The Whole Tibet and China Thing

I know I'm a little late to respond to the whole China vs. Tibet argument thing that's been happening for quite a while now, but, hey, better late than never.

Anywho, with the 2008 Bejing Olympics just a few months away, the conflict between Tibet and China has been put on the public stage, especially with the protests in Tibet and China's all-too-violent response to that protest.

Lately, I have heard many arguments from the Chinese side about how the world shouldn't make such a "spectacle" of this issue simply because it's:

a.) None of the world's business.

and

b.) Western countries are just as guilty as China when it comes to taking over other people's land. So Western countries shouldn't point fingers.

Okay, so here's my take on these two pro-China arguments:

a.) Hey, China, since you always wanted to be the center of the world's attention, you got it!!! Oh wait? You only want the world to focus on the good things about you and ignore the bad things? Well, tough $#@#. When you put yourself up to attracting the eyes of the world (like you do when you advertise yourself as the host of the freakin 2008 Olympics), everyone sees everything about you, whether good or bad. And, when people see everything about you, they're entitled to their opinion. This is reality, China, take it or leave it. You're the one who placed yourself in this position, not anyone else.

b.) Yes, America had it's share of doing things that it was never proud of doing, like seizing land from the Native Americans. But you know what? This is old news to us. People have pointed this out to us millions of times and we're used to being accused left and right. And, you know what? At least we've tried to do something to make ammends for it (reservations, recognition of some autonomy for the Native American people, etc.). So, in short, here's the deal:

- Just because Western countries have their own baggage in their history, doesn't make what you're doing to Tibet any better.

- Again, China, welcome to our world. America's been laughed at and accused countless times for its mistakes. It's all part of being a popular country. But we're used to it by now. So, China, you better start getting use to it too and stop throwing a hissy fit.

Just my two cents.

China Wants to Become a Leader - Be Careful What You Wish For

Ever since America took the center stage, China has been struggling to achieve the position of the strongest nation in the world. But the truth is, is it really prepared to take that position? Well, before China becomes the center of the world it has to

- Be prepared to be hated and betrayed by many other nations, even if it has helped those nations in the past through economic difficulty or military conflict (like France, for instance, after America saved its butt).

- Be prepared to be targeted/threatened by several hostile nations, including terrorist organizations.

- Be prepared to be ridiculed and mocked by other nations behind their back, if not in front of their face, just for being what it is.

- Be prepared to get involved in nearly every major conflict or crisis that happens in the world even if it doesn't necessarily involve China. And if China doesn’t get involved, it has to be prepared to be heavily criticized for that.

- Be prepared to be constantly accused and knit-picked by other nations and outside groups, even for the smallest things (like for not being “cultured” enough or junk like that).

- Be prepared to have its national history held up, knit-picked, criticized, and mocked on the world stage from time to time.

- Be prepared to handle more internal conflicts as its own people become more exposed to the outside world and outside ideas (once you’re #1 in the world, there’s very little you could do to keep the outside world out).

From everything that I've heard from most of the Chinese nationalists that I’ve known and run into, they always seem to carry the assumption that once China becomes the leader of the world, then it would be smooth sailing for that nation from there on in. As a proud American and as a person who lived in America all his life, trust me—being considered the leading nation of the world isn’t as thrilling as some native Chinese would think. In fact, if China wants so badly to have that position, then it can go ahead and take it. Chances are, America needs a short break (heck, I need a break from all this crap being thrown at my country) and China will probably end up regretting it. But that’s just me. What say you?

My Two Cents on the Illinois Shooting and Gun Control

Ever since the recent shooting in Illinois, involving the young graduate student, the issue of gun control has cropped up all the more and questions have been raised about whether increased gun control could possibly prevent further school shootings in the future.

In my honest opinion, increasing gun control, at best, would only be a temporary fix to the problem and, at worst, be a solution that may not have any effect at all. The reason why I say this is because the people who would tend to perpetrate such crimes are individuals who are often willing to be patient and resourceful enough to find ways of acquiring what they need to commit their crimes. All in all, they are desperate people, who see that they have nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing what they devoted themselves to do. Making it more difficult to access firearms, may retard their efforts to carry out their agenda, but if a person's desperate enough they will acquire a firearm whether legally or illegally (such as stealing one from a parent, relative, or even stranger). Having an enforced gun law would do little against them.

Many people these days, make the mistake of assuming that it is the access to guns or the presence of violence in our culture that are the ultimate root of the school shooting problem. Though violence in the media can play a role and though convenient access to firearms can make it easier to carry out a shooting, the ultimate root of these incidents lie in the choice of the individuals involved and whatever factors made them to be the way they are. Overall, the politics of gun control in America hasn't changed that drastically over the past decade or so. However, the frequency of actual school shootings and potential school shootings has increased significantly in the recent years—very few would argue that.

These shootings, by and large, are a result of a greater disease and increasing gun control will only mask the symptoms of this disease for the short term rather than cure it.

To treat this spiritual disease, people and children need to be taught to respect and care for one another at an early age. Bullying needs to be curbed and prevented in every school and environment and pro-active programs devoted to better parenting skills need to be implemented on a much larger scale. Schools must be involved, parents must be fully committed and, yes, churches everywhere must make every effort. And this doesn’t just mean paying lip-service here and there; this means actually doing something and taking action. Because the two main histories that nearly every perpetrator of nearly every school shooting share is a history of bullying and a history of having a distant family.

This is my two cents.

Minorities Becoming the Majority in America by 2050

Just tonight, I saw a news report saying that by 2050, the minorities will become the new majority in America.

(For the online version of the story, see http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/17/national/main607022.shtml).

I found this to be a very interesting scenario and wondered whether or not that would drastically change the American culture if that were the case. This also made me start to wonder about whether there would someday be an Asian president of the United States.

With Hillary Clinton possibly becoming the first woman president or Barack Obama possibly the first black one--what would happen if America elected an Asian president? Or, more importantly, how would the Asian nations, like China, react to an American Chinese president?

Part of me thinks that the Chinese would simply see him as just as another American, given that most native Chinese tend to view all ABCs (American Born Chinese) as non-Asian (i.e. "gwei-lo") or, more bluntly, white. But, at the same time, I've seen many Chinese use certain American-Chinese achievements (Michelle Kwon) as bragging rights for they're own culture, even when that subject in particular is as American as any person can get.

Herein lies the problem.

From all the times I've seen it, if you're an Asian American and you haven't done anything special, most native Asians would view you as just another spoiled, naive "American". But, somehow, if you do something "special" or if you're known for something special then they would instantly credit your achievement as something achieved simply because your Asian.

So when it comes to a Chinese president of the United States, expect to hear this response from most native Chinese in general: "You see! Even America's president is Chinese! That's because we Chinese are so smart!!! He's gonna be the best president in American history!!!"

But if you're a regular ABC, like me, and take a trip to China, you might expect to hear more of this disgruntled whisper behind your back: "Huh...an American..."

See the difference.

Short Movie Filler Day: Men in Black

This movie's a short animation of a soldier's experience (U.S. Army Specialist Colby Buzzel) during his tour in the middle east. It was featured on "American Crossroads". Whether or not you agree with the conflict in Iraq, this movie is a very telling tale about the impact of the war on our boys overseas.

My Two Cents on the “China Rise”

Ever since Beijing was chosen for the 2008 Olympics, China has been prepping to peacock itself to the entire world. From rush programs to clean up its own smog to teaching its own citizens and merchants how to deal “politely” with foreigners, China is going the whole nine-yards in reputation building.

But the biggest thing that troubles me about China is that, over the past few years since their economic boom, their focus seems so geared on becoming a “great nation” that they seem to lose sight of what it means to be a great nation. Yes, every nation isn’t perfect and every nation has its number of flaws (even America), but hear me out on this.

Based on the current trend, much of China’s focus is presently devoted to economic growth and public image. But what about improving human rights and religious freedoms? But what about proving itself as a moral nation to the international community, rather that continue to sell weapons to such countries as Sudan and North Korea? But what about proving itself as a nation of economic integrity, by pumping out quality products without cutting corners or adding in dangerous substances that can be detrimental to anyone exposed?

China is currently in a similar position that the United States was during its Industrial Revolution. Its economy is booming and its upper class population is swelling. But concepts, such as workers’ rights and environmental regulation, are still in infantile stages within the nation and, as a result, both the global environment and its own people have suffered. And to make things worse, countries that buy Chinese products suffer as well. In my opinion, China is growing in success faster than it can adapt to the responsibilities that come with success. And unless it’s willing to take a good look at itself, beyond the seduction of economic wealth and the superficial glitter of public image—it will never truly be a great nation.