India and China

I like the way this article puts it. “Sustainable democracy is based on more than just elections. It requires a functioning civil society that has poise and self-belief in government institutions, is willing to work on the basis of compromise and respects the law.” I think the trumpets of the so-called human rights champions shows just plain ignorance and lack of understanding of the west in their own over-glorified democratic way of life. They have ignored the fact that there are more roads to Rome than they can ever imagine. China with its stupendous size would have logically been broken apart throughout its history (and it has at certain periods). But this behemoth has come together because of an unspoken “political contract” between the government and its people. If the current dynasty is benevolent and “good”, the people will support it, if it’s corrupt and “bad”, they will rebel and reject it. This is the way things have been since the last 2000 years since the Qin emperor unify China. The communist party for all its warts have for the last 30 years been working hard to legitimize themselves and earn the support of the people through positive contributions. They have been trying hard to make up for a disastrous 19th and 20th century. In many respects, with this Olympics, they have also gradually opened up Chinese society to the world. It is a pandora’s box that’s been opened and they know they cannot roll it back ever again. So given time, it will be the Chinese people who will demand the changes they want in their society and not some slogan-wielding, self-serving foreigners who really doesn’t have that much at stake in China than the Chinese themselves. And so too are the Iraqis…

The dragon awakes

The coming of age of the sleeping dragon has now reached a milestone ! The last 30 years of reforms unleashed by the visionary Deng Xiaoping has culminated today in inspiring and aweing the world. Granted, many major problems still await the Chinese people to solve but the incredible strides and speed that China has taken only last 30 years is just nothing short of breathtakingly amazing just like the opening ceremony. Though not raised in China, it’s hard to suppress the emotion welling inside and I feel for the Chinese people who have waited for decades and centuries to claim their spotlight in the world. This ceremony is like no others that have gone before it in that it can be said to be truly “One World One Dream”. It does not smack too much of the political, racial or religious haughtiness that have plagued the games when they are hosted in more developed nations. The coming together of peoples all over the world is just nothing short of spectacular. In fact this is what is so amazing apart from the majesty, hi-tech gizmos and pyrotechnics. There are orange, white, yellow, black, brown peoples, there are Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, there are big, medium, small, occupied, failed nations walking proud side by side, there are enemies, friends, there are communists, capitalists, conservatives, liberals, there are peoples who suffered under dictatorial regimes, all gathered together in this one place. I am inspired. It just shows that with a little tolerance and human compassion and understanding, we can all get along just fine. China can be the future champion of the disaffected, neglected, those that the west tend to ignore. China can bring about more peace and understanding between feuding nations because it stands as one with the least historical and cultural baggage, its genetic makeup more moderate and less antagonistic towards any 1 group. So for those so-called self-righteous champions of human rights today, my warning to you all is your job might also just be outsourced in time to come…