Restlessness

After rereading my last post, I find myself cringing. Where ever I am and what ever I’m doing, it is in my nature to be overly critical (the irony is that I am now critical of myself being critical). Living around the world, I constantly find myself torn between different cultures, different peoples, and different ways of thinking. To my American friends at home, I am regularly defending China, but to my Chinese friends here, I am persistently illuminating China’s faults. It’s not my wish to be the devil’s advocate, but rather a mediator that wishes to facilitate empathy and promote mutual understanding. Concerning the Sichuan earthquake, for example, I have endured a wide range of emotions: teary-eyed by the carnage, surprised by the openness of the central government, touched by the local support, critical of Chinese reporters, annoyed by Chinese nationalism (maybe because I'm not Chinese), frustrated by the legitimacy given to the Party, confused by competing schools of thought and value systems, and mostly anxious concerning China's future, America's future, the world's future… a restless existence indeed. Actually, for 90% of my day I live a pretty stable life surrounding myself with work, good people, and the ephemeral pleasures of my liking. A few unfortunate individuals and especially this blog allows me to cathartically tame this restlessness that rattles inside me, and for that I thank you.

On a side note, here is another young man from China who wants to say thank you. Please take a moment to watch this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS3DWZ8h9RI

Anyway…today I am too tired to write anything of any substance (because it’s Friday!) but I thought it would at least be fun to show you what I read in the “China Daily’ newspaper every day on my way to work. Here are a few stories from today:


“The United States is known for "melting-pot" culture, and the dangling "American dream" which have inspired people of different colors to emigrate to it. However, the like of Jack Cafferty, sitting before TV screens watched by tens of thousands of audiences in America and elsewhere, and attacking Chinese people, is nothing but showing its rudeness, arrogance, ignorance and hostility towards China. After years of efforts by some Western media to demonize China has failed, the ink of Cafferty have come to the forefront to directly assault China, which reflects the utter frustration and despair of some wicked men and women.”

“Against the backdrop of economic globalization, China has also been going through a social transformation. To resolve the problems and conflicts arising during the transformation, the country needs to develop its legal system to strengthen the regulation of State power and to safeguard citizens' rights. China's social transformation means transformation from a planned economy to a market economy, from a single-sector system of public ownership to a system under which public ownership plays the dominant role and diverse forms of ownership coexist, from the rule of men to the rule of law, and from absolute, managerial government to limited, service-oriented government, from being closed or semi-closed to complete opening-up, and from a highly centralized structure of state and society to a dual structure. China does not try to achieve social transformation overnight but seeks a gradual progress. A consultative mechanism with Chinese characteristics and a mixed governance model that combines soft with hard laws has been created.”

“NANNING - A man was detained for spreading on-line rumors about earthquakes in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, local police confirmed on Thursday. A post saying that quakes of at least magnitude 7 would hit northwestern Shaanxi and Gansu provinces within two weeks caught the eyes of police in Beihai City of Guangxi early on Tuesday. As of Wednesday, police across China had reported 55 similar cases and detained 13 people. Under Chinese law, information on earthquakes should be issued by the authorities of provinces, municipalities or autonomous regions. One who spreads rumors about dangers or diseases can be sentenced to up to five days in custody or fined up to 500 yuan (US$71).”

“President Hu Jintao and Putin met five times last year and laid out a blueprint for the development of the strategic partnership of cooperation in the second decade after its birth. Hu and Medvedev are expected to expand and clarify their thoughts on making the blueprint a reality. They will discuss issues concerning the strengthening of mutual trust, trade, energy, people-to-people exchanges and international affairs.”

“CANBERRA -- An Australian sex researcher has found that about 55 percent of Australian women are not satisfied with their sexual life or have difficulty in having orgasm.”

“ATHENS- A 9-year-old girl who went to hospital in central Greece suffering from stomach pains was found to be carrying her embryonic twin, doctors said Thursday.”

“Words of Wisdom: ‘All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.’ – Mark Twain”

By the time I get to work my legs are stiff from standing for over an hour on the subway and my brain has overheated and shut down. After 15 minutes of reading Obama news on Drudge Report and perusing on Facebook, I'm usually back to normal.

TGIF