Things are a bit tense between us and China. Can we rise above?
I hope we can rise above what 's happening with China. I feel twinges of anger about what the Chinese government is doing to several industries. Not being able to sell stuff as you have been doing for years has immediate and telling impact on everyday people here in Australia.
A local business operator where I live told me last week that people buying things from him now routinely ask. "Is this from China?" as a part of their purchase conversation. When he says that the item does indeed come from China, they look for a similar product made somewhere else. Seems like a lot of us are very aware of what is going on and are feeling a bit put out. We might even be starting to edge in on that 'pay back' or at least 'protest' when it comes to spending or hard earned cash.
Fair enough. Things do seem strange. What a nation striving for super-power status is doing is unfair, even a little unjust. Noting new in a way. Someone once told me that "Superpowers don't have friends, they just have interests". To gain and maintain top spot, you have to control others, manipulate others in some way. All superpowers in history have done this. China is just the latest nation on the move in this way. There will be others as the world rolls on.
So far, I haven't sensed that Aussies have really fired up and crossed the line from protest into the use of disparaging puts downs, shaming, or even violence against anyone who is of Chinese origin or descent. I really hope we can avoid that. It is one thing to be angry because of unjust treatment by another, it is another to do some unjust treatment in pay back. Protec is healthy and needed. Hatred, racism and any for of violence just hurt ..... endlessly.
As summer comes and we hear that Cricket song, C'mon Aussie, C'mon", I want to apply that to keeping our cool, letting the polly's try their best to calm the situation and avoid any hint of unjust racist taunt of others. "C'mon, Aussie, C'mon, C'mon. Keep your cool, be patient and generous with your words. Protest, for sure, but leave out the hatred or payback. I hope I can rise above.