Re: [A-List] Conference in China

[Xenon Zi-Neng Yuan <wenhuadageming@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

It warms my heart to see some first-hand reporting from China that strays
from the usual formula of alleging how universally "miserable" the
situation is over there.  I do commend comrade Craven for daring to see
beyond the anti-China media filter which so poisons the discussion here in
the "West".  Assuming you are still in China, I wish you well and in full
confidence that the experience will continue to shatter the many
inadvertent misconceptions implanted in your mind by the western media and
intelligentsia, as it was with me.

That being said, I do hope that you would consider spending some extended
time beyond a "model" city like Beijing.  In some ways (and I say this with
all due respect), your report reminded me a little bit of Huey Newton's
remembrances of his visit to the PRC in the 70's, in that a more skeptical
person may think you're just getting a sanctioned tour of the "pretty side
of town".

More comments below...

> The first thing I should note is that I was asked to provide on an
> abstract of my paper not the whole paper. It was on my own initiative and
> out of respect for those who had invited me that I sent a copy of the
> whole paper before leaving for China. This was because I did not want, due
> to my own ignorance or misinformation, to say things that were incorrect
> and/or might cause any problems for those who had invited me. My concerns
> were unfounded as no one tried to censor me in any way and all were
> prepared for a free full and no-holds-barred discussion of any and all
> issues related to China (including those issues raised in the Monthly
> Review issue on China).

I had similar preconceived notions to yours on my first visit several years
ago, ignorantly assuming that truly open discussion and debate would be
hard to come by, especially in more publicized settings.  It is amazing how
inundated we in the imperial centers become with images of China being some
sort of Orwellian police state, with tapped phones and thought police
around every corner.

> I got a cut on my foot and my foot and leg became infected. The last time
> this happened, when I was in India, I got staph infection throughout my
> left leg and damn near lost it. This time it was my right foot and leg. I
> got to experience the Chinese health care system which I would  recommend
> to anyone; they are far advanced of the U.S. and Canada in many ways; and
> they are also very aware that health care is not evenly distributed
> throughout China and are very intent on dealing with it as a priority
> issue. The first thing that impressed me tremendously, is that I had to
> wait in line and no effort was given to give me "special treatment" as a
> visitor; I really appreciated that. Secondly, the doctors were thorough
> and took the issue of my own immune system not being adapted to China very
> seriously. Thirdly they did regular follow-up (again, each time I waited
> my turn in line) and gave me antibiotics simply not available in the West
> (including a bottle, prescribed for me by the doctor to take home to
> continue my treatment).

Was this in the Beijing metropolitan area?  Again, while I have no
disagreements that a foreigner should have no qualms about getting public
health care in the city, the uneven distribution of these services in the
countryside does make it harder to come to the same conclusion for other
areas of China.  Granted, I myself have simply been fortunate not to have
gotten sick or injured when in the countryside, and do not have my own
first-hand experience.  But I do get mixed reports from friends and peers
who have - which at least is better than the daily multiple horror stories
which saturate the headlines and inner pages of the bourgeois press
(especially the overseas Chinese language press, such as the World
Journal/Shijie Ribao).

> As a former taxi driver myself--full-time--I of course knew well the
> pressures and realities of the taxi drivers all over the world (wait in
> long lines for a short trip and having to pay the daily lease or "nut" on
> the vehicle, all sorts of freaks giving you trouble etc) but the taxi
> drivers in Beijing will not take tips as they believe that this might
> involve "looking down" on them or pity. Despite their low pay and
> difficult conditions of work, they had a certain pride and dignity about
> them that reflected socialist consciousness is alive and well among the
> taxi drivers in China.

tipping/gratuity is indeed a practice that was generally eradicated prior
to the market "reforms".  However, it has made a comeback since then,
particularly in some of the fancier restaurants/hotels and other service
related jobs (such as the more expensive taxis and limos) catering to the
wealthy (both domestic and foreign) or even middle class.  I don't disagree
that some level of "socialist consciousness" persists amongst the common
workers, but in my own conversations with many of them, I'd regretfully
have to say that this is far from universally true.  A great many of them
are caught up in "money-making" fever and recite, like mantras, the
precepts of "getting rich is glorious" capitalism...

> I hooked-up with some friends of a friend and they took me to a restaurant
> called Xiang Yang Tun (Face the Sun) which features artifacts from
> traditional villages, traditional village recipes, posters and newspapers
> from the Cultural Revolution,
> large posters of Chairman Mao and acrobat/comedy troupes from northeastern
> China. That was truly memorable.

Again, unfortunately, places like that are "novelty" destinations.  In
mainstream urban China, I'd say that the Cultural Revolution is not
popular.  This is different in the countryside, of course.  Respect for Mao
on the other hand, is becoming universal again I think (though grudgingly
for some), particularly when the issue of China's sovereignty comes up.

> On CCTV-9 the English channel in Beijing, the programming was very
> thoughtful and informative, >From discussions of life and history during
> the Tang Dynasty, to national policies to protect the survival and
> existence of the 55 non-Han national groups in China (e.g Dai People in
> Yunnan), to long programs about China's and global energy requirements and
> trends, to programs on industrial pollution and ecological damage and
> ongoing demonstrations in the U.S. against Bush. It was such a relief to
> see programming that did not focus on and celebrate narcissism,
> competition, social darwinism, humiliation, intrigue, careerism,
> ultra-individualism,  sexism, racism, national chauvinism,
> machiavellianism, etc etc.

CCTV programming is often as you describe, though with some exceptions,
especially the non-English stations.  In addition, most people in the
cities can get other channels; local channels and Taiwan/HK-affiliated
networks will more often than not contain many of the more unsavory
elements you list above.

> In Chinese language and culture, there is the concept of  "shen chang bu
> lu" (keeping ones words and intentions modest and moderate and not letting
> out all one is thinking). Perhaps that is what I was experiencing while in
> China, or, perhaps, the same concept should be considered in any possibly
> precipitous judgments about the extent of restoration of capitalism
> allegedly going on in China. The Chinese I met did not run from a full
> debate of the question and were/are prepared to debate the issue in the
> future of what they are doing in China and why.

Agreed.  Rash judgements and proclamations from those of us in the imperial
center about the processes in China are to be avoided.  Like Melvin has
stated numerous times both here and elsewhere, on such matters it is better
to err on the side of caution, lest we find ourselves trumpeting the call
of the most reactionary elements of our imperialist bourgeoisie.

xzy