I travel across HK, Canada, and Mainland. Half of my life thus far is in HK, another half is in Canada. But my work involve a lot of traveling in Mainland.
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It is a women who is going to have a baby. Giving birth is decision 1) Raising the kids is decision number 2) The common misconception is thinking that 1) will leads to 2) When it is a always possible decision combination to give birth and abandon it.
For Tibet, the invasion is decision 1), the occupation is decision 2). Historically speaking, unless you read only the Mainland history book, you will see clearly that Tibet is as much of part of China as Korea is. They are both only a sidekick of the once formidable Chinese Empire. The closest relation we get with them is on Yang dynasty and Ch'ing's dynasty. But at neither time did we really have total control over them. The view that Tibetian as part of Chinese is a new concept that only arise after Ch'ing's fall (and Sun campaign).
It should be clear that the initial taking of Tibet into China should be view as as invasion. We deserve the name invader as much as liberator (actually, we are both)
HOWEVER, it does not follow that Tibet should seperate from China now (or China should end the occupation). The reason is that priority should be given to the welfare of the people on the land. Tibetian fare much better under Communist China than a Depotist Dela Lama. Not only is the economic condition better, people are also more "equal" under Communist rule than the Feudal government!
If China quit the occupation, where will the Hans that is currently living on the land goes? How much of a chaos it will cause with new currency, new diplomatic relationship, and a ultra-sour feeling between the two neighbours. (Chinese is very unlikely to be tolerant about the seperation,) Whatever the gain they believe people can get, this price tag is expensive.
Now suppose Chinese is truely trying to eliminate the culture of the Tibetian (which have been tried, I am not up todate with the current situation.)
1) What is wrong with a cultural change? The current Tibet's Budhism is an imported culture too! If part of the culture is rottening, it should be advantagous to discard the part. If the part of culture is so great, someone will see it, keep it, and even spread it. Did not Budhism teaches that life is a flux?
2) Does it follow that people should use violence to solve the issue? Have they tried all the peaceful venue? (For example, get a PR campaign to tell everyone what is good about their culture?) What have the saleswomen did to deserve death? What will killing a couple of innocent civilians achieve?
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For democracy, I do not believe 2 wrongs makes a right. I believe people can and should look after each other's back.
Hence, I believe a person DO NOT need to be "totally" democratic to critize another to be undemocratic.
I know I am at odds with the modern Chinese/American culture here.
Ouside:
- Canada have freedom of press (try visit wiki in China). There is a communist party in Canada and no one is going to prosecute them.
- Canada have freedom of speech (There are not many sacred cow in Canada. watch TVB in Mainland should prove the point.)
- For Canada, the point of view is comparatively neutral (because it is an immigration country just like US. Its national principle is multiculralism instead of assimiliation (US and China). The latest soap I watch in China about sensely murdering Japanese will land a person in jail for promoting racism. Typically you will be a Canadian if you live in Canada long enough but a blonde will be viewed as a Chinese no matter how long he lives in China.)
- Canada have a balance of power. A horrible prime minister is not going to get very far.
- We have a reasonable potiential to participate in the government for everyone. Nearly no one is left out. (I never see my workers in China get a chance to participate in the government. The babies born outside of the one child policy are like second class citizen. BUT, it is slowly changing for the better these days.)
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For filial piety in Bible, it is part of the Ten Commandment.
5) "Honor your Father and Mother"
Deuteronomy 5:16
16 Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
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Last time after you told me about the prohibition of preaching in mainland, the next day I switch on the TV.. they are having a "witness" show on how real the Noah's Ark myth is. (IE preaching on TV in Guangzhou)
You don't need to believe me, but the law in China is great. But not many respect it. |