A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-12-03...Cheap Chinese Goods are too Expensive

Billie; FreeTheHostages | FreeTheHostages

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

by FreeTheHostages
Design by Billie

HighRoadToChina has been maintaining a very good Communist China ping list here at Free Republic since July 2002. He is a soft-spoken, deliberate, and thoughtful person. He has hard-won insight into this Communist dictatorship, having been born in Shanghai. He's attended several Free Iraq Freeps, mostly on the West Coast where he lives, but also once attended one of DC Freeps! At a San Francisco Freep, he was there, one of 65 pro-US people facing a throng of 65,000 anti-war protestors. So he does more than just maintain a ping list: he puts his money where his mouth is.

HighRoadToChina's Freeper name comes from a great movie starring Tom Selleck. Like Tom Selleck in the movie, HighRoadToChina is a classy guy and he knows stuff. So let's walk a ways with him.

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Do you really know what you think about China?

Here's a little test for you:

• Is it capitalism when a Communist government lets an American business in and that American company knows it doesn't have to play by free enterprise rules and it has to let the Communists get a big slice of the pie?
  
  
• Is it capitalism when money gets funneled back to the very small, very powerful, and very rich Communists and the Chinese government insists that 50% of every foreign business be owned by the Chinese?
  
  
• Is it capitalism when the Communist Chinese favor the first-arrived American business to keep the company under its control, knowing that it won't speak up and complain about human rights and lose its gravy train, a share of the cheap labor profits?

How'd you do on the test?

HighRoadToChina is grading this test and he's here to tell you that you didn't do very well if you lent an ear to easy solutions to what ails China: the Chinese Communist government.

How long have we heard pie-in-the-sky stories about the 1.2 billion consumer class and how capitalism is going to bring democracy to China? It's not happening. Nixon went to China over 30 years ago. And still it's very much a communist country: 80 percent rural, very poor, with women treated as second-class citizens, a nuclear power founded on a slave economy that literally works young women to death. Sure, in Shanghai and Beijing you can see "progress," many skyscrapers. But you could have seen economic progress in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s too. That was not capitalism either.

Why buy goods from an organized criminal communist society that enslaves its own people, terrorizes neighboring countries, and has long-range plans to rule Asia if not the world? We have to all get educated, the way the good people of Taiwan are educated:

Taiwan represents an example and a spiritual force for the people on the mainland who are suffering. The Taiwanese are Chinese, they're free, they've elected the first democratically-elected president in 5000 years of Chinese history. Just as America is the hope for the world, Taiwan is the hope for the Chinese people.

Let's be the hope for freedom-loving Chinese people.

Why Maintain a China ping list?

Why the ping list? Because HighRoadToChina cares deeply and, well, 'cause frankly a lot of us Americans aren't doing very well on that test!

What I read about China today is very alarming. I feel that people in America don't really comprehend what's going on there. To me, it's like what happened in Pearl Harbor, but this time we could be faced with nuclear weapons.

HighRoadToChina makes a riveting historical comparison:

He notes that in the late 1930s Americans *got it* -- even before we joined World War II, we understood that the Nazi war machine wanted to make slaves of the countries it conquered. Why do we think that when the Chinese Communists undertake the same plan of genocide and slave labor and state control that it's nascent capitalism? If Americans knew not to buy German goods in the late 30's, why don't we stop buying "Made in China" at Walmart today?

Freedom in China: are you buying it? Americans stopped the Germans and Japanese in World War II at great costs. HighRoadToChina would have us safeguard our freedoms now: stop buying cheap, slave labor goods from Communist China.

Just to seal the deal, here's a hopefully memorable photograph of HighRoadToChina with his lovely wife to think of next time you are tempted to buy something with a "Made in China " label!

What did Tibet and pre-war Iraq have in common?

Next time someone tells you that trade with China is leading to great progress, have them consider the facts:

• More than a million Tibetans have been killed under the Chinese occupation as a result of torture, starvation, and execution, according to the Tibetan Government in Exile.
  
  
• More than 6,000 monasteries and their contents, irreplaceable jewels of Tibetan culture, have been destroyed.
  
  
• Tibetans are routinely imprisoned and tortured for non-violently expressing their views. Freedom of religion is severely curtailed.
  
  
• Nuns are brutally raped in Chinese prisons.
  
  
• Population control is routinely practiced on Tibetan women even though there is absolutely no Tibetan population problem.
  
  
• China is encouraging the large-scale settlement of Chinese people into Tibet which is overwhelming the Tibetan population in many areas.

China's trying to finish off Tibet right in front of the world community. We should be ashamed for allowing them to do this. Never again. And that's why HighRoadToChina got active on the Free Iraq rallies to support President Bush's war against Saddam Hussein: it's all about freedom.

HighRoadToChina with a famous radio personality,
Melanie Morgan, at a Free Iraq rally.

You should hear the truth, pride and humanity in his voice as he expresses his delight that the Iraqi people – and he has friends who are Iraqis and he knows their horror stories – earned some measure of freedom. And then he adds with a bit of sadness that Iraq is like Tibet was in 1950. Back then, the Tibetans were crying to the world for help. Nobody came to their help. Over one-fourth of the Tibetan population have since been killed by the Communist Chinese.

Wow, I pretty much shuddered when he uttered that thought. Tibet was so preventable. There are millions of people in China now, yearning for the freedom of Taiwan's way of life. Those cheap goods come at too dear a price. Thanks very much for the reminder and helping us take the high road, HighRoad.

Here's to a great pinglist-keeper, a brave activist, and a very thoughtful advocate for freedom: HighRoadToChina.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-11-03 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[lonestar]

Okay! Listen up troops.

This is your leader. I have made the decision that we need to have an election to choose my campaign manager. It's a decision I don't want to make myself. Unlike Arianna chasing Arnold to get in the picture, I'd rather chase squirrels.

I'm running for governor of California because I don't like making tough decisions.

Remember I will be surrounding myself with the best people once in office. (If you're interested in a job, I love chicken and rice and treats.)

Weinie

________________________________

Everybody and my dog is running for governor of California.

lonestar

[Mama_Bear]

I vote for Calpernia.......or, Aquamarine. Why not have two? :-)

[WVNan]

Me Me Me!!! I can do it for sure I can! All Weinie's oppononts will be going in circles they will, they will.

Silly Shelly

[Mama_Bear]

Awwwww.......cute panda. My distance cousins, I believe.

The San Diego Zoo Panda Cam

This is some of the best live video that I have seen on the internet. Sharp and brilliant colors. Looks like one of them is having dinner right now. :-)

Good afternoon JW. HUGS!

[lonestar]

Me Me Me!!! I can do it for sure I can! All Weinie's oppononts will be going in circles they will, they will.

I hear you!

Weinie

[Quix]

Great work!

Much appreciated.

Do you have any creative ideas how to surface Shrillery's thesis?

I've never heard of a school being able to suppress a thesis before. They are normally REQUIRED to be available for use at the school's library.

[lonestar]

I vote for Calpernia.......or, Aquamarine. Why not have two? :-)

You make a good point. It could even be a group activity.

Weinie

[WVNan]

Hi MB. Pandas are the cutest bears in the world in my opinion.

[WVNan]

Have you checked Alamo Girl's archieves? I keep thinking that we once had a copy of that paper. It may have been the excerpt, but I recall reading it back in 99.

[Aquamarine]

I stay pretty busy around here but I thought Daisy Mae may be interested. She likes chicken too you know. ;)

[LadyX]

It was a positively wonderful time!
We were joined by a male cousin and his wife, up while Vic works for a month at a Mental Health facility in a nearby small town.
He is long retired (living in Florida) as a psychiatrist, but does this once a year to pay for his new passion!
That is trying to master playing a mandolin, going to places near where Blue Grass Festivals/Gatherings are going to be.

This Thursday, they thus will take their fully-equipped for living van to Chreokee for a few days for one such opportunity - then back to finish the month.

They are so much fun, Alicia from Bolivia (her father was an engineer from England) and was a registered nurse when they met in Texas, where he was an intern.

What hasn't Vic done?! Spent a year on an Indian reservation on the Wind River in Wyoming - 10 years in Panama - trips and medical missions to Central and South America, including to a very hostile tribe on the Amazon River - they did Europe and Zurich and the running of the bulls in Spain - you name it!

He before retirement for several years was Director of the Department of Psychiatry for med students at the University of Miami.

His mother was my father's sister, and he's 7 months younger than Anne, the two of them keeping in touch through life, Vic having gone to high school there with her in Coral Gables.

He barely knew me as a child 9 years younger, but the same 'word genes' course through our veins, plus more than a few from my mother.

Alicia loved it that while Vic and Anne have always sparred and jousted verbally for fun, here was Double Trouble as I explained FreeRepublic.com to him! LOL
Thankfully, they are passionate Republican conservatives.

Although he never delves beyond research on the Internet, he made me write down the URL and a few how to's - and my screen name. He will be lurking after he goes back to Florida in September..:)) The hook is set, Billie, for him to observe the Finest!

He could not believe Anne and I could deliver such great one-two punches - comebacks to his wit and barbs - it was hilarious to see the expressions on his face, and Alicia's, enjoying it to the max.

There even was a moment when he was taking us all to dinner that he spied a paperback book on the car seat I had brought to read if I woke during the night. It is John Grisham's The Summons, and he said,"I'll bet you can't guess which one of his books I'm thinking of - -"
Oh, how I wish you'd seen the expression on his face when I whipped right back, without hesitation, The Testament." - LOLOL. He was stunned, and asked how I knew that.
My demure (trying not to laugh) reply: "I'm Cousin Margaret."
Mt. Olympus climbed and flag planted..:))

The delight is he is not pompous in the least; just not accustomed to others being equal on 'his' playing field, but Anne and I slaughtered him repeatedly, and he loved it.
With Alicia egging us on, we all laughed more than most in a month.

Nan, the really fascinating thing is news of their son, James. After years as a concert pianist, playing all over Europe, and one score he wrote an Academy Award nomination, he settled in Nashville, and is a successful composer of Blue Grass and Country and Western music.

Get this - Martina McBride recorded his song, In My Daughter's Eyes - and on a new Faith Hill and Tim McGraw CD (to be out in September) will be his composition, Would You Marry Me Again?
Vic had sent Anne a composite tape of several of James's songs, either recorded or being shopped around. He already lives in a mansion and writes and sings, but wants to compose only rather than starring in concerts.

One especially beautiful was Mandolin Morning. He plays and sings with the greats in Nashville, and when he plays just the piano, it is positively gorgeous.
He called his Mom while we were eating dinner, and I got to talk with him, seeing him only one time when he was an infant.

Missed everybuddy here..:))

[Quix]

Do you have a copy of Shrillery's thesis?

Thanks WVNan!

[WVNan]

How are you Aqua? Good to be able to hang out for a spwll and say hidy to everyone.

[Aquamarine]

Sounds like you had a memorable time, I'm happy for you. :)

[Aquamarine]

I'm doing well as can be, have some plans coming up so I may not be around much for a while.

FReepmail me if you want to know about the secret plans.

[lonestar]

I thought Daisy Mae may be interested.

Spayed?

Weinie

[Aquamarine]

LOL! Yes, but she's a lady so treat her right!

[lonestar]

I'm a lady, too. I've understood why I'm called a b*tch.

Weinie

[PhilDragoo]

The Chinese Communist Party learned nothing from the Great Leap Forward or the Cultural Revolution.

Now it bases its butchery (One Child Policy) on junk science.

The destruction of centuries-old stone Buddahs by the Taliban was decried in Western media--yet these Leni Riefenstahls are mute over the Rape of Tibet.

An immediate adjunct to Buy No Chinese is No Hillary, Not Now, Not Ever.

May her karma glide on teflon to sweep her to an eternal inferno.

May your important work, HRTC, likewise effortlessly unfold with a thousand helpers.

The Buddhist temple where the Dalai Lama spoke is visible from the kitchen door.

Prayer flags, faded, flapping.

A friend complained of the hours of travel from California to Shanghai for Compaq, and the demands upon him to set up a turn-key operation.

I said, "Why do you go when they are butchers."

He said, "Things will improve when the ones running the show die."

Now his company has sent him to South Africa--perhaps the China miracle lost its gloss.

Good.

[WVNan]

Ohhhhh Maggie, it sounds like an absolutely lovely time. You tell Vic he needs to come to see us and Roy can teach him the Mandolin. Roy is one of the best there is, along with his fiddle playing. He may know James (last name?). He knows a lot of the Nashville musicians. Anybody who loves Bluegrass is okay in my book.

Another connection. I wonder if Vic knew the Psychiatrist I went to in Coral Gables. I wish I could recall his name (selective memory?). Anyway, we will look forward to the time when he checks in at the Finest and realizes that he's hooked.

I've got a pastor friend of mine checking out FR. Don't know if she is going to register or not. I told her she needs to become a Freeper so we can travel to D.C. together for major Freeps.

I'm so glad you had such a glorious week-end Maggie, but I'm also glad that you are back.