What we shouldn't learn from China continued.

Sorry for the reminiscing everyone. I hate blabbing like that but China was such a fascinating experience. The worst part of my experience was the false sense of freedom these people were experiencing. The government right after Tiananmen square allowed the population to start their own private businesses. The black markets were sanctioned and made legitimate. Mom and pop shops sprang up in every neighborhood. The people seems genuinely happy, until they were in private.

They would tell you about how we were all constantly being followed. That neighbors were pitted against neighbor when the government needed and demanded answers. Every aspect of this freedom was regulated and controlled. Even their reproductive abilities were licensed by the state. Sound familiar. Regulated capitalism does not a free market make. Regulated freedom is not freedom at all. This administration is heading us in this direction. Terms like war on women, class warfare, war on the worker, these are all shouted out of this white house to split the power of the unity of this republic. United we stand(against regulation and over taxation) divided we fall (become socialist).

What we shouldn't learn from China

I lived in China in the very early 90's. I was studying aboard as a part of my religious studies. We smuggled in Bibles and money to some of our secret churches. I have little fear of visiting and new places and experiencing change. When we had the opportunity I ran out of my room with my surfer buddy and went to hunt down something to eat. It took us nearly two day of non stop travel to get to Kaifeng, China. We were ready to explore.

The biggest shock was just how crazy early the entire country wakes up. We thought we were early risers at 6 AM but having heard military marching music over loud speakers we knew we were much lazier than those around us. No kidding at about zero dark thirty over speakers all over the city marching music played. After about 10 minutes of that a cadence began, 1, 2, 3, 4, over and over again. I saw people outside doing all kinds of unusual movements in coordination with the chant. Wu shu, Tai Chi, Chi Gung, were being practiced in a courtyard by our room. Then it hit us the smell of food.

So my buddy and I followed our noses and the smoke...to be continued.