Comments on: Progress in China http://www.boris-johnson.com/2008/08/26/progress-in-china/ Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:46:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Amanda http://www.boris-johnson.com/2008/08/26/progress-in-china/comment-page-2/#comment-20630 Amanda Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:25:59 +0000 http://www.boris-johnson.com/?p=446#comment-20630 hi,boris,i am so high when i read you article about China because i am a Chinese girl.i like your description about China. She is changing every time i think specially Beijing city.right?so colorful, so wonderful and so nice,right?welcome to Beijing boris~~ 中国欢迎您～～北京欢迎您～～ hi,boris,i am so high when i read you article about China because i am a Chinese girl.i like your description about China. She is changing every time i think specially Beijing city.right?so colorful, so wonderful and so nice,right?welcome to Beijing boris~~
中国欢迎您～～北京欢迎您～～

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]]> By: PaulD http://www.boris-johnson.com/2008/08/26/progress-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-20500 PaulD Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:48:40 +0000 http://www.boris-johnson.com/?p=446#comment-20500 Second Stone on Left The Bog Swampland 12 Sept 2008 Well thanks, Tony. Reptiles can be quite intelligent but I never knew they had evolved so far as to have political leanings. You misunderstand, Sir. That I would hate to see Nepali culture destroyed by a Macdonalds / Starbucks on every street corner in Kathmandu does not mean I am a Marxist, reptilian or otherwise. This has nothing to do with totalitarian tyranny in China. A tyranny can co-exist with Macdonalds; a hamburger does not make it go away. In the same way, democracy can exist without Macdonalds. France and Italy have managed to fend off a takeover by multinational chains thanks to their fiercely guarded tradition of owner-managed restaurants, bars and hotels. And they are all the better for it. The "Western value" I had in mind was mindless consumerism of uniform products supplied by a commercial system that is, in its own way, as totalitarian as any government once its tentacles take hold. Do I believe in free markets? Yes. Do I believe we should warn emerging nations of the risks of being seduced by the instantly gratifying, anodyne, soul-less products of western society, and take great care before forcing them upon them? Yes. Boris summed it up perfectly: "You can’t help feeling sad that something may be about to be lost and that the old China is at risk of being gradually homogenised, Westernised, Americanised, pasteurised." How Marxist is that? Second Stone on Left
The Bog
Swampland
12 Sept 2008

Well thanks, Tony. Reptiles can be quite intelligent but I never knew they had evolved so far as to have political leanings.

You misunderstand, Sir. That I would hate to see Nepali culture destroyed by a Macdonalds / Starbucks on every street corner in Kathmandu does not mean I am a Marxist, reptilian or otherwise.

This has nothing to do with totalitarian tyranny in China. A tyranny can co-exist with Macdonalds; a hamburger does not make it go away. In the same way, democracy can exist without Macdonalds.

France and Italy have managed to fend off a takeover by multinational chains thanks to their fiercely guarded tradition of owner-managed restaurants, bars and hotels. And they are all the better for it.

The “Western value” I had in mind was mindless consumerism of uniform products supplied by a commercial system that is, in its own way, as totalitarian as any government once its tentacles take hold.

Do I believe in free markets? Yes. Do I believe we should warn emerging nations of the risks of being seduced by the instantly gratifying, anodyne, soul-less products of western society, and take great care before forcing them upon them? Yes.

Boris summed it up perfectly: “You can’t help feeling sad that something may be about to be lost and that the old China is at risk of being gradually homogenised, Westernised, Americanised, pasteurised.”

How Marxist is that?

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]]> By: Tony Pandy http://www.boris-johnson.com/2008/08/26/progress-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-20492 Tony Pandy Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:51:21 +0000 http://www.boris-johnson.com/?p=446#comment-20492 So, PaulD, we must never impose our Western values on other countries? Fine. Let's abandon the 1.2 billion Chinese people trapped to their fate in a monstrous totalitarian tyranny responsible for 70 million murders, a state in which the government forbids people from speaking freely or reading what they want, a state that even intrudes into the marital bed to determine how many children people can have. How much do you have to hate your own values to become such a defeatist little appeaser of tyranny, you repellent Marxist reptile ? So, PaulD, we must never impose our Western values on other countries? Fine. Let’s abandon the 1.2 billion Chinese people trapped to their fate in a monstrous totalitarian tyranny responsible for 70 million murders, a state in which the government forbids people from speaking freely or reading what they want, a state that even intrudes into the marital bed to determine how many children people can have. How much do you have to hate your own values to become such a defeatist little appeaser of tyranny, you repellent Marxist reptile ?

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]]> By: dawn http://www.boris-johnson.com/2008/08/26/progress-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-20484 dawn Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:51:23 +0000 http://www.boris-johnson.com/?p=446#comment-20484 I bet Cartier are regretting it already. I bet Cartier are regretting it already.

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]]> By: angela http://www.boris-johnson.com/2008/08/26/progress-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-20482 angela Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:47:27 +0000 http://www.boris-johnson.com/?p=446#comment-20482 Jordan wants to compete in the Olympics. I just wanted that to share that with everybody. She is goal oriented and has had her chest reduced to facilitate her entry. There is a woman after my own heart. Goal orientated to the nth degree. She is actually a bruising rider, has ridden since childhood, and adores horses and ponies so much she has written several books on the subject. She is going to force the insults of the Cartier event right down their throats and prove to them she is as good a rider as the best in the land, and I hope she does it. If not, I can only applaud her fortitude and determination. Jordan wants to compete in the Olympics. I just wanted that to share that with everybody. She is goal oriented and has had her chest reduced to facilitate her entry.

There is a woman after my own heart. Goal orientated to the nth degree. She is actually a bruising rider, has ridden since childhood, and adores horses and ponies so much she has written several books on the subject.

She is going to force the insults of the Cartier event right down their throats and prove to them she is as good a rider as the best in the land, and I hope she does it. If not, I can only applaud her fortitude and determination.

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]]> By: Lu http://www.boris-johnson.com/2008/08/26/progress-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-20480 Lu Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:44:10 +0000 http://www.boris-johnson.com/?p=446#comment-20480 No worries. They have already rejected a contract to retain a Starbucks in the Forbidden City. That's one small step for Beijing towards blockading the influence of Westernization. On the other hand, if it's a positive influence, why not learn from it, analyze it and reshape it to benefit China? It all makes sense that way. No worries. They have already rejected a contract to retain a Starbucks in the Forbidden City. That’s one small step for Beijing towards blockading the influence of Westernization.

On the other hand, if it’s a positive influence, why not learn from it, analyze it and reshape it to benefit China? It all makes sense that way.

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]]> By: James Nu http://www.boris-johnson.com/2008/08/26/progress-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-20444 James Nu Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:19:58 +0000 http://www.boris-johnson.com/?p=446#comment-20444 Just the time will tell. From Dixie to Yankee, patriots to colonial Brit, Jack barbarian to Roman patrician, falling Empire to Christian. The history will repeat it self. We, the human being are so insignificant compare with the universaity. May we all humble ourself, befor our great grand children have to pay the price - because of our sin. Just the time will tell. From Dixie to Yankee, patriots to colonial Brit, Jack barbarian to Roman patrician, falling Empire to Christian. The history will repeat it self. We, the human being are so insignificant compare with the universaity. May we all humble ourself, befor our great grand children have to pay the price – because of our sin.

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]]> By: angela http://www.boris-johnson.com/2008/08/26/progress-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-20391 angela Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:33:30 +0000 http://www.boris-johnson.com/?p=446#comment-20391 Our athletes have made us hugely proud and have managed to lift our spirits, a miracle considering the state of the government. Boris Johnson also brought a smile to everyone's face, Boris don't forget, you have that charity rugby match to play in, please don't cancel it, because to quote Lord Nelson, ENGLAND EXPECTS! DC please play in it as well, it would be huge fun. Our athletes have made us hugely proud and have managed to lift our spirits, a miracle considering the state of the government. Boris Johnson also brought a smile to everyone’s face, Boris don’t forget, you have that charity rugby match to play in, please don’t cancel it, because to quote Lord Nelson, ENGLAND EXPECTS!

DC please play in it as well, it would be huge fun.

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]]> By: catherine http://www.boris-johnson.com/2008/08/26/progress-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-20371 catherine Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:48:38 +0000 http://www.boris-johnson.com/?p=446#comment-20371 I never thought I would get excited over something like the Olympics, but I felt so hugely proud of Britain. Sport has to be the catalyst that gives our kids something positive to focus on, competition is obviously vital for the healthy development of our youngsters. I never thought I would get excited over something like the Olympics, but I felt so hugely proud of Britain. Sport has to be the catalyst that gives our kids something positive to focus on, competition is obviously vital for the healthy development of our youngsters.

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]]> By: dawn http://www.boris-johnson.com/2008/08/26/progress-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-20368 dawn Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:41:36 +0000 http://www.boris-johnson.com/?p=446#comment-20368 Amanda, I had lost my faith in politicians, until now. No-one could be as honest as Boris and not be the real thing. Amanda, I had lost my faith in politicians, until now. No-one could be as honest as Boris and not be the real thing.

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