LIFE GOES ON

Things have improved with the students here. I no longer try to get them to think independently, I simply tell them what they need to know for tests and reports. Still they do not take notes. Independent or critical thinking is not part of China. I think it stems from the number of people and their history.

If you allow over 2 billion people to think about their life and how it could be better, you are planting the seeds of unrest. And, historically, the Chinese have always looked to the Emperor or other leader for knowledge and thought.

I learned something quite interesting: A friend was on the bus into town when a pickpocket went to work. When his activities were discovered the bus stopped and the police were called. The entire process took over an hour and almost no one was allowed to leave the bus. Those that were allowed to leave the bus did so after consenting to a search of their person are parcels. Otherwise, the police (PSP) cannot just search people. I was under the impression that the PSP were omnipotent and could do as they pleased. My Chinese friend corrected me and told me that a search such as that is a violation of human rights and is not allowed. Makes me smile. Somethings here are good and that is one of them.

I have a lot pictures. I will continue to post some of them. I am writing (really thinking about writing) a long post. I will try my best to make it interesting. In the meantime here are some pictures.

A little political commentary with one picture. The others are of the main square downtown. The building with the big red star used to be local communist headquarters, it is now an electronics mall. The communists have a new ornate building. I can't take a picture of it to post, that is against rules.