THIS IS WHAT BROWN DOES IN HIS FREE TIME (AND MINE)
The past century of Chinese history is very humiliating. The land now known as China has been conquered and occupied many times by forgein powers (Germany, Britain, France, United States, Japan etc). Prior to the establishment of the People's Repulic of China, the National party failed to prevent and counter the Japanese invasion of the mainland China and the Korean territory. They allowed the slaughter of millions of civilians by imperialist invaders. After the successful counter of the Japanese invasion, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was established to rebuild a new China from the ashes of years of civil war and forgein invasions. United under a single government/political party, the people were united, and the nation was once again strengthened. The CCP held onto power with a iron grip, ensuring that its political power is the only one. However, unable to be comprehened by the West, the Chinese people feel that the national security and unity of the people should be valued more than the rights of the few. The idea of united we stand, and divided we fall was implied, thus nationalism was felt amoung all the comrades of The People's Republic.
After political stability was achieved, and all forgein occupation and threats has been ended, the CCP promoted many public works to help increase employment and "jumpstart" the economy, which at that time, China had only an agricultural economy with barely enough food to feed even its own people. Eventually, with the help of Russian communist industrialist, China began the program of The Great Leap Forward under Chairman Mao. Though many people suffered, the result showed that China was able to industrialize, and maintain its own economy. Once again, the greater need of the nation and the people was attained. The idea of Human Rights may vary from ideals from one culture to another. In a nation that has just grown out of over four thousand years of feudalism, the idea of individual rights is not regarded with such sympathy as the rights and well being of the masses.
Eventually, industrialization under a socialist government became very inefficient (same as in Russia, when the Russian people starved while waiting outside of government food distribution), just as Spain in its golden age under Philip. After realizing this aspect of the economy, Den Shao Ping privitalized many sectors of China. The ideas went against communist ideas in which factories were owned by the people rather than a single person. Den responded by saying that we must learn from the West, and economical growth would eventually allow China to be a major world power.
On the contrary, the rapid industrialization also lead to a disparity among the people. Some citizens became rich in profiting from the modern trade (also with loosening grip of the government's control over the Chinese economy), while others around undeveloped areas still remained in poverty. However, this problem is not a singular one. One must keep in mind the enormous population of China (1.25909 billion people at the end of 1999, about 22 percent of the world's total. This figure does not include many Chinese in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Taiwan Province and Macao Special Administrative Region). The issue of population help create other issues, such as: over-crowding in urban areas, high unemployment, low college acceptanc (less than 1% of students are admited into college), which leads to low level of higher degree of education. However, the commendable aspect of the current situation is that under a socialist government (only to a certain degree), the people enjoy free health care, pension plan that is equaly among all citizens, all educational facilities are free of charge (even colleges, where boarding, food, books etc, are all at the expense of the government), and public sanitation facilties such as public showers and baths.
All in all, it would be true to say that the living standards of China for the average household cannot be comparable to the West, however, as a superpower on the rise, more and more people are given jobs, which help provide more money and a better living conditions. With the help of forgein investments and export profits, the goverment is funding more public works and infrastructure. It is still extremely hard to provide for a country of such a great population, but progress is still being made. Therefore, the CCP must still remain in power to ensure the stability of the country, and the Chinese people are still filled with nationalism that one day, they will be able to achieve greatness through unity.
TOM.
Hope that answers or describes most of the issues that was brought up.
-----Original Message-----
From: CHRIS S. BROWN (TEACHER)
Sent: Fri 7/1/2005 6:28 AM
To: Colin Stanton; Ryan Bates; Scott Swedberg; Joshua Gershlak; Nolan Johnson; Thomas Culkeen; Lee Giunta; Matthew Swanson; David Keane; Steven Kfoury; Timothy King; William Koch; Mark Manning; Garrett Melson; Robert Mogielnicki; Thomas Nellson; Michael Niconchuk; Luke Pommersheim; Timothy Prior; KangKui Wu; Benjamin Slingerland; Joshua Stansfield; Andrew Judd; James Scangas; Brian Winne
Cc:
Subject:
Take a look at this link to a story about pollution due to rapid industrialization and economic growth in China. Beside the story, on the right, there is a section entitled "IN PICTURES". Take a look at the series of pictures available there under the headings, Wealth gap, Consuming desire, and Climbing Beijing property ladder. I think that it's fascinating.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4636371.stm
I hope you all are well and enjoying the summer!
CB
After political stability was achieved, and all forgein occupation and threats has been ended, the CCP promoted many public works to help increase employment and "jumpstart" the economy, which at that time, China had only an agricultural economy with barely enough food to feed even its own people. Eventually, with the help of Russian communist industrialist, China began the program of The Great Leap Forward under Chairman Mao. Though many people suffered, the result showed that China was able to industrialize, and maintain its own economy. Once again, the greater need of the nation and the people was attained. The idea of Human Rights may vary from ideals from one culture to another. In a nation that has just grown out of over four thousand years of feudalism, the idea of individual rights is not regarded with such sympathy as the rights and well being of the masses.
Eventually, industrialization under a socialist government became very inefficient (same as in Russia, when the Russian people starved while waiting outside of government food distribution), just as Spain in its golden age under Philip. After realizing this aspect of the economy, Den Shao Ping privitalized many sectors of China. The ideas went against communist ideas in which factories were owned by the people rather than a single person. Den responded by saying that we must learn from the West, and economical growth would eventually allow China to be a major world power.
On the contrary, the rapid industrialization also lead to a disparity among the people. Some citizens became rich in profiting from the modern trade (also with loosening grip of the government's control over the Chinese economy), while others around undeveloped areas still remained in poverty. However, this problem is not a singular one. One must keep in mind the enormous population of China (1.25909 billion people at the end of 1999, about 22 percent of the world's total. This figure does not include many Chinese in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Taiwan Province and Macao Special Administrative Region). The issue of population help create other issues, such as: over-crowding in urban areas, high unemployment, low college acceptanc (less than 1% of students are admited into college), which leads to low level of higher degree of education. However, the commendable aspect of the current situation is that under a socialist government (only to a certain degree), the people enjoy free health care, pension plan that is equaly among all citizens, all educational facilities are free of charge (even colleges, where boarding, food, books etc, are all at the expense of the government), and public sanitation facilties such as public showers and baths.
All in all, it would be true to say that the living standards of China for the average household cannot be comparable to the West, however, as a superpower on the rise, more and more people are given jobs, which help provide more money and a better living conditions. With the help of forgein investments and export profits, the goverment is funding more public works and infrastructure. It is still extremely hard to provide for a country of such a great population, but progress is still being made. Therefore, the CCP must still remain in power to ensure the stability of the country, and the Chinese people are still filled with nationalism that one day, they will be able to achieve greatness through unity.
TOM.
Hope that answers or describes most of the issues that was brought up.
-----Original Message-----
From: CHRIS S. BROWN (TEACHER)
Sent: Fri 7/1/2005 6:28 AM
To: Colin Stanton; Ryan Bates; Scott Swedberg; Joshua Gershlak; Nolan Johnson; Thomas Culkeen; Lee Giunta; Matthew Swanson; David Keane; Steven Kfoury; Timothy King; William Koch; Mark Manning; Garrett Melson; Robert Mogielnicki; Thomas Nellson; Michael Niconchuk; Luke Pommersheim; Timothy Prior; KangKui Wu; Benjamin Slingerland; Joshua Stansfield; Andrew Judd; James Scangas; Brian Winne
Cc:
Subject:
Take a look at this link to a story about pollution due to rapid industrialization and economic growth in China. Beside the story, on the right, there is a section entitled "IN PICTURES". Take a look at the series of pictures available there under the headings, Wealth gap, Consuming desire, and Climbing Beijing property ladder. I think that it's fascinating.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4636371.stm
I hope you all are well and enjoying the summer!
CB