious believers in difficulties and help them through their problems," he said.

Hu also stressed the training and promotion of religious professionals, saying that the CPC would help and support religious groups to improve self governance, voice the opinions of its followers and protect their legal rights and interests.

The CPC is atheistic but allows freedom of religious beliefs. China is home to 100 million religious faithful, largely Buddhists, Taoists, Christians, Catholics and Islamites.

At the 17th CPC National Congress ending in late October, the Party for the first time in its history has mentioned the word "religion" in an amendment to its Constitution.

To incorporate into its Constitution the principles and policies the Party has formulated for guiding efforts to strengthen the work related to ethnic and religious affairs, among others, is conducive to their full implementation and getting better results in the Party's work in this area, said a resolution on the amendment to the Constitution.

The CPC recognized that religions are a constant for a long time in the Chinese socialist society, Hu said at Wednesday's meeting.

To properly understand and manage the religious affairs was vital to the work of the Party, the peace and stability of Chinese society and the process to build a moderately prosperous society of all respects, he said.

Mandarin article
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2007-12/19/content_7281396.htm

Gorbachev calls for Russia to bury Lenin's embalmed body

http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USL04548404

We read in ”Chinese parents bitter over collapsed schools”by Christopher Bodeen that the Beijing authorities admit that both builders and architects ignored implementing the quake resistant steel and cement reinforcements needed to protect against collapses. We learn from Jill Drew in “Picking up the pieces” that a professor at Tongji University in Shanghai and a member of the Ministry of Construction's rescue expert team, who examined debris at Juyuan Middle School, where nearly 900 students were crushed to death, found that the steel rods were of very inferior standards.

So, how did this happen? Why did this happen?

The same authorities in Beijing as previously mentioned have promised to “punish severely those who were responsible” for the shoddy school constructions which often left the local school the only collapsed and crumbled edifice in the area. The Vice Mayor of Deyang, a city in Sichuan province also promises that within a month the investigation will conclude and trials begun to prosecute the guilty parties. Time will tell and our steadfast reporters will be there to find out; that is if the investigations take place, that is if the trials takes place, that is if those responsible will be punished and, finally, that is if the Chinese Communist government allows freedom of the press.

How this Chinese Communist government deals with this abominable story of human malfeasance and corruption will foretell the lifeline of the Chinese Communist Party. If they do the right thing they may last but if they lie and cover-up their days will assuredly be numbered.

To China Rose:

some languages count Rose as synonymous for Ar,sehole. Nice to know, you chinese ar,sehole.

Police cordoned off schools destroyed in China's devastating earthquake one month ago from Thursday, apparently on alert for protests by parents demanding investigations into whether shoddy construction played a role in their children's deaths.

Police barred entry to at least two towns where schools collapsed, despite an assurance by authorities that unfettered media coverage would be allowed. In the town of Juyuan, a reporter from Singapore's Straits Times newspaper was detained by police and forced to return to the provincial capital of Chengdu, about an hour away.

About a dozen police and paramilitary troops guarded the gate of Juyuan's destroyed middle school, while a crowd of about 50 gathered outside. It wasn't clear whether any parents of dead children were present.

The security measures underscore how public anger over the deaths of so many children has unnerved authorities.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/06/12/china.quake.ap/index.html

Peace to Tibet! Peace to China!

"Free Tibet" is the latest trendy, Cadel Evans obviously doesn't want to miss out on that. It's so fashionable to wear a "FREE TIBET" t-shirt now that people realize shouting "Get out of Iraq" is time wasting and no longer trendy.

I wonder what will be next fashion icon for the second half of 2008, "Biofuel" or "Green"? Guys please keep me updated so that i wont fall out of fashion. THX :-)

As for ANONYMOUS, i dont know why you guys have a problem with him? I think he's kind of cute when he's barking like a puggy and tail wagging sometimes, so adorable....

THE cycling star Cadel Evans has stepped up his support for Tibet by creating a fund-raising scheme that could put him under scrutiny from the Chinese Government at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Evans is poised to start selling specially made T-shirts emblazoned with "Free Tibet'' to raise funds for the organisation behind the cause.

The outspoken cyclist will try to become the first Australian to win the three-week Tour de France starting on July 5. He already has the Free Tibet organisation link on his website, has approved the use of a photo of him wearing a "Free Tibet'' T-shirt on the Australian edition of the official Tour de France guide and he sponsors a Tibetan child.

"It is something I have felt strongly about for a while. It is an idea I had for a while,'' Evans told the Herald from France, where he competed yesterday in his final Tour lead-up race, the Dauphine Libere stage.

"Trying to bring awareness of the Tibet movement is something someone in my position can do. I just feel really sorry for them. They don't harm anyone and they are getting their culture taken away from them.

"I don't want to see a repeat of what happened to Aboriginal culture [in Australia] happen to another culture.''

http://www.smh.com.au/news/general/evans-gears-up-for-a-free-tibet-tour/2008/06/13/1213281291062.html

I don't know why you guys want to bother with anonymous. He is obviously a mentally ill person. It is a waste of time debating with him. Just ingore him. He will go away.

China urges Sudan to settle Darfur crisis

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?page=imprimable&id_article=27491

Financial Times interviewed the exiled Dalai Lama of Tibet on May 24, 2008

http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto052520081343481484

Canada apologises for assimilation policy of native children

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/12/content_8350724.htm

"Anonymous:Americans are the worst kind. It stints "

Dear Anonymous, would you like to tell us your true identity? I wont be surprised to hear that you in fact worship Hitler. Hehehe.

I just took some pill. Following is the correct statement.
Most of American identify themselfes by ethnic and lifeplace groups. even White Americans (which btw officialy are "real American") are not united as ethnic group. you can see it that White-Americans were more like former nationality, which was forced by goverment to be one ethnic group after Lincoln came to power.
aside a fact that many people who are called White-American inside of America dont feel themselfes being White. they even have very different lifestyle, language(or dialects accord Ameerican goverment), relligion and system of values.
American tragedy inside of America is not only 55 non-American ethnics but that American goverment force a model of people who "must be American" and do kill other American and non-American cultures. Which are much older and more adapted by local people as official "true American ethnic model" of American government. American kill own local and native languges just by force to learn only English.. (which btw was minority language back in 1949)
just imagine: whole China will learn only one language which is spoken in Beijing and forbide all other local and regional languages and dialects.

Americans are the worst kind. It stints

Which one is the true Anonymous? The Chinese hating Tibetan, the Dalai Lama hater, the one who can't even spell correctly, the one who claims that Sichuan is not part of China or the half crazy half brain dead mad dog?

Poor anonymous has an identity crisis and he's unable to love. Why can't we just sit down quietly have sort things out together?

_Is it logical for the many peoples of China to be grouped into one term — the “Chinese”?

No. most of them identify themselfes by ethnic and lifeplace groups. even Han-Chinese (wich btw officialy are "real Chinese") are not united as ethnic group. you can see it that Han-Chinese were more like former nationality, wich was forced by goverment to be one ethnic group after Mao came to power.

aside a fact that many people who are called Han-chinese inside of China dont feel themselfes being Han. they even have very different lifestyle, language(or dialects accord Chinese goverment), relligion and system of values.

Chinese tragedy inside of China is not only 55 non-chinese ethnics but that chinese goverment force a model of people who "must be chinese" and do kill other chinese and non-chinese cultures. Wich are much older and more adapted by local people as official "tru chinese ethnic model" of chinese goverment. Chinese kill own local and native languges just by force to learn only Mandarin. (wich btw was minority language back in 1949)

just imagine: whole USA will learn only one language wich is spoken in Washington and forbide all other local and regional languages and dialects.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_United_States

Understanding the word ‘Chinese’

When Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming Dynasty, sought to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty under the Mongols, he promoted the cause with the slogan “expel the barbarians, revive China.” When Sun Yat-sen and others sought to overthrow the Qing Dynasty under the Manchurians, they used the same slogan.

The word “barbarian” made it clear that the Mongols and Manchurians were not Chinese.

Genetic research by Marie Lin, director of the Transfusion Medicine Laboratory at Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, has documented the differences between the Han Chinese of north and south China. In addition to the Han Chinese, Beijing recognizes more than 50 minority ethnicities within China’s borders.

Is it logical for the many peoples of China to be grouped into one term — the “Chinese”?

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2008/06/12/2003414481

I am the most disgusting person on earth.

Is it better to be a dead hero or a live coward?

Some like Fan Meizhong chose the live route.
The Running Teacher "morally corrupt"?

http://shanghaiist.com/2008/06/10/phoenix_tv_the.php

__"She Ji Qiu Ren", or sacrifice the self to save the others, has never been written off the book of moral codes in China.

i see just dont get that! CHINA CHANGED VERY AFTER COMMUNISTS HAVE WON THERE.

Aside a fact that SICHUAN IS NOT CHINA and this dude will be anyway dead because central and province gpoverment will blaim him for own political failture.

A member of Congress who has been critical of China's human rights record said today that the FBI had found that four computers in his congressional office had been "compromised" by hackers working out of China. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.) said he believed that similar incidents had taken place on computers of other House members.

Wolf said that the computers affected in his office had been used by staff members who were working on human rights issues and that the intrusions began in 2006. Wolf said that he was planning to introduce a resolution in the House aimed at protecting congressional computers from future cyber-attacks and that he intended to speak on the House floor about the issue this afternoon.

Federal authorities have been increasingly concerned about the Chinese government deploying a diverse network of spies and scientists and others to sweep up U.S. technology in recent years.

It was reported last week that U.S. authorities were investigating whether Chinese officials secretly copied the contents of a government laptop computer during a visit to China by Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and used the information to try to hack into Commerce Department computers. China denied the accusations, which were first reported by the Associated Press.

Let's revisit the old story.

http://www.accesstoenergy.com/view/atearchive/s76a3970.htm

'Let us not bother about them,' Che replied. 'You are secretary of the neighborhood party committee and you have no time to lose.'

He didn't say 'You are the party secretary so your life worth more than my kids', didn't he? What if the one who got saved was the head of the local fire squad, who can potentially save more lives? Does this ring a bell?

I had thought Mr Pomfret, who's lived in China and know the language, is able to understand the 1976 story. However the COMMUNIST PARTY is way too big a demon to miss, so he simplistically dismissed the old story as garbage.

"She Ji Qiu Ren", or sacrifice the self to save the others, has never been written off the book of moral codes in China. How is the 1976 story so different from today's stories about the rescue workers, the soldiers who were buries alive during the rescue, the fallen helicopter, etc? I can't tell. Perhaps Mr. Pomfret can enlighten us.

There are infinite profanities here at this blog, especially from "Anonymous". I can't believe there is no moderation on to avoid such offensive land slide of non-sense and offensive statements.
I beg the admin to Please do something!

To Dahuan Zhou:

discusting chinese pigs should not teach how to behave, you discusting chinese pig.

Anonymous, Shut up. You are the most ugly person
here. Poor fish.

TO Dahuan Zhou

i give a Sh,it about you BS, you dumb chinese fa,ggot.

To: Anonymous:

Remember:
"User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site."
You are already qualified as such kind of User.
Besides, you have created a lot of new word which I can not find from the dictionary, such as "wich", "chinken", "lol" ,"goverment", "pissdrinker" etc. I am afraid you are not yet graduated from elementary school, no wonder you know nothing about world history!

Tibetan in Exile--we need money!:

Yes, our Holiness gets all the attention and money (though not from Sharon Stone) from your governments. But what about us who actually do the shouting, grabbing running around in costumes and waving? Sure we are born in the west and never been to China. But that is not the point. The point is that we need the Tibet issue to survive.

The recent events really helped us a lot with more financial support. But is this enough? Certainly not! We have about 30000 Tibetans living in the US. But we have hundreds of local organizations. They are getting very little money. For example, our "Free Tibet" local chapter in Utah only has a budget of just over 400000$. Why so stingy? I think the British is a little more generous. The Germans and French are talking tough but the money doesn't show. Those are peanuts. We get our lion's share from the US.

So please help us. We are really afraid that you will forget us after the Olympics are over. Please!

I had a conversation with a Chinese friend about them, and there was a good deal of talk about how every Chinese person was expected to donate, how her retired mother went back to her old job to donate, how people were walking around asking how many times people had donated (although my friend was relieved to say they didn't ask how much), about how most people gave at their work and had their names checked off on a big list of employees...The latter is particularly bad. I mean, what if those people couldn't actually afford to give money? It ceases to be a "donation" at that point. That sounds more like a tax to me.

But where the two country thought process came in (to get back to my point) is when she told me that people were angry that the US government only gave 1 million USD for relief (which comes out to about 7 million RMB, btw. Keep in mind that the common big city salary for a Chinese person is something around 2-3 thousand RMB a month). People compared it to the 5 million USD that the Chinese gov gave to the US after Katrina. Allow me to present a particularly rancourous example from the blogosphere on the issue...or not, because I apparently failed to email myself the link so I could use it here. Sorry for the tease. Anyway, here's a Washington Post article, and here's a quick little piece that actually has some well researched commentary. The latter makes a good point: Chinese people perceive foreign companies to some extent as taking advantage of China. They see it almost as bad manners (to understate it immensely) that companies that have profited so heavily from China have not immediately donated resources to help the country that they have benefited from in it's time of need. I can't really argue with that one.

http://moosyfate.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-much-is-enough.html

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019748/posts

DALAI needs a lot of young boys as sex toys.

China's chequebook diplomacy in the South Pacific and secrecy over its aid programme to small island nations is having a destabilising impact on the region, an Australian foreign policy think tank said on Wednesday.

China's promised aid to Pacific Islands nations has increased from $33 million in 2005 to about $293 million in 2007, with the key aim of stopping small nations from recognising Taiwan, Lowy Institute researcher Fergus Hanson said.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province, but six tiny island nations officially recognise Taiwan, prompting an aid bidding contest between China and Taiwan for recognition.

"For Pacific states, it can be an opportunity to play the two Chinas off against each other with a view to increasing their aid," Hanson said in his paper, released on Wednesday.

"But the outcome is not always in the interests of recipient or donor," he said.

Hanson said the secrecy surrounding China's aid programme, and use of Chinese firms and workers to carry out aid projects, often fuelled concerns that dollar diplomacy was influencing local politics.

He said violent riots which erupted in the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara in April 2006, destroying Chinese businesses, were fuelled by islander concerns that Chinese money had influenced the outcome of that country's elections.

Eight developing Pacific Islands Forum nations, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Niue, Samoa and Tonga, recognise China rather than Taiwan.

He said the secrecy over China's aid spending can breed resentment among islanders and fuel anti-Chinese sentiment rather than improve sentiment.

At the same time, Western nations were concerned the lack of aid transparency undermined their efforts to improve law and order, democracy, and crack down on corruption across the South Pacific.

For example, Hanson said China had increased aid to Fiji after the nation's military coup in December 2006, as Australia, New Zealand and the United States imposed sanctions against the new military regime in order to promote a return to democracy.

He said China kept its aid spending secret to stop demands from countries who receive less than others, and to avoid domestic backlash about overseas development assistance.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSYD18440

John, 2008-1976 is 32 not 22.

I am a Tibetan born in America and has extensive training in Langley for asymetric media warfare.
Ha Ha Ha

DL is a murderer. He has monks murdered in India for disobedience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5sOm-uQH9Y
Watch this video by Swiss PBS for details.

Tibetans have a problem with hygiene. They do not brush their teeth enough, usually, and if you are in a room with a group of Tibetans it is usually a good idea to throw antiseptic on them to douse the smell. They are also child molesters.
It is a common practice for older monks to use young boys as sex toys. Many books has been written about it.

My mother dropped me on the floor when I was a baby. I am half crazy and half brain death. Once a while, when the pains got too much, I have to yell and scream at somebody until the pain stops. Otherwise, I have to take pain killer. Sorry for behaving like an animal. I cannot help it.

__Even use my name to post anti-Chinese comments?

what? why should i pretend to be a stupid biatch Shawn? never.. try to blame chinese idiot who pretends to be me.

--Why so many people hate China and anything Chinese?

boooring!

--I feel very hurt knowing that we are so hated and i thought everybody kind of like Chinese when they went to Chinese restaurant enjoying Yum Cha, learning how to use chopsticks and eating DimSim.....

ohh nooo. this drama! this drama!!

--Now all in a sudden nobody likes us anymore, what did i/we do wrong?

sudden?

Anonymous! Are you really so happy to enjoy all of the vicious attack and insult language on me? Even use my name to post anti-Chinese comments?
Do you really wished to kick me out in order to gain the "win"?

Fine, you won't see me unless you quit!

Why so many people hate China and anything Chinese? I feel very hurt knowing that we are so hated and i thought everybody kind of like Chinese when they went to Chinese restaurant enjoying Yum Cha, learning how to use chopsticks and eating DimSim..... Now all in a sudden nobody likes us anymore, what did i/we do wrong?

>like Scientific Student, Shawn, China Observer, who seem to be trying to say something intelligent.

wait! Shawn says nothing at all only whining about crel anonymous and posting spam here.

To Roy

Mao and his party(wich btw is still in power) promissed to all Warlords that they will be a part of federal goverment with very big indepence inside of federal China. the History proved that you can never trust chinese because they marshed with own army and did new facts by massive genozide and destruction of national and ethnical core of those countries back in the 50'ens.

"SHAWN:
Chinese have a problem with hygiene. They do not brush their teeth enough, usually, and if you are in a room with a group of Chinese it is usually a good idea to throw antiseptic on them to douse the smell. They are also child molesters"

Shawn, i am not sure who those smelly Chinese are but if you are in a room with me you'll probaby smell Dior's J'Adore on weekdays and Anna Sui's Secret Wish on weekends.

The Village Idiot is spewing a bunch of racist sh*t below. Time to get out the chlorine and clean the floor.

This just goes to show that racists run behind this "Tibet" garage to spew racim agains the Chinese people.

China is a great country, Taiwan is a great province. Screw the racists - after all, they are just a bunch frustrated virgins.

The Violent Folly of Humanitarian Interventionism

Excerpt:
There is a worldview, dominant in the West, particularly among intellectuals, and even (if not especially) among liberal or leftist intellectuals, which may be called the Great Western Delusion. According to that view, the world, especially the Third World, is full of people oppressed by their own governments, run by political dictators and economic mismanagers, and those people only look forward to being helped or supported or liberated (if necessary by military means) by the good, democratic, liberal, open market West. This leads to a large part of the left supporting "democratic revolutions" in Ukraine, Belarus, Lebanon, Zimbabwe, among other places, as well as supporting human rights in China and Tibetan independance.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?articleId=9109

Separatism and Empire Building in the 21st Century

Excerpt:
The major fallacy of seemingly progressive liberals and NGOs in their advocacy of ‘autonomy’, ‘decentralization’ and ‘self-determination’ is that these abstract concepts beg the fundamental concrete historical and substantive political question – to what classes, race, political blocs is power being transferred?

http://www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?articleId=9246

Did Ms Stone imply the earthquake was brought up by the Dalai Lama?

Her words: ǒBecause they are not being nice to the Dalai Lama, who is a good friend of mine," she said. "And then all this earthquake and all this stuff happened, I thought, is that karma? When you are not nice, bad things happen to you."

Analysis: Karma is a Buddhist law. The divine Buddha determines who to be punished and others praised. A living Buddha reports people’s behaviors to the divine Buddha. Wrong info was passed and the quake occurred in the Aba Tibetan & Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan. Many Tibetan died but the Chinese gov was praised for its swift actions. If this is the karma as she claimed (based on the insider info from her good friend?), it is bad to the Tibetans but good to the gov. His Holiness realized the mistake, and was too embarrassed to participate in a quake-relief effort. Instead, he toured the globe, as if he has nothing to do with the quake (alibi?).

Did Ms Stone imply the earthquake was brought up by the Dalai Lama?

Her words: ǒBecause they are not being nice to the Dalai Lama, who is a good friend of mine," she said. "And then all this earthquake and all this stuff happened, I thought, is that karma? When you are not nice, bad things happen to you."

Analysis: Karma is a Buddhist law. The divine Buddha determines who to be punished and others praised. A living Buddha reports people’s behaviors to the divine Buddha. Wrong info was passed and the quake occurred in the Aba Tibetan & Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan. Many Tibetan died but the Chinese gov was praised for its swift actions. If this is the karma as she claimed (based on the insider info from her good friend?), it is bad to the Tibetans but good to the gov. His Holiness realized the mistake, and was too embarrassed to participate in a quake-relief effort. Instead, he toured the globe, as if he has nothing to do with the quake (alibi?).

WWW.WEBKINZSTORY.FREEFORUMS.ORG

no, you are wrong, according to American Constitution,I think, only US citizen are allowed to donate for this found raising. so end up it's till Americans who support him .

Obama Campaign Plans Fundraisers in China

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/10/obama_campaign_plans_fundraise.html

Is Obama getting money from China?

If he wins, he will very grateful and friendly to his supporters, not to mention owing big favors!

"Sharon Stone_proven" is a copycat who took the article from a journalist in China

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/15/AR2008051502737_pf.html

i used to read Chinese web forums and feel despair.
why can't people discuss things in a civil manner? why is the first reaction for people to attack others with curses and insults?
is anyone interested in dialog?
it's a pity that Pomfret's blog is debased by the lame bickering that goes on here.
there are some, like Scientific Student, Shawn, China Observer, who seem to be trying to say something intelligent.
i guess there's no entrance exam to web forums.

Gosh! That anonymous is using my name and Charlie1111 to comments, anyone can help?!

Sharon Stone_proven enough gives a long and good article, you must be a journalist traveled to China?

Excerpt:
During China’s Civil War, the Communists apparently had promised Tibet and Xinjiang a federation of republics ~ Mao later reneged on this and introduced his notion of “autonomous” regions, provinces and districts. The current crisis in Tibet reveals that the notion of autonomy has been a complete farce.

Article: Tibet, Xinjiang May Not Be Assimilated Like Inner Mongolia, Manchuria
http://independentindian.com/2008/03/25/china%E2%80%99s-india-example-tibet-xinjiang-not-like-inner-mongolia-manchuria/

One day Tibet and Mongolia will be free and China will become a province of Japan again. Then there will at last be some peace in Asia. Until the warmongering Chinese are destroyed that cannot happen.

Chinese have a problem with hygiene. They do not brush their teeth enough, usually, and if you are in a room with a group of Chinese it is usually a good idea to throw antiseptic on them to douse the smell. They are also child molesters.

Anonymous,

You have proven a thousand time bigger idiot over and over again to this forum that I don't think you are unable of carrying a normal conversation with.

John and the rest of the group here, please vote him off this forum, for good.

I am sorry for you, Anonymous. Safe your grace, please, go away.

China's media covered the country's earthquake tragedy more openly than any past disaster. But the Chinese government still maintains a blackout over news from Tibet, which experienced its biggest uprising in decades this spring.

The blackout explains why you probably haven't heard about continuing sporadic protests by Buddhist monks and nuns in eastern Tibet, along with further arrests by the Chinese police. As China consolidates control of territory it considers its own, many Tibetans are placing their hopes on a Chinese offer of talks, now postponed, with representatives of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader-in-exile.

Previous talks have failed – and not just because of calcified mistrust. Rather, China appears to see its "Tibet problem" as a question of economic development, and seems unable to grasp the centrality of Buddhism to the Tibetan people's national and cultural identity.

Still, optimists are watching for signs that Beijing is serious this time about discussing the Dalai Lama's proposal for "meaningful autonomy" for Tibet. At the heart of this hope is a belief that a newly confident China, bolstered by its relatively open and rapid response to the earthquake and then by the Beijing Olympics, will agree to loosen its hold over the region.

Pessimists note that China may have agreed to the talks simply to deflect international pressure prior to the Olympics while pursuing a harsh policy of arrests and "patriotic education" campaigns inside Tibet.

I saw all this two decades before as a reporter covering three Tibetan uprisings in Lhasa in 1987, 1988, and 1989.

China has not engaged in war with other countries for many years(SURE, THATS WHY CHINA HAS ARMY AND PARAS IN TIBET) and this calamity acted as a real test for PLA's combat capability in peace time, He said. "The PLA's rapid operation in emergency has proved it is a mighty armed forces to safeguard peace," he said.

Chen Hu, "World Military Affairs Magazine" editor in chief, noted the important role played by modern military technology during this disaster rescue and relief. Besides the frequent flights by modern transporters and helicopters, 15 satellites continued to collect data of quake-hit regions and this was very important to organizing the rescue operation, he said.

Before the quake, there were no large scale adoption of modern technology in the country's disaster rescue. "This time, the extensive usage of satellite technology greatly enhanced the PLA's combat capability," Chen said. He admitted there was still a distance between the Chinese armed forces and their counterparts in developed countries in terms of military modernization.

Chen expressed his hope the Chinese armed forces could speed up their modernization process and further improve their diversified capability, including combating disaster relief in the future.

>>Tibet and Mongolia belong to China as early as Tang Dynasty at least, By that time some countries even not yet exist.

Tang Empire was never chinese, you idiot. China was just one small province of Tang empire, you dumb nut.
aside a fact that HongKong and half of China was under british control, you loser. Speaking of Manchuria it was under russian control, you dip_tstick. so do exists manchurian ethnic group, you braincanser.

>> The “independence “of outer Mongolia happened only 63 yeas ago.

Mongolia was independent whole time you idiot. Manchurian emperor never claimed on their land you piece of brainwashed s_hit.

>>The old Chinese government agreed that the outer Mongolia could be independence on the condition that after people’s referendum and in line with Three Ming Doctrines. But that did not happened, So Mongolia has not been officially acknowledged by Taiwan authorities or R.O.C

The old chinese goverment, you failed troll? wich one, you crazy chinken?

>>I believe , When China becomes strong enough, it is possible that Mongolia return to China in the future,. While it is out of question that Inner Mongolia will be split from China. It is only political fantasy to dismember China into pieces, no more Taiwan, no more Tibet, no more X Y Z!

lol, you pissdrinker... no more China, you c,ocksucker.

Hey, guys, no more China bashing. Let's be fair, otherwise we are going to lose moral authority in the world completely. Here is the story happened two weeks ago when I was in China.

On my street two weeks ago, the Communist Party's neighborhood committee moved old computers out of its storage room to make way for donated materials bound for earthquake victims 2,000 miles away. Within 12 hours, the space was crammed with clothes and blankets.

All across China, images of mass destruction and individual courage have inspired ordinary citizens to donate money, material and sweat to earthquake victims in the remote foothills of the Himalayas. This national sense of purpose might look similar to the response of average Americans after Hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans, but what's happening in China is significant.

This marks the first time in recent history that ordinary Chinese have participated in a national movement that was not a protest against something - usually a foreign power. Until now, China has defined itself in terms of "Us vs. Them." Today, it's "Us Without Them." The change could have a profound, positive impact on this summer's Olympics in Beijing - and on China's self-confidence for years to come.

Until the quake on May 12, the dominant mood in China was one of frustration. Citizens had seen this summer's Olympics in Beijing as an affirmation of China's progress. But everywhere they looked, the world blamed their country for something: its support for the regime in Sudan; its suppression of anti-government protests in Tibet; its dispatch of People's Armed Police cadets to protect the Olympic torch overseas. China was even faulted for Burma's unwillingness to accept foreign aid after a typhoon struck it two weeks ago. Few Chinese have problems with these policies, and most felt that the world had violated a compact: The Olympics were supposed to elicit praise, not condemnation.

Those feelings of betrayal are summed up in a popular poem that popped up on the internet in March, called "Chinese Grievances." The verses come across as an eloquent but passive-aggressive rant: "When we closed our doors, you launched the Opium War to open our markets. / When we embraced free trade, you blamed us for stealing your jobs." (See complete poem in sidebar.)

China's sensitivity to the attitudes of foreigners is nothing new. For the past decade, mass expressions of national cohesion have always derived from a shared sense of victimhood at the hands of other countries. Young Chinese united to protest against the United States for bombing China's embassy in Belgrade in 1999 (accidentally, says Washington) and after a collision between a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet in 2001; against Japan several times, most recently in 2005 in remembrance of atrocities committed in China a half-century ago; and against France because of pro-Tibet demonstrations that disrupted the Olympic torch journey.

The Tiananmen Square uprising of 1989 was a rare exception, as much of China united against the government instead of a foreign power. But the focal point of the nation's cohesion was still opposition, and afterward, the government accused "foreign elements" of hoodwinking Chinese students into a plot to divide and weaken the country.

Go back further in time, and the pattern holds. All Chinese schoolchildren learn that modern China was born during a nationwide student movement that began in May 1919 to protest the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I and turned Germany's colonial holdings in China over to Japan instead of restoring them to Beijing's control. In the century before that, European powers started various wars against China to control parts of the country, including Hong Kong, which the Qing emperor ceded to Britain "in perpetuity" in 1842.

No one questions China's suffering at the hands of colonial powers. Yet China won't emerge as a confident, modern nation until it knocks the historical chip off its shoulder, and that won't happen until it generates a sense of national unity from within. The earthquake in Sichuan was nothing if not tragic, but its long-term effects may prove beneficial, even cathartic, as they help China shape its modern identity without resorting to foreign scapegoats.

For one thing, many Chinese draw genuine pride from their government's response, at least so far. The quake hit one of China's most remote and inaccessible regions. Local officials stayed on the job, put preexisting emergency plans into operation and coordinated their activities far better than might have been expected in a developing country - or many developed ones. At the scene, the encouragement that Premier Wen Jiabao shouted through a bullhorn and whispered to survivors, at one point telling terrified orphans that the government would care for them, struck a Bill Clinton-like note.

For another, China's media have used their expanding freedoms to deliver stories of heartbreak and relief without turning the rescue effort into flag-waving propaganda. One hopes that this spirit of openness will enable China's journalists to investigate possibly shoddy construction and whether the troops dispatched to the region were properly equipped. Nonetheless, what I saw on Chinese TV last week was far superior to the coverage of flood relief on the Yangtze River 10 years ago, which was marshaled to burnish the reputation of the People's Liberation Army.

These encouraging aspects of Chinese unity have become visible to a world that is most familiar with less admirable characteristics, such as the nation's inability to understand why Tibetans might have their own poetic list of grievances. Given the devastation afflicting Sichuan, it's healthy for the Chinese to turn inward now.

Suddenly, not even the Olympics look very important. Even the government has recognized this by scaling back the torch relay.

China shouldn't need to prove anything to the world anymore. By seeing its people through the Sichuan tragedy, it has proven enough to itself.

Tibet and Mongolia belong to China as early as Tang Dynasty at least, By that time some countries even not yet exist. The “independence “of outer Mongolia happened only 63 yeas ago. The old Chinese government agreed that the outer Mongolia could be independence on the condition that after people’s referendum and in line with Three Ming Doctrines. But that did not happened, So Mongolia has not been officially acknowledged by Taiwan authorities or R.O.C
.I believe , When China becomes strong enough, it is possible that Mongolia return to China in the future,. While it is out of question that Inner Mongolia will split from China. It is only political fantasy to dismember China into pieces, no more Taiwan, no more Tibet, no more X Y Z!

Tibet and Mongolia belong to China as early as Tang Dynasty at least, By that time some countries even not yet exist. The “independence “of outer Mongolia happened only 63 yeas ago. The old Chinese government agreed that the outer Mongolia could be independence on the condition that after people’s referendum and in line with Three Ming Doctrines. But that did not happened, So Mongolia has not been officially acknowledged by Taiwan authorities or R.O.C
I believe , When China becomes strong enough, it is possible that Mongolia return to China in the future,. While it is out of question that Inner Mongolia will be split from China. It is only political fantasy to dismember China into pieces, no more Taiwan, no more Tibet, no more X Y Z!

Do you have the time... to listen to me whine.... about nothing and everything all at once...

apparently so

Hey, China boy, your parents never tell you any victim narrative? How could you forget your past
humiliations?

hahahah, Monkey king? nice try. Another Tibetan exile. Keep spinning. Guess what, the whole world already see the real China. It is not up to you. It is not up to me. Just live with it.

Maybe with a fun Olympics things will level out.

chinese doing international games to little inner chinese sandboxplay where international comunity should only see without to play a part in it?

dude. i dont think chinese will be that great with this games. aside a fact that after chinese declarated this games to "only my" thing and marshed own millitary torch trouth independent countries like invasion forces inside of Tibet or South Mongolia.

China lost all kudos wich it got.. wait.. china has never got kudos from international comunity. because China never tryed to get them.

Marylander mentions that Chinese people don't take well to criticism from foreigners. This is certainly true. It seems almost to go without saying, since everyone around the world reacts the same way. But in light of the recent protests, I think this point is significant.

The Olympics are China's big occasion to present itself to the world. But that means that the openness goes both directions. Exposing itself to the world, China also exposed itself to the opinions of others and this clearly did not go down well.

There was some naivety in thinking that the world would take at face value the image of China offered by the Beijing Olympic Committee and the Chinese government. Maybe audiences in China can feel proud of the highways, bridges, skyscrapers, stadiums and traffic-filled streets as signs of new wealth and power. But audiences elsewhere aren't as impressed.

There's a convergence of factors here: China got everyone domestically so excited to show off its new glittery city, but when they started the presentation, people responded off script.

Did the Chinese government really not expect to see free Tibet rallies along the path of the torch? After all, it chose to drag the torch through London, Paris, San Francisco and New Delhi!!! Those cities have large, active Tibetan communities who are really really angry.

So, back to the original point. Rather than listen politely to the new narrative China has written for itself, people hurled all kinds of criticism instead. People in China who, rightly or not, believe the country's new narrative of the country as a strapping young buck were incensed that foreigners, again, we're trying to talk China back into a little box.

Maybe with a fun Olympics things will level out.

Victim narrative? I don't have victim narrative. If you ask everybody who was born after 1980, nobody has victim narrative. Don't generalize, man. Every generation is different. I don't feel ashamed for anything in the past. It is not my problem, but we will speak out if the West is not fair to us. I am not going to keep quiet. Not shy anymore, man. Not us.

Anonymous, you are biting again. You are attacking Shawn over and over, which simply is not fair. You are desperate.

Well, I thought I just mentioned late Qing Dynasty slightly. Then come out with so many evidence on the bad record of Qing Dynasty? remarkable efficiency!

Speaking of conquests by the Qing dynasty, here is a good book by Peter Perdue, "China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia"

http://www.amazon.com/China-Marches-West-Conquest-Central/dp/067401684X

China observer
"In China, as a matter of policy, newspapers are intended to educate and the central leadership has a strong participation in deciding what people need to know. In the US, ideally, newspapers are to serve as another check and balance against central power..."
You are on the exactly correct point. China media serve for the goverment and goverment decide what direction they need to lead people's mind to. The issue is now China goverment can face the nature disaster but they can not face their own defalt. They are afraid to say they made mistake although everyone knows. They try to mock everything up into good shape although they want to fix it stealthily.

Btw, regarding whether the nationalism is rising in China or not. I think it’s not an easy answer. Even China is not as classified as India, but the Chinese isn’t a whole. I believe to some of them, the nationalism is rising, while some of them are opposite.

Beside, is it really nationalism? I know the word nationalism is quite negative. I think the Chinese nationalist sentiment is a mixture of nationalism and patriotism.

SHAWN IS A STUPID REALITIVST WHO KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT CHINA.

Sure they should. There was a sign when Hu Jintao visited Japan earlier May.

But I think that victim narrative still would influencing them, as it's hard to get ride of. just how much and how long.

China should get over its victim narrative. Sure she was humiliated by the West for about a century, but China's experience in that is hardly alone. Just about everyone else got the same treatment and due to its relative isolation, China fared relatively well compared to other ancient civilizations, Indian and Aztec for examples.

Let's also not forget that before that, the Qing dynasty was busy perpetrating humiliations on others, including the genocide of the Dzungars.

I realized a lot of your guys are not happy as been called Gui Lao ( foreigner devils/white devils) when been in China. I'm sorry for that and I believe it's not everybody work that way.

But meantime, I just want to point out that the word "Chink" has been widely used on the other side, isn't it? I even found it commonly used in Hollywood movies. remember Bruce Vills with his Diehard 4.0?

I've noticed and tried to tell peoples around me stop as well. I hope same thing happens on the other side.

Well, I don’t think my comments on China’s nationalist sentiment are representative, but more or less it should represent some of them.

I was trying to describe it but find too hard to put concisely. So I would rather classify it into categories by time and peoples.

I guess the nationalist sentiment could be treated as 3 stages. Until late of 1990s, I wasn’t mature enough to sense so. But from my reading and partial feelings, I would probably agree with Peter Gries that the sentiment were built on victim narratives. Even there was Kissinger complex involved like towards the General Chennault and his Flying Tigers in WWII, or Doctor Norman. Bethune. But the overall memory for me was the victim narratives from late Qing Dynasty until WWII.

The 2nd stage is from 2000 until middle or this decade or even a bit late, with the growth in Chinese economics and relatively other aspects, the confident are growing. But it’s neither mature nor normal. People are influencing western while they are being influenced by the victim narratives.

Recently especially this year, there is a big change in Chinese’s national sentiments. With too many things happened, People become more confident to defend the nation rather than put themselves into the victim narratives.

Well, there’s still an age difference when describing the sentiment. Peoples born in 1960 or early 70s are more dominated by the 2nd stage sentiment; they would easily recall those victim narratives. While the 1980s are closer to the 3rd stage, which is because those 1980s never see a poor and poverty China, what they heard when growing up are the new satellite, high economic growth and modern city with Maglev and longest bridge. They are more proud with the country.

On the other hand, none of the sentiments are alone, it’s always a mixture, just varies depend personality and environment. Take me for example; I was dominated by the victim narratives before. I must against whatever the American was doing; I must cheer whenever the American failed. But now I would look at the US policy more reasonably, even I’m still not agree with a lot of what its doing. I would support its action for fighting terrorist, but not invasion to other countries; I would support its copyright protection by refusing pirate movie, but not US Congress legislation on others.

I feel I was telling sh*t, it’s so hard to describe the sentiment properly. Just post some amendment when you disagree.

Btw, regarding whether the nationalism is rising in China or not. I think it’s not an easy answer. Even China is not as classified as India, but the Chinese isn’t a whole. I believe to some of them, the nationalism is rising, while some of them are opposite.

Beside, is it really nationalism? I know the word nationalism is quite negative. I think the Chinese nationalist sentiment is a mixture of nationalism and patriotism.

Hillary Clinton ended her election campaign with US$30 million debt.

Clearly American-style democracy is'nt going to work for China.

Having spent equal amount of my life time between China and US and educated in both countries, I think I can add my two cents here. I also recently spent a few months in China and got to experience a great deal of nationalism around me.

My first observation is that not all Chinese are thinking the same; there are a lot of resentments to the systems and the government policies expressed by people I met across the country. These people represent all levels within the government, central or local. But they don’t openly express these opposition and only complain underneath to friends and family. One thing we all agree though is that communist is only a face value. Chinese without a doubt has gradually been taking reform in economy, social, and political fronts, and most of the time modeling after other countries (mainly US) in part or in whole. The "Chinese Way" is still unclear and unknown to most I asked, but there is no short of altruism with regard to the future. It is almost like we will figure this out somehow as we go.

My second observation is that my Chinese friends, even those who never stop complaining, seldom take criticisms of China well, especially if that comes from foreigners. The same criticism though may be received better if it comes from other Chinese. This is a huge cultural gap to my point of view that caused by "close door" policy for too long.

My third observation is that if I talk to my Chinese friends with reasons and logics, not shouting and blunt criticism, I actually find it very easy to get my points across.

Most Chinese acknowledge the problems with their system but very few knows how to change it without distabilizing the country. If you have any good suggestions, I am sure it will be very constructive to this group.

Acknowledging the gaps of understanding is the first step to take. We don't have to accept each other's view point but should try to understand the basis of our different views.

Mr. Pomfret goes to China often and knows China better than most Chinese think. Most of all Pomfret has no blinder on and is not afraid of being politically incorrect.

30 years ago Shirley MacLaine was writing about how China was not so good in its past, but it had become a lot better.

Today Pomfret is writing about how China in the past wasn't so good but it is a lot better now.

It's the same empty platitudes. Meaningless and substance free.

Pomfret has a Travel Agency and does tours to China and needs to placate the Chinese government.

http://www.wildchina.com/

Hi Scientific Student
I was a reporter before but no longer.
But for me the best advice I ever received from an editor was this:
"You're not doing your job well if you're not pissing off someone in power."
I'm quite certain that is not the advice given to new reporters at the People's Daily. But then again, I could be wrong. China is a place full of surprises.

Upon further reflection, the very title of this article is insulting, perhaps inadvertently, to the Chinese, implying many Chinese people previously lacked compassion. This is a very unfair and misleading stereotype.

Just because someone makes very offensive, insulting comments, as Ms. Stone, did, then apologizes, is not sufficient to warrant foregiveness. Think, if a foreigner made a similar callous comment after the Katrina hurricane or a comparable earthquake, then apologized, most Americans would be very unimpressed.

Many Americans, including numerous policy-makers complain about a new possibe cold war mentality, usually concerning Eussia, whenever another country, formerly an adversary, strongly disagrees
with or does want to toe the line with United Sattes foreign policies, especially the unilateral policies of the Bush administration. This reflects the frequent arrogance shown by some Americans toward other countries.

From Wikipedia:

Until fairly recently, China's political environment makes it difficult to gauge proper statistics with natural disasters. Successive governments have placed more importance on the appearance of harmony rather than proper information to discern the extent of the damages. The Tangshan Earthquake came at a rather politically sensitive time period during the late stages of the Cultural Revolution, making accurate statistics especially difficult to find.

The Tangshan earthquake killed 242,419 people according to official figures, though some sources estimate a death toll is up to three times higher.

It is worth noting that the population of Tangshan of the time of quake strike was estimated to be around 1.6 million. As most of Tangshan's city proper was flattened, it is reasonable to estimate the actual death toll to be much higher.

Many experts believe the Chinese government has never released an accurate death toll for the disaster. The death toll figure of 242,419 came from the Chinese Seismological Service in 1988, while some sources have estimated the death toll to be at 650,000. Others range as high as 700,000. The initial estimates of 655,000 dead and 779,000 injured were released by Hebei Revolutionary Committee.

The story at the begining of Pomfret's article is a good example of how hard it is for the people of different cultures to understand each other. I believe it is true that in 1970's chinese government praised father who saved other people first before he saved his own children. Actually, you don't need to find a 1976's China Dailly story for that, chinese media is still doing this same thing during recent Sichuan earthquake. A lot of school teachers, government officials and local communist party secretaries chose to help other people first before they help their loved ones. And the media praises this kind of heroic actions. But it is not true that the government or the media encourage people to let their own children die in order to save just local party secretary's life. I understand Pomfret tried to make CCP looks bad. But that is simly a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the moral of the story and it's easy to see no party can last long by doing that kind of thing.

Here is a story I just read about the 1976 Tangshan earthquake (the readers who know chinese can go to the link bellow to see it by yourself). During 1976 Tangshan eartquake, more than 1,000 coal miners were trapped underground in a coal mine near Tangshan. A local party leader who was also trapped started organizing the evacuation. He ordered the women workers to be lifted out first, then the new (young) workers, then the old workers, and finally the CCP members and himself. When he was finally lifted out the mine, he found all the coal miners rescued earlier were still there waiting for him, no one had left before he was out.

http://www.boxun.com/hero/200805/rehan/27_1.shtml

you are wrong about the chinese government banning "all statistics."

read again what i said:

"when chinese sensore all sozial statistics and banned all sociological and political researchers from China"

banned researchers and sensored own data.

>>For starters, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (with 4000+ researchers) conducts all kinds of social science surveys on a regular basis. The survey results are compiled, analyzed and published. You can access a lot of them online. Maybe you should take a look at them.

so does National Bureau of Statistics of China. but they are not realy usefull for sociological and political research of chinese mind and political opinion.

aside that noone international or forign researcher can go around in China and ask about the mind of chinese people. at first you will be surrounded by police and then you will be banned from chinese officials.

Where Chinese speak and on which topics determines whether they speak as one "family" or not. Look at the main discussion topics in red bold text here: http://bbs.cn.yahoo.com/
and you can see that the "family" isn't as brotherly as some here suggest.

anonymous --
you are wrong about the chinese government banning "all statistics."
For starters, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (with 4000+ researchers) conducts all kinds of social science surveys on a regular basis. The survey results are compiled, analyzed and published. You can access a lot of them online. Maybe you should take a look at them.

__Anyway, I wish someone would answer the question of how representative nationalist sentiment is in China.

you are going to ask people abroad of China about, when chinese sensore all sozial statistics and banned all sociological and political researchers from China?

__I can't believe there is a chinese "visa problem" to the westerners now.

gosh this dumb comments..

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080605.wolympics05/BNStory/International/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080605.wolympics05

Hi Shawn
I agree we need more constructive discussion.
Peter Hays Gries's book is interesting and I am impressed that Chinese readers find it worth reading.
In some ways I don't think he believes Chinese anger is legitimate, but thinks that it is part of a manic psychology. I think we must be very careful of this type of argumentation. Some of the protests recently in China are very passionate and angry, true. But there is a rich history of viewing non-Westerners as beset by passions and not totally rational.
There is plenty of evidence to show that nationalist rage is not exclusively a Chinese phenomenon. To wit: Freedom Fries.
I also would question the idea that nationalism is on the rise in China. I recently read a paper (unpublished) that took a quantitative approach to this question and found that opinions toward foreigners, "the West", the US, Japan, and others had not significantly changed between 1990 and 2005. Maybe it's different now, but I doubt it.
Anyway, I wish someone would answer the question of how representative nationalist sentiment is in China.
Some posts here from Chinese authors insist that everyone thinks the same way in China. But we all know that that is not entirely true. Once Chinese people speak among themselves without foreigners listening, China's many social divisions emerge (regional, linguistic, socio-economic, etc, etc). Chinese contributors here should try to explain for us the diversity of opinions in China rather than try to convince us of a false unanimity. People may not know much about China, but they're smart enough to know that there's no such thing as total unanimity on serious social questions.

Hi, "China Observe", I almost want to give up this blog because there are just too much trash talks here. However, I just found your article which is quite decent and intellectually stimulating. You have ability to read Chinese newspaper such as huanqiu and People's Daily,etc, and at the same time you write such logic and beautiful English article. You win my respect right away. Have said that, I do disagree with some of your points.

(1). I agree the function of media in both societies is very different. It really shouldn't surprise anyone because these two societies have very different cultures and distinct political systems. Chinese society puts heavy weight to stability which has been always the case in last two thousand years. Therefore, the media are expected to play positive role in maintaining that stability, which is their fundamentally social responsibility. By similar analysis, American society has a tradition to emphasize "check and balance". Consequently, people expect the media to provide balance to the power of government. We can predict right here that the tendency of news report in both societies is just opposite. For the same event, Chinese media tend to report good news, while American media love to pick up negative side of the same story, especially if that story is involved in any level of Government.

(2) Chinese media, especially thousands of Chinese internet websites, do provide certain check and balance. (I am sorry to say that it is too later here in China and I have class tomorrow, but I like to finish rest of the discussion whenever I have time later. It is great pleasure to discuss with you. I really have fun here. Bye)

Decades ago, the Japanese imperial army committed unspeakable atrocities in NanJing. It was the then Western media that documented and reported the massacre to the world. As a result, it was never repeated again, at least not on the same scale. I am not sure if the Japanese were screaming Western media bias and hostility then. I wouldn't at all be surprised if they did.

I can't believe there is a chinese "visa problem" to the westerners now. So indeed the tide turns. I remember 20 years ago when I was applying US student visa at US embassy in Beijing, the counsellor told me "Your wife and son may not join you to the US". By then, I was married for less than 2 years and my son was one month old. That was heart breaking.

John, you were in China in 80's. You must know how hard it was (and still is) to get a US visa for a chinese (who is not a US citizen's spouse). So when you write blog about the "visa problem", don't forget us. Thank you.

__Similar things happened in the west, while there are people like you China Observer who can really sit and discuss, as well as the Anonymous who bite everyone like a mad dog.

gosh.. what a piece of butthurt biatch. you should forgot it and go to the next point. isnt it a chinese way to make talks? and now why are you here back? you left this thread already. so dont come back to be a stupid biatch again.

Finally there are some really discussion.

Well, I do agree with China Observer. He hit the point. I've read about Peter Hays' China's new nationalism. I think he's right about half half. A lot of Chinese do built their emotion towards foreigner based on the historic feeling of last 100 years.

But things change, especially these years after release of his book, more and more Chinese are treating westerners more confident and practically. That's why you can hear different voices from China forum. They themselves are divided into left and right wing when calling each other, if i'm not wrong. But of course, it's only for those extremist. Majority of the netizens from China are in between, varies depending on the degree of their contact with foreigner and outside world.

Similar things happened in the west, while there are people like you China Observer who can really sit and discuss, as well as the Anonymous who bite everyone like a mad dog. you have to admit The McCarthyism from cold war are still influencing a lot of Americans while more and more of them prefer to learn a real China with their own means.

I just hope there could be more meaningful discussion, even with the presence of disagreement towards each other.

To Proud Anti-Chinese
How can you be proud to be anti-Chinese? That doesn't seem like a badge to wear proudly.

During the last few days, the online rantings of some Chinese people have been posted in Western media outlets. Westerners have been shocked to hear Chinese people saying things like, "Those Tibetans are getting just what they deserve", or "Who cares about Tibet?". Other comments are even more hateful and explicit. Many Westerners are angered by these comments, and dismiss the Chinese people as hateful and uncaring. I would urge the Western world not to rush into judgment so easily. None of us have a totally accurate view of the things going on in China - but the Chinese people don't even have the resources to make informed decisions.

First off, let's remember what the word "ignorant" means. It does not mean stupid. It means "having a lack of knowledge or information". My experience in China showed me that Chinese people are exceptionally kind, hospitable, and incredibly hard-working. I met many very intelligent Chinese students, and learned a lot from my Chinese friends. However, I was shocked at the widespread ignorance about certain aspects of Chinese history.

This ignorance is not the fault of the Chinese people themselves. The Chinese people have had ignorance forced upon them by their government. This has been done through an extremely effective campaign of censorship, misinformation, propaganda, and outright lies. Some affluent and highly-placed Chinese deny this, as do some Westerners eager to overlook truth in order to proclaim all cultures equally deluded and corrupt. But the simple fact is that the average Chinese citizen under 30 knows very little about China's recent past, and about hot issues such as Tibet, Taiwan, XinJiang, detention of human rights activists, repression of freedom of speech and religion, etc.

http://bchinab.blogspot.com/2008/03/forcing-ignorance-on-chinese-people.html

Anonymous, please try to make your points in a constructive manner. No one will take you seriously if you spout curses.

Geja wrote:

"2. The column is titled "foreign devil's view", in an attempt to show your sensitivity of Chinese perspective to foreigners. In reality, Gwai-lao "Devil men", is Cantonese and is exclusively used in Hong Kong. In China, people call foreigners "waiguoren" (foreign country citizens) or more affectionately, Lao-Wai (foreign buddy). Few Chinese associate foreigners with devils."

Actulally geja I have been called "Bai Guai" which translates directly to "white devil" several times and by total strangers in places such as Wuhan and Nanchang.

I think that Mr. Pomfretts editors may have had a problem with the "white" bit so "foreign devil" an accurate substitute.

For those who have not been to China, this "affectionate" euphemism is usually spoken at ear volume as one walks down the street.

Nice.

I agree with "Frank Rizzo 2". The Chinese complain that we don't understand them and that China has changed a great deal and that we still have the cold war mentality and etc. etc.

I have news for them. We are indeed a multicultural society and we are constantly being informed about the events in the world through our immigrants, old and new. We understand them better than they think and sometime even better than they do about themselves. They are the ones with blind spots, not us.

Actually Geja, devil is used not only in Cantonese. In Mandarin, one can say "yang guizi" to mean "foreign devil. That is the term used by Pomfret here.
The Cantonese term "gwei-lo" is essentially the same phrase.
Japanese get a special term: "riben guizi" (Japanese devils).
The "guizi" word can be added to any nationality or ethnicity, and frequently is.
You can also sometimes hear people say "hei gui" (black devils) to refer to black people.
The term "lao wai" is less derogatory but is still not considered a nice thing for a Chinese person to say to their foreign friends, unless they are trying to be chummy and funny. "Hey foreigner, ha ha ha."

--I agree with Dahuan Zhou. The incident in Tibet was not a peaceful protest, it was a riot. Destruction and murder are criminal behaviors.

well, i quest you are the same idiot. not, Shwan the biatch?

beside a fact that chinese soldiers killing tibetans like bunnies on nepalese border.

you should real shut your stupid biatch mouth and stop to post you BS here

-----------------------------------------------------------------
On March 10, 2008 hundreds of Tibetans in Lhasa began protesting on the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Beijing rule. Police arrested protesters, and violence in the streets has escalated in the following days. Bloggers across the region have responded.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Before fleeing across a mountainous border, Kusang Sonam says he hid for 12 days from Chinese forces searching for Tibetans who rioted against Beijing's rule in the Himalayan region.

"I knew I would be dead if they had caught me," the 38-year-old clothes trader and father-of-one told AFP in his first media interview at a refugee centre in India.

Sonam said after four days of protests in Lhasa, knife-wielding Chinese troops attacked Tibetan demonstrators on March 14, sparking retaliation and then a massive manhunt for protesters in the capital of the autonomous region.

"We were protesting to mark the 49th anniversary (of the failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule) when the troops attacked us with long knives," he said.

"We threw stones and the soldiers retreated and then returned with guns and soon there was smoke, rattle of gunfire and terrible shrieks," said Sonam, who is from the restive Dartsedo district in Karze prefecture.

He said he saw several Tibetans die from gunshot and knife wounds.

"The troops just hurled them like carcasses into police vans and drove off," said Sonam, who escaped to Nepal on March 26.

Nepal is a major transit point for those fleeing Tibet. Under a "gentleman's agreement" with the government, a UN-funded reception centre in Kathmandu issues Tibetan refugees with identity papers, and sends most of them on to Dharamshala in India, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

The exiled government says 203 Tibetans were killed and 1,000 injured in the Chinese crackdown. Beijing says Tibetan "rioters" and "insurgents" killed 21 people.

"It was our duty as Tibetans to protest the occupation of our land by China but they (troops) used excessive force," said Sonam in a rare first-hand account.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jgFoChs62YTIGdwrR_tXC1H-5z7w

Two simple observations:

1. On the title carton, we see a Chinese man sitting on Great Wall with a Maoist cap fishing. While it intends to be funny, it conforms the stereotype of Chinese among Westerners.

2. The column is titled "foreign devil's view", in an attempt to show your sensitivity of Chinese perspective to foreigners. In reality, Gwai-lao "Devil men", is Cantonese and is exclusively used in Hong Kong. In China, people call foreigners "waiguoren" (foreign country citizens) or more affectionately, Lao-Wai (foreign buddy). Few Chinese associate foreigners with devils.

Two little facts revealing the imbedded stereotyping of China and incomplete knowledge of the country by Mr. Pomfret. Readers beware.

I agree with Dahuan Zhou. The incident in Tibet was not a peaceful protest, it was a riot. Destruction and murder are criminal behaviors.

Hi Scientific Student
I have read huanqiu and other papers for many, many years. I've also read the People's Daily and all the other major papers. Sometimes I even read the China Daily.
A comparison of how major Chinese papers cover the US and how US papers cover China would be interesting. I'm sure one exists somewhere. Maybe someone can point us in that direction.
From personal experience, I sincerely doubt that there is a large difference in coverage. If we can ignore words like "objective", "fair", "positive" and "negative" and instead focus on the more helpful idea of "balance" in coverage, I think we would find that neither US nor Chinese papers provide a very balanced perspective of the other country.
However, I cannot leave it at that.
There are some fundamental differences in both societies about what function media serves. In China, as a matter of policy, newspapers are intended to educate and the central leadership has a strong participation in deciding what people need to know. In the US, ideally, newspapers are to serve as another check and balance against central power. Of course, the reality is much grayer (and the Washington Post serves obvious political interests).
But it seems fair to say that the expectation among people in the US is that the media be in opposition to power. In China, that expectation is not given much space, although in recent years oppositional reporting (about corruption, for example) is considerably greater.
But it is odd, as an American, to read the complaints from China about "biased media." After all, everyone knows that the People's Daily and other official newspapers are full of half-news and distortions about the world.
A few years ago, the Beijing Youth Daily published a translated report from an American humor magazine called The Onion, but did not realize that it was a joke. The article said that US congressmen demanded that the Capitol building have a retractable roof so they can enjoy the breeze on good weather days. The article in the BYD used the news as an example that the congress was chaotic and greedy and out of control. When it was reported in the US that the BYD used an article from The Onion, everyone laughed. No one went to throw bricks at the Chinese embassy.
But the demand for equal respect is valid. In public discourse in the US, China is discussed as a "problem." Every article must be inserted into a framework of a problem.
This is not the case with US coverage of France, or Argentina, or Japan, or even India. Those countries rarely receive any coverage, but when they do, the coverage is always about something quaint and nice. On France, it's usually about the food or the French "leisurely lifestyle." On Japan it's usually about some strange new product or wacky new Japanese trend.
At least in US papers the amount of coverage of China is more than probably any other country. Again, I have no statistics to back this claim up, but I'm making an estimation.
Now, with regard to discussion in Chinese web forums. I have read those for many years too. In some there is good, reasonable discussion. In others you can find university educated people who say very nasty things that most Americans would find shocking. There is a strong element of racist, ethnocentric hatred in those online forums. Of course, there are a lot of racist China-bashers in the US too, and some of them like to contribute their idiocy to this forum space.
Too often, when I discuss the anti-foreign speech online with Chinese friends, they say that it because foreigners did something mean and so people are angry. This is like saying "It's your fault! You forced us to be mad!" This is not a compelling explanation.

>The recent Tibet incident is by no means peaceful demonstration,

actualy Tibet demonstartions were peacefuly until chinese police and paras started to close tibetan monastries and to use a force against peaceful demonstrators. first thing i was woundering where at the hell were all chinese police and paras wanishing when tibetans started to kick them back. changing closes maybe?

The recent Tibet incident is by no means peaceful demonstration, Even Dalai Lama denied the justification for the demonstrator’s behavior, given that lots of shops burned, lots of innocent people died, The Chinese government, if as a normal government in “normal country”, should take strong actions to put those thug into justice,( of course, will give them due punishment basing on evidence not on political viewpoints, and give them opportunity to give up evil and return to good ) I did not find from some western press to show any sympathy towards the innocent people who died in the incident. I found that they blamed the Chinese government for strong action applied .The logic seems Chinese government should encourage those thug to burn more shops and kill more people? Can I find a “normal country “doing that way?

__The way a nation or government responds to disaster, especially one of such unimaginable magnitude is a good indication of character and capability; the legendary resilience of the Chinese temperament has been proven true.

well if you want to be fair. i should tell you another side of this "goverment response":

first time(very short time) there was no sensorship. but then 3 weeks later we get massive propaganda and closed areas for international media.

then we see how chinese people and netiztens are denounce own people and atack forign companies for "not spending enought"(but how much is enought?)

then we see massive atacks of chinese netizens on forigne media and people when they are asking criticaly or try to get overview of actual situation in Sichuan and PRC.

then we see massive interference of chinese propaganda ministry and chinese networks into forign countries where they at fisrt started to bash local people not being "enough chinese" or atacking of feeling of forign citizens by calling them "over-sea" chinese and claiming on their nationality.

then we see how chinese goverment is going to strangle international cover of INTERNATIONAL olympic games.

then we see how chinese goverment closed whole tibet area for own, regional and international comunity (like tibet is not a part of the planet) and medias by massive millitary presence.

ohyeahh. massive and senseless rage on Carrefour and other international companies.

and btw. dude do you realy think that this blind atacks and groom on chinese goverment has united people of Sichuan and other parts of china? i dont think so. its more like chinese propaganda is trying to draw you a perfect image wich has very ugly face on it.

__By all definitions of law and order, the recent Zixang (Tibet) incidents are vicious rebellions and, therefore, must be crushed down accordingly.

i see you have no idea where rebelions usualy ends. China should give tibetans what they want and be happy they dont use a same tactics like Afghanistanians used against soviets.

aside a fact that "to crush rebelion" will make China bancrupt.

__President Bush and his supporters are doing by sacrificing over 4000 Americans to save his legacy

jut read this one, and i quest that one; since when is USA in a citizen war again?

Let's not get too theoretical here shall we. We wouldn't want to look at the Chinese government to give us an explanation for why they hold power. Since they have given up the communist ideal, their justification seems to be competent leadership for the Middle Kingdom. As long as the Han advance materially, that is all that matters.

They do make the trains run on time.

Let's be fair. The way a nation or government responds to disaster, especially one of such unimaginable magnitude is a good indication of character and capability; the legendary resilience of the Chinese temperament has been proven true.

For those who have closely followed the event, the strength, spirit and solidarity of the Chinese people in the face of massive devastation as well as the discipline and dedication of the armed forces are nothing short of impressive. In the quake zone itself, tales emerged of incredible altruism – teachers who sacrificed their lives to save students; a farmer who had just lost his only son, yet worked tirelessly to rescue the children of others; a policewoman who nursed an orphaned baby.

Any other nation in a similar situation can learn from the orderly behaviour of the hundreds of thousands of tent-dwelling victims and their spirit of mutual self-help in the face of loss, as well as from the confident, active leadership of top levels of government and most of all, from the care and generosity shown by all segments of society.

To Pomfret: when you said "“In the interests of the people of the neighborhood and in the majority interest, he did not hesitate to sacrifice his own children.” you must know that is exactly what President Bush and his supporters are doing by sacrificing over 4000 Americans to save his legacy. If you don't know that China has been "normal" all along, it is because you judge China from Western self-interest point of view. By all definitions of law and order, the recent Zixang (Tibet) incidents are vicious rebellions and, therefore, must be crushed down accordingly.

Seems "Chinese Chinese" prefer McCain over Obama.

I agree with the gist of this article that China has and is changing. This earthquake, though tragic beyond belief, has strengthened Chinese compassion and brought people together. The earthquake, combined with the upcoming Olympics, serve as a catalyst for positive change in the soul of China.
But the "three steps forward - five steps backward" syndrome is probably going to rear its' ugly head at some point after the Olympics. Human rights organizations must soldier on and keep the pressure applied.

i can't agree with you

If Obama really becomes President, how he treats China will be an interesting subject worthy of discussion in a future Pomfret blog!

Obama will be the first black president???

Luckily there's still a break from anonymous. I could comments again.

Regarding visa, regardless of if it's true or not. Just put yourself on the same position. What happened to apply visa to the US after 9-11? now everybody even have to leave their figure print when entering the US. Same thing apply here, with the approaching of Olympic and with potential terrorist attach from those anonymous belonged Tibetan in exile groups, the adjustment in visa policy is perfectly acceptable. Don't just keep making noise whenever there's change.Well, I think it's ok to make noise, just don't put it into the height of politics. Beside, John also said: "I also heard about the visa problems, but have seen nothing in the news."

I'm trying to find some filter which can automatically block those spam comments, would share with you all if can. Was waiting for the moderator here to take some action, but seemed meaningless to wait for their help. I'm strong doubt the neutrality of Washington post and Pomfret at this point. I hope there are still some respectable Americans can discuss with before I'm giving up this blog.

Btw, I recalled an old Chinese story. Once upon a time, there was a guy who's trying to steal a copper bell, but he realized whenever he touched the bell, it would ring and bring the guards. So he just sealed his ears with cotton and by doing so, he believed he couldn't hear the ring and derived that nobody else could hear the ring as well. The ending is quite obvious as he still got caught.

I feel those anonymous are acting the same way, do you think by attacking those peoples with different voice and drive them away, you would really win in the debate? You are still a loser at the end!

I was deeply moved to tears when I read the story of current Sichuan earth quake. Both the school buildings collaped which beried the pupils of his own class and his child, his first response was to rescue the pulpils of his own class , he saved dozen of his pupils,then he came to rescue his child under the nearby building only to find that his daughter already died.I don't know if anybody still want to find faults out of this teacher,the pulpils he rescued are not party secretary!

I was deeply moved to tears when I read the story of current Sichuan earth quake. Both the school buildings collaped which beried the pupils of his own class and his child, his first response was to rescue the pulpils of his own class , he saved dozen of his pupils,then he came to rescue his child under the nearby building only to find that his daughter already died.I don't know if anybody still want to find faults out of this teacher,the pulpils he rescued are not party secretary!

___As for Sharon Stone, I think that episode is over. Let's move on. It is really meaningless to discuss that any further.

nothing "is over". Sharon Stone episode is going to start now. you think you can insult forign people for their thinking and their expression of opinion and then go to the next point without to say sorry? not in America!

__I disagree with you with regard to the definition of "respect"

there is nothing to disagree. this is international term and you cant change a mean of it just because you do not understand what it means.

__In short, lots of Chinese students like myself strongly believe that we shouldn't simply copy American democracy.

with all respect dude. but just tell me only one thing where americans or europeans want chinese to use 100% of american democracy?

__You may be surprised. We are very confident "China model" will succeed. "China model" is not a threat to American democracy.

Wich "China Model"? Honkongnese pogressive oligarchy?, Changhainese wild capitalism clan oligarchy, Mao's soviet republic and cooperatives? millitary regime in Tibet, East-Turcestan? Paramillitary regime in South Mongolia, Qinghai and Mandchuria? Wild Capitalism with one party oligarchy in East and South-east China? Police state around Beijing and middle China? Triad Rule in Macau?

_-- It SHOULD BE "It moves three steps forward and TWO steps back. "

i think we all know here about Lenins book and idiology.

Wow, I just had a few hours of meaningful discussions with some respectable American people here. Then, all of sudden, those mean and dirty posts appear again. To me, that is completely wasting time.

"Anonymous", I disagree with you with regard to the definition of "respect". I will discuss with you later. As for Sharon Stone, I think that episode is over. Let's move on. It is really meaningless to discuss that any further.

"Spectator", I did mention "democratically political system". In short, lots of Chinese students like myself strongly believe that we shouldn't simply copy American democracy. American's style of counting every single vote from voting box is not only way for all of the citizens to have a voice in their respective political systems. There are other ways. You may be surprised. We are very confident "China model" will succeed. "China model" is not a threat to American democracy. Quite contrary, "China model" is complementary to American democracy. In addition, "China model" do contain some elements of American democracy. Again, I will discuss with you in detail later.

I have class this afternoon. I love to come back to discuss with your guys later on, but we really have to find better environment where most of trash and insulting comments are blocked. I got headache and got sick every time when I see those nasty anti-Chinese slurs.

We strongly urge Mr.Pomfret and leadership of the distinguished washingtonpost to block those nasty and insulting posts and to provide clean forum for the people around globe to have meaningful discussion and dialogue, which will be good for the global peace and prosperity.

Good buy. Take care

--wow, the riot was changed into "protest" by you again? I thought even BBC has been using riot for a long time, except the VOA and RFA who has been Chinese Basher for years. Choose your words carefully, it would define your stance!--

For stupid idiots like Shawn the cow:

at first tibetans just demonstrate, then chinese police was bashing them and cuted them from daylife things like food, water and communication, then people rioted.

realy you stupid biatch should know about. there are many timelines in internet.

It moves three steps forward and five steps back.

YOU ARE WRONG.

It SHOULD BE "It moves three steps forward and TWO steps back. "

I was educated in Singapore since high school, it's not totally western education, but neither mainland China's education. But I totally agree with Zhang Ming from Nanjing U and Bejing Student, my hometown was Nanjing, I was quite touched when I heard Mr. Pomfret was from Nanjing U as well.

But until now, I only see a Chinese Basher version of John Pomfret, I don't know if he really need to work for the pay cheque or if he really don't understand the Chinese culture despite he married a Chinese wife.

wow, the riot was changed into "protest" by you again? I thought even BBC has been using riot for a long time, except the VOA and RFA who has been Chinese Basher for years. Choose your words carefully, it would define your stance!

about Sharon Stone, You've posted earlier and you got lots of comments already. I think the problem for your attitude is why the Chinese still haven't forgive her after apology. Well, I do agree the reaction is over, and the censorship is really unnecessary. Anyway, I do have forgive her even though I don't know if her apology is truly from heart or just for show. and I don't think the censorship would work for me, because I already decide not to watch any of her movie any more. Well, you get a good excuse to defend her, whatever the excuse is, but do you really understand the Chinese? Do you know what's the feeling when you see those Hollywood superstar film one movie after another to bash China, just because they are friends of Dalai Lama? Now they even protest to boycott Beijing Olympic for the sake of Darfur and
the riot? Go home eat sh*t, Cloony, Gere!

About the visa problem, my only suggestion is to go and get some really source before writing your next blog, don't end up ruined your reputation!

I just can't understand why westerners view Chinese(from leaders to civilians)reaction to Si chuan earthquake "normal" surprisingly.That comment--"normal" reflects westerner think Chinese were abnormal or have never been normal until this earthquake.Chinese have been normal.because Chinese is human being just like other people around world.Chinese just do everything natural and sensible.Chinese donate much and show great concern for their compatriots.Chinese have 3 days of mourning for those victims of earthquake.Chinese work together when China confronts big difficulty.Chinese hard defend their country,China's absolute rights to protect their land's integrity.Anything is natural and sensible.

China is just like other countries,admiring heros.When someone sarifices something precious to themselves for the sake of country or society or for some big cause,then other Chinese will praise them a lot and admire them much.Not as described by John Pomfret "true revolution".US civilians admired much US firefighters or other heros when they rescued victims of 911 attack.That is the same thing.Humanbeing needs heros and admire heros.

"just a bunch of people living in some delusion of self-importance or aggrievement -- which we witnessed just a few months ago in their petulant reaction to the Tibetan protests."

Mr John Pomfret,I tell you what,Chinese won't allow any separation of their country in any form."protests"is just called by ignorant and malicious westerners.Tibetan's protests are just sabotage of China and advocation of Tibetan independence.

Tibet is part of China.Territorial integrity is China's top interests.Not "self-importance".

Westerners'ignorance and stupid belief in Tibetans'lies and their groundless support of Tibetan separatists make Chinese outraged.Not"aggrievment".

Westerners'viewpoints are very strange.I wonder whether westerners are outdated about China or whether Chinese have been all the time unknown for the world.

>In addition, I don't agree with your conclusion that "Respect is lacking in both directions ". We respect Americans far more than your guys respect Chinese

Lol.. well, you mean you respect americans not far more that you belive they respect chinese.

let me tell you another "truth of life";

you cant respect more or less, you cant exchange respect like money or empty phrases. respect is a thing wich must be earned by hard and long work.

China's heart certainly didn't extend to Sharon Stone who has been completely sensored for her off the cuff remarks which she apoligized for over and over again. There is a lack of tolerance and nationalist zeal in China that is disturbing. The clamor and the extent to which they wanted to punish her without a speck of forgiveness for comments that should have been ignored says a lot about their heart.

Well even this is not a point here. Sharon Stone just told what she tought at first and that was a question to her herself about karma and why should nature go that "crazy". it was her own privat thinking where she told her first mean about. most people do think in that way after shock. now chinese are going into rage without to ask themselfes that everyone of them thought something like this. chinese are going to tell sharon stone what she has to think and what not.

i think chinese should kiss an arse of old bull before doing that.

Did Zhang Ming call China a democracy? I hope that all of the citizens in the U.S. and China have a voice in their respective political systems. However, I often have my doubts about the state of the democratic system in the U.S. and I am very unclear as to the how the Chinese democracy functions. Maybe I am just ignorant. In any event, we should all always question how democratic of a system we are a part of.

Beijing Resident, when I said "not in Chinese genes", I mean traditionally Chinese people are relatively reserved, compare to other culture. Let me clarify that. I am majored in international law not in science, but I frequently see the discussion of what controls human behavior both in Chinese and English web sites. My general knowledge in that regard is that human emotion is controlled genetically as well as environmentally.

Rampant materialism, especially characterized by buying unnecessary consumer goods, describes the United States more accurately than China. Until this year, most young people and many older people in this country cared more about materialism and buying more consumer goods than they really needed, than about learning or having any ideals. The candidacy of Barack has, to some extent, aroused the latent ideals of many persons, especially those in their twenties and thirties.

Generally though Americans, on average, are at least as preoccupied with money, materialism, buying bigger homes and more cars than they need, etc, as Chinese, whose purchasing power is considerably less, on average, than Americans. On the other hand, family ties, especially parental involvement in the education of their children and the emphasis upon excellence in education is generally greater in China, especially in urban areas, than in this country.

I agree with John on this one.

I don't know if the earthquake revived the hearts in China the first time or not, I do know that with the readily accessible information from the uncensored media and internet users, people can react timely to problems such as this one. A market economy is working to transform a country that is tightly controlled in the past.

I do want to remind those who claim to hate Chinese left and right, don't forget "Karma". Play nice in the sand box,,,

In the article :: It's a manifestation of China as a "normal country", not just a bunch of people living in some delusion of self-importance or aggrievement ::

What it means is, China is just like any other country, with its own attractions and problems.

"Self-importance" refers to the "thousand years of cultural superiority blah-blah-blah". Please don't condescend other countries. Do you want kow-tow or respect?

"Aggrievement" refers to the never-ending "we suffered a lot in the past at the hands of outsiders". Yes, bad things happened to everybody in the past.
But in the present, do you want pity or respect?

To Beijing resident:

How much science do you really know? How much genetics do you really know? "aggressive character" is not ON and Off, and it has wide ranger of gradient. Some group of people are very aggressive, while others are not aggressive at all. You never take genetics class before? Tha is sad. I have both Chinese and English genetics textbook. I could lend you if you want.

How long have you read the web site, "www.huanqiu.com"? Did you find any anti-western sentiment in that website last year or even six month ago? or in any Chinese web site in that matter? Yes, there is anti-western sentiment recently. What can you expect if you look at all of those policeman pictures used by CNN,AP, etc (none of them are Chinese; they are all India policeman or Nepal policeman)?

You are right "eating McDonald's and watching NBA" are not necessary to mean to respect USA. However, they do show that we have done very good job to try to understand American culture at least.

I used to work for an international Organization based in Beijing China. I experienced three bosses who were from India, Canada, and UK, respectively. Usually their contracts were for 5-year period, but none of them would like to leave when the contracts were expired, and they tried everything they could to stay longer. My British boss told me that China was the safest country to foreigners, and Chinese people are the friendliest. However, none of them really understand Chinese culture. They did not try to learn Chinese, and they had very few Chinese friends. The main reasons they prefer living in China are better income (high salary with no tax), the feelings as a real VIP (they were always flattered by governmental officials and they had high authority with little supervision within the organization), and much more fun here in Beijing than that in their home countries. Therefore, even they stayed in China for a long period, they are still ignorant about Chinese culture. The real problem is they have no interest to learn and they do not care about China.

就是吗?不要老是责备人家.当然民主很好.也是必经阶段.难道就不相信中国不会走民主道路?

To Beijing Student
I disagree with you. I read the Chinese web sites just like you, but I don't see respect there. Go to huanqiu.com and you can read many writings attacking foreigners very badly. Actually, the language on Chinese Web is full violence and hate for Westerners.
You say that because we eat McDonald's and watch NBA we respect USA? That is not logical.
Also, Nanjing student talks about "Chinese genes." That is not scientific. This kind of comment is a sign of ignorance.

Rather than characterizing this as five steps back after three steps forward it would be better to say that one step back has been made after three good solid steps forward were made. More progress was made than any backsliding.

Dear John:
I just want add one last point. Chinese are keenly aware our dominance in science and technology. We can draw some comfort for now and maybe only for a while. This can change too. In April this year, I visited some Chinese universities and was very impressed with their modern facilities. In addition, they have money, lot money for research. Anyone with a PhD and some ideas will get at least 200k grant. On the other hand in US, your chance to get grant this year is less than 10%, compared to 25% several years ago. The absolute research dollars at NIH is falling while the spending by Pentagon is skyrocketing. Have you heard of $1 trillion budget at Pentagon?

Hi, "Nanjing University Grad", I am not a Nanjing University graduate, but I am a Beijing University student. Zhang Ming didn't pretend at all and he is completely right. John' articles disappointed all of us! Just go to those Chinese web sites posting Chinese version of his articles, and you wouldn't find any positive comment.

"what does it mean to 'understand Chinese culture'? ", well, some people in US still misunderstand Chinese mentality which emphasizes collectivism.

In addition, I don't agree with your conclusion that "Respect is lacking in both directions ". We respect Americans far more than your guys respect Chinese. McDonald is everywhere in China. We watch NBA basketball game every week. We celebrate Christmas as well as Chinese New Years. We went to great length to reach out to American people. However, no one likes to be frequently challenged in the area of the most important national security.

Bashing China is the mission of American media. It sometimes turns a normal person like John to a a fault finder or a utter liar. If the article does not belittle China, it probably won't be published. I have been in American for 14 years and in the last few years, i have taken friends and colleagues to China. Their comments about chinese people are the Chinese are the friendliest people in the world and China is one of the safest country to travel. We don't read these from newspeople at all.

Dear John:
Since when do people really care about getting visas to China? Since when do people here really care whether Chinese has any human feelings or not? This happens just because China is becoming too powerful and its political system does not fit our dogma. Let’s look back in the years you were studying in China. In 1989, the Chinese GDP was simply the size of Kyushu, Japan's third largest island. In 2007, the Chinese GDP is three quarters of Japan’s in US dollars. However, the real Chinese GDP is twice the size of Japan in terms of purchasing power. While the economy in US is heading into a recession, theirs is still red hot. Let’s put this into a little detail. This year we expect US consumers to purchase 15 million new cars, whereas in China, there will be 10 million new cars sold. In addition, there is somewhere 30% increase new car sales in china each year, whereas ours is almost flat. GM is the leading sellers in China (how ironic, GM is losing billions home and making billions in China. Maybe one day it should call itself Chinese GM. What is good for GM may not be good for the States). By some estimate, if you truly believe this, the size of Chinese economy will surpass ours by 2030. That is not far from now. I can imagine this does not fit well with some of our American thinkers or whatever you call them. This easily explain Western "cave-in" to China. Oh, by the way, at the time you were studying in China, America is the holy land for Chinese. However, this has changed. The appeal and lust of American democracy and human right has faded among ordinary Chinese. Recently, we lost the brand and reputation of our media there in China. What else do we have in our pockets that we can exert leverage over the ordinary Chinese? Obviously, they are going their own way for good no matter how much we bark here.

John is one of the few Americans who doesn't knows China at all. Yes, he spent some years in China, so what? Many Westerners now work and live in China. Lots of his staff about China are not accurate and not fair.

Hey Zhang Ming, I am also a Nanjing University graduate. I want to ask, who are you speaking for when you say "your articles disappoint us"? Who is the "us" you speak of? And why do you feel it necessary to pretend as if all Chinese speak in one voice? It is simply not true. I resist the type of speech that begins "We Chinese ...."
And what does it mean to "understand Chinese culture"? Your simplifications of issues to an "East / West" dichotomy do not encourage improved understanding.
I think your appeal for respect is the most reasonable. Respect is lacking in both directions and this is a genuine problem.

The nihilism/consumerism that allegedly ran rampant in China until the earthquake was way overblown by the media. It just seemed to fit into a neat template: democracy didn't pan out, so let's buy stuff instead!
None of the Chinese I've ever known are nihilistic or exceptionally materialistic.
On the contrary, people actually care and haven't adopted the cynicism toward the notion of "progress" that is so popular in the West. At least in China, a full range of the possibilities for "progress" is given a decent hearing -- not least because the situation is so contradictory and riddled with concrete problems (no pun intended).
And yes, the earthquake provided a chance to organize and act upon some of people's salutary impulses. But those impulses are not new in China. They were always there.
To say that Chinese people, especially its youth, cared only for iPods (a frequently used example that I find obnoxious as hell) is to propagate as pernicious a myth as the one that says the CCP center is good and local officials are the root of China's governance problems.

John is one of the few Americans who knows China better than most Chinese do. He is right in his insight of the new Chinese coming out of their usual shell of a political creature. I have also observed this important sign of change.

Dear Mr. Pomfret:

I disagree with you in many areas in this article, but let me introduce myself first. I am PH.D graduate student in Nanjing University in China, the same university where you used to study more than 20 years ago. In that sense, we are schoolmate. Some of your previous articles have been translated into Chinese and posted into some Chinese websites, which generated lots of negative feedback. That is how I got know you. Like most of Chinese students, I have mixed feeling toward you. On the one hand, you are one of the earliest American students to come to China to study, you spent many years in China, you can speak and write in Chinese, and we also heard that you married a Chinese lady (although that is your privacy); therefore, on the surface, you are one of very few Americans who have so much intimacy with Chinese society. On the other hand, your articles in the media and posts on the internet frequently disappoint us. You still have distorted view about Chinese history, Chinese culture and Chinese people. You didn't completely and fully understand Chinese culture which is compassionate, non-aggressive and very resilient. Vast majority of Chinese people are not aggressive at all. From all of your published writings and interviews, you didn't treat Chinese people as equal partner. You still have that sense of superiority. We don't see same kind of fairness and kindness from you, compared to other China-experts such as Harry Kissinger. We always have heart. We don't want to be superpower which is not in Chinese genes. We just want the West to respect our own right to chose our own democratically political system. Obviously, lots of Chinese students and scholars are closely watching you, but, for myself, I just want you to be a sincere friend of Chinese people.

China's heart certainly didn't extend to Sharon Stone who has been completely sensored for her off the cuff remarks which she apoligized for over and over again. There is a lack of tolerance and nationalist zeal in China that is disturbing. The clamor and the extent to which they wanted to punish her without a speck of forgiveness for comments that should have been ignored says a lot about their heart.

I also heard about the visa problems, but have seen nothing in the news.

Sir,from waht you said in your Blog I believe you dont know chinese because you dont know chinese culture.chinese are different from western people,we look our nation as most important thats why chinese havent lost their country for over 5000 years even though this culture create a bad political system,chinese love their nation more than thier lives.
Lot of western people cant understand chinese at this point thats why there are so much misunderstandings between west and east,so the problems with Tibet,Olympic torch relay or quake in sichuan ...arent just political issues,they are culture issues.

John,
Your articles are getting warmer and warmer. Keep it up. However, why aren't you writing about the "visa" problems that are affecting so many foreigners in the lead-up to the Olympics. There is a story here, and it should be heard. This is Western "cave-in" to China.
Henry Whitehead Living in Beijing

The local media has become more open after the disaster.