I've been hearing this phrase a lot lately. The literal translation is "our home country... [sigh]". What it always refers to, is China.
Because so many bad things happen in China, many people from Hong Kong have simply lost faith in the motherland. Censorship and sketchy human rights policies have always been there, so that's not the biggest issue (though every new incident continues to disappoint). The latest big issue has to do with China's rapid development in the past few years. The nation is showing exponential growth financially, but morally, it is still way behind the rest of the world.
Read this article if you can:
(click to enlarge)
If you can't read Chinese, let me briefly explain what it is all about.
Unfortunately, many have come to accept these unfair and uncivilized happenings in China:
Because so many bad things happen in China, many people from Hong Kong have simply lost faith in the motherland. Censorship and sketchy human rights policies have always been there, so that's not the biggest issue (though every new incident continues to disappoint). The latest big issue has to do with China's rapid development in the past few years. The nation is showing exponential growth financially, but morally, it is still way behind the rest of the world.
Read this article if you can:
(click to enlarge)
If you can't read Chinese, let me briefly explain what it is all about.
The author starts off by speaking of quirky and sometimes humorous incidents that happened in China that she experienced or read about. These include: a guy on a highway chasing a "runaway tire", Chinese tourists "throwing" their kids over the fence at Disneyland, oxygen suppliers selling hospitals industrial use oxygen instead of oxygen suitable for patients, a Nanjing hospital "selling" (transfering for money) their patients, plus endless stories of fake products (fake eggs, fake oil, fake soy sauce made of hair, fake baby formula, etc.)."大陸係咁架啦"
Some of these stories will draw a chuckle, others are downright scary. China's focus has been directed entirely towards financial growth. They have achieved this goal, and the quality of living in China has gotten better. Despite all this, the quality of Chinese values has not improved at the same rate. Law and order, the value of life, human rights, and the elimination of corruption have been swept aside to make room for financial growth. People who attempt to make amends to these issues are not only ignored, they are put in jail if their actions stand in the way of growth.
Unfortunately, many have come to accept these unfair and uncivilized happenings in China:
- Robberies and scams are rampant in the Guangdong province.
- Frequent travellers to China fear for their lives just doing everyday things. When you get in a cab, you're not 100% sure that you'll be safely taken to your desired destination.
- Fake items are not limited to Rolex watches and DVDs; they have expanded to items like food, cleaning products, and cars. It has been reported that 80% of the items in a Chinese supermarket are counterfeit.
- Corruption is still reluctantly expected when doing any sort of business in China.
- A good chunk of people still spit, piss, and shit wherever they please. Trash is an even bigger issue.
The sad thing is that authorities have the power to make things happen, but they choose not to. The laptop of a famous professor, who is an expert on SARS, was stolen via drive-by motorcycle theft. He immediately reported this to the police, and after turning the entire Guangzhou upside down, his laptop was found. If this man was not an expert on SARS, his laptop would have never ever been found. People get robbed everyday with many incidents caught on video, and no action is taken. The police only act upon more serious crimes, like if a murder is involved.
Despite all this, China is rich and the future only shows that it will get richer. What is the limit? How bad does it have to get before people start realizing that culture is just as important as wealth?
Despite all this, China is rich and the future only shows that it will get richer. What is the limit? How bad does it have to get before people start realizing that culture is just as important as wealth?
7 comments:
I admit I am ashamed of China to the point it borders onto racism. I just feel that with all the improvements they are making, the culture amongst the masses is still stationary.
What suprises me is that they have the effort and ingenuity to make these fake items; the most ridiculous forged good I heard was a Ferrari that was limited to 5 vehicles in the whole world. All 5 were located in Europe but somehow, China possessed 2.
Granted, with such development and changes happening at a phenomonal rate, it is hard for people to adapt their mindset accordingly. Old habits die hard, especially habits formed from decades of communist propaganda/control.
The Beijing Olympics will either prove me right and the Chinese old habits will let down their development, or, will prove me wrong and show how developed they are, culturally, and socially.
I've lost that faith long long time ago
Wait wait wait, I hear very remote comments about this whole issue of people from our motherland being too creative and do not know how to express their own creativities! If there's something we find not right about, shouldn't we be doing something about it? I know this is easier said than done, but if we do not even have that in mind, there will never be a next step.
so instead of being ashamed, waiting for it to prove you right and losing faith, maybe as a more worldly group of Chinese, we should do something about it, "turning the negative remedies of old into positive ones", like .. develop the process of making fake eggs into something that benefits?
An article I read recently inspires me - "You will find the world responding to your earnest initiative" by sybrand Zijlstra. I will scan and email it to Jko.
China is indeed getting richer, but it is also the biggest polluter in the world. It is only the matter of time for the Nature to fight back. In which form I have no idea, but I am sure that it will be something far worse than SARS.
re: hao
You're absolutely right. Again, it has to do with China's cultural mentality and social responsibility. Everything is about making money. They aren't culturally advanced enough to see the importance in preserving the environment.
That's why I am not sure if capitalism and democracy is the way to go for China. Especially when everyone is trying to get rich, opening China more may result in chaos.
Chinese needs to be more educated and cultural. And as a Hong Kong residents we should take the lead to show them how it can be done.
Stop talking about $$$ all day.
Stop tearing more buildings down to build newer empty ones.
Stop buying fake stuff from China.
We have a chinese saying "50 steps laughing at 100 steps"
Re: funk master d
I think democracy in China will have an initial break in period, where people will make some stupid decisions. Hopefully, they will eventually realize what's good for them, and what's good for the world.
The continued employment of communism is just running China in circles. There is no opposition to question issues such as the focus on growth, and negligence towards human rights and the environment. Communism is just too one sided. China needs controlled capitalism and the checks and balances of a democratic system to keep things fair.
You are right on the money about Hong Kong people not helping out the situation. It is sad, and I am ashamed of them.
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