Into the World:
The Random Thoughts in My Mind

Finished talking about tourists in the last post, I would like to take the development of individualism in China to a more positive note. With intense control of public opinion and what is considered "moral, non-corrupting forms of entertainment" by the government, the concept of entertainment programs did not even exist on Chinese TV until very very recently. Just a decade ago, Chinese TV consisted of news, propagandistic drama series (involving such favorite topics as anti-Japanese war stories and communist greatness...topics that still are popular to this day because of guaranteed popularity with the older generations), and little else... Then, with increased reforms and commercializations of the local TV stations, entertainment programs, often involving pop musicians and celebrities, came into being as means of attracting younger audience groups. The programs, emulating similar ones in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, requires the hosts and guests to think on

A couple of days ago, I went to the Shanghai Expo for the second, and hopefully, the last time. I wasn't keen to go to begin with and only went there to help my aunt push my 86-year-old grandmother around in a wheelchair. My aunt and the rest of my family calls such act "filial," but seriously, if I was the old person, I would be happiest if left alone in a quiet environment. The Expo, with all its loud people, noise, plus the hot weather, would not only be no enjoyment to an old person, but pose serious health risk from the heat and/or contracting some contagious disease from the crowd. Perhaps thats why I still don't get why Chinese people see "multiple generations under the same roof" as a sign of a happy and fulfilling family. Wouldn't it be much better for the old person to be with other old people with similar interests and lifestyles in a retirement community of some sort? By forcing the younger generations to take care of the elders through

With the pro-status quo Kuomintang (Nationalists) in power again in Taiwan after eight years under pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, it seems that, at least for now, the growing movement toward formal independence of Taiwan from the Republic of China (ROC) has been thwarted. But as I have repeatedly observed in Taiwan, the common Taiwanese people, especially among the younger generations with no memories of the ROC's presence on the Chinese mainland, the entire concept of ROC means little if anything.

Without a doubt, going to Taiwan for me has been a real eye-opener. But as I stated in previous posts, the real physical differences between the two are too insignificant to their discrepancies in mentalities, worldviews, and attitudes. Such a mental difference can also be reflected in economic terms, even though the two has strong and obvious gaps in wealth and overall sense of development. Yet, even though we all know that Taiwan leads in terms of living standards, productivity, or per capita income, there should still be a sense of doubt whether the situation is so because of more successful market model undertaken in Taiwan as the West claims. The ruling Kuomintang has always stressed the importance of capitalist (or rather, anti-communist) ideology in governance. Yet, its political strength has always been sapped by the economic dominance of few families, who held the exclusive rights to the key industries. The economic oligarchy was not really broken until much later and the i

As President Obama withdraw American combat troops today, it can be said that the new Iraqi national government that have been so fragile and unstable outside of American protection finally receive a true chance to prove itself as a competent and independent entity capable of maintain stability in and effectively govern Iraq. Yet, to much of the world, the scenes in Iraq have hardly changed since that day President Bush announced the end of all major combat operations: American soldiers patrolling streets of Baghdad, workers constructing new oil pipelines and new buildings, and natives complaining about continuing American occupation. However, one thing changed significantly for the commoners of Iraq, in days before and after, major cities of Iraq including Baghdad and Mosul faced numerous terrorist attacks in which car bombs exploded on busy streets, insurgents actively engaged new Iraqi security forces in the streets and police stations while others sabotaged freshly repaired oil pip

It has been more than seven years since President Bush declared war on Iraq. Few days ago, President Obama finally declared the end of all combat operations by American troops in Iraq as last of the combat troops departed for Kuwait. Of course, American involvement in Iraq does not end here. The State Department hires thousands of armed contractors to protect American officials in Iraq, in the process assuming many of the same roles as the American soldiers before the soldiers' withdrawal. But the move by President Obama is clear. He, as promised in his presidential campaign platform, wants America to walk out of the War's damages on its economy, reputation, and international image as quickly as possible, shifting focus on Afghanistan and domestic developments. However, as I will show in the next couple of posts, the influence of this particular war on the global perception of America and its unilateral actions will be lasting, especially considering the slogans of "fre