-In 2011, Google, Facebook and YouTube announce their return to the Chinese market -- but the news is censored, so no one finds out- Han Han Chinese Blogger making a point.
Back in the Middle Ages, if you said something bad about the Royal family, Nobles or the religion, you got hanged, burned alive or beheaded. It was a form of "extreme" censorship. As a civilized and free thinking continent it is difficult to imagine not having the freedom to read, write, speak and also view anything, any subject we want. Why is a communist country so afraid to let its people see what is out there and how people from other countries live. Are they afraid their people will want to change? Certainly democracy can be appealing to some who have been yearning to break free from the very strict rules of communism but with the right information they should also realise that democracy brings other problems they may not want to face. In a democratic country you get a certain independence such as have credit that can get you into deep financial trouble and simply ruin your life. China does not let that happen and if you are not poor, and you have a job you can make it through life without too much worries. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my freedom for a communist regime but there is something appealing to the fact that big brother is not letting you get into financial trouble.
Coming back to Google and the censorship of the search engine/websites, how can the leadership of a country so big can be so naive? Unless they know that they have control of the minds by limiting their learning. Having the Chinese people live in a bubble not aware of what is happening around the world is asking for trouble because when the monster awakes (i.e. they finally get free), they will not know how to behave with other countries that have become civilized and conflict is a likely outcome. Isn't it what's happening with Afghanistan? They were asleep for 100s of years and woke up with some technology but no knowledge of how to use it properly and behave among themselves and other nations. They are still in the Middle Ages but with cell phones big bombs and Toyota Corollas instead of messengers, swords and horses. We are now stuck with trying to teach them some manners and hope they eventually get smart and stop trying to kill themselves and the people trying to help.
Chuck
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Haiti - Caribbean Jewel or Sh.. Pit?
It was once said the Haiti was "La Perle Des Antilles" or the "Caribbean Jewel". I don't really know when this country had this title but I was there for six months in 1997 and a "Jewel" it was not.
Now for those of you who do not know, Haiti's demise as a country was when they sustained the last of many "coup d'état" that sent their dictator President to exile and with it the collapse of their entire economy, political structure and public safety. The whole middle Class left the country for a better and safer life abroad. Most came to the US and Canada but others fled to DR and other island nations. What was left of the population was a ratio of 5 and 95. That is 5% rich and 95% extremely poor; 5% literate and 95% illiterate; 5% mulatto and 95% black... get the picture?
If this was not bad enough, hundreds of thousands of people from the outlying villages decided that the promise of a new life existed in the Capital city of Port Au Prince. The influx of people and the lack of work and housing became so problematic that the formation of "Bidonvilles" or "Slums" was unavoidable and a very popular one in P-Au-P is called Cité Soleil. It is said that during market day in Cité Soleil, there are over a million people walking the garbage covered streets. The smell is unbearable and the danger of getting mugged is so high that it is not recommended for "Blancs" ,which means foreigners, to go into the market.
If Haiti was rebuilt with solid housing, hospitals and schools, a strong and honest military and police force lead by a innovative and ambitious government, the country might have a chance. This earthquake may be the solution to start anew but I doubt it. I doubt that the population of a country that cannot take charge and rebuilt its economy can do any better with all the money and food the world is throwing at them. I have seen first hand the mentality of the P-Au-P residents and they are LAZY. No one wants to start the recovery process. They all want someone to tell them what to do. They want DICTATORSHIP and that is the only way this country can survive in our world. Elsewhere around the country, small banana farms and sugar plantations are doing well but the are owned by the rich of P-Au-P and the farmers are exploited for a meager percentage of the crop to survive. They live in huts on dirt floors but they live clean and proud. The women travel by foot 10-15 hours to take their meager part of the crop to the closest market so they can get food and other essential goods. Kids learn to steal but cannot afford to get caught because there sentence is immediate amputation of the hand.
The western world will never let this country fall back into the throws of a dictator so we will keep sending money and troops every cycle whether it's because of a hurricane, earthquake or just the population growing restless. Haiti will unfortunately always remain a Sh.. Pit because the UN needs to keep it that way and keeps pocketing Aid the money coming in. These may be harsh words about the Haitian people, but unless you have witnessed it first hand and can give me a different view than what I SAW, I will always remain with this opinion of the country and its people.
Chuck
Now for those of you who do not know, Haiti's demise as a country was when they sustained the last of many "coup d'état" that sent their dictator President to exile and with it the collapse of their entire economy, political structure and public safety. The whole middle Class left the country for a better and safer life abroad. Most came to the US and Canada but others fled to DR and other island nations. What was left of the population was a ratio of 5 and 95. That is 5% rich and 95% extremely poor; 5% literate and 95% illiterate; 5% mulatto and 95% black... get the picture?
If this was not bad enough, hundreds of thousands of people from the outlying villages decided that the promise of a new life existed in the Capital city of Port Au Prince. The influx of people and the lack of work and housing became so problematic that the formation of "Bidonvilles" or "Slums" was unavoidable and a very popular one in P-Au-P is called Cité Soleil. It is said that during market day in Cité Soleil, there are over a million people walking the garbage covered streets. The smell is unbearable and the danger of getting mugged is so high that it is not recommended for "Blancs" ,which means foreigners, to go into the market.
If Haiti was rebuilt with solid housing, hospitals and schools, a strong and honest military and police force lead by a innovative and ambitious government, the country might have a chance. This earthquake may be the solution to start anew but I doubt it. I doubt that the population of a country that cannot take charge and rebuilt its economy can do any better with all the money and food the world is throwing at them. I have seen first hand the mentality of the P-Au-P residents and they are LAZY. No one wants to start the recovery process. They all want someone to tell them what to do. They want DICTATORSHIP and that is the only way this country can survive in our world. Elsewhere around the country, small banana farms and sugar plantations are doing well but the are owned by the rich of P-Au-P and the farmers are exploited for a meager percentage of the crop to survive. They live in huts on dirt floors but they live clean and proud. The women travel by foot 10-15 hours to take their meager part of the crop to the closest market so they can get food and other essential goods. Kids learn to steal but cannot afford to get caught because there sentence is immediate amputation of the hand.
The western world will never let this country fall back into the throws of a dictator so we will keep sending money and troops every cycle whether it's because of a hurricane, earthquake or just the population growing restless. Haiti will unfortunately always remain a Sh.. Pit because the UN needs to keep it that way and keeps pocketing Aid the money coming in. These may be harsh words about the Haitian people, but unless you have witnessed it first hand and can give me a different view than what I SAW, I will always remain with this opinion of the country and its people.
Chuck
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