Friday, May 01, 2009
This swine flu craziness demonstrates in capital letters why excessive TV watching makes you bat-shit crazy.
I've thought that for quite awhile. If you watch local Los Angeles TV news, you'd think the city was overrun by gangs, murders, exploding houses, car chases, and strange people taking photos near elementary schools. Yes, those things happen. Los Angeles is also a city with more than 15 million people in the greater metropolitan area. If you had as many bad things happening in Kalamazoo, Michigan, you'd be right to assume that something weird had found its way into the water supply, making everyone act like homicidal maniacs in a real-world version of the movie "The Signal."
But, in a city of 15 million people, you are bound to find people somewhere doing crazy things. TV newscasters in the LA area have an easy time finding disturbing things to report, and since reporting on the negative aspects of big city life makes people watch more TV news, they tend to emphasize the negatives.
The swine flu "pandemic" is following a similar trajectory. Granted, like SARS, it is probably a flu that its best to avoid catching, but when people start to speak of it like the Black Death's second coming (as FOX news apparently did recently), you know the people who pick stories in back rooms are spinning a bit too fast in their chairs.
I've thought that for quite awhile. If you watch local Los Angeles TV news, you'd think the city was overrun by gangs, murders, exploding houses, car chases, and strange people taking photos near elementary schools. Yes, those things happen. Los Angeles is also a city with more than 15 million people in the greater metropolitan area. If you had as many bad things happening in Kalamazoo, Michigan, you'd be right to assume that something weird had found its way into the water supply, making everyone act like homicidal maniacs in a real-world version of the movie "The Signal."
But, in a city of 15 million people, you are bound to find people somewhere doing crazy things. TV newscasters in the LA area have an easy time finding disturbing things to report, and since reporting on the negative aspects of big city life makes people watch more TV news, they tend to emphasize the negatives.
The swine flu "pandemic" is following a similar trajectory. Granted, like SARS, it is probably a flu that its best to avoid catching, but when people start to speak of it like the Black Death's second coming (as FOX news apparently did recently), you know the people who pick stories in back rooms are spinning a bit too fast in their chairs.
Labels: swine flu
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Why so many posts on Taiwan?
Good question, if I do say so myself. I guess I see Taiwan as the biggest potential cause for conflict in Asia in this century, and would like to find a way to avoid it. This century, heck, this MILLENIUM, will likely be Asia's, and I'm very interested in events going on over there. There's a huge shift of power going on from West to East, and we need to think very hard about how that transition will take place.
There is no alternative to the shift. Asia accounts for half the world's population. They will (and are) demand(ing) a right to better themselves.
The only other question mark, North Korea, will likely implode on its own, leaving the rest of the world to scramble to put its unguarded nuclear arms under lock and key. China, however, will continue to grow in economic, political and military power. I think the era when countries attempt to use military might to rule the world is over. China, however, has a vision of its territorial borders based on historical conceptions. There are places where we should push back. China doesn't have a right to take territory from India, as an example.
The only thing keeping Taiwan from being part of China is America, though, and I simply see no reason for us to continue to do that. It's like Britain continuing to hold onto Hong Kong. No, America doesn't rule Taiwan as a former colonial power, but Taiwan and China have a weird history, and its time for them to work it out without America skewing the results.
We should encourage Taiwan and China to start discussions on reunification. Somehow I think the Chinese government would give them a great deal of de facto independence. China would likely demand control of foreign policy, but Taiwan HAS no foreign policy (partly due to Chinese isolation of Taiwan, to be sure), so that's not such a big tradeoff. That would leave Taiwan to run its own affairs in much the same fashion as they do currently.
That, at least, is what I THINK would happen. If I'm right, though, I question why its worthwhile to risk war in order to fight it, particularly when the Chinese totalitarian system has an expiration date of its own making (economic development and the desire for self-determination that brings).
Good question, if I do say so myself. I guess I see Taiwan as the biggest potential cause for conflict in Asia in this century, and would like to find a way to avoid it. This century, heck, this MILLENIUM, will likely be Asia's, and I'm very interested in events going on over there. There's a huge shift of power going on from West to East, and we need to think very hard about how that transition will take place.
There is no alternative to the shift. Asia accounts for half the world's population. They will (and are) demand(ing) a right to better themselves.
The only other question mark, North Korea, will likely implode on its own, leaving the rest of the world to scramble to put its unguarded nuclear arms under lock and key. China, however, will continue to grow in economic, political and military power. I think the era when countries attempt to use military might to rule the world is over. China, however, has a vision of its territorial borders based on historical conceptions. There are places where we should push back. China doesn't have a right to take territory from India, as an example.
The only thing keeping Taiwan from being part of China is America, though, and I simply see no reason for us to continue to do that. It's like Britain continuing to hold onto Hong Kong. No, America doesn't rule Taiwan as a former colonial power, but Taiwan and China have a weird history, and its time for them to work it out without America skewing the results.
We should encourage Taiwan and China to start discussions on reunification. Somehow I think the Chinese government would give them a great deal of de facto independence. China would likely demand control of foreign policy, but Taiwan HAS no foreign policy (partly due to Chinese isolation of Taiwan, to be sure), so that's not such a big tradeoff. That would leave Taiwan to run its own affairs in much the same fashion as they do currently.
That, at least, is what I THINK would happen. If I'm right, though, I question why its worthwhile to risk war in order to fight it, particularly when the Chinese totalitarian system has an expiration date of its own making (economic development and the desire for self-determination that brings).
Japan and China
100,000 chinese students marched in protest of Japan's bid for a permanent security council seat. This was triggered by the Japanese government's recent approval of a textbook that Chinese people think whitewashes past Japanese atrocities.
Germany faced such demands to come clean with themselves about their history, and Germany has largely succeeded in doing so. Often, it seemed they were bending too far backwards to accomodate complaints, but today, Germany isn't facing the same kinds of demands from the descendants of those affected by its imperial ambitions as Japan, who hasn't done as good a job of being honest about the fact that their wartime ambitions were at least as bad as the atrocities committed by the German Nazis.
Of course, were Koizumi to decide to start the process that would satisfy his neighbors, he would lose power in the next election. Japan is clearly a different place than self-reflective Germany.
What's more interesting about the article is evidence of pent-up demand for self-expression among the Chinese people. Extreme nationalism seems to be a common direction among people governed by repressive regimes who don't permit a political outlet. Still, it DOES make me nervous. 1.3 billion nationalistic Chinese can be a good thing (provided they direct it towards improving Chinese people) or a bad thing (as Japan's was during WWII). The ex-soviet republic of Georgia's rose revolution was an expression of nationalism, and it hasn't turned into the more virulent sort. Then again, Georgia is a small country that lacks the imperial history of China.
Even if China decides to aim its nationalistic bent towards self-improvement, I doubt they will stop coveting Taiwan. I simply see no alternative to some form of reunification. If the two parties start talking, maybe it could involve more of a separation of powers than exists in Hong Kong. Hong Kong had no history of self-government (save for the hastily assembled sort put together by the outgoing British administration of Chris Patten), whereas Taiwan does. Furthermore, the British negotiated with China, whereas Taiwan would be negotiating on its own behalf as owners of their own destiny with a moral right to demand fair treatment (versus a colonial power that really shouldn't have had control of Hong Kong in the first place).
The world would support their insistence that they continue to be able to govern their own affairs. Further, their example would provide a glidepath for the Chinese mainland to start thinking about a shift to democracy.
I think it would be good for Taiwan to reunify with China. Again, though, that's easy to say for this non-Taiwanese safely ensconced in his LA home. Things might seem like the right tactic when viewed from the eyes of the general overseeing the battlefield, but not so great when you are the soldier tasked with taking that enemy-controlled hill.
100,000 chinese students marched in protest of Japan's bid for a permanent security council seat. This was triggered by the Japanese government's recent approval of a textbook that Chinese people think whitewashes past Japanese atrocities.
Germany faced such demands to come clean with themselves about their history, and Germany has largely succeeded in doing so. Often, it seemed they were bending too far backwards to accomodate complaints, but today, Germany isn't facing the same kinds of demands from the descendants of those affected by its imperial ambitions as Japan, who hasn't done as good a job of being honest about the fact that their wartime ambitions were at least as bad as the atrocities committed by the German Nazis.
Of course, were Koizumi to decide to start the process that would satisfy his neighbors, he would lose power in the next election. Japan is clearly a different place than self-reflective Germany.
What's more interesting about the article is evidence of pent-up demand for self-expression among the Chinese people. Extreme nationalism seems to be a common direction among people governed by repressive regimes who don't permit a political outlet. Still, it DOES make me nervous. 1.3 billion nationalistic Chinese can be a good thing (provided they direct it towards improving Chinese people) or a bad thing (as Japan's was during WWII). The ex-soviet republic of Georgia's rose revolution was an expression of nationalism, and it hasn't turned into the more virulent sort. Then again, Georgia is a small country that lacks the imperial history of China.
Even if China decides to aim its nationalistic bent towards self-improvement, I doubt they will stop coveting Taiwan. I simply see no alternative to some form of reunification. If the two parties start talking, maybe it could involve more of a separation of powers than exists in Hong Kong. Hong Kong had no history of self-government (save for the hastily assembled sort put together by the outgoing British administration of Chris Patten), whereas Taiwan does. Furthermore, the British negotiated with China, whereas Taiwan would be negotiating on its own behalf as owners of their own destiny with a moral right to demand fair treatment (versus a colonial power that really shouldn't have had control of Hong Kong in the first place).
The world would support their insistence that they continue to be able to govern their own affairs. Further, their example would provide a glidepath for the Chinese mainland to start thinking about a shift to democracy.
I think it would be good for Taiwan to reunify with China. Again, though, that's easy to say for this non-Taiwanese safely ensconced in his LA home. Things might seem like the right tactic when viewed from the eyes of the general overseeing the battlefield, but not so great when you are the soldier tasked with taking that enemy-controlled hill.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
This will piss the Swiss off
Apparently, a Microsoft ad placed Switzerland somewhere in the area of Moscow. The Swiss are rather prickly about Americans confusing where Switzerland is located. I can attest to the fact that many Americans are unclear on it. I lived in Switzerland for 2 years, and I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the number of times someone asked if I spoke Swedish. I guess in the database that is our brains, we have our "Sw" words indexed, and we get to Sweden (or Swaziland, my registered country on my credit card for three weeks until I noticed the error on my bill) first. My Swiss friends also sent streams of links to photos of major American news broadcasts (CNN made the mistake most frequently) that put Switzerland where the Czech Republic is located.
My response to these "Americans don't know Geography" Swiss types was "where's Illinois" or "where's British Columbia"? 9.8 times out of 10, they had no idea.
It just goes to show that you know the geography that affects you most directly. America is a nation of 300 million with a land mass as large as the entire European union. Most Europeans I've met don't know any more about Asian geography than Americans.
Apparently, a Microsoft ad placed Switzerland somewhere in the area of Moscow. The Swiss are rather prickly about Americans confusing where Switzerland is located. I can attest to the fact that many Americans are unclear on it. I lived in Switzerland for 2 years, and I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the number of times someone asked if I spoke Swedish. I guess in the database that is our brains, we have our "Sw" words indexed, and we get to Sweden (or Swaziland, my registered country on my credit card for three weeks until I noticed the error on my bill) first. My Swiss friends also sent streams of links to photos of major American news broadcasts (CNN made the mistake most frequently) that put Switzerland where the Czech Republic is located.
My response to these "Americans don't know Geography" Swiss types was "where's Illinois" or "where's British Columbia"? 9.8 times out of 10, they had no idea.
It just goes to show that you know the geography that affects you most directly. America is a nation of 300 million with a land mass as large as the entire European union. Most Europeans I've met don't know any more about Asian geography than Americans.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Big Taiwanese Protests
Apparently, 1 million Taiwanese marched through Taipei to protest the new Chinese law mandating force should Taiwan refuse to be rejoined with the mainland. There's about 22 million people in Taiwan, so for America to have a comparably-sized demonstration, about 15 million people would have to descend on Washington.
I'm never going to understand why one group of people thinks it's so important to keep another group of people within their country (and ruled by them), even though they clearly do not want to be. But, that's like asking why America fought a civil war over secession of the South, Turkey has spent so long squashing national aspirations of its Kurds, or Serbia inspired a civil war to prevent the dissolution of Serb-dominated Yugoslavia.
Taiwan, by rights, should be independent. They've been so, at least in a de facto sense, for 50 years, and within that timeframe have moved from third world to first world and replaced a military dictatorship composed of former members of the escaping ruling party of China. That's impressive, and it simply isn't fair to deny them the fruits of all that work by returning them to control by absolute rulers on the Chinese mainland.
But, but, but...remember that China won't remain ruled by the Communist party forever. Just as the Kuomintang lost power once its people demanded it, the same will happen in China.
So, go slow. Time is on your side. The protests are good, as people power make it a lot harder for China to force your government to do what you don't want them to do (not that they would, as Chen is firmly in the independence camp). If it comes down to it, passively resist. You will win in the end.
Apparently, 1 million Taiwanese marched through Taipei to protest the new Chinese law mandating force should Taiwan refuse to be rejoined with the mainland. There's about 22 million people in Taiwan, so for America to have a comparably-sized demonstration, about 15 million people would have to descend on Washington.
I'm never going to understand why one group of people thinks it's so important to keep another group of people within their country (and ruled by them), even though they clearly do not want to be. But, that's like asking why America fought a civil war over secession of the South, Turkey has spent so long squashing national aspirations of its Kurds, or Serbia inspired a civil war to prevent the dissolution of Serb-dominated Yugoslavia.
Taiwan, by rights, should be independent. They've been so, at least in a de facto sense, for 50 years, and within that timeframe have moved from third world to first world and replaced a military dictatorship composed of former members of the escaping ruling party of China. That's impressive, and it simply isn't fair to deny them the fruits of all that work by returning them to control by absolute rulers on the Chinese mainland.
But, but, but...remember that China won't remain ruled by the Communist party forever. Just as the Kuomintang lost power once its people demanded it, the same will happen in China.
So, go slow. Time is on your side. The protests are good, as people power make it a lot harder for China to force your government to do what you don't want them to do (not that they would, as Chen is firmly in the independence camp). If it comes down to it, passively resist. You will win in the end.
Dr. Rice ain't stupid
From this article
Rice, in an interview with Washington Post editors and reporters, said she was guided less by a fear that Islamic extremists would replace authoritarian governments than by a "strong certainty that the Middle East was not going to stay stable anyway." Extremism, she said, is rooted in the "absence of other channels for political activity," and so "when you know that the status quo is no longer defensible, then you have to be willing to move in another direction."
That was why I supported the invasion of Iraq. The status quo ante in Iraq wasn't exactly wonderful, with large numbers of American troops in Saudi Arabia maintaining a UN-created cage that slowly starved millions of Iraqis. I also didn't want to just remove the cage, leaving Saddam Hussein free to pursue his dreams of being a latter-day Nebuchadnezzar.
In other words, reshuffling the deck in the middle east can't be too problematic, as everybody was losing anyway.
From this article
Rice, in an interview with Washington Post editors and reporters, said she was guided less by a fear that Islamic extremists would replace authoritarian governments than by a "strong certainty that the Middle East was not going to stay stable anyway." Extremism, she said, is rooted in the "absence of other channels for political activity," and so "when you know that the status quo is no longer defensible, then you have to be willing to move in another direction."
That was why I supported the invasion of Iraq. The status quo ante in Iraq wasn't exactly wonderful, with large numbers of American troops in Saudi Arabia maintaining a UN-created cage that slowly starved millions of Iraqis. I also didn't want to just remove the cage, leaving Saddam Hussein free to pursue his dreams of being a latter-day Nebuchadnezzar.
In other words, reshuffling the deck in the middle east can't be too problematic, as everybody was losing anyway.
On the other hand
The Taiwanese clearly enjoy running their own affairs. I don't think I'd be too keen on giving up political control to Mexico or Europe.
One could have argued that it would have been better for India to avoid risk of harsh crackdowns and death by choosing not to confront British control of India. On the other hand, they did it in a smart way, choosing largely NOT to engage in military action and simply saying "we will not be ruled by you anymore" (Ghandi being an illustrative example). The minority cannot long overrule the will of the majority.
I guess what I'm worried about is that Taiwan will do something that will involve lots of Taiwanese, Chinese and American deaths. That's unnecessary given the shaky basis of the Chinese ruling clique. Better not to press the Chinese into doing anything rash, and count on the fact that time is on Taiwan's side.
Worst case scenario, Taiwan rejoins China and they refuse to do what the Chinese leaders want them to do. What would China do? Crack down on Taiwan militarily, thus attracting the opprobium of the rest of the world and seriously harming the economic growth that is CRITICAL to the "Communist" party's ability to continue their rule? Not bloody likely.
I DO understand Taiwan's desire to rule itself. I just consider inviting a Chinese attack as akin to teasing a tank that is running out of gas. It's much safer to wait until the tank ACTUALLY runs out of gas.
The Taiwanese clearly enjoy running their own affairs. I don't think I'd be too keen on giving up political control to Mexico or Europe.
One could have argued that it would have been better for India to avoid risk of harsh crackdowns and death by choosing not to confront British control of India. On the other hand, they did it in a smart way, choosing largely NOT to engage in military action and simply saying "we will not be ruled by you anymore" (Ghandi being an illustrative example). The minority cannot long overrule the will of the majority.
I guess what I'm worried about is that Taiwan will do something that will involve lots of Taiwanese, Chinese and American deaths. That's unnecessary given the shaky basis of the Chinese ruling clique. Better not to press the Chinese into doing anything rash, and count on the fact that time is on Taiwan's side.
Worst case scenario, Taiwan rejoins China and they refuse to do what the Chinese leaders want them to do. What would China do? Crack down on Taiwan militarily, thus attracting the opprobium of the rest of the world and seriously harming the economic growth that is CRITICAL to the "Communist" party's ability to continue their rule? Not bloody likely.
I DO understand Taiwan's desire to rule itself. I just consider inviting a Chinese attack as akin to teasing a tank that is running out of gas. It's much safer to wait until the tank ACTUALLY runs out of gas.
Friday, March 25, 2005
I want a chocolate Jesus
From the article...
Ward said Russell Stover considered making other traditional images out of chocolate but eventually opted not to.
"A molded Jesus, for example, would not be a good call and a cross with Jesus on it wouldn't be a good idea either," Ward said.
I just want to know when they're going to make the chocolate hangman's noose, the chocolate electric chair and the chocolate iron maiden. Okay, crosses have taken on certain religious overtones over the years, but's lets not forget that they got their start as a particularly painful instrument of Roman executions.
From the article...
Ward said Russell Stover considered making other traditional images out of chocolate but eventually opted not to.
"A molded Jesus, for example, would not be a good call and a cross with Jesus on it wouldn't be a good idea either," Ward said.
I just want to know when they're going to make the chocolate hangman's noose, the chocolate electric chair and the chocolate iron maiden. Okay, crosses have taken on certain religious overtones over the years, but's lets not forget that they got their start as a particularly painful instrument of Roman executions.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
I want one of these
Implant me with a chip in the brain, so I can acquire big mechanical arms and call myself Dr. Octopus.
Seriously, I think that within 10-20 years, this will seem rather pedestrian, because plenty of non-quadraplegics will be getting implants. And they won't just pass outbound signals, but inbound signals as well.
Matrix, here we come.
P.S. That has to be my geekiest post in all the years I've posted to this blog. I shall now cease showering, learn Klingon and join the local sci-fi club (which I might do anyway).
Implant me with a chip in the brain, so I can acquire big mechanical arms and call myself Dr. Octopus.
Seriously, I think that within 10-20 years, this will seem rather pedestrian, because plenty of non-quadraplegics will be getting implants. And they won't just pass outbound signals, but inbound signals as well.
Matrix, here we come.
P.S. That has to be my geekiest post in all the years I've posted to this blog. I shall now cease showering, learn Klingon and join the local sci-fi club (which I might do anyway).
Sunday, March 20, 2005
The democratic domino effect
These aren't the best of times for the world's dictators. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan are all making strong moves towards democracy, Lebanese protesters are forcing Syrian forces out of their country, and the Palestinians even managed a sane election...and that's just in the middle east. The Ukranian and Georgian people both resisted fraudulent elections, and that example has now spread to Kyrgyztan.
To those not up to date on the wildly shifting geography of today's world, here's a map of the country.
These aren't the best of times for the world's dictators. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan are all making strong moves towards democracy, Lebanese protesters are forcing Syrian forces out of their country, and the Palestinians even managed a sane election...and that's just in the middle east. The Ukranian and Georgian people both resisted fraudulent elections, and that example has now spread to Kyrgyztan.
To those not up to date on the wildly shifting geography of today's world, here's a map of the country.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Foreign Policy Blindness
Not that this should come as a surprise to anyone, but the Bush administration is a complete waste of space when it comes to foreign policy. Who decided it was a good idea to lie to our allies in order to get them to do what we want them to do? Why did we think we wouldn't get caught?
North Korea is a BAD REGIME. It's not like you have to make things up to convince people of that fact. Shipping nuclear materials to Pakistan instead of Libya might not have raised as many hackles in Europe, but Kim Jong Il's track record of starving his own people, kidnapping foreigners, nuclear blackmail, running a drug smuggling ring, and threatening to rain fire down on South Korea and Japan to "preserve the North Korean sytem" should certainly be enough to convince them that he's not first on the invitation list to the Christmas party.
Ever heard of the little boy who cried Wolf? If we keep getting caught for making up intelligence information, how are we to expect people to believe us when we have real information? Perhaps Bush is approaching this, like the budget deficit, as a "it's not my problem" kind of problem, because somebody else will clean it up after he's gone.
If Bush hopes to set American on a Republican track for the next 50 years (as Karl Rove claims to want), that BETTER not be his approach. People sometimes swear off drink after waking up with a particularly bad hangover. What kind of hangover does the Bush administration want to leave the American people?
Not that this should come as a surprise to anyone, but the Bush administration is a complete waste of space when it comes to foreign policy. Who decided it was a good idea to lie to our allies in order to get them to do what we want them to do? Why did we think we wouldn't get caught?
North Korea is a BAD REGIME. It's not like you have to make things up to convince people of that fact. Shipping nuclear materials to Pakistan instead of Libya might not have raised as many hackles in Europe, but Kim Jong Il's track record of starving his own people, kidnapping foreigners, nuclear blackmail, running a drug smuggling ring, and threatening to rain fire down on South Korea and Japan to "preserve the North Korean sytem" should certainly be enough to convince them that he's not first on the invitation list to the Christmas party.
Ever heard of the little boy who cried Wolf? If we keep getting caught for making up intelligence information, how are we to expect people to believe us when we have real information? Perhaps Bush is approaching this, like the budget deficit, as a "it's not my problem" kind of problem, because somebody else will clean it up after he's gone.
If Bush hopes to set American on a Republican track for the next 50 years (as Karl Rove claims to want), that BETTER not be his approach. People sometimes swear off drink after waking up with a particularly bad hangover. What kind of hangover does the Bush administration want to leave the American people?
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
The Taiwan Problem
China has just passed a law which mandates force should the Taiwanese decide to declare independence. Now, I don't know why the Chinese are so prickly about "territorial integrity." It probably has something to do with China being the longest running empire in the world. All those Chinese don't have so many linguistic links for nothing.
But, they are prickly. Getting worked up about it is about as useful as my complaining that I have to shave every day. It's a fact, and they back that prickliness with 1.3 billion people. Who in their right mind would cross 1.3 billion people just to get a piece of paper which says they are OFFICIALLY independent? Consider Hong Kong, which was returned to China in 1997. Hong Kong isn't perfect, and it's not exactly democratic (run by a clique of business oligarchs appointed by the Chinese government), but Hong Kong isn't exactly Pol Pot's killing fields, either. Besides, in 20 years time China will probably make the same shift South Korea and Taiwan made towards democracy, and do it because the Chinese people want it. Economic affluence tends to do that.
Hey, America wasn't too keen on the South seceding from our union. Look how many needed to die to prevent that from happening? Is that REALLY worth it, particularly when the Taiwanese themselves have seen what happens when lots of people get wealthy enough to care who runs their country?
On that note, I also don't think it's very nice for Europe to lift the embargo on arms to China. Wait a bit, guys. It wouldn't have been nice if America ifted the embargo on sales of arms to Algeria when France was busy trying to play global empire under Charles de Gaulle. Okay, not the same thing, as we aren't trying to hold onto China as a part of the American empire. Still, wait until things cool down. As things stand (under the current presidency) America will run in, guns blazing, if China tries to invade Taiwan because That's What We've Promised.
Okay, it was stupid to promise that, and America should really be giving the Taiwanese a good strong lesson in why two-foot tall skinny kids don't pick fights with ten-foot giants with Arnold Schwarzenegger physiques. That would probably go a long way towards making the Taiwanese stop flirting with independence. For now, though, America is in a bind of its own making.
Please don't force American soldiers to face down high-tech French-made weaponry in Chinese hands. It isn't polite.
China has just passed a law which mandates force should the Taiwanese decide to declare independence. Now, I don't know why the Chinese are so prickly about "territorial integrity." It probably has something to do with China being the longest running empire in the world. All those Chinese don't have so many linguistic links for nothing.
But, they are prickly. Getting worked up about it is about as useful as my complaining that I have to shave every day. It's a fact, and they back that prickliness with 1.3 billion people. Who in their right mind would cross 1.3 billion people just to get a piece of paper which says they are OFFICIALLY independent? Consider Hong Kong, which was returned to China in 1997. Hong Kong isn't perfect, and it's not exactly democratic (run by a clique of business oligarchs appointed by the Chinese government), but Hong Kong isn't exactly Pol Pot's killing fields, either. Besides, in 20 years time China will probably make the same shift South Korea and Taiwan made towards democracy, and do it because the Chinese people want it. Economic affluence tends to do that.
Hey, America wasn't too keen on the South seceding from our union. Look how many needed to die to prevent that from happening? Is that REALLY worth it, particularly when the Taiwanese themselves have seen what happens when lots of people get wealthy enough to care who runs their country?
On that note, I also don't think it's very nice for Europe to lift the embargo on arms to China. Wait a bit, guys. It wouldn't have been nice if America ifted the embargo on sales of arms to Algeria when France was busy trying to play global empire under Charles de Gaulle. Okay, not the same thing, as we aren't trying to hold onto China as a part of the American empire. Still, wait until things cool down. As things stand (under the current presidency) America will run in, guns blazing, if China tries to invade Taiwan because That's What We've Promised.
Okay, it was stupid to promise that, and America should really be giving the Taiwanese a good strong lesson in why two-foot tall skinny kids don't pick fights with ten-foot giants with Arnold Schwarzenegger physiques. That would probably go a long way towards making the Taiwanese stop flirting with independence. For now, though, America is in a bind of its own making.
Please don't force American soldiers to face down high-tech French-made weaponry in Chinese hands. It isn't polite.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
And the moral of this story is...
If you want to get in the press for your cause, and you are female, go topless. Major news organizations have plastered this woman's face across their main page, and I've seen it at least 5 times today.
Yes, that was a terribly important observation. For those activists unlucky enough to be born male, I have no answer to your plight. Try going bottomless.
If you want to get in the press for your cause, and you are female, go topless. Major news organizations have plastered this woman's face across their main page, and I've seen it at least 5 times today.
Yes, that was a terribly important observation. For those activists unlucky enough to be born male, I have no answer to your plight. Try going bottomless.
