My apologies if I came across wrong. I'm not trying to glorify the actions of the greedy Imperialist powers, only asking the Chinese perspective on them. Thanks for your answer though, I'm now better informed.

Quote:

Original posted by Hexane at 29-4-2008 15:37
My apologies if I came across wrong. I'm not trying to glorify the actions of the greedy Imperialist powers, only asking the Chinese perspective on them. Thanks for your answer though, I'm now better  ...

and what about the constant flaws where Imperialist and Westerners are responsible for all the errors of China ? How such a *great country* with 5000+ years of history could be ruined by the West ? It's easy to criticize the others, but when it comes to our own mistakes, nothing's better than a good revisionism and a deletion of collective history...

Actually the imperialists in the colonial period woke up China in an extremely hard way, the Qing dynasty was doomed to be replaced by a "new dynasty" just like the many dynasties before her. The Qing dynasty was starting to decline after the peak in the Qianlong era, actually it might be even Qianlong himself who head started the beginning of the end of the Qing Dynasty by reversing some "new technology acceptance" policies at the end of his age causing China to slowly isolate herself and lack behind in technological development, seems like old people start to make more and more mistakes, even once great emporers.

Technically speaking and theory on paper the so-called freedom sounds a lot, but in reality it is a different case. Same like in China, constitutionally we are also always protected by the court.

The 51% argument is always so ironical in my books. First of all the voting rate is most often very low, taken out the population who have no voting rights in 99% of the cases. Only in some referandums the population might be consulted, and even then very often it really only serve the consultation purpose and by the way I have not seen a referendum in America yet. Besides this in the multiple party nations (mainly seen in Europe), you will be voting some parties who will never get the 51% of the votes (of the votes means not of the population). These parties in affect would need to take some time to form a coalition making compromises after compromises, creating a coalition government which most often the voters will never recognize the programs of the parties in it. The lower than 51% coaltion governments are the worst for these democratic nations. Oh, and don't even mention all the kings and queens who simply heritaged the thrones because several hundreds years ago their ancestors won the Throne and all the belongings in the country. I will resort myself from even commenting on the presidents who stole the elections and is ruining the country year after year.

Quote:

Original posted by Hexane at 29-4-2008 15:37
My apologies if I came across wrong. I'm not trying to glorify the actions of the greedy Imperialist powers, only asking the Chinese perspective on them. Thanks for your answer though, I'm now better  ...

It is alright, Hexane. I am glad that you have the patient to read and try to understand what we have posted in this forum.

I always believe that we have plenty to learn from each other and that there is enough space for all of us to live together peacefully, harmoniously and to prosper together.

I also believe strongly that  all of us, regardless of race, nationality or religion, can work together for the betterment of mankind (or humankind, if you prefer a less sexist term!)

BTW, I'm just being curious why you chose the name of six-carbon alkane as you name here?

[ Last edited by Jigong at 29-4-2008 23:30 ]

Democracy is very much a work in progress and should not be considered perfect by any means.  Of course it has flaws- I believe it was Winston Churchill who said "the best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter".  If that's not a crippling flaw, leaving the fate of the nation potentionally in the hands of an ignorant mob easily swayed by sensationalism, then I don't know what is.  Fortunately we don't tend to have coalitions in the UK (we've had them before, but only in times of national crisis), but we can get governments elected on 40% of the vote-it just means they have one hell of a job getting anything done.

During the early part of the 20th century,there was an ambassador from China that came to Washington D.C. Someone introduced the Chinese Ambassador to a senator.The senator looked up and down the Chinese Ambassador,and asked him,"What Kind of Ese are you? Chinese? Anamese? Or Japanese? The Ambassador from China looked back at the Senator and asked" What Kind of Key Are You? Monkey? Donkey? Or Yankee?

p.s. true story.and Anamese at the time ment (Vietnamese).

[ Last edited by Talkstraight at 7-5-2008 11:57 ]

There are lots of flawed means of government. Democracy isn't perfect, but most people would rather have it than good old Communism.

Errrhh... how about just about every country in Western Europe and scandinavia?

Living in a Democracy, I agree that it needs improvement.

-Samtom