It's the Economy, stupid!

Before coming to China, I had obviously heard of the Cult of Mao. I've seen the giant statutes in his honor (see Dandong post), seen the lines that form in front of his Maosoleum mausoleum, and learned that the places he went and foods he ate are revered by Chinese people.

I had not, however, anticipated the Cult of Deng. If you're not very familiar with Chinese history, in 1978 Deng Xiaoping took over as chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and began his a process of economic development,改革开放, which opened up the Chinese economy to the rest of the world.

Admit it. He's kind of adorable.

China credits Deng and his policies with the past 33 years of insane economic growth. In other words, the people of China LOVE Deng. On a regular basis my teachers use Deng's policies as examples for grammar structures. One teacher was especially proud of introducing the word for "debt" and giving a example that translates to "China is the United States' debt master"

I haven't heard many people talk about Mao or thank Mao, but Deng...that's another story entirely.

Example 1: After returning from Dandong, two of my teachers asked me on two separate occasions what the people of North Korea looked like. Knowing that this was somewhat of a trick question, I replied, "They looked kind of unhappy. And their buildings were all crumbling and old."

Both teachers replied that this is what China was like before Deng. And then both teachers, on separate occasions, looked up (towards heaven? Deng? a fly on the ceiling?) when they mentioned Deng and his economic policies. It was as though Deng was god, watching over China and moving them out of North Korean conditions.

I'm not saying that North Korean economic conditions are desirable, but it's not like I'm looking at the sky to thank John Boehner for raising the debt ceiling.

Example 2: A few weeks ago I had a discussion with my Chinese roommate about issues in China. I asked her what she thought about things like the one-child policy and the firewall, since people in the west sometimes say that they are both human rights violations. My roommate assured me that the people of China are happy because they're materially satisfied.

But what about freedom of expression? She shook her head. "Why? If we have jobs and economic development, that's important."

It totally boggled my mind. In the US, we talk about how people in China are unhappy with the Chinese government and issues of human rights and freedom of expression in China. It's not that my roommate isn't aware of these things, it's that as long as she has new clothes and a cell phone (her examples, NOT mine), she doesn't care.

Forget about Patrick Henry! Here, it's "Screw liberty! Just give me a the new iPhone!" The key is that it's just a totally different mindset, one that regardless of how hard I try, I just can't totally understand.

MUST HAVE NEW IPHONE!

Example 3: In my conversational Chinese class this week, we covered a chapter on transportation. My teacher asked about the challenges that accompany building roads or a new railway. One classmate mentioned that you displace a lot of people, which is kind of, sort of, a BIG PROBLEM.

My teacher tilted her head and smiled in a way that suggested, 'what naive waiguoren'. "But it's the government's investment. So it's not really our business to question or make judgments if they want to fund a new rail system."

Eminent Domain? As if!

If the government wants to build the tallest building in the world or a new highway, as long as it's government money, who cares? I'm not sure really sure if this view only holds up until THAT house becomes MY house...am I still supposed to be pleased with economic development when it means watching my house be plowed over by bulldozers?

当然！

Example 4 (my personal favorite): This past weekend, three classmates and I went to Harbin's Jewish museum. Yes, I said Jewish. In China. Not only in China, in Harbin. WHAT?

So apparently about 20,000 Jews from Russia and Eastern Europe fled to Harbin during and shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution. They had a good thing going for themselves until some left when the Japanese invaded and established Manchuko (which the museum did cite as a reason) or until the vast majority fled with the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 (which the the museum failed to mention as a possible impetus for flight).

Okay, so I don't know why this was in the Harbin museum, but...

The museum is in the "New Synagogue," a three story building in the center of Harbin that was built in 1921. The first floor houses a few random paintings that are supposedly of Harbin. But once you mount the stairs you get to the Jew part of the museum. Once you pass through the story of how and why the Jews came to Harbin you entire an entire floor that is devoted to the "numerous economic miracles" that the Jews brought to Harbin.

Wait, what?

"Harbin Jews brought about numerous economic miracles by bringing into full play their intellectual and business talent...the development of the modern city of Harbin offered the Jews an opportunity for creating new enterprises and providing a solid foundation for their later economic activities in Europe and America"

Nothing much, you know, just making some ECONOMIC MIRACLES!

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

OK, let me clarify. I don't find it funny because I doubt any of what the sign says or that the Jews did help Harbin advance economically. I just have yet to see the Chinese show this kind of admiration and reverence for anyone who is not Chinese.

Why so much love?

It's the economy, stupid!

So maybe Clinton wasn't referencing the Jews in Harbin when he said this, but the fact of the matter is that when it comes to priorities in China, Clinton was spot on. Jews made "economic miracles," so they get a shrine museum. Makes sense. At least I won't argue with it.

Honestly, as long as China's economy keeps chugging along, skyscrapers keep magically appearing overnight, and high-speed railways link cities hundreds of miles away, it seems like Chinese people will be happy. I mean, why not?***


***UUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMM.........算了...