In Which I Name Drop to Show Off My East Asia Expertise While Trouncing an Anti-American East-Bay Left-Wing Chinese Commie Sympathizer

Anti-American East-Bay Left-Wing Chinese Commie Sympathizer (AAEBLWCCS) Writes:

Who is Bush's Audience?

So Bush made a speech just before he flew to China. The speech was made with Koizumi at his side. In it, Bush URGED China to follow Taiwan's example.

The US media remarked that the speech was sure to "rile Beijing."

Wrong! Why does the West always think that only the Chinese government is the target audience and not the billions of Chinese themselves?! When are they going to learn NOT TO divorce the Chinese people's feelings and reactions from that of the government? On most foreign policy issues, the Chinese and their government are in the same boat; in fact, following the nationalist passion of the ordinary Chinese (while being less passionate than the ordinary Chinese) is the very trick of staying in power.

So, it is an extremely stupid move on the part of Bush to:
1. Hold up Taiwan as an example. The mainland Chinese reserve their worst prejudice against the Tai Ba Zi, the Taiwanese. I am not supporting their prejudice. But holding up Taiwan is akin to slapping the Chinese people's (not the government's) face.
2. Stand beside the much hated Koizumi, who sent both Chinese street and South Korean street on fire.
3. Tell a proud people how to run their own business. Even if what he said is what the Chinese want, the Chinese would not like it to come out from his mouth. They will think: Who does this guy think he is? In fact, they will think the worse version: Who do the Americans think they are?

So, who is Bush's real audience? It sure isn't the Chinese people. That speech serves to reinforce their prejudice against Bush and America. Who suffers from such a clumsy performance? The American people.

SPR3TS Replies:

So what you are saying, dear AAEBLWCCS, is that the mainland Chinese can not handle the truth.

Taiwan, of course, would be a great example to follow. Taiwan has it's share of political and economic troubles like most wealthy democracies do at the moment, but Taiwan is just that: Wealthy and democratic. While your beloved mainland government kept the mainland Chinese poor for decades (and of course, most remain so in spite of the soaring wealth on the coast), the non-mainland Chinese everywhere from America to Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and very much in Taiwan were thriving. Taiwan's transition from dictatorship to democracy was so successful that Chiang Ching Kuo could go from initial enforcer of iron rule to become widely revered by the people because he created the foundation of democracy. Will Li Peng or Jiang Zemin or Hu Jintao be revered in the mainland in the decades to come? No. Not those who clung to power at the expense of the people. The impact of liberalization will be Deng Xiao Ping's great legacy, not his sense of the people's feelings.

It's interesting that you choose to criticize Bush so harshly while giving a pass to the mainlanders. Not that your criticisms of Bush here are not well taken, I mean Koizumi has unfortunately tied himself to Yasukuni and the Bush endorsement of Taiwan could certainly backfire, as would Sharon endorsing Abbas with buddy Bush at his side. The friend of my enemy must be my enemy, thinks the simple mind. So really, no problem with you criticizing Bush here.

What's weird ....I mean interesting.....about your writing is that while you recognize the mainland government's cynical manipulation of nationalism, you have no harsh words for that today, that's just their "trick" for staying in power. The prejudice and unsavory nationalism of the "ordinary Chinese" (the stuff that recently led to trashing of Japan-related businesses and dangerous hatred at soccer games stuff like that)....well, you won't say you support that. Perhaps you do, perhaps not. Very nice! It's a little like your tacit support of Palestinian, Islamist and Sunni terrorists - it's not their fault they're pissed off, and it's only because they're pissed off that they slaughter children. You won't say you support that, but you're happy to say it's Bush's fault.

So there it is. Just once, let me hear you say a couple things:
1) It's true what Bush says, that Taiwan is a great example for the mainland. It's just too bad that the ordinary mainland people are too prejudiced and blindly nationalist to see that, and the Communist government too corrupt and self-interested to admit it.
2) The wealthiest, free-est Chinese populations are those who had the fortune to be the heck out of mainland China, and that's directly because of the horrible overall record of the Communist Party. Fortunately, parts of the mainland are finally getting there and thriving too, but, well, if you're going to develop without democracy, Lee Kuan Yew really showed the way. His way was far better than that of the Communists, for he sensed the people's will, but also respected the people, and he truly delivered for them. Praise Chiang Kai-Shek and Chiang Ching-Kuo for what they did for those in Taiwan. Praise the Brits too for saving Hong Kong!
3) For all her faults, America does a lot of great things. It's not all Bush's fault.

Can you handle the truth? Or will you hit back with prejudice and that fascinating mix of anti-Americanism and Red China nationalism?

Sorry, I've rambled on too long, but one last thing. You asked Who is Bush's Audience. This was the talk of an ideologue who truly believes, right or wrong, that the truth will win out. This is actually a sign of faith in humanity. He feels that somewhere deep down, the people will recognize that Taiwan's governing system is in fact much better than that on the mainland. Rather Reaganesque, if you will.

In Which I Finally See the Light

In reply to my previous post, a very kind gentleman wrote to me as follows:

SPR3TS,

I hope you don't really believe the simple-minded nonsense you posted in support of the war in Iraq. It's really too cartoonish to be the work product of a sophisticated university graduate. I expect to see bombastic naivete on the editorial pages of the right wing tabloids, but not here.

The final paragraph of your post is too ridiculous to address. You need to upgrade your understanding of how the world actually operates, SPR3TS. You're not 15 anymore. Try to see the world the way grownups see it.

I replied to him:

Wow! Thank you! I see what you mean. I shall throw away my Hot Wheels and Kiss records and comic books and try to get re-educated.

.....oh, wait...........maybe I should think about this a little more....

Yes, it would be stupid to throw all that away.

.....Better to sell them on eBay.

Someone Asked Me What Went Right About the Iraq War

1) The removal of Saddam Hussein and his regime and the accompanying human rights abuses, which resulted in the deaths of 100's of thousands (millions if you count the Iran and Kuwait wars initiated by Saddam). Not to mention those tortured, raped and/or imprisoned, but not killed and those living in fear, etc. Critics will say that we did not have this war because of human rights and they are correct, but it is still the case that the war removed Saddam, and that in itself is a great thing.

2) Freedom of religious expression restored to the Shiites. Critics are concerned of a rise of an intolerant form of religion, and they are right to be concerned, but the Shiites expression of their faith is still to be celebrated. I have hope that Iraq's significant secular background and multi-cultural mix will prevail against religious tyranny.

3) The end of UN sanctions which resulted in the deaths of 10's to 100's of thousands of children. Critics will say that it didn't take a war to end the sanctions, and they are correct, but it is still the case that the war removed Saddam and the sanctions were soon lifted.

4) Democratic steps: The Iraqis were able to choose their leaders. The Shiites have a fair degree of leadership in the country where they are the largest population. The interests of the minority communities are being represented in negotiation and policy results. As I've written previously, I believe the Shiite leadership has shown great promise in not buying into sectarian warfare and in compromising with the Kurds and so on. Critics will complain about the party lists and things, and they have some points, but the fact is that the Iraqi's proudly voted and got a government that reflects their choices.

5) Although the news focuses on death and destruction and loves the visuals of fire and explosions ("if it bleeds, it leads" they say in the news), there are many, many examples of great kindness and cooperation between the US and the Iraqi people.

The insurgency is short-sighted, cruelly violent, highly unpopular, and anti-democratic, and the insurgency accounts for most of the suffering in the post-Saddam era. Without the insurgency, infrastructure would be repaired, revenue from oil would be way up, commerce would blossom, the Iraqi people would see a tremendous increase in quality of life. Even though US mistakes have fed the insurgency, it has no excuse, no moral standing, it provides no hope for the future of Iraq. The majority of Iraqis, with US help, will eventually put down the insurgency and Iraq will blossom beyond your imagination, something it never could have achieved in generations under Saddam and his children. The future will prove that the war went right in spite of all that is/was/has been wrong.