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shangpied

Listed below are comments made by shangpied between Thursday, 18th September 2008 and Tuesday, 4th November 2008.

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Comparing China and Cuba 03:30am on 04 Nov 2008 I am fortunate to be the only foreigner working in a Chinese company. Every week I hold "creative thinking" classes, where I get everyone together and we have a good debate about something.

Mostly we talk about Baidu vs Google, or other such things, but we also occasionally get off track and talk about politics.

These events, in my 6 years in the country has been the most insightful into knowing how Chinese people think.

I think it's important to know that most Chinese people do thinking differently from Westerners. It seems an obvious point, considering the historical and geographical bounderies, but when people demonstrate that they have a really different set of values and priorities it is always surpising eye-opening.

On occasions however, it has been a little scary, particularly when we talk about politics. The scariness comes from the fact that people will call China a socialist country and then admit there is no socialism in the same sentence, and feel no sense of irony. Or if I'll ask them a "hot" question and get a unified reply, but with no understanding of why they replied that, and bemusement at the idea that they would need to understand their reply.

It really is Orwell's "1984" here, I never thought it was before.

I think that China's communism is still alive in it's army, government and education system, but at the end of the day it is CHINA's communism, not Soviet or Cuban.

China's communism, called "socialism with Chinese characteristics" is just that; a complete contradiction of itself with no sense of irony.
Determined to vote 06:16am on 23 Oct 2008 The polarisation of this election is remarkable.

Most Democrats seem to think the world will end if the Republicans win.

Most Rublicans think the world will end if the Democrats win.

There seems to be very little cross-over respect for the other party's candidates and party-line.

I personally think either party would do an OK job, and both presidential candidates are good choices.

Clearly however the Republican camp has had some terrible advice, firstly on their negative, hate/fear inducing campaign, and secondly on the appointment of Palin as VP.

On the other hand the Democrats have, like Obama, played it cool.

However, when you consider the current lack of popularity in the current Republican administration, the fact that their candidate is still expected to get 40-50% of the vote just shows how many people are willing to stick with the "devil they know".
All back to normal? 11:38am on 18 Sep 2008 To be honest, sad though it is, these problems are expected.

Whilst in China; In hospitals I've seen doctors regularly spit on the floor, farmers use human waste or toxic water to feed their plants (they believe the plants will filter out the bad stuff), children defacating in public places and men urinating in children's play areas.

I've seen women used to pour acid into car batteries, working for just a few months before they are left without the ends of their fingers, and lungs so damaged they die soon afterwards.

China is so large, with so many people, and unfortuantely for most their education is appalling and their life worth nothing. People in the cities know nothing of their own country.

I believe things are getting better, economically improving fast, socially slow. Chinese people are resilient, and they have a strong desire to march on.

People blame the government, but to be honest the real problem is deep rooted into the culture. Where you feel so removed from such a large group of people that you feel your actions have no consequences. The same reason people do not rise up against injustice, is the same reason people put chemicals in food for profit.

China has always been a country of masters and slaves. The CCP are the masters at the moment, but unless there's real change to the culture then even when they are out, all that will replace them is a different name. The people will still be slaves, and slaves will continue to not think for themselves, and to act without care of consequence.

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