Why Every American Should See China

Once I went to a country where, when you got off the plane, soldiers carrying machine guns greeted you from behind sandbagged barriers. I've been to a country where the "tourist police" who followed you everywhere, were soldiers on the backs of beat up pick-up trucks -- also armed with machine guns.

I've seen gut wrenching poverty below the many borders of our country, enough to fully understand that neither the tallest or longest fence, nor all the soldiers in the world -- will not stop the crossing of our borders by those who are driven here, by desperate dreams of a better life. I've seen indigenous peoples in several countries reduced to nothing short of being slaves, as the rest of the world greedily steals their country's natural resources.

By contrast, I've also seen places that clearly demonstrated, how our so-called "wonderful American life," is a pale shadow of all that it once was, could be, and should be. I've seen much culturally older and better educated peoples in places that could teach all of us -- all how to live lives that are saner, less materialistic, and a whole lot happier. For those of you, who have never stepped outside of this country, be aware - that there are better lifestyles out there, than our own. We don't know it all. We don't own it all. We aren't as free as we think we are.

These same places taught me, that the arrogance of the American mind-set -- that we are "the best" might be a myth, that only we believe. This isn't to say that we don't have truly magnificent people in this country, nor that we don't enjoy equally superb freedoms and privileges in America. It's just that it's very short-sighted of many of us, to think that our country and our lives are so much better than that of all other countries.

All of that said, here are the two reasons, why I believe every American should see China (and its Asian neighbors):

1. Only by going to China, can you comprehend its size, the complexity of China's culture, and the unprecedented growth in industry that it is experiencing. Only by seeing this in person, will you wholly understand how it already does, and will dramatically affect your life directly in the future.

It's no secret, to even the least educated of Americans, that virtually everything we buy today -- was in all likelihood "Made in China." This is particularly true for the average American buying something from big box stores, or well-known department store chains. Moreover, if the product wasn't completely made in China, some component of the item, probably originated in China.

Additionally, most of us know, that cheaper Chinese products available to American consumers has had a "price" - that of loosing jobs and wages as our own companies outsource there, and to China's nearby neighbors. Better educated Americans are a little more aware, that as China rapidly hurls itself into the 21^st century that China's thirst and need for natural resources will outstrip those of smaller countries (including us). However, the consequences of these realities are not something the average American fully understands.

One thing that most Americans do not think about -- is the day that the Chinese will stop supporting our dollar. That day will come, solely because they will do what we have historically done ourselves - they will do what is best for their country and their people.

2. Go to China, so you can see what "human price" the Chinese people are willing or forced to pay, for our cheap goods.

The Chinese are, in my opinion, some of the hardest working people and nicest people on the planet. They have the same needs, wants, and dreams that we do. They want better lives for themselves and for their children.

They, especially want their children to have good educations and do whatever it takes to make that happen. The difference between them and most of us - they are willing to pay the price. Many of them work ten to twelve hours a day, six days a week. Many of them understand the sacrifices needed to live successful productive lives. It seems to me a whole lot of us here in America have forgotten what the word "sacrifice" really means.

One of the best examples I can give you, is the mindset of one ordinary (but exceptionally wise) young Chinese woman - my daughter-in-law. When traveling with us in Italy, I gave what she perceived as a too generous tip after a delicious meal. We were a party of six for that lunch. My $10 tip amounted to a mere 6.44 Euro, but in her eyes, it was so much more. In Hong Kong dollars, that was roughly HK $78.

Eyes wide, she said: "Mommy, you gave them too much, that is xxx bowls of fish ball soup. I have to work a long time to buy that many bowls of soup." Since that day, I often wonder when I buy something, how many bowls of soup does my purchase buy? I also wonder, how much better off would Americans be, if they simply thought in such black and white clarity -- about everything they purchased?

So, I want more Americans to go to China. Those who do, if they are lucky to get past the superficial tourist experience, will never be the same. They will never think the same when they see "Made in China." I know I don't.

If they are lucky, they will learn to measure their purchases through Asian eyes, for measured in the most basic of human needs, food and the human price to acquire it - our cheap imports cost us more than we know. Go to China and see for yourself. See the signs of America's probable approaching financial downfall. See China and understand why. Don't be trapped unaware.

We hear a lot about China's unparalleled rapid climb as the economic giant-of-all-giants in the world. Rumors abound about China's rise, as potentially the most political power in the world. Far too often, Western journalists and commentators talk about a China they've never visited, studied, or understand.

For all it's short-comings, China is doing a lot of things right as a country. It has created incentives for it's people. The Chinese government rewards hard work, encourages knowledge and higher education, and even rewards risk-taking. In education alone, they have increased the numbers of years of compulsory education and excel in terms of high literacy rates, unlike the United States educational system.

Their middle class is emerging as a thriving lot of happier people, unlike America's middle class -- who are becoming increasingly worried and disgruntled with their government. In terms of crime, theirs is certainly low compared to ours. They may have corruption, but nothing like that of other countries, and what corruption exists is vigorously prosecuted once it is discovered.

No country, at any time in history has implemented such a wide range of reforms. No country, at any time in history, has adjusted so well to unexpected developments and natural disasters. They aren't perfect, but anyone who criticizes the Chinese government from outside, simply doesn't know the facts except from a Western perspective. They don't see things from Asian eyes.

Some of our political leaders and citizens here in America, blame China for loss of manufacturing jobs. It's an easy conclusion to come to when you see China's success, compared to your country's diminishing success. We're the ones who sent the manufacturing jobs overseas, too late to point the finger. American workers aren't willing to do the jobs anyway.

When we talk about human rights abuses, we put our blinders on apparently, when it comes to our own human rights violations. Guess we don't want to talk about the abuses at Guantanamo, or Iraq, or anywhere else that points the blame back in our own direction. Seems like we have double standards.

Our media seems to love to point out that recent safety issues regarding kids toys and other products, are entirely the fault of the Chinese. Are we forgetting it's our country's companies that are dictating what products they want and looking the other way when their Chinese contractors cut corners or aren't aware of the safety concerns. Are we guilty of looking the other way, when we let sub-standard products come into the country without testing them?

Seems like there's an awful lot of China bashing here in America, by people who don't have a clue about the real China and the Chinese people. Instead of thinking about the Chinese and China as threats, we ought to be looking at ourselves, and wondering why we aren't congratulating them for improving the lives of their vast population. Maybe we should take a hard look at ourselves and what we've become and where we are headed.