TOCTOC, I read your postings with great interest. You asked: “Why I wonder, when China is so large, is it necessary for her to insist without any dialogue or compromise to have as her very own possession Tibet and Taiwan?” It reminded me of a question I always asked of our country regarding the 1600’s (and beyond), when our settlers looked across the vast expanse of this great land and decided to extinguish the Native American Indians because “there is not enough.” Buying selling grabbing stealing fighting over real estate is and always has been about “there is not enough.”

The Ole Crone The Ole Crone I have to admit that I NEVER read these books you are talking about, maybe the reason is what you have criticized on the Mao Regime. However, I have read other books to reflect the spirit and life of that time by Chinese people. My parents experienced that dark time in China, they told me it was a confusing world as everything was crazy. There are so many reasons for that distorted period, although the government had its responsibility for it, the CUTURAL REVOLUTION is not simple attributing to the leaders, the systems and the society regime! I hope you have learned the history of China between the middle of 19th century to the middle of 20th century which is the most disgraceful period invaded and ruled by other countries, then you would found why so many peope were crazy to admire their Chairman Mao! He gave us freedom from be slaved by other nations and establish the country for Chinese, EVEN he has made a mistake for his people and created an enviroment what you believe is a hell without democracy, his contribution is never forgotten by Chinese people! Moreover, when the new China was founded, there were too many problems for a new country to deal with, it has no advanced technology, no modern industry, and its people were in the poverty and were illiterate and have been ruled by the Kings and landlords for thousands years. Just such a country like China, what its people should have their belief in, when they had the right to master their life and had their freedom to find happiness and could own their possessions due to the lead of their government? In CHINESE people’s hearts, the democracy is to share everything with each other and get together to undergo the hardest time in that time! OK,when times went in to the 20 years ago, China has opened its door to the world for 10 years since 1979, the life in China has changed a lot, both in materials and spirits. A few People have accepted or were accepting the education of the university, learning the world outside and having their thinkings about FREEDOM! They wanted to establish a country full of democracy and could open their mouth freely. It was really such a ideal society that it was difficult to realize in that time. Have you learned what has happened in the world in 1989 and 1990? The significent thing is “Soviet Union broke down”! If the Chinese government didn’t take measures and even the extreme measures to save its country, then today, China would become the SECOND RUSSIA! I am no deliberate to offense RUSSIA, but we should clearly realize that since the social regime was changed in Russia, its people got the freedom they dreamed while lost their economy as well which they used almost 20 years to recover! Then what it was when China FOLLOWING Russia? I believe that when the society was unstable and its developing stagnate and even go in reverse, especially like China which was in the weak position in the world and has no economic base to guarantee its people, its people would lost their life what they used to own and even no food!Then tell me why we need the democracy? Don’t forget the philosophy “the infrastructure decides the superstructrue”, in another word, there’s no food, there’s no human right! Ok, look at China at present, you have seen the giant CHANGE in China, especially the materials. We, CHINESE PEOPLE enjoy the life that our parents never imagined! We could decide our life, earn our life on our own merits! Through hard work, we could have the life we dream, a big house, a car and a lover. We also enjoy the freedom in speaking on the internet, to express our opinions and debate some issues about politics and society. OF COURSE, the democracy we understand is different with you, if some of us oppose the leaders and call them down and have rally in public, it’s still restricted. The reason? In my opinion, people could be influned by others especially when they are young and full of vigor and they could not tell the white and black so that they would be tricked by some individuals or some organizations who have ulterior motives. Take myself for example, when i was in the early of 20s, I found the world is not so beautiful as what I knew, so I was radical and always wanted to do something to prove myself what was right, however, when times fly, I re-learned the world and calmed down to contemplate, then I found I was mature and rational and would follow others blindly, and could read the comments here who has great discrimination to CHINA in peace and wrote this words peacefully. That’s the difference, maybe you think I have been assimilated by the government? CHINA has been finding its democracy that is suitalbe its culture and its people, and I believe it will find the balance point one day by itself, not the democracy other nation impose on it! I feel so luck that I live in the world we could communicate with each other using the same language on the internet, and I could try my best to express my opinions differnt from yours to see CHINA. ========================== Now I would say something about Tibet from one point,—not about the history but the future. China is a multi-nations country, so there are too many complex factors to put its people together. Tibet is just the link of them, if it loses, everything would change. OK, as you question: “Why I wonder, when China is so large, is it necessary for her to insist without any dialogue or compromise to have as her very own possession Tibet and Tiawan?” (Taiwan is another history issue, I would not discuss it this time.), I would reply that if China agrees its independence, then what other nations? EVERY nation in China has its glorious history and culture, however none of them has been great for a long time in the history of CHINA. (you said you have studied CHINESE HISTORY FROM SHANG DYNASTY, then you would know many nations had their periods to rule China, and own their warriors in their times.) Tibet’s indepence would cause chain reaction, then should China allow other nations to be independent? Ok, China is a LARGE country, but if every nation breaks away from China, China would become the little coutry that named BEIJING! ============================ I also appreaciate that you exchange your questions and wonderments with me, I really would like to explain anything you want to know in my knowledge. By the way, I know there are a lot of gray in between BLACK AND WHITE, maybe sometimes I immature in some questions, I still hold my view that every country has its way to deal with its business.

Well, the Olympic Committee can be bought as easily as anybody else. Just ask the Salt Lake organizers.

Here, here! Hear….