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| 24 |
My Baby Arrives Congratulations! I was born the same hospital many many years ago. Now I am father of two little ones. Casten is abolutely right, do spend more time with him, you won't regret it. |
| 23 |
The Scar in People's Heart Jianshuo: Your parents' story was sad. However, for many many more people, their youth or lives were completed wasted. Taking my parents as example, when the culture revolution started, they just graduated from one of the top engineer schools and their careers just started to take off. Then came the political storm, for the next 10 years, they literally did not do much career wise, other than make some toys for me and one sofa for our home. (It was very popular to make your own sofa during that period of time if you work at factory.) I don't think my parents had never been forced to go to countryside or had no food to eat. However, from 25 to 35, their lives were wasted and in people's lives, how many 25 to 35 do you have? The saddest thing is that almost not only my parents had these experience, it happend amost to EVERYONE who lived in China during that period . Often times, I was thinking if my parents were given the same opportunity which I have, their lifes would have been very different. The sad stories were not only live with the people who died but also left the marks to the people who live thru it. Sorry, I really do not want to get your blog into any trouble, but I have to say "A country has to face her own history, otherwise the country can not make any progress (maybe economically but not humanistically) |
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City Life v.s. Village Life xge: I have a little more hope than you do. A couple months ago, I watched the movie "The World" by 贾章柯. I was so deeply touched. For me this is probably the only meaningful movie which has been made by a Chinese movie maker for the last a few years. Most of the character’s life in the movie is so sad and hopeless; however, I do see the hope because people like 贾章柯, who deeply cares about those people. The so called fifth generation directors like ZhangYiMo and ChengKaiGe are completely sold out and becoming socially irrelevant. But the newer generation of the intellects have show some guts and consciousness. I wish this is just a start. JianShuo: By the way, where did you find the poem. |
| 21 |
Diversity, Consistency, and Efficiency - Part II Thanks JianShuo, This is a very interesting topic. What are the most consistent and efficient things in this world? Machines and Computers. For the first a few years, when I came to United States and living in one of the most liberal cities in the States, San Francisco, that is exactly what I have felt. We even, humans, in a way have been reduced to be part of the machine, just continue moving and moving, weeks after weeks. Even after work, the shops you go to, the TV and movies you are watching are so “consistent, efficient and homogenous.” I hate corporate American even I am part of it as well. That is the worst part, you really don’t have much options, especially you are fresh minted, the first generation immigrants. However, just come back from China for a month long trip, the changes happened for the last 5 to 10 years in China are amazing. The pace of commercialization is mind boggling. China have become a much more “consistent and efficient” country than 5 or 10 years ago. In a way, western way of “consistency and efficiency” has dramatically improved the living standard in China and will continue to do so. My point is that when a country is going thru the transition from under-developed country to a developed country, the “consistency and efficiency” have bring a lots of positive social and economic impacts, However, when the process reaches certain point, the “positive” side start to diminishing and the “evil or inhuman” side start to take shape. To put “consistency and efficiency” into the social content is a much more complex than the economic one. For now, I enjoy going to the farmers market to get our fresh vegetables and fruits, it is such a pleasure to give the money to the people who actually grow them even it means pay a little bit extra than the “consistent and efficient” supper market. |
| 20 |
Beijing is Cold. Life is Warm In US, there was old saying " In your life, you have to try two cities. One is San Francisco, but you have to leave before your heart becomes too soft, the other one is New York, but you have to leave before it is too hard". I had the same feelings about Shanghai and Beijing. The people and life style are very different, I missed both of them. |
| 19 |
Inside the Shanghai Radio Staiton Artical in NYTimes about Chinese Blog you might be interested in http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/24/international/asia/24bloggers.html?hp&ex=1132894800&en=7619930ad28e3bce&ei=5094&partner=homepage |
| 18 |
First Day of the Exhibition Congratulations! They look fabulous. I wish I could be there. |
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Helping by Hiring Shelly: Re "Shanghai will be more mixed than SF one day." In SF, minority race has exceed 50% of the population. What is the chance that Shanghai will have 50% people which are non-Chinese? The point I try to make here is not racial mix is good or bad, but lots of your assertions are too emotional to be taken seriously. Let me ask you four questions, 1. Randomly count 10 of your friends who are coming from China but currently or used to live in U.S, how many of them left and how many of them are planning to leave? 2. Are you from China? Are you planning to go back to Shanghai in the near future? 3. According to you, "People are by large very happy there", how did you get these impression? 4. According to you, "There is plenty of job for everybody if you desire to work", do you have any data to backup what you claim. |
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Helping by Hiring Shelly: Yes. Any society change takes time, but it does not comes automatically. I think that is why we have this conversation, so different views can be presented and eventually people making choices. As a Chinese, it is still troubling for me to hear that 21 century is belong to China. If you look closely (or you don't need to looks closely), modernization of China essentially a process to becoming captalism and individulism, which are fundermentals of western civilization. So according to your logic, 21 century should belong to western civilzation. However, personally I don't like the century belong to any one country or one value. When I was living in SF, there was a kindergardern nearby. At the play ground, I see many many little kids who are Black, White, Asian and Latino, they play togther with such joy, energy and hope. It is just such a beautiful scenary. At that moment, races and countries are all becoming irrelevent. I wish and hope this century can truly belong to all of us not as a country but as a citizen in this world. |
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Jia You, Shanghai Metro! In L.A., everyone drives. I hate it and hate it. Now I am not sure any more ... |
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Helping by Hiring Tough_Lefse: Taxation & Free Market: You are right taxation are enforced by government upon on you. But this alone won't un-justivfy the existence of taxation. In life, there are many many things which are enforeced upon you, it does not mean they are all un-necessary. The reasoning I put free market and taxation in the same equation is that a minimal taxed country may maintain 10% econmic growth, but 1% of people will control 90% of the wealth; on the other hand,a medium taxed country will maintain 7% of economic growth,but 99% of the people will control 90% of the wealth. There is no doubt in mind I will take later. (the statistics are purely fictional for illustration purpose.) UN Any non-profit organization has tendcy to be more corrupted than profit organization. However, UN has serve many many purposes. Without UN, Bush probably took us to the war three years earlier and invade bunch other countries as well. I firmly believe the world as a whole we need UN, we just need a better check and balance system. Europe This is a personal preference. Comparing a person who work 35 hours a week with a older model of ipod and a person who work 50 hours work with the latest gadget, I don't think there is anything wrong people prefer and choose either life style. Shelly: Yes. You are right a large percentage of the people in big city can afford a Ayi. But there are even larger percentage of the whole population of China can only work as Ayi and Ming Gong. That is where the problem lies. I am orginially from China. I have many friends who went back to China and I have many many more friends who choose to stay. (including myself). For a person with free will, there are lots of other reasons to choose a place to live other than to be able hire an Ayi. |
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Helping by Hiring Tough_Lefse: What I proposed is not heavy taxation, but a balance between taxation and free market. I have heard similar points in your comments on PBS just a few weeks ago. It is about UN actually has a special small business loa-n program which lend money to the people from poor area, instead of giving money out they will provide the seed money to jump start some small business. It has been very successful so far. Because most of the poor countries have really corrupted government agencies, lots of the donation have been benefits only a few but not majority people who need them. But I don't think your approach or other suggestions in this blog are the only right solutions to this complex problem. By simply saying who is right who is wrong is not going to help solving the problem. By the way, I have been to Europe. Simply to criticizing people who live in Europe are lazy is laughable, on the Contrary, I found people over there have been enjoying lifes more than we do in States. |
| 12 |
Helping by Hiring Jian Shuo, what you proposed is nice and kind, but the problem is running much deeper within the system. China has the tendency to be extreme. We were "Total Social-ist" country, now we are "Total Capitalist" country in terms of Economics. In my opinion, a balance between "Social" value and "Market" efficiency is what China need. There are many ways to solve the problem. How about some more taxes for people who make lots of money, so at least Ayi would have basic medical insurance, food and schooling for the Children. How about elect some "Ayi" as Ren Da Dai Biao (House Representatives), so their voice can be heard and their rights could be protected. I know this is not easy, but as an intellect with conscious (I certainly think you are), at least you can voice your concern and maybe bring to attention to more and more people, I think this probably is more meaningful than correcting all of the incorrect spelling in Shanghai subway. |
| 11 |
Life in a Low Cost Labor World How much basic medical insurance cost in Shanghai? Can Ayi afford to buy medical insurance based on 7 RMB an hour pay? Does government provide basic medical service to low income people like Ayi? I think this an universal problem around the world, some countries are doing better than others, there is no right way to solve the problem, however as an individual, the awareness of this inqulity and the willingness to make the voice heard eventually lead to the policy change hopefully. |
| 10 |
Is This London Undergrand? Jian Shuo, Just read this artical in San Francisco Chronicle about a legendary blogger. Thought you might be interested in" http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/02/20/MNGBKBEJO01.DTL |
| 9 |
New Year is Approaching Happy new year. It has been great pleasure to read your blog and all of the comments. It brings me back to China much closer than I would imagine. |
| 8 |
New Year is Approaching Happy new year. It has been great pleasure to read your blog and all of the comments. It brings me back to China much closer than I would imagine. |
| 7 |
On Ethic I think the dilemma you had to some degree is related to the value system China had or don’t have. When I grew up in China, there were chronically movements like “Wu Jiang Si Mei”. It is nothing wrong with that, but it never had a completed and trusted value system behind it and put into the right context. In United States, most of people grew up with some sorts of religion, and at later stage of life people will chose to stick with it religiously or causally or becoming atheist. But the teaching of respect, love and fairness stay with their life in large extent. The law and enforcement of the law will help, however that can only take you to so far, China has been making great progress economically, but where China is going to spiritually, I guess we can only wait and see …… |
| 6 |
Seoul Changes Chinese Name I am a little bit uncomfortable about the words, which Ted & Rooselvet choose to use: "Wang Tu", "Jian Jiu","Wan Nong" ... It remind me too much about "Da Zi Bao" period. Everyone deserve their own opinion, but the reasoning has to show some respect. |
| 5 |
Blogcn & BlogDriver Shut Down Do any news media in China report the shut down and explain or speculate why? |
| 4 |
BlogBus.com Blocked What is the better translation for "Wei Jin": "Unauthorized" ? or "Forbidden" ? |
| 3 |
March 20 Taiwan Election Just came back from Taiwan, It is quite an experience before the election. Bob had pretty good summarization of the two parties. Here are some additional observations: 1. Most people I met are very emotional and sincere about their own choice. 2. Most of the TV commercial and Talk show will be classified (in U.S) as negative campaign on steroid. 3. Even the poll shows very close race, it seems that nobody believes that. The conspiracy theory is very popular over there. It is easy to make fun of almost “circus?like atmosphere in Taiwan, however, I think it is part of the growing pain to becoming democratic society both culturally and politically. At the end of day, the people did make the choice and every vote did count. |
| 2 |
Hello From Beijing JianShuo, Your awareness of reasoning and fairness always supprised me since you never live in western country for a pro-long period of times. I wish China would be a much better place if more people think like you. K |
| 1 |
AIDS Comes Closer to Us I just discovered your blog via Google last week. Really enjoy your "fact based" writing. I went to an university in Shanghai from 85 to 89. It was most memorable and exciting years in my life. Shanghai always holds a very special place for me. Currently I am living in States. Your writing gives me a very objective and interesting view of what an average techno yuppie's life likes in china. Regarding your concern about AIDS, Suicides and mass murder. I think those are all just part of the human conditions. Every place on the earth has its own sets of problems, it does not matter you have religion or not. On the way back to home, I usually listen to a NPR (National Public Radio) talk show. At the end of the show, the host always said "keep the faith". I guess that is all it matters. Happy Blogging Bluekite |