Messages from China

I asked each of my students to make a list of messages they would like to send to Americans to tell them about China. Here is a sample of their responses:

• China is a responsible country.
• China and America are two of the most effective countries in the world.
• China is developing fast and harmoniously.
• Taiwan is a part of China, and there's only one China.
• The Chinese people are very friendly and will give you a warm welcome if you visit China. [I can attest to that.]
• No matter what people write in the newspaper, you should believe that the Chinese are friendly, they love life, love work, love peace, and they don't want to make trouble. One World.
• Please trust Chinese people. We are not spies.
• Almost all young Chinese can speak English.
• China still has many problems, just like the U.S.: criminal problems, environmental problems, and so on. Do not blame China for problems that are common to many countries.
• China is still poor but developing very fast.
• China is more democratic than you realize. China is not an aggressive country. China and America should be friends, not enemies.
• Chinese food is safe and delicious. [True in the urban China I've seen.]
• Chinese people have the potential to win Nobel Prizes.
• We do still have some incorruptible officials.
• Chinese people know more about the world than the world knows about China. The world should know more about us.
• Taiwan, Tibet, and Xiajiang (NW China) are part of China. Don't believe the people who want to divide us.
• The average Chinese person is still poor. It doesn't look like Shanghai or Beijing all over China. We are still progressing.
• We have more human rights than Americans imagine.
• China is not a growing enemy to be worried about.
• People in China now enjoy a better life.
• We want more opportunities to attend famous American universities.
• You will be safe in China. [True. Very safe here. No guns in the citizenry or police. Little violent crime.]
• If you come to China, you may find some Chinese people looking at you. They don't mean to offend you. They are just curious about you. [My note - a woman came up to me in a store and looked into my shopping basket to see what I was buying. She turned over several items to read the prices. She was just curious to see what a foreigner would buy.]
• In the process of developing our motherland, there are many problems, but I believe our government is trying its best to solve these problems.