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This is mostly to our new Chinese friends who may be reading: While it probably seems petty at a time of such tragedy, it is true that some Americans feel dislike and even worse for the Chinese. Some of this is old enmity: My father fought in the Korean War, and I don’t think he will ever get over all of his bad feelings about Chinese people. For some people it is more recent: Many, many factories in the U.S. have closed, and many workers have lost their jobs and had to take lower paying jobs, due to those products now being produced in China. Even my own job is very close to disappearing: The company I work for had over 300 employees less than 5 years ago. Now we are 6, and just barely hanging on, even after drastic pay cuts (to the point that my wife and I have at least temporarily delayed having a second child.) All of our former customers now have their products made more cheaply in China.

Now, I am generally what we call a “free trade” advocate. That is, there should be no restrictions on trade between nations. That belief of mine is being rather severely tested now, as I really love my work, and I love my family even more! However, I bear no ill will toward Chinese people, and, I cannot blame them for wanting to do well and improve their lives. I think it is more the case that the company that I work for has not done a good job of adapting to the new environment. Change is necessary — otherwise think of how many telephone operators we could keep employed at the telephone company, if operators had not been replaced by electronics!

I have posted elsewhere that I find almost all of the many Chinese people I have met to be good people whom I like. Certainly no one here has (or will) change my mind on that. In fact, the willingness of our new Chinese friends on Free Republic to help “us Americans” understand more clearly what has happened in China, strengthens my opinion.

Anyway, I hope this explains part of what you read and hear. Someone else can tackle the political side at a better time, I suppose. Right now, I have been at work for over 13 hours. I need to go home and eat supper — and check the news from China one more time, perhaps.