Originally Posted by JohnnyLingo (Post 200376)

I just finished Wild Swans for a class today. Very interesting look into three generations of Chinese women. Sad how many Chinese viewed Communism and Mao as their savior from oppression, and how bad it turned out.

Originally Posted by FarrahWaters (Post 200419)

I read this a couple months ago. I was especially touched by portrait of the author's father. Some especially memorable scenes were where he is forced to burn his own books, where he decides to take a stand and write a letter directly to Mao (putting his life at risk), and when he waits outside the movie theater for days just to catch a glimpse of his wife as she is led to and from detention.

Originally Posted by tooblue (Post 200456)

I'm thinking of reading that this summer -sounds very compelling.

Originally Posted by SoonerCoug (Post 197628)

I work with lots of Chinese people (directly from China). We have huge communication problems for a variety of reasons.

I never cease to be amazed by the vast cultural differences. Also, it's basically impossible for me to have an intelligent discussion with most of them because of what I perceive to be their warped sense of reality resulting from intense indoctrination. It's a little like trying to have an intelligent discussion with Lingo.

My Chinese friends are shocked when they see birds. Many of them say that we have a "bird disaster" in our American cities. They consider birds in cities to be something like an infestation.

I've tried to explain to them that it's pretty normal to have birds in cities outside China. When I tell them that the reason they don't have birds is because Mao ordered them exterminated, and rampant pesticide use has killed the rest of the birds, they get angry and tell me this isn't true.

They also think Josef Stalin was a stud.

Originally Posted by Colly Wolly (Post 200553)

Nice observations. I agree with you. There is a crazy phenomenon afoot. As China continues to open it's doors to Westernization and free market capitalism, it's people are becoming more fervently nationalist. They defend their Mao-era history (when pressed they will acknowledge he was "7 parts right, 3 parts wrong). They want the whip cracked on Tibet and Taiwan. Anyone have any explanations/thoughts on this?

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug (Post 200711)

with communist ideology gone they need something to legitimize their regime so they're replacing it with nationalism.

Originally Posted by Colly Wolly (Post 200741)

The irony is that the average Joe Chang over there is probably supportive of the actions the government is taking.