Originally Posted by Jim B.

I am in Los Angeles and traveling, and met and had dinner with Diametrical Benz, last night, the OP of this thread, and he had asked me to take a look at it.

We discussed the situation in China at some length.

I was left with the impression that there might have been some ignorant and vitriolic responses. I was certainly not prepared for this - though I guess I stood warned.

Truly, this takes the cake. The depth and breadth of your ignorance, on this subject, your and your willingness to demonstrate here leaves me almost at a loss for words.

Charitably, your remarks would be described as naive and uniformed. More brutally,and frankly, they could be characterized as racist, inflammatory, insulting, and stupid.

The "tank and kid" incident you reference took place in 1989. That was almost 20 years ago. Things have NOT remained static in China for the past 18 years.

There are serious human rights violations, many of which are unadressed and ongoing, in China.

I have learned that the leaders in China are not fools, and a lot of "younger blood"
is being brought on board in the high levels of government, with the idea that they might more properly be qualified to meet the challenges and changes of a changing world situation and economy.

That said, it appears that China and the United States have destinies that are intertwined and in a way twinned, in many ways, especially economically.

It is to the advantage of neither side to stereotype identies, and attempt to be insular.

The wireless and internet ages instantly connects us in new ways

English remains and probably will be the principal language of business and the internet. The educated Chinese classes travel abroad, and many have western educations, and are fluent in English, which is necessary for business success. To the extent that cultural stereotypes are true, it would not be unfair that success in business is admired by the Chinese, and accepted as a worthy goal in life.

Resentment of those economic successes sometimes fuels racism and resentment against them, especially against those Chinese who live abroad in foreign countries, like Australia, Vietnam, the USA, Peru, and elsewhere. I have seen a lot of evidence of it in my travels. You should ask any ethinic Chinese living ithe Cholon section of Saigon, about what it is like there, for starters.

The huge demand in America for cheap Chinese made consumer goods fuels the econonic boom in China, and made many millionaires there, and raised the standard of living for many more Chinese, who are now able to afford, and demand such consumer goods as automobiles, electronics, and other luxuries.

The obvious downside of that, of which many Chinese are aware, that chasing Western luxury goods, doesn't necessarily lead to a better life, any more than does Americans chasing cheap Chinese made consumer goods
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Glib, racist, sarcastic, uninformed, and florid, ignorant sweeping remarks enlighten nobody, and only tend to portray those who make them in a negative light.