Well if i were born in China, i would be a bit concerned about the amount of foreign influence that prevails in China and i would work really hard to restore some balance. If some of the foreign brands lose in the process , well what can you do ? Do i go to New york and see 80% of the brands flashing in Times square have some strange Chinese names that i can barely pronounce. Am i a nationalist if i'm putting tariffs on everything Chinese to keep them out of the Murican market ? Why would a Chinese who wants to get 50% of the neon lights in Nanjing Rd flash a Chinese brand instead of Nike , Starbucks or Gap suddenly be labelled nationalist ? It's quite insane for anyone to think that the Chinese cannot think they can achieve a more localized branding experience in their own country while the West is putting barriers to non existent Chinese brand entry to the West !!!!
The point you raised is generally accurate, and I can't dispute it despite my Chinese background. Many people here do think that way. As this is a complex topic, I'll share a few key perspectives: 1. Language barrier: Most Chinese have limited English proficiency, hindering meaningful conversations with foreigners. This often leads to superficial discussions about China's differences from the rest of the world, which can come across as boastful. 2. Education system: Modern Chinese education heavily emphasizes the "Century of Humiliation." This topic is covered throughout schooling, from primary to university level, and is even included in graduate school entrance exams. This approach tends to foster nationalist sentiments. 3. Limited international exposure: Many Chinese lack firsthand experience abroad. It's challenging to appreciate other cultures without direct exposure. As a Chinese person with a global perspective, I can understand their viewpoint. These factors contribute to the complex attitudes you've observed. However, the full picture is nuanced and requires more in-depth discussion. Regarding the bragging, it's understandable after over 40 years of rapid development. It's natural to feel proud, even to the point of boasting. I recall when I was a child, people thought everything foreign was superior. In the future, if development slows (hopefully not, but it's a natural cycle), we'll need to adapt. However, I don't foresee this being a significant issue, as Chinese people are generally pragmatic. If we meet the advantages of other nations, we are likely to take them and revise them. That’s the reason why Socialism in China becomes Chinese characteristic Socialism, etc.
I generally agree with you, but regarding #1, it doesn't just come across as boastful - it is very boastful. And it's not just a language barrier thing. I speak Chinese to Chinese people 90% of the time in China. I guess Chinese might have to stop using the phrase ‘中国谦虚' at some point... 🤭 Despite the fact that I don't fully agree with you, I appreciate your respectful comment and your support!
@@chopsticksandtrains Okay, I got it. I know who you are talking about. Some Chinese are indeed arrogant , aggressive ,boastful and disgusting. They have no knowledge in moral, especially common in the 40s~80s men group. They were growing up in some special era. I understand them but still don’t like them. The only thing I can do is trying to avoid them.
This dude suddenly became an expert on China history, politic, economic, and society. Of course, he’s an American. Too bad he can’t claim to be an expert on American history, politic, economic, and society.
I think it has to do with the centuries or discrimination as the “sick man” of Asia and the yellow peril. The treatment of the Chinese by imperial powers and the self racism shown by some Chinese themselves. I think pride in one’s culture and self is completely understandable. With that said, too much of anything can be bad and I agree that too much pride is a problem. Balance in all things!
wow!! You’re right on the money! 😅 I am native Chinese speaker, was a journalist in 80s in China and spent first half my life there. Been here in the u.s for 30 years. I am thinking about to translate today’s opinion to Chinese and share with my friends. 💞🙏
Always great to get a vote confidence from a person who is actually from China. Most of comments I get from Chinese currently in the mainland are just to attack me. LOL But you've lived the China life, you know it well, and you moved to the US 30 years ago - so you have a very unique and intricate perspective of things. I'm glad my analysis did the topic justice and your supportive comment really means a lot. THANK YOU! 🌹
I suggest giving them a copy of Chinese Dream by Anna Lee. It's a novel describing an expats experience in China from 2013-2023. It is pretty comprehensive and covers all the recent changes, including living through Covid.
@@chopsticksandtrains I genuinely look down on Americans, it’s a fact, sorry if it hurts your fragile feelings.even if you love china you are still looked down. My dislike towards Americans has nothing to do with your attitude toward China. We just find you people repelling
Great presentation of a topic often ignored. There's a saying that goes like this: "“Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor” I lived in Southeast Asia and knew the Chinese mindset very well before immigrating to the US. While growing up in Southeast Asia, other non-Chinese races often complained about the Chinese as greedy and prideful. This stems a lot from their dealings with Chinese traders and merchants who want to make the last dollar at all costs. The Chinese were often viewed with suspicious as more loyal to China than their host nation. While some of these are just stereotypes and generalizations, unfortunately, it does have rings of truth as one might encounter some Chinese friends and relatives who have made disparaging remarks about other races in my hearings. One thing to keep in mind is that China is largely a homogeneous nation with a long history and hence a lot of pride to deal with. Some of those pride are good while others are just plainly belligerent, boastful, and downright ignorant. How China will fare in the future depends on how it will handle the pride of its newfound riches and power. Will it intimidate their neighbors or be an agent of peace, tolerance, and generosity that others want to emulate.
I find this aspect of modern Chinese culture/society very tiresome. It's been described by some as the "Glass Heart" syndrome. Basically, you can't have an objective conversation about China's history - because, if it is critical of China (or the Party, Chairman Mao, current leadership, etc...) or fails to praise China for it's many struggles against evil foreign powers and its unique and superior qualities (cuisine, language, history, etc...), you are not going to be very popular. This includes being careful not to say good things about other countries, without including a qualifier that China is either as good, better, or isn't to blame for not being as good. Mention in a group setting that you love traveling in China, and there will be smiles all around; say it's Japan that you're most interested in visiting and you're going to be met with blank stares, or frowns. An elder finger may wag at you..."Japan committed terrible crimes against the Chinese people! You foreigners don't know history!" Basically, you better either kiss China's ass or keep your mouth shut. Oh, and if you want a quick pathway to expat popularity in China, simply say all nice and laudatory things about China, say negative things about your own country and the "West" in general and whenever comparisons are being made between China and any other country that are even unfairly and ridiculously favorable to China, just smile, nod, and enthusiastically agree (preferably in Mandarin)! You'll be everybody's foreign friend! Even better, start a RU-vid channel where you post videos that decry the "Lies" about China being told in "Western Media!" Be sure to include Chinese subtitles, and cross-post on Weibo, Bilibili, and other Chinese social media. Then sit back and watch your subscriber count skyrocket, your views blossom, and enjoy the revenue! After while doing this you won't even have to create your own content, because you'll be contacted by someone at the the United Front Works Department who will offer to supply content to you for free! Just read the script they provide from the teleprompter and let them do the B-Roll, thumbnails, etc...
I, for one, REFUSE to kiss China’s ass. In their current state, under their current leadership, they can dwindle away to nothing. China is a scourge on our planet the way it is presently.
Stop kissing America's ass while your ass is being used and pushed around by your American daddy! Go to China and then make good sense in your comment. You don't know how dangerous it is for you as an American lapdog living in Taiwan! You need to have self-esteem as a Chinese Taiwanese against your own people and country! You are not American, and Taiwan is not a country.
As someone who has lived in China for over 30 years, I think I know why. Although I didn't experience the most difficult times in China, China was still very poor in the 1990s. I was born in a fifth-tier small city surrounded by mountains in China. A small river flowed through the middle of the city, and the only access road was a two-lane one. We lived in a house allocated by the state for free. (Yes, when I was a child, China was exactly the same as North Korea now. Houses, food, vegetables, and even my parents' jobs were all allocated by the state.) The most valuable things at home were the TV and the refrigerator. At that time, my parents' monthly salary was about 50 RMB. The country we admired the most since childhood was the United States. It felt like the United States was paved with gold. You can't imagine that a little boy living in the mountains of China in the 1990s had an American dream. But everything changed too fast. Even in our small place, high-rise buildings, expressways and railways were constructed rapidly, and the roads were being excavated every day. But the air quality became worse and worse, and the water in the river became muddy. All the changes seemed to happen in an instant. My parents' salaries became higher and higher, and life got better and better. Around my high school years, the news kept reporting that Western countries accused China of having serious environmental pollution, causing a heavy burden on the earth. Then a few years later, the air quality got better and better, and the river water became clear again. Our generation has witnessed China's rapid development. Maybe there are still many aspects that are not good now, but we are all proud of the achievements our country has made in such a short period of time. A few years later, mobile Internet became popular, but I saw a lot of demonizing and smearing of my country by Western media online. And in recent years, the United States has started to impose sanctions on China. The American dream in my childhood gradually turned into disgust towards the United States. At the beginning, I even became an Internet warrior, frantically arguing with those who smeared my country like I lost my mind. Even if it was just a little bit of criticism about China, even if it was the truth, I would furiously fight back. (Perhaps at this stage, I was what you call a "five-mao" or had a "fragile heart".) Then, when I became more mature and knew more, I realized that the reason why netizens in the Western world were like this was also influenced by the media, like me. It's not our fault; it's the world. Children born around 2000 have grown up in a relatively affluent environment. I found that they are more patriotic and passionate than our generation. When they discover the false accusations against China online, they can fight with Western netizens day and night on the Internet. I think this is where the term "fragile heart" comes from. It never appears for no reason and won't disappear easily until people all over the world are united without distinctions. (I'm very sorry. My English is at the beginner level. Please excuse me if there are any mistakes.)
you are the only laowhy still n China making real informative videos that i feel who is genuine with what they say without d**k riding the party, but careful enough not to say too much.
I had one adult in China tell me that Stonehenge must be a natural rock formation because "Only Chinese were building things in 3000 BC". I kid you not. I was gobsmacked at the arrogance of this way of thinking.
@@journalm Honestly, I found archtecture of the old European world, especially those tall stone castles and cathedrals are very majestic , more durable than the wooden ones from China. Other than the Great Wall, most Chinese ancient palaces were built of wood, many of which were burnt down and destroyed through out the changes of dynasties.
@@rosalindchu7588 different circumstances in Europe vs China. lords in Europe needing castles vs a strong centralized power in China that didn't need castles. China more often walled their cities, with much more impressive walls than in Europe. many of these walls still exist. Xi'an has enormous city walls.
I'm drawn to C&T high quality videos solely for their rich and insightful contents on his experience living in China as a westerner; more importantly, I find his views on China objective, fair and relevant. He was respectful and sincere whenever he shared his thoughts on living in China, be it positive or negative, he did it in a thoughtful way by providing context to what he said. Thank you C&T.
That’s exactly true. It’s so strange for a foreigner going to China for the first time -some strangers venerate you, whilst others detest you, for things that have absolutely nothing to do with you. This is entirely due to said inferiority complex.
Again, am in total agreement with your thoughts and ideas on Chinese dream. China can certainly keep its unique culture of 5000 years peacefully without giving up the western convenience of daily life…Too much pride is not a good thing but am afraid the problem lies in something else, the huge China ambition, in which the 中國 Middle Country ( or Central Nation) the self-centered communist government, boldly and wrongly thinks they could “ assimulate ” the world. This is the sadness of their Impossible Dream.
It’s the educational system. They are taught very early to “love China” BUT in so doing must create enemies in order to love China. In turn, they teach victimhood and indirectly leading to insecurity and thus jingoism.
As a Chinese living in your country for 5 years, thank god I’m not an American🤮, thank god for not creating me as cheap, nasty and repelling people like those around me every day
Your understanding of China is too one-sided. People are taught to be patriotic since childhood, which is what every country does. As for setting up enemies, China was invaded a hundred years ago, and the aggressor has not made any apology or compensation to the victim country until now. The United States was also China's ally during World War II, and China will not deny this. The United States helped China resist aggression, but what the United States is doing now is just like the aggressor back then. Doesn't the United States also regard today's China as an enemy? The Democrats and Republicans have differences in other concepts, but they are consistent in confronting China. Why? May I ask, is it because they are afraid of China's rise? The United States has done the same thing to suppress the euro and the yen, the Hiroshima plan and sanctions on the euro, because whoever surpasses the United States in society is the enemy of the United States, both in Europe and Asia. But now this enemy has become China, and China is not as weak as Japan, so the United States is frantically encircling China.
As someone who has lived in China for over 30 years, I think I know why. Although I didn't experience the most difficult times in China, China was still very poor in the 1990s. I was born in a fifth-tier small city surrounded by mountains in China. A small river flowed through the middle of the city, and the only access road was a two-lane one. We lived in a house allocated by the state for free. (Yes, when I was a child, China was exactly the same as North Korea now. Houses, food, vegetables, and even my parents' jobs were all allocated by the state.) The most valuable things at home were the TV and the refrigerator. At that time, my parents' monthly salary was about 50 RMB. The country we admired the most since childhood was the United States. It felt like the United States was paved with gold. You can't imagine that a little boy living in the mountains of China in the 1990s had an American dream. But everything changed too fast. Even in our small place, high-rise buildings, expressways and railways were constructed rapidly, and the roads were being excavated every day. But the air quality became worse and worse, and the water in the river became muddy. All the changes seemed to happen in an instant. My parents' salaries became higher and higher, and life got better and better. Around my high school years, the news kept reporting that Western countries accused China of having serious environmental pollution, causing a heavy burden on the earth. Then a few years later, the air quality got better and better, and the river water became clear again. Our generation has witnessed China's rapid development. Maybe there are still many aspects that are not good now, but we are all proud of the achievements our country has made in such a short period of time. A few years later, mobile Internet became popular, but I saw a lot of demonizing and smearing of my country by Western media online. And in recent years, the United States has started to impose sanctions on China. The American dream in my childhood gradually turned into disgust towards the United States. At the beginning, I even became an Internet warrior, frantically arguing with those who smeared my country like I lost my mind. Even if it was just a little bit of criticism about China, even if it was the truth, I would furiously fight back. (Perhaps at this stage, I was what you call a "five-mao" or had a "fragile heart".) Then, when I became more mature and knew more, I realized that the reason why netizens in the Western world were like this was also influenced by the media, like me. It's not our fault; it's the world. Children born around 2000 have grown up in a relatively affluent environment. I found that they are more patriotic and passionate than our generation. When they discover the false accusations against China online, they can fight with Western netizens day and night on the Internet. I think this is where the term "fragile heart" comes from. It never appears for no reason and won't disappear easily until people all over the world are united without distinctions. (I'm very sorry. My English is at the beginner level. Please excuse me if there are any mistakes.)
Well balanced analysis. Thank you. Each society has contributed to the rise of civilization. And not always in a positive way. Exploitation is universal. And I thank the hard working people of China for improving my quality of life. But there are mistakes made by all of us. For example, the binding of women's feet is an invention not to be celebrated.
The Chinese like to imagine that the Century of Humiliation was an aberration. It was not. It was baked in, once the world figured out the secrets of industrialization. China just happens to have the world’s worst access to the inputs needed to sustain an industrialized economy. China’s geography dooms China to being the last in line for resources and therefore being the least industrialized and most picked-on country in the world. The country of “Eat your vegetables, kiddo. There are starving children in China who would love to have them.” Doomed to have the world’s worst access, that is, until the US seized control of the global oceans at the end of WW2 and created freedom of navigation. By joining the US-led international order, China went from having the worst access to having equal access. All thanks to the US and the US-led international order. Ironic that China has committed itself to undermining the US and the US-led international order. If China succeeds, the result will be an inevitable return to new Centuries of Humiliation.
China's good development is not due to the so-called world order dominated by the United States. There are more than 100 countries in the world. Why is China so capable of development? Is it because of its large population? India also has more than 1 billion people. Is its territory large? Russia has the largest territory, and Mexico and Canada are right next to the United States. Why is its development not as good as that of China overseas?
@@紫萱-h2i Several factors: debt, Prisoner’s Dilemma “betray” strategy, demographic dividend/loan, economic geography, Chinese culture of saving/education/hard work. The Chinese rightfully take pride in the last one. The rest are happenstance, double-edged swords, and poisoned oases. The CCP has been a giant negative overall.
@@yopyop3241 What the West pursues is an unrealistic spiritual illusion, dividing things that should be rational and objective into various complex structures, creating some incomprehensible fantasy ideologies, lacking understanding and recognition of the main contradictions, and focusing on some dispensable things, such as LGBT, which should be determined by genes and distorted into hundreds of genders. People should actually pay more attention to their own situation, such as their living housing conditions and environment, wages and benefits, etc. But these things are not the mainstream of Westerners, while Chinese or Oriental people attach great importance to their actual needs. Because one-sided things cannot change your life, only hard work can make your family or yourself better.
@@yopyop3241 Let's talk about the differences between the Chinese and Western systems. China's development is like a long-distance race, while the Western long-distance race is like a relay race. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Long-distance running requires a stable mentality and enough physical strength to keep running. Although long-distance running is certainly not fast, China's policies are introduced very slowly, but at least they are in line with current social changes. The development of Western countries is like a relay race. After running this section, it is handed over to the next person to run. How the next person runs is up to the next person. Although it looks very creative, it lacks application in actual environments.
Excellent video. I've lived there in China for quite a few years, too, and cannot agree more with everything you said here. What's more is, when scrolling through the comments sections of posts featuring foreigners on the app Xiaohongshu, they always mention that they are the superior race in terms of evolution. Just yesterday I saw a photo someone shared of a white guy in America with a more-than-average hairy back which got tens of thousands of views with many of the top comments with thousands of upvotes stating the idea of “白人是进化不完全的人种”； “没进化好”; "还是我们黄种人进化好啊，我们最聪明，没有体味” (white people are not fully evolved, and Chinese are. The Chinese are well-evolved, the smartest and do not have stinky body odor). As the rest of the world knows, we all came from the same ancestors and just developed differently; no race is 'more evolved' than another. Not the case in China at all. Furthermore, they openly state that they learn this as 'facts' from their teachers at school. It's one thing to have some fringe comments like these, but they keep commenting this over and over, and some of them have thousands of upvotes. They think foreigners can't read Chinese and that it's shared only among themselves smh.
Great video! Excellent analysis of the way most Chinese think. You are the last authentic "foreigner in China" RU-vid channel. You balance admiration for the good things about China with criticism of the bad. It's a fine line to walk, and you do it well! PS ‐ it was cool to see your Appalachia episode go viral! As a fellow American, I've been trying to guess where you're from from your accent. Now I think I have it figured out 😉
That is one of the best comments I've gotten in a long time and I genuinely appreciate. And yeah, I won't say exactly, but I'm a bit of a southern boy. Thanks for supporting me here, so glad to have you along!
Before making such an uneducated, bold, negative statement, gaining firsthand experience is crucial - common sense. Can you get your boots on the ground to see more of China for yourself financially? I'm aware that many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. If it's within your means (unlikely), I suggest you go with an open mind. It's visa-free. Immerse yourself in reality, not just from your screen or one person's statement, including mine. This advice also applies to all thoughtless comments. Keep this comment if your trip fails to change your mind.; revise it otherwise. China is not perfect, let alone a utopia (there's a potential over time), but it can only be better and better, and it is a country you can afford to live in! What's your credit score? I am expecting a score below 600 and going down. Are you paying more for basic needs and food in your number one country? Your job is to get your government to work for you, not to initiate endless proxy wars all over the globe. They keep wasting your tax money on things irrelevant to your well-being! Hop on the plane and give me your middle finger if your trip honestly proves me wrong.
My understanding of Chinese culture is 180 different from yours. I had learned that in the early 20th century, many Chinese intellectuals were very critical of Chinese culture. They argued it was just too archaic. The great literature figure Luxun even wrote one book which crítiqued Chinese culture: Confucianism. He also wrote another which crítiqued Chinese medicine. Then they reformed it. This event often marked in history as the May 4th movement. In fact some of them they loved the West so much, that they adopted a western philosophy as their new political ideology: Communism.
I like the insights - interesting to see how Beijing and Shanghai basically feel like a newer more modern NYC with nothing but brand foreign names lining buildings
Coming from a man who knows the deal! Your adventures in China and your videos are awesome! The contradictions in China's dream as opposed to the reality is truly mindblowing (but to be expected, being that the 'dream' is literally unachievable - but hey, sounds good for a talking point though!). Stay blessed my friend.
@@chopsticksandtrains Trying to be like you, hombre! Appreciate the encouragement as always! And I think I don't want to admit it, but I also felt more of that sentiment in places than before. I'm interested in your opinions on those two guys who always bash on China - Serpentza and laowhy86 or whatever. Someone asked me about them but honestly I hadn't heard of them. I think you've been there essentially longer, but also seem to appreciate actual China/Chinese/Culture. Instead of being plugs for China, they are the direct opposite - hating everything. Weird what people do for attention online these days.
Pinyin is based on alphabets and numbers 123 are also not purely Chinese. However the Chinese dream isn't about getting rid of these things. It is the rejuvenation of China as a nation and the Chinese people.
Innovation, perhaps (although most of the innovating was done by the Japanese). And you're right, China didn't invent it, so I just wish they'd stop saying that they did. Fair enough, lad?
Just to say that Japan once want that utopia of everything from Japan and South Korea as everything from South Korea. Well not everything is invented in China just to say trying to mock American brands to say CF Moto is the best and Harley-Davidson is garbage.
Towards the closing of this video essay, you counted several things the Chinese must give up just to be pure Chinese, you left out a huge one: the modern Chinese language. Much - some say more than half - of the modern Chinese language consists of words imported from the reviled Japanese. As the Japanese welcomed the contact with the West, they had to create new words to reconcile with the new world brought about by it and these words got adopted by the Chinese and are now deeply entrenched in the language, so much so that it would not function without them. Consider the name of the country "People's Republic of China": the words "People" and "Republic" are originally Japanese.
what are you talking about, People translates 人 + 民 which existed in Chinese language since the oracle bone era. Republic = 共和国，where 国existed since the oracle bone too as the name China = 中国 was first written. 共和 was translated from either Russian or French literature as at the time prominent philosophers were European. Please stop spreading fake history. It's more like Japan borrowed heavily from China for their language.
@@HEEHEEBOII It all comes down to context. 共和 was the earliest recorded reign year name which was 1792BC. The Japanese adopted many Chinese words (and compounds) and gave them new meanings, and it is these new form that the modern Chinese language adopted.
@@Seele2015au 1792BC? wtf? The very first use of the word - Republica was in Roman time which only dates back to no earlier than 509BC after Rome overthrew its last king. The Chinese word 共和 comes from the W. Zhou Dynasty's phrase of 周召共和. Japan took that word and used it to call "republic" for themselves. Which again, is based off of the Zhou Dynasty phrase 周召共和. Quit spreading fake ass history. Japan invented nothing except Hiragana and Katakana. Their entire Kanji system is based on Han and later Dynastic version of modern Chinese. For me Japan is like a country whose stuck writing Anglo Saxon where China is like a country writing modern English.
Not all of them, but many believe this. I laughed so hard when a very in-your-face Han supremacist did a DNA ancestry test and found a considerable percentage of their genes from Japan, along with Melanesian genes and one link to India. Forget where I saw it, but that face was comedy gold.
@journalm Most do believe since it's taught as gospel in schools there. There's even an entire park & museum where they believe an ancient Chinese ancestor was found, something akin to homo habilis, was found. Statues of the thing. They are taught this is their genetic ancestor & everyone else evolved separately from them. Something so outrageous even Hitler wouldn't have dared. Packed with buses of School children brought everyday to push this Nazi like propaganda.
@journalm All Chinese school children are taught Chinese evolved separately, and of course they say superior to the rest of us, and and entire museum at the peking man site children are shuttled in all day tp be taught this racist propaganda.
I believe that would be the race that invented race "science", racial eugenics, and started measuring human skulls to gauge intelligence and had wet dreams about the forced "removal" of """international bankers"""". Totally surprised that a passport bro would have such a train of thought on a channel with how to pick up Chinese women since they'd be considered bottom of the barrel at home. Beyond shocked, you could say.
Where did you get that time lapse of empires? And the dynasty flowchat. Pretty cool. That would help me be more conversant as a visual learner. It's intersting, the body language of foreign spokespersons with the palm facing up to direct questions in contrast to other countries' who point to journalists with the palm facing down or sideways. One little "correction". Basketball was first played in Canada but not embraced like it was in the US and developed into an organized thing. So maybe we could say co-invented? Canadians have a similiar insecurity to Chinese about their inventions lol Sorry eh
Saw it on Twitter! Follow me there and look through my previous posts! And interesting, about the Canada/US/basketball thing... I stand corrected! Still from the wicked old West though.. LOL
China would be great if it weren't for the totalitarian government. Hopefully one day soon they can either overthrow or somehow manage to reform their government. I'm rooting for the Chinese people, but with the level of surveillance and control made possible by modern technology I'm not crossing my fingers for this to happen any time soon.
I like your videos but I have to disagree with you. You are a presumably a Caucasian living in China, you viewpoint will always be skewed in the sense that most Chinese will want to boast about their country to you. I doubt that intensity of patriotism exists amongst themselves. I am a Chinese Canadian. I hear nothing but how the West is best in all respects, especially in the media but also in my relations at work and personal life. It's a just a fact of life, most people cheer for the home team. Maybe it's still such a new concept in the mainland after the century of humiliation that they haven't learned to modulate it or maybe... just maybe a proud Chinese rubs you the wrong way.
Thanks for sharing your opinion in a respectful way. A healthy sense of pride doesn't bother me, but don't tell me that you 谦虚 in the same breath if you want to boast. Boasting, in my opinion, is poor behavior, and humanity, in general, agrees with that sentiment. And I don't "think" that they are boasting about things, I "know" they are. Big difference. There is no misunderstanding here. That said, I know there are idiots in the West that probably say some stupid and offensive things to you, and I'm sorry that you have to experience that. I'm a friend to the Chinese, brother. But the issue is, Chinese don't often think that others should be allowed to have an opinion about China but they are totally entitled to have any opinion they want about all other countries. So, you say maybe a proud Chinese rubs me the wrong way. I say that it does not. A boastful and arrogant one does though. And I respond to you by say, maybe a Westerner who knows a lot about China and offers opinions that make you feel uncomfortable or that you disagree with rubs you the wrong way. Food for thought.
Hello to Chopsticks and Trains! You're super articulate and definitely more intelligent than most of your fellow Americans. As for me, I see myself as almost entirely Chinese, not very Americanized in terms of culture, traditions, and lifestyle, even though I've lived here most of my life. I'm proud of being Chinese American; it qualifies me to compare which country is better because I am Chinese and have an American life similar to yours - an American with a Chinese life. Life is short, and you want to avoid living your life day to day unintelligently in a country that cannot provide an ideal life. Let's strive for intelligent living while our time on earth escapes our attention. You're intelligent and articulate, but your patriotic American mindset seems a bit off-balance, especially considering that China has surpassed the U.S. in many areas-something widely acknowledged. Denying that goes against the grain and might make others look down on you. No country is perfect, but China has made impressive advancements and improved the quality of life for its people in a short time. On the other hand, the U.S. is struggling and needs to make progress. Your views about China and America swing back and forth, sometimes leading to contradictory thoughts. Overall, though, you're a good guy. Your Chinese girlfriend is lucky to have you in her life.
You sure seem to worry a lot about China surpassing the US. LOL You are VERY emotionally invested in this, so you must be very unhappy living in the US because you've never said a positive word about the country. If you hate the US, that's also OK with me, because everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. While I appreciate the compliments that you pay me, which are very kind indeed, you didn't really address the content of the video. Did you even watch the video? I don't have contradictory thoughts, by the way. China has its good and bad points, so does the US, so does every country. And you come on here and write like China has no problems of her own... ummm, when was the last time you were here? People's salaries are decreasing, there's more and more knife violence, China is becoming increasingly hypernationalist, racism is rampant here, I mean, I could write a book on it. But I don't want to focus on only the negative. China also has many great points. I know you think I'm biased, but you see my content, you see that I often say kind, honest and balanced things about China. But like you (or at least you claim), I have lived in both countries for a long time and I have valid viewpoints that are very relevant and a great point of perspective. I was just recently in the US. People were nice. Shops were busy. Didn't witness any crime. I know the US has some bad cities (or at least bad neighborhoods)... but there are SOOOO many places in the US that are very safe, decent, clean and still hold traditional values. I would you say you are FAR more biased than I am. Your screenname alone is an insult to the US. A piece of advice - if you are going to blatantly insult other people's countries, then you can't really say much when they criticize yours. That's what we call being 'hypocritical'.
@@chopsticksandtrains My support for China is about something other than worrying whether the US will surpass it, which is absolutely impossible, 'not with an 'impressive' mounting $35T US national debt;' it's about recognizing and deeply admiring China's remarkable progress. China has already made significant strides in many areas, inspiring hope for a brighter future. No one can deny it! My journey has been deeply enriched by the kindness and generosity of many ordinary Americans. I recall a poignant moment from childhood when I worked the night shift as a janitor in a factory (Vilter) during a bitter winter. An elderly, not-well-to-do security guard, possibly post his retirement age, a beacon of compassion, took me under his wing. Though I didn't accept his money offer, he left an indelible mark on my heart, nurturing a profound sense of empathy. Another chapter in my life unfolded when I worked as a janitor in a nursing home. With their daily acts of kindness, two African American colleagues profoundly influenced my perception of the American people. Their willingness to give me a ride home and back, even before I had a driver's license, was a testament to the transformative power of kindness. When it comes to the U.S. government, past and present, I struggle to find the same level of admiration. Policies and actions negatively impacting domestic and international landscapes don't warrant my praise. However, I'm open to recognizing positive actions if they are genuine and convincing. For instance, initiatives like the Civil Rights and Affordable Care Act have had significant positive impacts. Regarding racism, I acknowledge its presence in China, but I believe it is often influenced by external misinformation and not inherent to the Chinese people. The media's portrayal of China, usually focusing on isolated incidents or government policies without considering the broader context, has led to misconceptions. These misconceptions have, unfortunately, fostered some negative sentiments among the Chinese people. My screen name, 'America is so backward,' reflects my frustration with ongoing negative narratives about China. I support China's goal of achieving 'Common Prosperity,' which aims to more equitably distribute wealth and resources, ensuring that every Chinese citizen benefits from the country's economic growth. This goal is not about surpassing other countries but creating a more just and equitable society. Conversely, the US splurges our tax money on all kinds of garbage around the world. This helps explain my perspective; there's more to follow after you respond.
Your argument about China pursuing cultural purity is basically BS. China *will* highlight its own culture, as do all other countries, but it will be amalgamated with foreign cultural elements, too.
China did not invent the compass. It's true that the Chinese were the first to discover that certain iron filings pointed north. But they did not convert that discovery into a portable navigation aid. That particular innovation came from the West.
The LYING chinese always love to STEAL inventions and cultures from other nations. Most of their traditions and inventions were STOLEN from ancient Vietnamese people (e.g. rice agriculture, Asian architect, domestication of the chicken, Asian Lunar New Year)
You should mention that all civilizations are somehow related to one another. Besides, what is important is not just the inventions. It is what you can do with them or further innovation to help Homosapiens. Nothing wrong with being students. As for food. It is borderline stupid to believe their foods are the best in the world. Taste is something we acquired when we were kids. I have a few friends who avoid Chinese food not because they are racists. In fact, a few of them have Chinese spouses.
A free and open society has a greater potential to succeed. A closed society like China (not just because of Communism) will more often fail to adapt to changes and stagnate, which is what China did for a long time. China is not alone as a closed homogeneous society. Japan and Korea also follow these tendencies, even though both are Democratic (not including North Korea). All three countries exhibit an undertow of racism, harshest towards people with darker complexions, in part due to those people's standing in the current world order, but also due to propagation of existing stereotypes. For S. Korea and Japan, this may change as their demographics implode, which may only be stemmed by immigration.
See my other comment about Larry Romanoff's article at Transcend Media Service. Here's the intro: "China as a nation has the longest and by far the vastest record of inventions in the history of the world. It is now reliably estimated that more than 60% of all the knowledge existing in the world today originated in China, a fact swept under the carpet by the West." Despite being a closed society, China was highly inventive for thousands of years. The excerpt that I included will absolutely blow your mind. In another comment, I wrote... "In recent years, China has led the world in innovation. ASPI says China leads in 37 out of 44 critical technology fields. The USA only leads in 7. China is granted more tech patents than the USA and Japan combined! The CWTS Leiden Ranking says that China has 16 of the top 25 research universities and 26 of the top 50. The USA only has 5 of the top 25 and 12 of the top 50." Not too shabby for a closed society.
China's strong sense of national pride can have its drawbacks. The vision of the 'Chinese Dream', a concept deeply rooted in the Chinese culture and society, is primarily for native Chinese citizens. It is a collective aspiration that allows them to pursue their personal and national goals freely within their own country. These native Chinese people are justified in doing or not doing what they wish, regardless of long-standing foreign influences being wiped out or kept. As a non-native Chinese (me) or a foreigner (you), integrating into this dream is possible if one can adapt to the local context; otherwise, it may be best to consider leaving, although one is still welcome to stay. Basically, the 'Chinese Dream' is crafted for those born and raised in China. That is a Chinese dream for the native-born and raised, not an international dream, but a dream potentially instead of never for you and me. Yes, the Chinese dream can be mine and every foreigner's! Adaptability is key! Excessive pride, as seen in American attitudes, can indeed be detrimental. The decline of American dominance serves as a cautionary tale. I believe the United States should acknowledge, understand, and appreciate China's rise. This is a crucial step toward a more balanced global order. As you pointed out, excessive pride can be harmful. The need for America to adapt to China's rise is not just a suggestion, but an inevitable reality. The likelihood of this adaptation remains to be determined, but it is a path that can lead to a more prosperous future for both nations. Forcing itself to hobble China is unrealistic, but it is making America worse and not great again. As I can see, that is America's only intelligent choice to "happily" cope with China's rise. 'America First' suggests a personal benefit and is all about me, me, me, while China's 'Common Prosperity' is about the benefit of everyone in every country. Is 'America First' or 'Common Prosperity' realistic, and which one works in an interconnected and interdependent world?
Excuse me?!?!? Your "chinese dream" is EVERYONE ELSE'S NIGHTMARE!!! May God help us if you chinese rule the world. No way will we be slaves and victims of chinese racist GENOCIDE like the poor Tibetan and East Turkestani peoples.
Thks & here's something you might enjoy: Amazing China in 1917 in color [AI enhanced and colorized] ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_GWa4b7g9qs.html Beijing, China 1910s in color [60fps,Remastered] w/sound design added ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oKoQz0eEA2I.html 【4K, 60Fps Colorized】China 1912, Qing Dynasty, 100 years ago 【AI Restoration】 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wFHJXlrL87k.html
"回归你的美国梦是最好的选择。作为中国专家，拜登和特朗普都会为你铺上红地毯。我已经看到你脸上露出美丽的微笑了。让我建议你把下一个视频改为流利的普通话，并配上英文字幕。" According to the content of this video, Chopstix is eating sour grapes⠀🍇☹. It's okay; this is human nature. I would probably make a similar video if America were ahead of China.😄 I didn't want to say this, but I can't hold back - I'm in ♥ with the Middle Kingdom! Long live China and President Xi!!!
Well, considering hownthe west have treated China in the last 200 years...basically like shit..do you blame the Chinese on why they have some pride and decided to say No to thw arrogance of the west politicians and their people as well? Can you blame them when the US blew up the Chinese embassy in yugoslavia and claimed it to be a mistake or accident...Can you blame how the make fun of oriental people in hollywood? Can you blame the chinese for uncalled and totally unreasonable sanctions imposed on them? Cant the Chinese have some pride when they have been tramppled on in the last 200 years and still till today?..oh..they jave to kowtow and be su servient to the west?!
@@yopyop3241 that isnt true, the soviets were the ones who beat the Nazis and they were already winning before d day in Normandy, Muricans probably contributed 20% against the Nazis and they were supplying weapons to the war in the east to China against Japan, it was only a matter of time for the Soviets to step in after they defeated the Nazis in the west..but the US came in the war really late just to get credit for the war and when the enemy was already losing. Furthermore, it was the US that supplied all the fuel to the Japs in WW2...look at Murica now..can't even win the war against people on sandals in Afghanistan. Did you watch the video when the Muricans fleed and ran away??
The USSR would have collapsed without US material support. “Roughly 17.5 million tons of military equipment, vehicles, industrial supplies, and food were shipped from the Western Hemisphere to the USSR, 94% coming from the US. For comparison, a total of 22 million tons landed in Europe to supply American forces from January 1942 to May 1945.” And a conquered USSR would not have helped China. We would be talking about the upcoming 100 year anniversary of the end of Chinese civilization, and for you personally, your primary language would be Japanese.
@@yopyop3241 the USSR was the nation that defeated the NAZIs ..not the Americans..the Americans just stepped in when the Nazis were already losing to the USSR...basically just to claim credit...the Soviets would have won with or without Muricans assistance...yes it did help but they already won before the Yanks stepped in...so..thanks to that you didn't have to speak German
@@yopyop3241 thanks to the Soviets, Murican don't have to speak German now...if it wasn't for the soviets, Murica would be hailing Hitler now...oops wait they are still hailing Hitler..look at treadeau ..they hailed a Nazi and gave him a standing ovation..lol
Oh, surprise surprise, my comments telling the truth behind this great rift between China and the "civilized world" was deleted by a channel that has videos on how to become a s3xpat. How absolutely original and completely shocking. My jaw is on the ground as I type this.
Didn't delete it. RU-vid filtered it out, marking you as either a troll, being offensive, or spam. Click on 'Newest Comments' to see it (and others). Not sure what you're talking about regarding the s e x p a t thing. You sure you got the right guy? 🤭
Your video used to be high quality though. But please keep the videos on your observations about interesting travel experiences, you are not very much expertise with the modern technological history. If you really need some viewership, you could be more creative rather than dipping into the field you are not familiar with.
You heard wrong - it's friggin scary (as is spit oil). I try to be as careful as I can, within reason, about what I eat here, but no doubt that over the years I've unknowingly eaten some diabolically rancid carcinogenic stuff.
