Before I left for China, a friend asked me to consider whether I thought the country could realistically be governed as a democracy.
The request was always on my mind as I toured Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou.
We arrived just days after the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Following the Chinese Civil War and the victory of Mao Zedong’s Communist forces over the Kuomintang forces of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, who fled to Taiwan, Mao declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China on Oct. 1, 1949.
Beijing was still dressed in its best public face and Tiananmen Square was beautiful and still full of tourists.
Before our tour group left the bus, our guide told us to stay close and to be careful about photographing members of the military or police. He said we would risk losing our cameras. He also asked us not to question him about politics.
It soon was evident that we were being followed as we walked around the square. Besides the airport, it possibly was the only time I felt wary, and for once in my life, I simply didn’t ask questions.
Most of our trip was spent seeing the wonderful sights China has to offer. While on the bus, we learned that our guide had a tourist license, which allowed him to do his job. Each year he was required to renew that license. If he wanted to change jobs, he would have to get another permit from the government that would enable him to change professions.
As we changed hotels and traveled to different cities, our passports were collected by our various guides. It left us all feeling vulnerable. At first we were told that the hotel needed to see the passports as an assurance that we were all there legally. Later, we learned it was the way the government could keep track of us while we were in their country.
I picked up a copy of the China Daily, and read a headline heralding the government’s investment of several billions of dollars into a new commercial district.
Buried down in the story was a few paragraphs noting that 10,000 households would be relocated as a result of the development. Where I come from, that particular detail would have been the lead.
Yes, China was indeed a different place.
Still, I couldn’t answer my friend’s question.
The answer, to my surprise, came unsolicited from one of the locals. He was young, probably in his 30s. He talked openly about the many changes being made in his country. He was almost fierce in his condemnation of Mao’s suppression, but said he believed China’s new leaders realized they had to loosen controls.
He pointed out changes being made in “policies” in his country and an awareness that the rest of the world was watching.
“We don’t want to be treated like North Korea,” he told me.
On the other hand, he said, the changes could not happen overnight.
“It would be chaos. It has to happen step by step.”
I’m not sure that the changes coming in China will be that orderly or even that measured. It is clear that China’s next generation have lots of questions for their leaders.
I hope they can find the answers.
Carol Stark is editor of The Joplin Globe. Address correspondence to her, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, Mo. 64802 or e-mail cstark@joplinglobe.com.
Columns
October 24, 2009
Carol Stark: Is China poised for change?
- Columns
-
-
Federal stimulus money allows Cherokee County to buy foreclosed houses
COLUMBUS, Kan. — A grant through the federal stimulus program will allow the Cherokee County Commission to buy three foreclosed houses from a county bank.
Nancy Lamb, deputy emergency management director for the county, provided information Monday about that grant and other grants on which she has been working. - Guest column, Allen Shirley: Copy a winning example Last October, I published a column in The Joplin Globe documenting three failed attempts involving the states of Maine, Massachusetts and Tennessee and their efforts to implement “Obamacare” in their states.
-
Anson burlingame, guest columnist: Living within our means
“Mainly, we are going to have to live within our means and be very careful.”
That is the most resounding sound bite I have heard from a politician in a long time. If only that sentiment can grow and resonate, politically, to turn the tide of incessant and extraordinarily dangerous growth beyond our means in government. - Jim Stone, guest columnist: Paranoia shouldn’t impede freedom The afternoon of Dec. 30 brought news that eight American CIA agents and four Canadian soldiers at Forward Operating Base Chapman in Afghanistan had been killed by a suicide bomber.
- Dan Ray, guest columnist: Bills can still be terminated We still have an opportunity to terminate the health care bills that have been passed in the Senate and the House.
-
Dave Woods: Global warming fires up debate
on Adams doesn’t believe in global warming.
I have to say, when it’s 3 degrees below zero outside in Joplin and we’re headed for our third week without a thaw, global warming theory is a tough concept to wrap my head around. -
Jack Kaminsky, guest columnist: Remembering a ‘classic’
Last week Editor Carol Stark asked me to write something about my dad and the Kaminsky Classic, the annual Joplin High School basketball tournament which ended on Saturday.
Even as I started writing, I began crying, and have had tears in my eyes all day. - Carol Stark: We all need someone’s hand to hold I was always a nervous little kid and while others my age went through life without a care, I held back, imagining that the worst was about to happen.
- Dave Woods: Harsh note sounds over parade trip By the time you read this column, the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., will only be a memory.
- Bob Steere, guest columnist: Still looking for some answers Don Ray’s frustration in obtaining answers from his leaders in Congress (Globe, Dec. 22) is certainly shared by this letter sender.
- More Columns Headlines
-
Federal stimulus money allows Cherokee County to buy foreclosed houses
COLUMBUS, Kan. — A grant through the federal stimulus program will allow the Cherokee County Commission to buy three foreclosed houses from a county bank.
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
