August 10, 2008
Chinese And American Personalities Similar
Opening ceremonies of the Olympics at Beijing, China, were sensational in concept and portrayal by its greatest asset – the Chinese people.
That nation is recognized as the world’s oldest and most populous with approximately 1.3 billion citizens. Thus, it was appropriate that its people dominated the presentation of music, dance, and theatrical effects.
Highlight was the “Parade of Champions” – the amateur athletes in native dress led by their national flags.
In seats of honor where several leaders of the largest delegations. President Bush and First Lady Laura were present – waving small Old Glory flags. He is the first American president to attend an Olympic in a foreign land.
RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD CHINA
Obvious enthusiasm of the Chinese performers brought back memories of this writer, and Cona -- the mother of my children -- who were among the first, small group of journalists to tour China after the death of dictator Mao Zedong in 1976.
Mao Zedong and President Nixon
1972
“May we walk with you and practice English?” This was the courteous question by two Chinese college students standing in the twilight outside Kwangchow Hotel in September 1979.
My wife and I had become accustomed to the request during a journalists’ tour of old China the week Chairman Deng Xiaoping opened the door to foreign visitors.
We readily agreed to walk and talk English. We sauntered to the steps of nearby Kwangchow University. We sat and talked for two hours in the dark – streetlights off because of a shortage of electricity – discussing the futures of China and America.
MAO’S DISASTER
As I wrote in a Journalist Syndicate article following our visit to China:
"Chairman Mao Zedong in 1966 closed all schools and colleges for a decade during his Cultural Revolution. He sought to wipe out all memories of China's 5,000-year-old imperial past and to curb a surge to private enterprise.
"For a decade, millions of teachers and "capitalist roaders" were killed and millions more sent to work camps. Colleges were shuttered. Not a single student was graduated. Ownership of farm land was abolished.
Deng Xiaoping"Deng Xiaoping succeeded Mao after the latter's death in 1976 and reopened the schools. He allowed an individual to own a small "private plot and a private pig" for personal profit.
"Deng startled the country - and the world - by ordering all pupils from first grade through college to learn English. It was a subtle recognition that the language of commerce is English.
TALK IN THE DARK
"Our visit is the first opportunity the Chinese have had to use their new, language skill.
"Li and Chang are typical of the new generation. They are enthusiastic about the official Four Modernizations program - progress in Agriculture, Science, Technology and Defense.
"They are convinced that through "socialism, populous China will catch up with the 'capitalist' nations.
"'When?' I asked.
"Chang -- just entering college at age 26 because of Mao's cultural revolution -- thinks his people expect too much too soon from modernization. 'There will be change for the better, but not as fast as most think.'
"Li is younger and has been relatively untouched by past ideological struggle. He thinks China will leap into the modern world overnight.
"'What do you expect from modernization?' I asked. He replied, 'A nice family, a well-furnished flat, a refrigerator and an automobile.'
"'What will happen if you have not obtained these things by the time you have children of your present age?'
"After a thoughtful silence, he answered, 'The revolutionary spirit is strong in the Chinese people!'
"Modernization is a great challenge for the Chinese, but the high degree of voluntary compliance is an indication of their determination to succeed.
"'It will be a triumph for socialism,' declared Li.
"'Don't forget about the Cultural Revolution, I cautioned. 'You can not modernize without a lot of capitalism.'
"Again, there was a long pause in the conversation. Chang replied, 'I have thought much about this, and sometimes I think capitalism is not so bad.'
"As we parted, I gave our young guides my business cards for their English instructor. On the backs I wrote, 'Give Li (or Chang) an A in English.'
DEMOCRACY WALL
The first point of interest on our tour was the five-block-long “Democracy Wall” where Chinese were permitted to paste posters expressing political views.
We were not allowed to approach the wall because two weeks before our arrival, a Chinese student was killed there during a political argument.
Democracy Wall was only a block or so from Tiananmen Square where is located a mausoleum containing the embalmed body of Mao Zedong.
Four long lines of visitors –continuously night and day – walk briskly past Mao in a glass coffin. As we were foreign guests, Chinese visitors to Mao’s sepulcher smilingly opened the queue to us.
When liberated college students in 1989 staged their pro-democracy demonstration at Tiananmen Square – with their improvised "Goddess of Democracy" statue patterned after the American Statue of Liberty – I got goose bumps.
I remembered what young Li – 10 years earlier – said would happen in 10 years if economic progress was too slow in coming.
SLAUGHTER ON THE SQUARE
Adapted from Wikipedia
Chairman Deng broke the communist mould, but in 1989 he ordered the People’s Liberation Army to slaughter several hundred Tiananmen Square student demonstrators. Hundreds of ringleaders were imprisoned.
Today, zealous political dissidents in China still are confined to labor camps or factories without legal recourse.
However, American-style capitalism – that my Kwangchow friend Chang thought not so bad – has vaulted China into an economic power second only to the United States.
Socialism is waning in new China. Democratic institutions are gaining under the influence of world trade, jet planes, television, computers, Google and high technology.
China is our largest trading partner.
The Olympic opening program was a stunning demonstration of modern technology.
Mao must be spinning in his glass coffin.
By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist
