To want shari’a law with accommodations for separate studies, languages, government services and so on is nothing more than P.C. apartheid. If apartheid was wrong, this is equally wrong. It is a failed social experiment. If people want to practice their own culture amongst their own people exclusively, they can stay where they are. Misaligning culture with race is the problem. Race, religion and culture are separate. A black man from Kenya who speaks Swahili, practices Christianity, is from the Kikuyu tribe and comes from an educated, upper class background in the city has nothing in common with a Somali Muslim from a different tribe and ethnic group who lives on the desert and is illiterate and poor. It would be racist to engage in that type of P.C. generalization.

This has got to stop. Our immigration policies should demand integration and nationalism. The problem isn’t race, religion or origin or birth but attitude. From the same country one could have either extreme. It makes sense to bring people over who want to live here. Not people who are Canadians of convenience. Throughout history, it has been the immigrant who has to adapt not the other way around. Only historic minorities would get any cultural or linguistic protection but to compare natives in Canada or Jews in Rumania to recent immigrants is lofty and erroneous at best and damaging at worst.

A couple things to add to the mix. First, China has never gone through a philosophical phase like Western humanism. There are people here who are universalists, but I find them few and far between. Chinese cultural chauvinism is fairly pervasive. And Western Europe went through a massive revulsion against nationalism in the post-WWII era, while China went in almost the opposite direction. Many people in the world have multiple identities – human, national, local, family, etc., but this global, humanistic identity seems to come from things like knowledge of the outside world and travel… certainly areas in which Europeans are strong while many Americans and Chinese are not.

Second, Abstract and others made great points about Chinese moving to other countries and how their souls will always be Chinese. For the most part that is true, but there are exceptions. But what about the children of those who emmigrate? I grew up in Canada and most of the 2nd or 3rd generation kids whose parents were Chinese identified far more with Canada than China. Of course there aren’t many cases of foreigners staying in China for more than 10 or 20 years, and though some kids are partly raised here, they spend their school years in international schools and the walled confines of Gubei or Xuhui.

I’ve married into a Chinese family and though they accept me with love and honesty, I will always remain special, different. That’s it. There’s absolutely nothing I can change about that. A Chinese-Canadian will always be different in the same way, but to a far lesser degree, as in a country of immigrants, one can blend in. I’m sure my ancestors identified with their mother countries when they first came to Canada, but by the 2nd generation there was a clean break, and now (I’m 4th/5th generation Canadian) if I travel to one of the mother countries (I’m a Heinz 57 I suppose) I do so without deep feelings in the heart, but with curiosity.

John, your original post with perfectly balance. Many of us have had negation reactions to some of the things we’ve seen lately in China, but we should try to remain level-headed. You, as always, are.

Previously, I did not see your comment. Therefore, I neglected to answer your question. I don’t know if you’ll still read this, but I hope some information helps others as well.

Chinese people who go to other countries do so to earn money. They don’t care whether they can participate in local cultural events. (There are exceptions. I know a few Chinese people who moved to the West because they were enamoured of its customs and lifestyle.)

On the other hand, most Westerners who go to China do so to participate in an exotic culture. They want to blend in and be a part of everything. That’s why sometimes they are disappointed when this doesn’t happen.

It is certainly possible for expatriates to enjoy China. My family’s social circle has several intermarriages between Chinese and Westerners. I notice that those Westerners who end up having a good time are always those who are constantly surrounded by Chinese friends and family members. (Even when they are back in Vancouver, they are always hanging out with Chinese people.)

1. This might sound a bit glib – but I think being pro-active in making friends is a big factor in enjoying China. Another thing you might want to do is to pair up with an Overseas Chinese friend the next time you go to China.

2. Yet another thing you could do so spend sometime in Hong Kong first. There, at minimum, you have lots of Western compatriots at Lan Kwei Fong and Wan Chai. But it’s also probably easier there to make friends with Hong Kong Chinese people.

Many of my Western friends, and some of my Overseas Chinese friends, tell me they like Hong Kong a lot better than the mainland. It’s a more open and more tolerant society. (As well as a society with a longstanding Western presence.)

An American I once met said that Hong Kong was “Asia-Lite” or “Asia for Dummies.” He meant that Hong Kong was a good stepping stone before experiencing the “Real Asia.” True as that may be, it’s perfectly fine to prefer Hong Kong to Beijing, and for that reason base oneself in Hong Kong.

1. Another thing is to involve yourself in cultural or spiritual activities, such as calligraphy, go, martial arts, Daoism, alchemy, etc. Actually, with spiritual activities, it’s best to be discerning, because a lot of so-called “masters” are con-artists. But if you come across a real master, then it can be a very worthwhile, or even life-changing opportunity. Plus, you can make friends with your fellow students, because you would have a lot in common to talk about.

2. There is a more practical reason for studying Asian philosophies and religions. Now, since you are a Westerner, most Asians will always assume that you don’t understand Asia. Therefore, you can’t sit on your ass and expect other people to integrate you. Instead, it is up to you to prove them wrong. You have to surprise them.

One way to do that is to know more about Chinese culture than Chinese people. Now, most people around the world define themselves by their culture. If you ask a random person what is the difference between Westerners and Chinese people – apart from physical differences, the first thing which would pop into mind is cultural differences. Culture is inseparable from personal identity and national identity.

As a Westerner, if you don’t know much about Chinese culture, then many people will always regard you as an alien from another planet – entirely unable to participate in Chinese society. Since people prefer familiar things to unfamiliar things, they will therefore ignore you. But if you know Chinese culture through and through, then those same people won’t be able to discredit you right off the bat. Instead, they’ll actually give you a chance and listen to what you have to say.

Moreover, you’ll gain a lot of respect. You see, most Chinese people don’t know much about their culture. I doubt one in fifty Chinese people has finished even one book out of all the Classics. It is very easy for you to pick up an English translation of the Classics, read them through, and then just look up the important names in an English-Chinese glossary. (The only exception is the Book of Change. You need to read the original Classical Chinese for that one.)

The same with history, customs, etc. Most Chinese people don’t know much about Chinese culture. But they think they should. And many are ashamed that they don’t know more. As a Chinese person, if you can quote the Classics with ease, people automatically respect you. With a Western person, this respect becomes awe.

(Of course, in reality, a Westerner could understand Chinese people well, even if he knows nothing about traditional Chinese culture. Conversely, he could also entirely misunderstand China, even if he has memorised the Classics. Experience only favours the mind prepared. But I merely describe how the system works in the above.)

Chinese people are very proud of their culture. If you pretend that there’s an aspect of Chinese culture on which you want some clarification, you can always find someone who is willing to spend days explaining it to you. He’ll feel very good about himself afterwards. And you’ll have made a new friend (and an entry point to a new social circle).

1. There are many self-help books on small-talk, making friends, etc. These books really help people. It’s an irony of modern society (both Chinese and Western) that everyone wants more friends, but few people have the guts to make new friends. It’s not enough to “be yourself” – for most people, “be yourself” means acting “cool and aloof” at parties, while inwardly resenting outgoing folks who are having fun.

I suspect that many expatriates go to China because they desire deeper meaning in their lives. They want to be part of a community. They want intimate friendships. They want life-changing experiences.

These above are all very good things. But wherever you are in the world, if you don’t seek them pro-actively, you won’t find them. You have to repeat to yourself in front of the mirror: “This week, I’ll find new friends, with whom I can hang out regularly. I’ll brave whatever possible embarassment.”

I know a Chinese guy who moved to Vancouver when he was thirty. He is fifty now. At first, he spoke no English. Most people in his shoes would go to English class. Either that or hang out only with other Chinese people. But this guy did neither. Instead, whenever he saw or heard a word he didn’t understand, he would ask the nearest person. Neither was he embarassed that when he spoke, no one understood him. Instead, he would keep trying different sentence structures, until someone understood. This was twenty years ago. Now, this guy is as deeply rooted in Vancouver as anyone. If you met him, you would never have guessed that he was an English-as-second-language speaker.

This is the type of go-getting attitude you need.

1. While there are differences between Chinese people going to the West, and Western people going to China – there are also similarities and universal experiences. As my mother recounts the story – when she first went to the US, she spoke no English. She stayed in a small-town, where for miles and miles she was the only Asian.

Eventually, she was adopted by a German-American couple (and therefore I can legitimately say I have American grandparents!). Anyway, my point is, if my mother made it in the small-town US, and the guy above made it in Vancouver, then certainly any Westerner can make it in China.

I am certainly interested in reading your response, but in this location, at this point in time, the whole of Xanga is behind the GFW. That might change if we wait for a few days. Alternatively, I notice that Henning and Pete Braden included weblinks in their comments. Is it possible that your comment has so many weblinks that it triggers a spam filter?

I tried posting my reponse to your post several days ago. Unfortunately, Wordpress bans all weblinks. I did not realise this until just now. Therefore, I encountered the strangest phenomenon, where all my other posts go through, except that addressed to you.

If you’re still interested, please go to my temporary “bulletin-board” at http://www dot xanga dot com/FreeAbstraction

Are you in China right now? In any case, I pray that you meet good and hospitable folks wherever you go.

Just in case my original post didn’t make it clear enough, let me say that I agree with you completely.

I actually considered bringing up 9/11 in the original post, but didn’t because natural disasters and human attacks are apples and oranges, even if they both result in death.

I read on your website that you are translating Chinese medical texts into English. I’m doing similar work (I’ll probably send you an email about it when I have time). Maybe we can collaborate.

Anyway, keep up the good work.

I fail to see how flag waving helps the grieving process. And the way it feels the flames of nationalism always concerns me. But, I do think about this:

The Sichuan earthquake is 17 American 9/11’s in terms of death rate. Seventeen! The impact of that kind of loss is profound.

For everyone else, I recommend Nick Kristof’s piece in today’s Times. He talks about how much more theatrical and camera-ready this generation of Chinese leaders is. He sees this as a hopeful sign of a trend toward democracy. To me, it’s just a sign that these guys have finally learned that people will accept all kinds of oppressive, dangerous policies if they’re promoted by smiling, fatherly characters. Score one for the spin-doctors.