My colleague, who has adopted two wonderful children from China, stated that he feels like for most people he must educate them about this growing nation while not seeming like he is defending all their actions. He does this to not only educate others about something which they may have little knowledge, but also to preserve a cultural identity with which his children will be able to relate to one day. A long row to hoe no matter how you look at it, but with so many Americans suffering from ethnocentrism you can imagine the numerous, patient conversations he engages in.
The interesting fact that he noted during our discussion was that tainted milk was also a public issue in NYC in middle 19th century. And due to the lack of controls, limited technology, and less intensive media the impact was greater than it has been with the current case with an estimate 8,000 deaths per year. This is where the antagonistic musings begin.
The interesting fact that he noted during our discussion was that tainted milk was also a public issue in NYC in middle 19th century. And due to the lack of controls, limited technology, and less intensive media the impact was greater than it has been with the current case with an estimate 8,000 deaths per year. This is where the antagonistic musings begin.
How can a nation that has experienced these same growth issues condemn a country that has adopted many of the same capitalistic aspirations for their own people. The US entered our industrial period with a population of roughly 75 million, no 24 media sources, and a national economy for many of our goods. We then took the next 50 years to reach a 'post industrial' state where the majority of Americans felt some level of reassurance that we could police our own corporations the majority of the time. Of course this level of confidence has been tested many times (asbestos, lead paint, nuclear waste, junk bonds, Enron, etc.), but in most cases we have found approaches that keep the majority of our citizens safe from harm. China is attempting to navigate a similar path for their own people, but with a population of 1.2 billion, 24 hour news sources, and a global economy.
One can immediately point to the political differences between China and the US, but remember we granted women the right to vote 30 years into our industrialization and did not grant civil liberties to many men and women until we were in our post industrial state. I am not asking to condone the inhumane treatment of any of China's people, the unwillingness to compete fairly in the global economy, or the devastating impact of their growth on the climate. What I am asking is that we try to better understand what is occurring and how to best educate ourselves and our neighbors across the world so we all can benefit from the growth of our world economies while preserving our planet.
One can immediately point to the political differences between China and the US, but remember we granted women the right to vote 30 years into our industrialization and did not grant civil liberties to many men and women until we were in our post industrial state. I am not asking to condone the inhumane treatment of any of China's people, the unwillingness to compete fairly in the global economy, or the devastating impact of their growth on the climate. What I am asking is that we try to better understand what is occurring and how to best educate ourselves and our neighbors across the world so we all can benefit from the growth of our world economies while preserving our planet.
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