Americans don't Understand Chinese and Chinese don't Understand Americans

By looking at your history in the D&D you're the last one that should call someone else close minded.

 

Hey man, don't include me in your blanket statement. That dude is a proven goober.
As are you , I might add.

Shills of demagoguery

 

Oh look, we agree. Unfortunately, it has already bled into tech, Hollywood, and as we can see sports. It is going to get worse before it gets better.

 

At least I am not the one thinking 'go back to China' is a valid defense.
I have lived in US and China both for more than 20 years ... I've seen enough, experienced enough. that's my history. Initially I was scared hearing 'go back to China' and tried my best to stay. Now I know it is a line for losers keeping their minds shut and feeling better.

 

I'll side w/ Murry anyday, but this is a big issue that's more complex than a black and white picture.

Many Americans aren't forced to understand what it's like to have your country taken over. It's sci fi fantasy just like the series Man in the High Castle.

The closest example is 9/11, when the nation collectively went apeshit and deliberately made a two front war, one that was sanctioned by the world and another that wasn't. In its wake came the Patriot Act, Dept. of Homeland Security, all the nasty **** Snowden and other whistleblowers uncovered that's performed on American citizens, drone strikes on American citizens w/o due process, etc... We have an unending War on Terror that gives the President unlimited Wartime Powers. It is something Americans still live with everyday and it has been a bipartisan effort to keep it alive in order to "keep us safe".

So yeah, they bought into selling their rights as long as their economy rises. They'll buy into the rhetoric about other countries making China weak by repeating history lessons about Japan and the West colonizing them. The West promoted liberalism for everyone else only after Europe was broke out of its mind post WW2, couldn't retain its colonies, and when Soviet Russia became a strong counterweight to the US. With that in mind, I wouldn't expect them to trust our government seriously. I do, however, think the people in China admire Western values as an ideal and a privilege.

Before people cry false equivalence, this is only to set the mainland Chinese mindset. There are still survivors who have witnessed the ravages of war. It's not ancient history, nor is it settled history. If it was settled, Japan and S. Korea wouldn't be threatening to cut free trade with each other.

I think it would be easier for the American mindset if China was like N. Korea, a failed dictatorship that feeds delusions to its dirt poor peasants. Instead, you have a rising authoritarian power with no easy answers.

It takes more patience and more research to dig into all of this. Might not be worth it for some, but yadda yadda power yadda yadda responsibility.

 

Not entirely. Some of us are out here happy that you started a thread like this.

I mean, I ultimately come to this forum to try to understand people who have different views and backgrounds from mine, (and to share my take of course).

 

I see the Chinese people as victims, not enemies. I can't imagine being detained for speaking ill of a president or government policy. That is scary and I sympathize with them.

 

I used to be like the OP, ethnic Chinese blinded by ethnic pride, false histories and naïveté. China has been and always will be a country that doesn’t abide by rule of law and good faith and fair dealing, because none of those serve the purpose of the emperor, which is all that the Chinese have ever aspired to over thousands of years, to either be the Man or serve the Man. I can guarantee you that in 100 years, Chinese school children will once again learn that the Western civilization ganged up and invaded its sovereignty, with no mention about how China was a repeat and blatant violator of WTO rules, disregarded Hague arbitration and all but tore up the Sino-British Joint Declaration, all of which China signed. China is in short just like Trump—never talks about what it does wrong, always says others are after him, abuses power while projecting the abuse onto others and, like all bullies, needs to be punched in the nose before it will behave.

But Trump, to his credit, is the perfect blunt instrument for dealing with China. Takes one to know one.

 

Agreed. As a selfish request, I would ask that you continue posting as you've done. Some less vocal posters appreciate the nuance and insight. I understand if it isn't worth it to you.

 

Maybe you are projecting your past history toward the OP. From what I have read of the OP posts, he is far from being blinded.

 

This crazy topic has posters that never agree with each other liking each others posts. There is hope for us in the DnD.

 

Necessary and maybe even willful victims. A cost accepted in face of a nation that was under attack. A nation that ended up split - internal arguments and wars with one side going communist the other democracy. How interesting is that, that the two are talking and working with each other today. That the system of both has evolved, innovated and innovating, more so on the communist side (hello capitalism).

And you know what, part of our population at home isn't so different. Willful victims. A similar cost that looks acceptable in face of a nation of privilege that is seen to being losing that status. A future that looks bleak, a majority that is becoming a minority. And the willingness to adopt a trend toward authoritarian state to maintain status even at the cost of democracy.

 

I think there needs to be an acknowledgement that understanding the history and perspective of China and the CCP does not mean supporting or excusing the behaviors of China and the CCP.

Calls for the OP to go back to China are ignorant. He is pro USA, he has discussed his history before and his feels and loyalties shouldn’t be questioned.

I lived in China for awhile. The culture is extremely different than in the West. What I don’t agree with the OP about is the media and access to information in China. The majority of people in China listen to and read state sanctioned media and especially sensitive information is purposely restricted.

I love the Chinese people, but not their government which is the largest risk to personal freedoms and privacy in the world.

Also it was my experience that in private Chinese are very different than in public. A lot of public pressure to support the CCP. Behind close doors a lot of Chinese don’t like how oppressive their government is.

 

u know that there are > 53 ethnic groups in china, and multiple religions, no?

but, there is one written language, w several regional dialects.

it'd appear ur experience in China is from the 1990s, before the age of internet.

 

We are talking about mainland China residents. Can we backup for a second. How do they feel about the protests? All we see on the news is Hong Kong.

Secondly why is Hong Kong against an extradition treaty. From what i read on Wiki they got riled up about a murder suspect. What does all this have to do with politics as opposed to being about criminals?

 

Every nation gets the government it deserves.

 

mainlanders to HKers is analogous to

New Jerseyites to NYer,
midwesterners to coastal residents
pittsburghers to philadelphians
tacomans to seattleites
lnland empire residents to LA's Angelenos​