"there is no discrimination in China…"

So there I was, living in Urumqi China, newlywed and on another adventure. Not knowing what the time abroad would be for Andrea and I, we were like eager kids awaiting a big holiday; bright-eyed and soaking it all in. I thought that I had, up to this point,  seen a lot, experienced culture shock and learned to love cultures around the world; then I landed in Beijing. I realized that up to that point in my life, I hadn’t really experienced culture shock since China had the market cornered.

Of course we had fantastic adventures throughout the semester that made us love China and XinJiang,  like walking and experiencing the Silk Road, a 2000 year throwback to a simpler time, seeing the Xian Warriors uncovered, camping in a guard tower on the great wall, teaching students English, traveling the beautiful country, bartering, befriending both Han and Uigher, learning simple Chinese and don’t even get me started on the food (let me say Goat Eyeball Soup and leave it at that).

Throughout our time there, we volunteered at an orphanage and saw first hand what it meant to be born disabled in China. Some examples of disability include blindness, disease, deformation, being female, albinoism, and other “imperfections”.  The curriculum of students in both public and private schooling was amazing. Advanced math, language, science and some arts were common. The world outside of China however was taught to be a miserable place, a desolate land, full of poor, depressed people, without country, healthcare and education. Emphasized were the discrimination of America against its own, the tyranny of war started and finished by enemies and the overall lack of a beautiful Mother Land.

Of all the shocking things that students learned in school the lesson on discrimination shocked me the most. In a news conferance, a student was asked about discrimination against the Uigher people which is alive and well in XinJiang ( the students had separate drinking fountains!) The student thought for a minute and said, “there is no discrimination in China because there are no black people in China”.  For a beautiful Mother Land, it sure has given its future generations a warped sense of the world, one which these misguided students will compete in and one which will be sure to give China its fair allocation of praise.

I haven’t been back to China since 2002 but when I think of it and see what is happening now, I am grateful for having been there before this violence and wish more than ever that I could do something to help. Its similar to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in that people want to make it on their own, have true freedom, govern themselves and live their culture, religion and conscience as they choose. That is what the families we met wanted. Most were weary of the politics and willing to live together.  Being near the 4th of July weekend (my families favorite time of year and favorite month) I realize just how good we have it here. I know because I have lived under Isreal’s military occupation,  China’s communist hand, and Argentina’s failed economy. As hard as times have been and may be, our country’s leadership, economics, education and ability far surpasses most countries I have been to.

Now as a father, it means even more to me to have my children share in the privileges of America. I love this country! Anyone who reads this blog of Andrea’s and knows us, should know that about our family. We are grateful for the USA. That’s it, my bits about the current world, our country, and my family. God Bless!