> I understand how you feel Ellis, and understand your message, even
> though I have never set foot in China. I read the daily gripe list.
> The cultures colliding is merely a collision between the collectivism
> of Chinese philosophy and the individualism of the Western. The irony
> in your message however, lies in your closing paragraph, where you
> suggest to the PRC to seek out the best and the brightest to
> "collectively" come up with some type of uniform program.
> I'm not in disagreement with your idea, just wanted to know if you
> understood the irony of it all?

> Your friend, Bill

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Dear friend, Bill,

You'd better BELIEVE that what I have suggested is ironic! And BRAVO for your astuteness in catching that (intended) part of the message.

Bill, these ARE most certainly unusual times -- particularly in view of East having met West on a host of previously "unfitting" issues, such as exchange of goods for money. After all, only (soon to be) 45 years since its creation, the People's (Communist) Republic of China is, today, very much (commercially) in league with its former Cold War foe, the USA. I mean, all you have to do is look closely at practically ANY commercial product for sale here in the States, and it bears the label "Made in China!" I can recall when that used to be JAPAN or KOREA. Now THAT's an ironic twist, if any. You see, even with our obviously vast differences in religio-political philosophy, we are still able to find a common ground for tolerance and cooperation in other fundamental ways. So, why the hell not for the sake of preserving and/or improving an already up-and-moving learning program of communication between us? Yes, Bill, that may be regarded as "ironic," but more importantly, it's a marked gesture of common sense.

Keep those ambitions high, Guys!

Love,
Ellis