bookerly’s Recent Comments

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  Devoutly Turned Off

     As a left wing apologist to an apologist for a reactionary homophobic misogynistic right wing religion that never met a fascist regime it didn't like, the only connexion lost was non-existent to begin with.

     A note was left "Dear LupisGargantua, Off to join the Amanda Cross GorillaGirlz in their assault on your last white male bastille, thanks for eating all the fish!!  signed E. Doolittle, PS, Don't forget to wear your red mask to the ball."

     Me, I was busy at the Ministry of Water Resources... meetings and such.

     Curiously, in all the Western-Centric coverage of Tibet, no one ever considered the environmental aspects of the issue.  One might have thought that those who claim to be environmentally aware might have considered the idea.  But, sitting around the labset in the library, they ignored the ever present corpse of Livingstone, while they played the game of Clue.

     In the land of the deaf, the screaming man is a horse.

     Be Clever, Be Bourgeois, Be Free (apologies to JL).

     I wish you a clue.

  patrick in BeijingOn You know who rocks? posted 1 year, 7 months ago 9 Responses

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  To Wolverine

  
     Fair enough. Except for the cellphones (smile).  Most people in China don't have landlines, they have only cellphones.  I suspect that this is better overall for the environment.  OTH, they are busy catching up with Americans in terms of Internet Access.

     Cars??  I got rid of mine long ago, but have trouble telling others they MAY not have one, when I did have one for a number of years.  Don't really like the things myself, but I was young once and did then.

     I prefer the carrot to the stick.  My experience is it works better (smile).  Got any carrot ideas??  (Seriously, I never seem to have enough!!).

  patrick in BeijingOn China, with emissions rising, urges developed countries to carbon diet posted 1 year, 8 months ago 8 Responses

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  Me

  
     Dear CanisCandida,

          You write "I do not remember your ever admitting your own limitations regarding Chinese matters.  Yes, you are in China, and yes, you have a particular Beijing-centered perspective, and yes, you know many Chinese people, and how they live.  But that hardly makes you an expert on all things Chinese, does it.  There is no reason for us to believe that your own sources of information are exhaustive and definitive, ",

           Frankly, I have never claimed that to have sources of information that are "exhaustive and definitive."

           Anyone is free to question any "fact" or "opinion" I post, and many people do so.  I have admitted to be wrong on many occasions, but apparently not wrong enough (smile).

           I often post links to source what I am saying, but based on follow up comments, I feel (and perhaps I am wrong) that no one ever reads them.  Sigh.

           I left Grist for a while after an attack from D.R. (yeah, I got who he was talking about).  I came back, because there are things I believe in.  What I am hearing from you, is that my beliefs (in supporting developing nations) should be tempered because Americans don't want to hear them.  That's my read, sorry.  

          (I often get this feeling when I post regarding environmental justice, race or class issues, much like the unwelcome guest at the high society dinner.)

           How sharp the tongue of friendship!!

  patrick in BeijingOn World's tiger population unwell, WWF says posted 1 year, 8 months ago 20 Responses

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  China

  
     Dear CanisCandida,

          Thank you for being open and honest regarding your feelings.

          I am sorry if I appear arrogant to you.  But I am not sure what "humility" you want me to display?

          My on-going criticism and problem with postings on the subject of China on Grist (and in the MSM) is that 1)  They are unbalanced.  2)  Many of the criticisms are more along the line of attacks than anything I would call constructive.

          Do you wish to discuss this as an issue?  I would be glad to.  When I suggest this (and I have many times), I generally get no reply.  (Except anger, and complaints that I am too pro-China, or an agent of the Chinese government, or even a Chinese citizen pretending to be an American to spread propaganda).

          That aside, my issues are that

          1)  Most reporting is unbalanced.  Do you wish to argue otherwise?  Please (and anyone else should feel free to do so) respond if you care to.

          2)  Most comments (not ALL!!!) go along the lines of "China is terrible, they are terrible, we think they are terrible."  Very few people offer anything that anyone would regard as constructive criticism.  If you disagree with this, we can discuss it as well.

  pace,

  patrick in BeijingOn World's tiger population unwell, WWF says posted 1 year, 8 months ago 20 Responses

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  TCM

  
     Dear CanisCandida,

          I have had a number of students who were studying TCM.  One of my good friends is the Director of TCM at a major hospital.  NONE of them use animal parts from endangered species.  A couple of them are vegetarians and use NO animal parts.

          There has been a lot of research going on as to how to substitute chemicals of other substances for animal parts (you may forgive people (or not) if they concentrate on replacements for endangered animal parts first).

          That said, there are naturally, some reactionary elements who oppose these changes.  But it is NOT true that they are the majority of TCM practitioners.

          I can't blame you for not knowing this, the MSM is so terrible in America that it is a miracle if Americans have any knowledge about the world, too bad much of it is wrong.

          As to Daoism, that situation is also much more complicated than silly stereotypes suggest.  Sigh.  I have friends who are studying and working to develop a modern Daoism that keeps what they believe to be its essence, while embracing many modern thoughts and ideas.

          It is really sad that Americans so readily swallow any absurdity about China.  It is a much more complicated place than the MSM would allow.

          In the meantime, I do wish folks would save the Tigers if possible. (Did you know that a Chinese woman has started an NGO which is shipping Tigers to Africa, looking for a place where there might be space for them to fit in and survive in the wild?  Crazy?  I dunno, but she cares and has some South African partners.).

  patrick in BeijingOn World's tiger population unwell, WWF says posted 1 year, 8 months ago 20 Responses