傻冒儿 Stupid Hat aka ShaMao'er

Support the Turks!

"Science is the only true guide in life."  Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Founder of modern Turkey 22.09.1924    Turkish politician & reformer (1881 - 1938)

A wonderful thing.  Follows on nicely from my Charles Martel post.   The US needs to be doing everything possible to support these secularist Turks.  If we (collectively, not just the US), through inaction or indifference, allow Turkey to drift towards more radical Islam the negative ramifications are enormous.   The first step is for the EU to immediately set up a timetable for admission.  If they are not willing to do it then the US should offer a very favorable free trade agreement at least. 

Cool pics of Jin Mao in Shanghai.  Actually found them on some blog that was making reference to the Blade Runneresque quality of Shanghai.  True enough.   

Need to remind myself to write an entry one of these days on the prescience of the novel "Neuromancer" by William Gibson written about 20 years ago when it comes to China.

In debt to Charles Martel

Just got this couple years old editorial via the foreign policy blog.  Foreign policy blog is just excellent and I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in global issues.  http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/

Here is the editorial: http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20041201-090801-2582r.htm

I completely agree with this viewpoint.  I have recently finished a very complimentary book about the history of Islam (my fading memory has lost the title....terrible).  Even when presenting Islam in a positive light, it is clear that it is a religion founded in violence and in which violence is a recurring theme.  It is also an inherently expansionist religion. 

I do take issue with foreign policy blog's comment:

" agree that one can find plenty of problematic material in the Koran, and yet, only recently has this religion that is over a thousand years old become such a problem. What's changed?

This is a surprising lack of historical knowledge.  Europe was at war with Islamic forces regularly from the 7th century through the 17th century.  Only the strength of Frankish forces and divisions within the caliphate prevented a sustained Islamic expansion out of Spain into France and Northern Italy in the 8th century.   While it is true that many of these wars had geo-political and economic dimensions as well as religious ones, they were often presented in religious terms to the population and soldiers, which is really all that matters.  It was easy for these leaders to inspire their Muslim armies with jihadist verses from the Koran.

While I really look forward to the day that we may cure religion once and for all through medicine, I recognize that this will require decades at least and likely the needless expenditure of a great many lives.   Given the nature of Islam, it may indeed prove impossible to deal with its adherents in anything less than an extreme fashion.  I fear that we may be at war with these people for a very long time and bear the risk of losing our own value system as it becomes ever more violent to surpress them.

And you become a monster
So the monster will not break you

From U2, I may not like everything Bono stands for but he certainly can write some great lyrics

Not so crazy Americans

Where were the 5 worst shooting rampages by a lone killer in recent history?   If you had asked me this question I would have assumed that at least one if not more were in the US.  It turns out that none of them were.

The World's Worst Shooting Rampages

Who would have thought?    Still, I have a feeling that per capita mental health disorders should be higher in the US than most places.  I have searched in vain on Google for such stats.  I did find that Washington DC is the craziest US state (territory) while my home of Massachusetts proudly places 3rd in the union.   A Chinese acquaintence of mine who has lived in the US for many years theorizes that the high mental illness in the US is a result of the breakdown of the family unit and the relative isolation in which Americans tend to live.  Sounds reasonable to me. 

Where do my taxes go?

This is a nice essay by an anonymous Chinese writer.  I read a good English translation.  I will post the entire thing here in the hopes that my Chinese reading audience (if any) will have access to it as I imagine it will be blocked at some point.

我要知道我的税在哪里？

今天就是个人申报收入超过12万元的最后期限了，我面对日历，心中充满了

矛盾，不知自己是否应当去申报不要再去较真，还是应以沉默代替我的抗议。
本人收入年薪15万元，由所在的公司代扣代缴所得税，每年总计两万多元的
税收贡献给了国家。税是应当交的，它是作为人民代言人的政府履行公共职责不可缺少的手段。但收税也就收了，还要口口声声要对不按时申报的人处以罚款，我不禁出离愤怒了，我们的沉默换来的是更进一步的苛求，我们对自己权利的冷淡得到的是更加过分的压榨。我要向所有的人呼吁，告诉我们，我们交的税用在了什么地方？！

我交的税没有一分钱用在了我的医疗上，现在，我要是得病只能自己交所有的医疗费，所有交过的税不会有一分钱退给你以说明你交纳的税是有回报的。在我还
有经济能力自己看病的时候，我也没有看到我的税收有一分钱给那些没有能力看病的人身上，电视报纸中天天充斥着可怜无辜的弱者通过媒体要求大家伸出援助之手，人的生命、健康在经济压力下显得那样脆弱，可我还应当表现我的慈善吗？我不是已经交了那么多税吗，那么多像本人一样缴税的钱难道不该给这些极度困难的人以帮助吗？为什么他们只能在电视上落泪伤悲？在西汉，老年人达到一定年龄都会由国家养老，而当我听到庆功似的宣传全国每年税收达到3万亿而补贴给农民仅区区几百亿的时候，我要知道，我的税用在了哪里！

我交的税没有用在教育上，我的朋友的孩子上幼儿园、小学、中学、大学都要交费，而且越是基础教育收费越多，我的朋友们也没有因为任何养家糊口的负担而
减免过任何税负。去年年底在央视搞的拍卖活动，在企业是一种荣耀，在国家是一种耻辱，人生而平等，可为什么这么多儿童读书还需要向社会募捐？新年联欢晚会中民工孩子的表演难道只是换回民众的同情？我很幸运，我的父母还健康，我还不需要养育子女，如果我的父母需要我照顾，我的子女要上学，那我不知道我还有什么收入承担我的生活，所以，我要知道，我的税用在了哪里！

我交的税没有用在修建道路上，我每年要为我的车另外购买养老费和车船使用税约1500元，买车时还要交纳购置税近2万元，而每次我在公路上行驶的时候，如果是高速公路，每公里要交纳五角的过路费，普通公路也会收费，每年我要为养车另外支出两万多元，所以，我要知道，我的税用在了哪里！

我交的税没有给我的居住带来任何保障，每年我要交房租三万多元，而这些支出没有任何抵扣。据说买房子将要推出房地产税，我不知道我应当住在什么地方，奇高的房价没有任何税收上的补贴，而且以种种手段推高房价以抑制房地产过热，巍峨的政府办公大楼没有我的尺寸之地，壮观的广场没有给我任何荣耀，所以，我要知道，我的税用在了什么地方！

我要知道，我交的税是否成为晚宴上的茅台五粮液；我要知道，我交的税是否成为各种大会小会主席台上仅用几个小时的鲜花；我要知道，我交的税是否成为各
种形象工程的砖瓦；我要知道，我交的税是否成为出国考察的愉悦体验；我要知道，我交的税是否成为轮子上的舒适享受；我要知道，我交的税是否已经被慷慨赠送；我要知道，我交的税是否被国有企业挥霍亏损一空，或者成为向我收取垄断价格的帮凶；我要知道，我交的税是否填补金融机构的巨大窟窿，让高山一类的人过上逍遥的生活；我要知道，我交的税是否变成庞大收税队伍的工资反而成为榨取我自己的刀柄！

我要知道，我交的税有没有变成农村小学课堂的书本；我要知道，我交的税有没有为山区穷困人的生活保障；我要知道，我交的税是否成为农村和城市无地人员
的补偿；我要知道，我交的税是否为见义勇为的英雄提供帮助！

Where do my taxes go?

This is a nice essay by an anonymous Chinese writer.  I read a good English translation.  I will post the entire thing here in the hopes that my Chinese reading audience (if any) will have access to it as I imagine it will be blocked at some point.

我要知道我的税在哪里？

今天就是个人申报收入超过12万元的最后期限了，我面对日历，心中充满了

矛盾，不知自己是否应当去申报不要再去较真，还是应以沉默代替我的抗议。
本人收入年薪15万元，由所在的公司代扣代缴所得税，每年总计两万多元的
税收贡献给了国家。税是应当交的，它是作为人民代言人的政府履行公共职责不可缺少的手段。但收税也就收了，还要口口声声要对不按时申报的人处以罚款，我不禁出离愤怒了，我们的沉默换来的是更进一步的苛求，我们对自己权利的冷淡得到的是更加过分的压榨。我要向所有的人呼吁，告诉我们，我们交的税用在了什么地方？！

我交的税没有一分钱用在了我的医疗上，现在，我要是得病只能自己交所有的医疗费，所有交过的税不会有一分钱退给你以说明你交纳的税是有回报的。在我还
有经济能力自己看病的时候，我也没有看到我的税收有一分钱给那些没有能力看病的人身上，电视报纸中天天充斥着可怜无辜的弱者通过媒体要求大家伸出援助之手，人的生命、健康在经济压力下显得那样脆弱，可我还应当表现我的慈善吗？我不是已经交了那么多税吗，那么多像本人一样缴税的钱难道不该给这些极度困难的人以帮助吗？为什么他们只能在电视上落泪伤悲？在西汉，老年人达到一定年龄都会由国家养老，而当我听到庆功似的宣传全国每年税收达到3万亿而补贴给农民仅区区几百亿的时候，我要知道，我的税用在了哪里！

我交的税没有用在教育上，我的朋友的孩子上幼儿园、小学、中学、大学都要交费，而且越是基础教育收费越多，我的朋友们也没有因为任何养家糊口的负担而
减免过任何税负。去年年底在央视搞的拍卖活动，在企业是一种荣耀，在国家是一种耻辱，人生而平等，可为什么这么多儿童读书还需要向社会募捐？新年联欢晚会中民工孩子的表演难道只是换回民众的同情？我很幸运，我的父母还健康，我还不需要养育子女，如果我的父母需要我照顾，我的子女要上学，那我不知道我还有什么收入承担我的生活，所以，我要知道，我的税用在了哪里！

我交的税没有用在修建道路上，我每年要为我的车另外购买养老费和车船使用税约1500元，买车时还要交纳购置税近2万元，而每次我在公路上行驶的时候，如果是高速公路，每公里要交纳五角的过路费，普通公路也会收费，每年我要为养车另外支出两万多元，所以，我要知道，我的税用在了哪里！

我交的税没有给我的居住带来任何保障，每年我要交房租三万多元，而这些支出没有任何抵扣。据说买房子将要推出房地产税，我不知道我应当住在什么地方，奇高的房价没有任何税收上的补贴，而且以种种手段推高房价以抑制房地产过热，巍峨的政府办公大楼没有我的尺寸之地，壮观的广场没有给我任何荣耀，所以，我要知道，我的税用在了什么地方！

我要知道，我交的税是否成为晚宴上的茅台五粮液；我要知道，我交的税是否成为各种大会小会主席台上仅用几个小时的鲜花；我要知道，我交的税是否成为各
种形象工程的砖瓦；我要知道，我交的税是否成为出国考察的愉悦体验；我要知道，我交的税是否成为轮子上的舒适享受；我要知道，我交的税是否已经被慷慨赠送；我要知道，我交的税是否被国有企业挥霍亏损一空，或者成为向我收取垄断价格的帮凶；我要知道，我交的税是否填补金融机构的巨大窟窿，让高山一类的人过上逍遥的生活；我要知道，我交的税是否变成庞大收税队伍的工资反而成为榨取我自己的刀柄！

我要知道，我交的税有没有变成农村小学课堂的书本；我要知道，我交的税有没有为山区穷困人的生活保障；我要知道，我交的税是否成为农村和城市无地人员
的补偿；我要知道，我交的税是否为见义勇为的英雄提供帮助！

Intermittant firewall

I'm really surprised that this one gets through the great firewall, I was sure it would be blocked...

Good article on China-Japan relations written by a Chinese.  Looks like a decent website as well; left leaning to be sure but u gotta have balance...

"Public opinion" and China's Japan Policy

Would love to know exactly how the great firewall works.  I imagine that if this essay was written in Chinese it would probably be automatically blocked.

Racial irrelevance

Over the past several days I have seen several news stories related to memorial services for the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings being held in South Korea.  South Koreans hold vigil for 32 shooting victims.   

I think that this incident is a clear demonstration of both the incredible core racism that exists in most countries and the incredible lack of such racism in today's America.    Why should these South Korean's mourn?   What do they care?  The victims were not Korean.  They do not know them any more than they know the 40 killed in Iraq yesterday; where is their candlelight vigil?  No, it has nothing to do with the victims.  Instead, it is a demonstration intended to demonstrate to the American people that Koreans are not so bad and thereby placate the Korean's own sense of themselves.  It also shows a profound misunderstanding of Americans or maybe just a cultural projection of Korean culture onto America. 

Last night, a 23 year old American university exchange student in Beijing entered into a Chinese dormitory and stabbed to death 11 people.   Although the university officials and police attempted to keep the news quiet, it quickly spread via instant message and internet.  By 9am this morning over 500 mostly young Chinese had surrounded the US Embassy in Beijing chanting anti-American slogans and throwing rocks at the building.  Authorities are concerned of the risk for increased violence if the killer's identity as a black American male is released.

Where are the crowds around the South Korean Embassy in Washington DC, only a few hours drive away from Virginia Tech?   Where are the editorials in conservative newspapers calling for an end to immigration?   There are none.   The fact that the killer was from South Korea originally is not the story.  It is simply a fact with no other specific relevance to the crime.   With few exceptions, I do not believe that most Americans have given a second thought to the national origin of the killer.  He had grown up in the US and so was American.  The story of his mental illness and the other stories related to the shooting (police response, etc.) are all racially disinterested.   I do not believe that even the parents of the victims (the American ones anyways) will have any animosity towards Koreans in general.  It simply would not be thought about in that manner.  They will of course hate the killer, but I doubt that there will be any extension of that hate to his ethnicity.  It simply isn't relevant. 

And that is a wonderful thing.  It is a core source of American strength and yet another proof that there is not, and possibly never will be, an American decline. 

Earning my name

Once again I am forced to China bash simply because they make it too easy to resist.  This time it is regarding the May Day holiday.  The official holiday schedule is that everyone will work Saturday, Sunday, and Monday the 28th, 29th, and 30th and then have holiday through the following Tuesday.  Monday the 7th will be a holiday.   Why don't they simply make the holiday Monday through Friday?  Everyone I have asked, both foreign and Chinese, has agreed that this would be simple and logical.  But they do not do it, why?  Of course the Chinese I have commented on this with do not understand my question.  Their reply: "that is the official policy".  I ask why and they are perplexed, once again proving to them that I am in fact a "Sha Mao'er".

Idiots or Aliens

I went to an American Chamber event today for lunch.  The speaker was an Asst. Director with the US Environmental Protection Agency in charge of enforcement.   He was a very good speaker and it was generally quite interesting and informative.   

The thing is, his ignorance of Chinese realities was just about complete.  This is of course understandable as he is charge of US enforcement and so would have no real use for in-depth knowledge of China.  The problem is that he is offering advice and counsel to the Chinese State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) that is so far divorced from their manner of thinking and political reality as to be bizarre or laughable.   I think it might be best to just stay away as this is probably counterproductive and lead the Chinese to believe we are either idiots or aliens. 

For instance, he is a big proponent of public input into regulations, citizen initiatives, and absolute anonymity if desired when seeking EPA advice or reporting an infraction. 

There were also additional members of the EPA present as well as some people from the US Embassy.  During the comment period, none of them displayed much more understanding of reality than he did.  This was surprising and a bit scary.