stay connected

FrumForum Facebook FrumForum YouTube Update Twitter FrumForum Flickr

Welcome Chinese Readers

April 25th, 2010 at 9:15 am David Frum | 10 Comments |

Share
| Print

Google Analytics tells me that FrumForum.com now has 1500 readers in China, 1000 of whom have visited the site more than once. Delighted to have you – please let me know if anything I have said in the China posts seems jarring or wrong.

Recent Posts by David Frum



10 Comments so far ↓

  • nhthinker // Apr 25, 2010 at 9:47 am

    How many in the US? How many in Canadians? What is the ratio of readers to posters?

    When will Google Analytics let you know the percentage that are false (Levin-like) Conservatives versus true (Frum-like) Conservatives?

  • jg bennet // Apr 25, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    frum forum survey…..will a few of you expats and locals in china who are reading this describe china in five positive and five negative personality traits?
    here is was what i got from my 1000 days over there.

    NEGATIVES: control freaks, unorganized, non-multitasking, ethnocentric & godless
    POSITIVES: useful, dynamic, awe inspiring, great cooks & confident

  • msmilack // Apr 25, 2010 at 9:44 pm

    I tuned in hoping to read from people who live in China respond to David’s invitation. Instead, I see unfriendly messages from Americans. That is disappointing.

  • arhu // Apr 26, 2010 at 4:18 am

    msmilack
    Thanks for your message, from frumforum.com I see much more information than what I can source from major U.S. media, I got to know David from one open lecture in China, and I think it’s meaningful and knowledgeable possesing these information.

  • msmilack // Apr 27, 2010 at 3:10 am

    arhu,
    How nice to hear a voice from China, arhu. I look forward to reading your comments on the FrumForum and learning how you view the world. Welcome to America! I hope you will meet some other friendly voices here too. I am very interested in your culture.
    msmilack

  • Go Dog Go! // Apr 27, 2010 at 8:33 am

    Uh, three of those were me the week before last. Sorry dude. : )

  • msmilack // Apr 27, 2010 at 12:41 pm

    arhu,
    So, tell me, since I have not yet had a chance to visit China, what should we know? Did you feel that David’s reports were representative of the true China or are there aspects you would like to explain or correct?
    Personally, if I were to visit, I would be anxious to see more art — both old and contemporary — and see more of the beauty of your culture. I am curious what you think about almost any subject (and that, of course, applies to other Chinese readers as well).

    Marcia Smilack

  • arhu // Apr 28, 2010 at 7:57 am

    Marcia Smilack
    Thanks for your response and your interest in our culture, I am very glad to have your reply and appreciate your comment. Like all other readers, I think the first thing to know China is to know our culture. And the efficient integration with our culture in U.S. is to feel the atmosphere shaped by China Town located in New York city, California, or other areas, which I may not name, as I have never been to America. Our culture is closely associated with festival, of all the festivals, Chinese New Year is most important and the annual Chinese New Year parade in Washington will mark this occassion, and I think all these images mark an important factor our culture represented in U.S.

    I think David has done as much activity as he could in China during his recent visit to China, and it’s my honor to attend his public lecture, he was still lecturing just shortly before he departed from China, so I see he is very committed. As David traveled mostly in city, he talked about much about urban situation, he met with high-level people, and I think he has observed our country extensively by this short visit and reported as he could. One of his aticles here “Is China Heading for a Rural Revolt?” —-he wroted: Farm’s people are poorer than city people. That’s not always like that. In city we also have poor people. This article highlights the state of our Rural area, and the cause of our booming economy are greatly shaped by these manufacturers which created profits by these peasants (workers). I am pleased that our Central government puts “Issues of Agriculture, Village and Peasant” as priority policy on agenda.

    Our culture is associated with arts, if you got chance to visit China, that would be great to view. Many Westerners first come to China they like to see famous scenic spots as much as it can, both ancient and modern. From those spots you may imagine our past and our present. Most of our arts are rooted in and originated from countryside (folk area), you sure will enjoy these arts— both old and contemporary, and you’ll definitely like China.

    One of our focus on America is Sino-us relationship, which plays an important role in this global world. Like President Obama’s visit to China last November, his activity both helding dialogue with Chinese youth and sightseeing for The Great Wall & Forbidden City caused China-U.S. relationship to a very positive, cooperative and comprehensive stage. And the President’s sightseeing marks a strong signal his passion for Chinese culture.

    We show frequently on American government’s policy over China, whether it will have effect on China, and we hope to see more positive relation between our two people.

    As world’s largest developing country and largest developed country, we have too much to face and share in this globalization world. We’re anxious to see China-U.S. Human Rights Dialogue to be held in Washington and China-U.S. Strategic & Economic Dialogue to be held in Beijing next month.

    As David is a leading political researcher/analyst, I also hope his research does as much as it can to foster goodwill and cooperation between our countries.

    Thanks

    Arhu Xiong

  • msmilack // Apr 30, 2010 at 11:43 pm

    arhu
    First, thank you so much for your wonderful reply which is filled with details and interesting topics. Second, from your descriptions, I am picturing a great deal of color in China, which I already associate with the Chinese culture, and a variety of textures as well. I should tell you that I am an artist, so it is my nature to respond first to that which is artistic in any culture whether it be fine arts or the small cultural symbols I notice as unusual in the other culture’s everyday rituals and accompanying objects that are part of daily life.

    I do know a few of the Chinatowns in this country, primarily the one in Boston which is not too far from where I live, and in addition, one of my nieces recently married a Chinese-American. At the wedding, I met at least a hundred of his relatives, some who had come all the way from China for the ceremony. Although the groom grew up in America, his grandmother and parents had migrated here from China only about forty years ago, so they were able to show me many features of their culture in a way that is still fresh and not yet too westernized.

    For example, at my niece’s wedding, I particularly enjoyed the idea of her changing her wedding dress three times and especially liked the notion of wearing a red dress — this is not normally done at an American wedding where the bride wears one white dress throughout the event.

    I don’t mean to talk about myself really, but I want to let you know that in bits and pieces I continue to learn about your culture with great interest in your long and rich history and in your ancient traditions. Your letter helps to fill out the picture that is forming in my mind of China, so thank you very much for writing. I too hope for continued goodwill and cooperation between our countries, and further, for an always respectful and open exchange of ideas as well as a deep appreciation for our cultural differences as well as of our commonalities.
    Marcia Smilack

  • arhu // May 4, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    Marcia
    Thank you very much for your thoughtful reply and deep understanding, appreciation and dedication to our culture. We just had a 3-nationwide day holiday (05/01-05/03) in this country, and all got chance to celebrate International Labor Day. As I understand this observance will take place in September in your country, I hope you’ll enjoy then.

    You’re pursuing the world’s most beautiful career, as an artist, you perform so well combine culture with arts. I am very glad to know you’re so committed. Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. I enjoy learninbg your experience.

    I am pleased you have chance to visit Chinatowns in your country, which is good to help you form a vague idea. It’s a good news to hear your niece’s wedding experience, and I think it’s not so easy for the groom to keep up with Chinese culture yet he was born in U.S. We here have general view that those Chinese-Americans (born in U.S.) forget about Chinese culture and get frequent criticism, I think that’s not right. At least not every Chinese-American doesn’t show concern about culture.

    It’s my honor to read your recent article about U.S. former vice-presidential candidate on Frumforum. Thank you for that article. During 2008 U.S. election, I could read most news about her campaign in local news, and last year she traveled to Hongkong to make speech. There was news one time here that she was going to bit for President for U.S. in 2012 election. I don’t know whether this is true or not. And news reported that she resigned just to make full effort for next step for presidential election. I couldn’t comment much about these news as I know not too much about her.

    One of the most important events now is the opening of 2010 Shanghai Expo, I am glad that USA Pavilion, with the overall theme of “Rising to the Challenge” which represents American culture, spirit, technology and lifestyle so perfect, has attracted so many Chinese visitors. And I am sure it will be encouraging for you who see so much success in American homeland. This will be an excellent opportunity towards culture interaction.

    I appreciate your considerate view and I believe your admiration towards our culture will bring your view towards China-U.S. relation to a high level.

    If anything I can do for you from China, please feel free to contact me at: arhuxiong@hotmail.com
    thanks
    Arhu

Leave a Comment

You must log in to post a comment.