Ahhhhhhh -- FREEDOM FROM FEAR?

Question

I live in the Peoples Republic of China, have for the last year, a transplanted American.

Yesterday I had to go to the big government office building in the city I live and get my visa extended.

1. I took the #13 bus, for 8 cents, to the building

2. I walked in, there was one half asleep security guard at the door. No metal detectors, no security camera's that I could see, no military or police in thug like black jump suites with combat boots and carrying at point a rifle.

3. I walked up to the third floor and went into the office were I was instructed to go. Since everything is in Chinese I went to the first person I saw and asked who I needed to see. They got up from behind their desk, looked at my visa and took me to them.

4. I was given a form, all in Chinese and they helped me fill it out. They gave me tea to drink.

5. They told me to come back in 4 days to pick up my visa.

6. I left 15 minutes later.

Damn they treat me nice.

There are three things people want in life above anything else.

1. a roof over their heads
2. their health
3 security.

China is providing that remarkably well for it's 1.3 billion people.

Do you feel secure where you are?

Richard P

China last year opened passenger rail service to Tibet and is encouraging the world to visit. What are they trying to hide now?

The guard was half asleep at the general government office, not the immigration office.

China is having immigration problems from N Korea and Vietnam. The thing that is keeping people out is because of the high unemployment and underemployment rates. In time that will change.

My whole point to this is for the most part, the people of China do not live in fear. Nor do I.

swissarmor

Go to my profile, look at what I have written -- then get back.

Answer 1

First of all I want to let you know I am happy to see that there are some nice and freindly people out here on Yahoo! Answers that is open minded about how China is realy like today. Your respect for my motherland is much appreciated.I can only hope that others will follow your excellent example.

But of couse, China still have many problems and from time to time the government may be some what inefficient but things are getting better.
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To 'B.Kevorkian', 'Richard P', 'swissarmor' and 'Corky'

Lets get right to the point. Do you guys want to know something? You know NOTHING about China and you know NOTHING about our government. Yet some how you just love to act like you know a lot about us. Dude, you live in an other continent and base on what you have wrote I don't think you have even leave your hometown. WTF? NO! NO! Shut up you guys, SHUT UP! You don't know anything!

1989 Tiananmen Square protest:

I actually agree with you on this one. Running students over with a tank is wrong and evil. But we never said that the government was right! What is wrong with you people? Turn your brains on! As I had said before: Don't even think of using the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest to say China is under tyranny. The US had the Kent State shootings in the 70s' and students was killed, but that still don't make the US a tyranny (right?). Anyway, we are not talking about Tiananmen Square here so I don't understand why did people start to talk about it.

Standard of living in China:

I have no idea what makes you think that China's average family standard of living is less than the poorest American household. Can you please post a link? We may not be very rich but life is ok for us. We have food and schooling. And just thought you may want to know but I don't care if the government is a dictatorship or not. As long as they don't turn back to planned economy I don't give a damn.

One last thing. Why don't you guys come here and see things for yourself?

Answer 2

Hi there!

Yeah.. those guys are always half asleep, and no security camera because there is nothing worth for you to take away! LOL...!

I just want to say - YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY IN CHINA AS LONG AS YOU LIKE.

I'm 100% Chinese from Hong Kong, need to travel to China very often and stay in Beijing at least 2 weeks each month. The customs are nice to me too and I never saw any foreigner mess up with custom officers in the airport during my travel. So I guess they treat everyone the same!

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To those who may be annoyed by this "question" or "statement", I don't understand why you spent time to read and post your opinions here, why didn't you just ignore it? YA is a free forum - Don't you guys know what is "FREEDOM OF SPEECH"???

Or there is no such thing "freedom of speech" in US Yahoo Server? If so, that is even worse than the Commie Chinese Yahoo Server!

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P.S. to Swissamor

You have no clue about China at all. Do more research and don't just watch TV, google news from different areas, UK, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, you would know a lot more, or go to China and have a look!

Your answer is a joke - make me laugh!!!!!

http://www.scmp.com

Answer 3

To SwissArmor

I agree with Just Plain Jim.

I've been to China, I'm an American Born Chinese. So I blend in pretty nicely... I spent my time there with my Inlaws so I wasn't always the tourist areas, and have pretty much lived just like the natives.

My own father who is a Naturalized American citizen, has 3 businesses and 2 homes in China. The government is strickt but does not interfere with peoples everyday lives. SwissCheese... your buy into the anti-communist bigoted American outlook on China really shows off your ignorance of how things really are.

Answer 4

Well seems more like a statement. Not a Question! You are comparing China's Legal immigration policy. To the USA Illegal immigration policy. Ya! That's a good comparison. Not! Or it seems to be what you are inferring.
Answer #1 That's good and cheap. Good for you!
Answer#2 What would China do if it was under virtual siege of 12 million under-educated primarily blue collar illegal immigrants. Trying to bypass the visa or immigration process. As history has shown us. They are more violent then most in any given situation. As far as your inference is concerned. The Chinese have been plenty violent in the dealing with their own people. Let alone, illegal immigration. Your visa application was easy, do to the fact you are educated, trained and hired in an area needed. Not to mention a feather in their cap as it were. They also are not flooded with the mass of legal and illegal immigrants as the US is. I would go so far as to say. More people leave legally and illegally. Then immigrate there legally or illegally. I work with one. He does not paint the pretty picture as you do. No line for your visa? I wonder why? China is a nice place to visit. Very few people want to permanently immigrate there. You are the exception to the rule. Good for you. That is why the US handles more Legal and illegal immigration in a day. Then China does in a year. It is to bad China does not treat their own people as well as they treat you. I wish you the best of luck. Just do not drink the water. According to a new report. China has one the most polluted bodies of water in the world. Good luck with the future water shortages. Or lack of clean water.
China is coming around. It will be along time before you can enjoy the unalienable rights you have in the USA. For instance speak out about the injustices in China and see what happens. Did you ever think! The reason the guard was asleep. Was due to the fact their immigration office does no real levels of immigration.
Ask Tibet how they feel about China.
Peace!!! Love!!!


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Answer 5

Though I do not believe that we are completely being freed from fear but the government is starting to lower unneeded security which is alleviating a lot of fear. We do need security but sometimes the government does go over board. I am pleased to read that you were able to have a successful transaction. Also, I commend you for doing the legal thing rather than just staying here illegally.

Answer 6

There is NO profile for you. So I'm gonna just talk, OK? I'm a southern lady so just try and stop me, hahaha!
I think all the 'security' here is bunk. Our 'own' have caused more havoc than 'terrorists'. I'm not a conspiracy theorist(or maybe I am now). hmmmm
I feel safe and secure where I am. I have a 12 gaged and a 30/30 and an old dog for physical protection against'predators'.
I know how to grow food and preserve it.
I know how to make soap and candles(with wicks)
I know how to make bread without yeast
I know a lot more, too.
I am self sufficient.
Who does that scare? Hmm?
Peace,
D

Answer 7

I don't have any first hand knowledge, but I've read quite a bit that suggests China is starting to evolve past the oppressive government. And this is mainly due to the fact that they are a country that's on the rise and becoming more wealthy as a whole.

You'll find peace tends to go hand in hand with prosperity.

Answer 8

Your praise of China left out some facts: they killed over 10 million of their people, they have a one party rule and if you demonstrate against it you are killed or put in prison, their average family standard of living is less than our poorest American household, China is a dictatorship. If you like it then, please stay, but don't bore me with your socialist babble. My guess is you are a moron liberal that looks to Big Brother government as the Utopia. As I respond the Red Chinese factories are building a massive military from the dollars we spend at Wal Mart. If the West stopped trading with these criminal despots the system would implode.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Get back to us if you get your visa, then what? Nothing wrong with China except trade deficits and a lot of pollution. I hear the food is great. I cook and eat in Chinese a lot. Would love to visit there. Am a student of the Chinese culture.