G'day all - dear Steve, "IMO, China will never "become an enlightened leader in the Pac Rim politically, economically and racially" under the rules and systems that exist in the world today." [subsequent reasonings omitted]
I actually do not dispute this. Rather, my comment relies a rather long framework of historicity. Unlike some of my friends here who have once claimed a moral decline of a country using [explicitly, I theorize] a short time frame [if they claimed moral decline dated back to the golden era of greek civilisation, then it would be a different matter <VBG>,] mine will be carbon dated to the Han and Tang dynasties. Obviously, the idea of returning to the ideal state of the Kingdom at the centre is probably impossible. To support your thesis, ancedotal evidence - even before the advent of the "little emperors" [1 child] policy, I ve met enough self-centered Chinese [here in the US] to prick the bubble of illusion that there is a chance for returning to the idealized world of "Great Commonality." However, to paraphrase a line from the late Eric Hoffer: never underestimate the infinite plasticity of humanity. Or, as Mao would say, "after a hundred years, even you and I would look ridiculous." Like the stock market, it is hard to predict the bottom but it will come sooner or later.
Additionally, I have to admit I add that point of digression more of a sincere wish. And being a diehard fan of EB White, it is hard to turn a pig into Wilbur without some Charlotte-like cheerleading <VBG>.
best, Bosco |
