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| Max Morley University of Louisville |
And if you pay close attention to the blogs, you'll notice that my nine classmates are having their China blogs posted by our glorious PR associate in the McConnell Center. This is because China's government, (specifically the Propaganda Ministry, a department run by the Chinese Communist Party and the government, if there is a difference) controls media.
However, that is not the case for me. You'll see that this blog is posted from my account, MC Morley. This is because of a combination of my disregard for rules, especially when they're silly, and my desire to keep in touch with others back home in a more direct manner.
Regardless, that is not the point of this post. My first blog from China is going to be about living, for however short a time, at the mercy of the Propaganda Ministry. Facebook is not commonplace in this country, because the Chinese government has chosen to prohibit its usage. The same goes for sites like Twitter, YouTube, and, yes, Blogspot.
The reason for this block is because of the deep paranoia within the Chinese government. Social networking sites that those previously mentioned (and many others) have the potential, and were, in the past, used to organize rallies and riots that, more often than not, are at odds with or in response to governmental practices. While events like this are encouraged in America as part of a healthy political system, China is a different world. Here, opposition is seen as dangerous. Debate is not healthy. Dissent is anti-nationalist. Political correctness is not, as we use it, an attempt to not offend others; here, it is agreeing with the government so that you are not seen as traitorous, a supporter of Japan, the United States, Taiwan, or some other entity that China is at odds with.
China's leaders are terrified of another Tiananmen Square or Falun Gong. Our discussion in class yesterday with our Chinese peers was pleasant and cordial until Tiananmen Square came up - they soon became defensive and a bit upset with us, responding (almost in retaliation and accusation) with a question about President Obama meeting with the Dalai Lama, insinuating our alliance with Tibet and calling the Dalai Lama a "race traitor."
There is no doubt that a tool like Facebook would be able to organize events; I'm sure we've all been a part of a Facebook event before. However, the censorship of sites such as these serves as a testimonial to the stark difference in cultures. Our culture thrives on debate, on constructive conflict, on compromise to arrive at a solution that works best for all parties involved. Chinese culture is dictated by the unified message of government officials, keeping their people ignorant of topics at their discretion and essentially living day to day preventing an uprising - that is why a unified voice is so necessary. Any deviation from a unified government voice or authority can cause massive discord - such a split is (a large part of) what caused the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations, and the less often-referenced sister demonstrations across the nation.
It's an interesting dichotomy, because while many strive to improve relations between the two states, they do not understand the stark differences between the cultures, a necessary understanding when attempting to work with China.
On a side note - China is fun! If you ever get the chance, come here. But make sure you bring lots of granola bars or lots of Pepto Bismol. You'll need one of the two. Or both.
MC Morley
Max Morley, from Pikeville, Ky., is a senior McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville and is currently studying in the People's Republic of China. He is majoring in political science.