DMA,
<<Here's the difficulty you run up against when discussing China by comparing it to USA.>>
<<The government of the USA was founded on very clear principles >>
<<The closest thing that China has to founding principles ( that I'm aware of ) is the Communist manifesto and Mao's little red book.>>
The Maoisim is certainly not alive today and many of the "principles" espoused by the little red book has been largely if not officially eschewed by subsequent regimes in China starting with Deng who certainly had his differences with the "swimming poet".
You neglected to mention Confucianism cum Taoism which, among many Chinese in and out of China is still very much a part of Chinese ethos and are no less principles then, say, Jeffersonian thought. I would attest personally to the fact that these ancient principles are still very much in evidence among the Chinese. I would further remark that these principles are very clearly void of western Democratic philosophy. In fact, I will go a step further. The PRC is just another dynasty, (not to trivialize the scope of what that implies) with many of the same basic tenets (and follies) intact that have been seen in previous dynasties. Then I will submit this notion for discussion. China is today, IMO, farther away from those tenets then ever before.
I will add a quick personal footnote for thought. I see little difference in a Tibetan Monk's testimony on torture, then say a democracy advocate under Pinochet.
Best,
Stitch |
