First Harley Shop Opened Saturday in China.
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Re: FILE THIS UNDER "SO WHAT?"
The Rolling Stones played in China. Harley is selling motorcycles in China. So what?
China is still a brutal dictatorship.
Americans equate rock'n'roll and motorcycles with freedom because they live in a place where there is a great degree of freedom.
The appearance of the Rolling Stones and Harley motorcycles in China does not herald a closing of the gap between east and west, the dawn of political enlightenment in China, or anything of significance whatsoever.
It's no more significant than Maytag selling washers in China.
All it means is that some European and American capitalists are making money off of a totalitarian government that is rapidly moving toward becoming an economic and military superpower that would like to wipe us off the map.
But hey, they're riding Harleys and listening to the Stones. Let's all join hands and sing Cumbaya.
The Rolling Stones played in China. Harley is selling motorcycles in China. So what?
China is still a brutal dictatorship.
Americans equate rock'n'roll and motorcycles with freedom because they live in a place where there is a great degree of freedom.
The appearance of the Rolling Stones and Harley motorcycles in China does not herald a closing of the gap between east and west, the dawn of political enlightenment in China, or anything of significance whatsoever.
It's no more significant than Maytag selling washers in China.
All it means is that some European and American capitalists are making money off of a totalitarian government that is rapidly moving toward becoming an economic and military superpower that would like to wipe us off the map.
But hey, they're riding Harleys and listening to the Stones. Let's all join hands and sing Cumbaya.
Re: FILE THIS UNDER
Yes. Eavesdropping on citizens. Monitoring website searchs. Monitoring library books that are checked out. Detention for years without access to lawyers or being charged with a crime.
Sorry, my mistake. I thought we were talking about the US.
Before mindlessly bashing China, let's do two things: Look at what we do at home. Second, figure out what is REALLY happening in China, rather than just stick with our comfortable preconceptions.
The more I see of China (I've been living in Asia for 12 years now), the more I realize that most Westerners really don't have the slightest clue about what is going on there.
Yes. Eavesdropping on citizens. Monitoring website searchs. Monitoring library books that are checked out. Detention for years without access to lawyers or being charged with a crime.
Sorry, my mistake. I thought we were talking about the US.
Before mindlessly bashing China, let's do two things: Look at what we do at home. Second, figure out what is REALLY happening in China, rather than just stick with our comfortable preconceptions.
The more I see of China (I've been living in Asia for 12 years now), the more I realize that most Westerners really don't have the slightest clue about what is going on there.
Re: FILE THIS UNDER
Actually, mghempel is correct in pointing out that America IS turning into a police state. Which just underscores that rock'n'roll and motorcycles do not spawn freedom. It's the other way around. We have rock'n'roll and motorcycles because we have freedom. As freedom tapers off, so do the benefits.
Actually, mghempel is correct in pointing out that America IS turning into a police state. Which just underscores that rock'n'roll and motorcycles do not spawn freedom. It's the other way around. We have rock'n'roll and motorcycles because we have freedom. As freedom tapers off, so do the benefits.
Re: FILE THIS UNDER
You're correct in your assertion that most Americans don't have a clue about what's going on in Asia and the rest of the world.
But those of us who DO pay attention are aware that despite China's evolving economic growth and acquisition of more-affluent and Western-influenced culture, it's still a brutal dictatorship.
China is not moving toward enlightenment. There's no democratic revolution around the corner. America is moving more toward totalitarianism.
You're correct in your assertion that most Americans don't have a clue about what's going on in Asia and the rest of the world.
But those of us who DO pay attention are aware that despite China's evolving economic growth and acquisition of more-affluent and Western-influenced culture, it's still a brutal dictatorship.
China is not moving toward enlightenment. There's no democratic revolution around the corner. America is moving more toward totalitarianism.
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4,369 Posts
Me laugh long time at round-eye devil's joke!
Re: FILE THIS UNDER
Let's just rewind history a bit. Before the US existed as a country, who was the biggest economy? China. While the Roman Empire was in existence, who was the biggest economy? China. In the middle ages, who was the biggest economy? China.
Like it or not, the last 200 years has just been a blip where the US leaped ahead for a bit. From a historical perspective, things are just getting back to the way they were.
Let's just rewind history a bit. Before the US existed as a country, who was the biggest economy? China. While the Roman Empire was in existence, who was the biggest economy? China. In the middle ages, who was the biggest economy? China.
Like it or not, the last 200 years has just been a blip where the US leaped ahead for a bit. From a historical perspective, things are just getting back to the way they were.
Re: FILE THIS UNDER
How much is that debt, Bigdx? How much is that deficit every year? Last I checked, Canada had a balanced budget and has been that way for half a decade. Internationally, Canada is respected and is considered by the UN to be one of the better, if not the best, country in which to live.
Wanna find the US? You have to go a LONG way down the list and you'll be surprised at the countries you'll pass along the way.
How much is that debt, Bigdx? How much is that deficit every year? Last I checked, Canada had a balanced budget and has been that way for half a decade. Internationally, Canada is respected and is considered by the UN to be one of the better, if not the best, country in which to live.
Wanna find the US? You have to go a LONG way down the list and you'll be surprised at the countries you'll pass along the way.
Re: FILE THIS UNDER
Whatever. When you Yanks wake up from your collective delusion about being the saviour of all things right and good and finally figure out that there was a world here for millions of years before the US existed ... the better off everyone the world will be.
Oh, how did we all manage to exist for those eons of human history before the US came along?
Whatever. When you Yanks wake up from your collective delusion about being the saviour of all things right and good and finally figure out that there was a world here for millions of years before the US existed ... the better off everyone the world will be.
Oh, how did we all manage to exist for those eons of human history before the US came along?
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3,415 Posts
Re: FILE THIS UNDER
The US has only been a true world power for the last 100 years, the Roman empire lasted almost 1000., Britain controled most of the world for 400 years..Bagdhad was a center of culture and learning for 600 years before even the Vikings had settlements on North America....
You better go back to school, teenyweeny
The US has only been a true world power for the last 100 years, the Roman empire lasted almost 1000., Britain controled most of the world for 400 years..Bagdhad was a center of culture and learning for 600 years before even the Vikings had settlements on North America....
You better go back to school, teenyweeny
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