From: dchan@cisco.com (Derek Chan)
Subject: Re: I'm very disappointed in Chinese
X-Disclaimer: The views expressed in this message are those of an
	      individual at SRI International, and do not necessarily
	      reflect those of the company.
Organization: cisco Systems, Incorporated
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 19:41:11 GMT

In article <1992Sep1.113239.12546@cs.mu.OZ.AU>, dht@mulga.cs.mu.oz.au (Joyous Dave) writes:
|> I'm very disappointed in Chinese people.
|> 
|> I want to improve China, improve its people's living standard,
|> improve its productivity, improve its economy, improve its
|> stand in the world.  And I asked people to contribute suggestions
|> to how to improve China.
|> 
|> I got handful of constructive suggestions, but tons of noise and
|> flames on ideological differences, history, general complains, or
|> pure noise.
|>
 
I really want to flame when I read your original post but didn't have time to do
so. I still remember two things about your original post and I think they may
be the reasons why you are getting so many complains/noise.

1) Your suggestions are not realistic.(refering the railway etc.)
   We Chinese all want China to be a good and strong country, deep in our
   soul. But, be realistic. Where is the money? How much money do you get
   from a population that is 80% illiterate. 
    
2) China's taking control of it's neighbors is simply  a bad idea.
   Well, China has enough trouble taking care of herself.
   More importantly, it means aggression. Having a "great China" by absorbing 
   its neighbors is just simply another Japan in WWII; or another Iraq. It means     opression, killing and war.
   Nationalism is usually the cause of war.
   Hong Kong people should celebrate 1997 if they share your view since they
   they should be happy to be part of the "great China".

|> I feel that Chinese nowadays like to feel pride that they belong
|> to the oldest civilization in the world which still exists; but

Not me.

When people feel pride saying things like "We Chinese invent the paper,...compass
...explosives". I will say "Shut up, go back to China and enjoy your life there."
I like the Chinese culture. But there's nothing for me to be proud of China
today.

|> when asked to do something to contribute, they hold back.|> 
|> It seems that people don't care about China anymore, and lack
|> a nationalist spirit (remember the songs you used to sing? like:
|> "I am Chinese", "Desendants of Dragon", "Be a Brave Chinese"??)
|> people become too comfortable in Western societies, and don't care
|> less about helping their root, and blood brothers!

With the current government and system in place. You really can't do  much.
Deng's reforms improved China in some ways. But, still, Deng can wake up 
one morning and say "I didn't really like what I've done. Let's go ten years
backward." The bottom line is: China needs democracy. Are you dare to protest
in Tineman Square again?

|> 
|> "Drink Water, Think Source"

The source is pretty bad now and I am now drinking other country's water.

|> 
|> Now, I really believe that Chinese are a grain of sand.  PLEASE PLEASE
|> PLEASE prove me wrong by posting some suggestions on how to improve
|> the country!
|>

I strongly suggest you to read the chinese book written by Ba Young - "The
Ugly Chinese"(I don't know the official English title). "Chinese are a
grain of sand" is actually one of his observations.
 
|> -- 
|> 1)-----------------------Rev 6:8 "... They were given authority over a quarter
|> of the Earth, to kill by the sword, by famine, by plague, and wild beasts."

Derek
Newsgroups: soc.culture.china,soc.culture.taiwan