What The Chinese See That We Don’t

The American Conservative ^ | 1/22/13 | Rod Dreher

[marshmallow]

Uh-oh:

Now that a new generation of leaders are taking the helm in China in March and talking about reform, at least some Chinese are looking at the US and wondering if religion is the key to constitutional democracy.

Obama’s inauguration was a top trending topic on Sina Weibo, China’s massive microblogging site, with over 25 million posts on Jan. 21. Of these, one comment by a Weibo user by the name Wugou1975 was forwarded over 2,000 times, garnering over 500 comments. The blogger posted a photo of Obama taking the presidential oath with Supreme Court Justice John Roberts:

Some Chinese find it unbelievable that this secular country’s democratically elected president was sworn in with his hand on a Bible, not the Constitution, and facing a court justice, not Congress. But actually, this is the secret of America’s constitutional democracy: It’s not just the Constitution or the government’s “separation of powers.” Above that is natural law, guarded by a grand justice. And below is a community of Christians, unified by their belief.

That’s from The Atlantic’s site. Isn’t that astonishing? That these citizens of a non-Christian communist country can see what so very many Americans teaching on college campuses and working in US news and entertainment media do not.

[Vigilanteman]

My daughter spent most of a year teaching and going to college in China. She made friends easily and always had a number of Chinese friends accompany her and another foreign teacher with whom she roomed to Christian Church services in a distant town.

Officially, the Chinese were not supposed to attend church. Religious services were strictly limited to visitors and resident foreigners. But her Chinese friends simply told the authorities that they were acting as guides for their foreign guests and studying English in the process. The officials knew exactly what was going on, but bought the explanation anyway. As a result, most of these church services were about 80% native Chinese.

[PGR88]

China went through socialist hell for 40 years. Their Gov’t has trained and brainwashed a majority of people in “dialectical materialism” - but there is also a sizable minority who also who clearly see the failures, corruption and brutality against the human spirit, and are looking for answers.

[apillar]

China really hasn't been Communist in the strict sense of the world for quite a while. It's more an Authoritarian Quasi-free market capitalist state. Eventually the exploding Chinese middle class is going to push out the last dying vestiges of Communism. When this happens, Look Out! China is going to be like we were a century ago. A lot of risk-takers and entrepreneurs and tons of cheap labor and natural resources.

[alloysteel]

Would it not be an interesting twist if China becomes the principled moral leader of the world, stepping into the leadership vacuum left by the total abdication of the entity once known as “United States of America”.

China becomes the birthplace and nursery of the spiritual rebirth of all humanity, which once was cradled in Europe and the Americas.

Perhaps we may return to worship of animal totems or inanimate objects in our environment. There is certainly little belief in a greater diety by the governing class in this country.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

My Chinese Herbal Doctor proudly wears his Cross and American Flag pins everyday.

[matchgirl]

Back in the late 80s, our family,living in Japan at the time, had an opportunity to tour China. One of the stops was at a university where we were given the opportunity to talk to the young students. These young people were VERY fluent in unaccented American English and would be teaching English to future Chinese students.

One young women that I spoke to, asked me where in the US I came from. When I answered, Boston, she replied "That's where your revolution began" Not only were these students studying English, but American History. Another young man approached us on the Bund in Shanghai and asked if we were Americans. He then asked what state we were living in and when we replied Wisconsin, he replied, "That's the Badger State." They apparently are also learning about our states, trivia. And what else? Why???!!!! Infiltration comes to mind.

After all, how many of us can even speak fluent Chinese--(Mandarin)? And in addition name cities, provinces etc. Or even name all US states and their nicknames, capitol cities etc. It was an eye opener.

[wizr]

Thank you. Emailed to my Christian list. Christianity is growing in China, while being targeted in this “one Nation, under God”.

He will not be mocked.

[procrustes]

American Revolution? Badger State? If they want to infiltrate they should study football, Kardassians, and Honey Boo Boo!

[matchgirl]

This occurred in the late 1980s.

[Vigilanteman]

People who escape Communist hellholes make the best Americans as well as the best Christians.

[Vigilanteman]

They may want to infiltrate in order to lead, not to pass themselves off as Obama voters.