China, the New Paper Tiger

Contrary to what many believe, Chinese culture is incompatible with world dominion. Its language alone is a powerful impediment. Culturally,its interest in precedent rather than logic and its use of censorship preclude the free inquiry necessary for geopolitical success.

China has been China for four thousand years; concealment may be a reaction to a past redolent of autocracy, but it seems prevelent in all aspects of Chinese life. Confucious' idea of keeping the masses ignorant in order to make them easier to govern remains in force. We in America have had, or had until just recently, an underlying assumption that things are going to get better and better. This idea of long-term success is alien to Chinese culture, however, where dynastic decay is an historical fact and a constant threat.

Author is the rarest of the rare, an American polygot. His interest lies with the way different cultures explore this thing called life, how each culture thinks its interpretation is unique. As long as this ignorance approaches totality, globalization at anything more than the most superficial level remains impossible. A new dialogue among nations is called for.