“Three Hundred Years” – Part 1 of 5

April 5, 2010

Liu Xiaobo is a Chinese human rights activist. He has been detained, arrested, and sentenced repeatedly for political activities, including participation in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.

In a 1988 interview with Hong Kong’s Liberation Monthly (now known as Open Magazine), Liu replied to a question on what it would take for China to realize a true historical transformation: “(It would take) 300 years of colonialism. In 100 years of colonialism, Hong Kong has changed to what we see today. With China being so big, of course it would take 300 years of colonialism for it to be able to change to how Hong Kong is today. I have my doubts as to whether 300 years would be enough.”

Liu Xiaobo - Chinese activist

Later, after being arrested and sentenced to eleven years in prison, Liu said this quote was taken out of context. To understand why the Chinese government would react so harshly to such a statement, knowing China’s history helps.

What Liu said could be taken to mean that to change China into a Western style culture would require a return to the 19th century when Western powers dominated China with their military—similar to what American neo-conservatives advocate for any country that does not have a Western style democracy or republic.

See Wearing China’s Shoes http://wp.me/pN4pY-1p

 

2 Comments | China, Chinese Culture, Chinese history, politics | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

Human Rights the Chinese Way

April 5, 2010

In the West, the individual is more important than the whole. In China, the whole is more important than the individual.

Just like China created capitalism Chinese style, the Chinese are building a bridge to human rights the same way. However, they see things different from Western democracies that are burdened with debt, crime, serious drug problems and swelling prison populations. To allow the freedoms that led to these problems in the West would be a loss of face for China’s leaders.

Due to Confucius’s teachings twenty-five hundred years ago, most Chinese value family and piety first—something that has all but vanished in the West.

Luo Haocai

“China believes that human rights, like other rights, are not ‘absolute’ and the rights enjoyed should conform to obligations fulfilled. China opposes separating rights from obligations,” said Luo Haocai at the Beijing forum on human rights.

Many Chinese know what Western freedom is like. After all, many Chinese have attended universities in Western countries. Most of these individuals have experienced freedom Western style and learned that the Western concept of freedom doesn’t match Chinese values. Family obligations come first in China.

To understand the Chinese better, learn about The First of All Virtues

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Lloyd Lofthouse is the award-winning author of the concubine saga, My Splendid Concubine & Our Hart. When you love a Chinese woman, you marry her family and culture too. 

If you want to subscribe to iLook China, there is a “Subscribe” button at the top of the screen in the menu bar. 

Leave a Comment » | China, Chinese Culture, family values, politics | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

The Failure of Multiculturalism in the United States

January 29, 2010

I taught in the public schools for thirty years and Multiculturalism in the schools was an attempt to create respect for other cultures around the world. If you read this blog about Multiculturalism, you will learn why it isn’t working. The neo-conservative political alliance with conservative evangelicals have done all they can to sink this attempt to learn about other cultures and respect them for their differences.

The radical right has demonized Multiculturalism in the public schools as they have demonized the word liberal. The motivation for this is because they believe they can rebuild the world to be a mirror image of American neo-conservative, Christian values through the use of war induced nation building. Anyone who disagrees is considered a godless liberal.

Visiting a minority area in southeast China. These women never cut their hair. They even weave back in the hair that falls out.

When we hear attacks on China in the media or from American politicians (from both the radical right or liberal left) for violations of human rights, what does that mean? Sometimes those criticisms are justified when dictators like Kim Jong-il in North Korea abuses his power.  However, when a country is doing something that could be explained through the context of the culture, it may not be a violation of human rights. Americans should know more before passing judgment.

Discover Sinophobia and the Nation With the Soul of a Church

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Lloyd Lofthouse is the award-winning author of the concubine saga, My Splendid Concubine & Our Hart. When you love a Chinese woman, you marry her family and culture too. 

If you want to subscribe to iLook China, there is a “Subscribe” button at the top of the screen in the menu bar.

6 Comments | America, American culture, China, Chinese Culture | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

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