During my last trip to China (this time as a grown adult), I noticed the fear still present in the lives of everyday people. A fear of the government and a solemn rememberance of Ti An Men Square.
I’m the first to admit that despite everything, I’m a true patriot to China. My ancestry is there. And overall they’re doing a lot better in industrializing and expanding than their Western counterparts in the past. If you don’t believe me, walk down the street and find a black person or Native American or an “illegal” latino or South Asian. I believe Tibet and Taiwan are part of China. If you want to protest something, i.e. human rights violations, try the ish our government is pulling behind closed doors. Then, deal with international issues. It’s ridiculous that the political movies from all of last year seem to do so poorly only partly because some of them weren’t good movies and mostly because people didn’t care. In contrast, the controversy over China and the Olympics are circling around the Internet and globe.
Well during my trip home last November, the fear that controls every word that may pass through the mouth really suprised me. Complaints about the coal lords and the damage they do to the environment and quality of life for northern Chinese is mumbled in a hushed tone and scowled on by the driver. My loud whisper about how Mao Ze Dong looks like a plastic doll in his moseleum warranted hushing and nervous glances from my mom. Even comments about how Mao declined in his last years are followed by excuses of his great accomplishments. The parts of China presented to tourists is so completely different than the “real” culture. So many non-Chinese friends have told me about their travels, and I haven’t ever even heard of the places they’ve gone. It’s like the government created a whole network of resort-like facades for the Wai Guo Ren (foreigners). It’s quite shocking. I never knew that existed before. It’s a whole different creature as an adult.
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