Religion

dvduval

(263 posts)

12. I speak Chinese

Fri Dec 28, 2018, 11:42 AM

Dec 2018

I am fluent in Chinese, so I have many friends in China, as well as in the US. Understanding the thinking behind what we call propaganda is worthy of study. They were once gripped by a civil war followed by the greatest famine in human history. They recoognize that the politics of division can be very harmful, so often the messages are gear d toward promoting cooperation. It has its drawbacks too but certainly China is not a country of people who are all being oppressed. If anything, they are quite free now, and many of the current limitations are more economic in nature.

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As far as I know, none of us here live in China. [View all] MineralMan Dec 2018 OP

This message was self-deleted by its author LongtimeAZDem Dec 2018 #1

I never call anyone a troll. Usually it just turns out MineralMan Dec 2018 #3

This message was self-deleted by its author LongtimeAZDem Dec 2018 #5

No need for apologies. MineralMan Dec 2018 #6

yet several folks on this forum qazplm135 Dec 2018 #2

I do not recall any instances of that. MineralMan Dec 2018 #4

No I don't routinely link or save posts of other posters qazplm135 Dec 2018 #7

I see. Just as I thought. MineralMan Dec 2018 #10

just as you thought what? qazplm135 Dec 2018 #11

That you have no evidence of what you stated. MineralMan Dec 2018 #14

so there are two options qazplm135 Dec 2018 #29

No. There's a third option. MineralMan Dec 2018 #30

you're ridiculous qazplm135 Dec 2018 #42

I see. Well, thanks for letting me know your opinion of me. MineralMan Dec 2018 #43

I'm an atheist and I haven't seen a post like that. sfwriter Dec 2018 #105

It is a sexist thing to say. nt. Mariana Dec 2018 #32

The testicles thing? I agree. MineralMan Dec 2018 #37

Testicles? Really? Mariana Dec 2018 #31

oh please qazplm135 Dec 2018 #44

So, you're not part of the left half of the political spectrum? MineralMan Dec 2018 #46

not remotely what I said qazplm135 Dec 2018 #48

"Why the left can't gain traction" The left is doing quite well, thank you. Where are you on the Nitram Dec 2018 #55

No, democrats are doing fairly well qazplm135 Dec 2018 #56

That wasn't why it was said that what you said was sexist. MineralMan Dec 2018 #59

it's a euphemism qazplm135 Dec 2018 #62

It's a sexist euphemism when used that way. MineralMan Dec 2018 #63

Honestly, at this point, I'm surprised I wasn't called hysterical. Mariana Dec 2018 #69

Yes. It's difficult for me to understand why some people MineralMan Dec 2018 #110

I'm pretty sure the poster understands he used sexist language. nt. Mariana Dec 2018 #116

Yes. So I believe, as well. MineralMan Dec 2018 #117

A good question. I asked him that, too. MineralMan Dec 2018 #57

I haven't seen it either Major Nikon Dec 2018 #16

Yeah. I'd need to see a link, I think. MineralMan Dec 2018 #17

I never had any testicles to begin with Mariana Dec 2018 #33

That's what I assumed from your name. MineralMan Dec 2018 #40

Oddly enough we all do have gonads. Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #113

Indeed we do. MineralMan Dec 2018 #115

I also don't recall here looking to China as a positive example of the lack of religion. PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2018 #77

And many have pointed to other nations as examples guillaumeb Dec 2018 #93

Which theocracy was not intolerant? Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #108

Which society is not intolerant? guillaumeb Dec 2018 #119

There are many tolerant societies. Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #121

Yes. For example, in law, the United States is a very tolerant society. MineralMan Dec 2018 #122

Is China's political system bad? dvduval Dec 2018 #8

I have no direct experience with the Chinese political system. MineralMan Dec 2018 #9

I speak Chinese dvduval Dec 2018 #12

OK. I work closely with a man who fled China after MineralMan Dec 2018 #15

So, you're a supporter of the Chinese political system? MineralMan Dec 2018 #18

I'm more apathetic towards it Major Nikon Dec 2018 #21

My question was to the other participant in the thread, MineralMan Dec 2018 #24

There are good parts and bad parts dvduval Dec 2018 #34

Nor did I state that is was good or bad. MineralMan Dec 2018 #38

I've been to four cities in China Major Nikon Dec 2018 #20

I work with colleagues in China. Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #51

You have to understand some here are desperately searching for false equivalences Major Nikon Dec 2018 #19

Really? dvduval Dec 2018 #36

"I think it could be said that people who call themselves atheists are not all the same." MineralMan Dec 2018 #50

Atheology isn't a thing Major Nikon Dec 2018 #58

This message was self-deleted by its author dvduval Dec 2018 #13

It is always interesting to see people here, who are progressives edhopper Dec 2018 #22

I think it's really more whataboutism than anything else. MineralMan Dec 2018 #25

I don't know any progressives who equate atheism and communism. All communists are atheists, but Nitram Dec 2018 #71

The poster of the other China thread edhopper Dec 2018 #75

He must be an evangelical or something like that. They tend to simplify things a great deal. Nitram Dec 2018 #76

We have not been able to discern what he believes edhopper Dec 2018 #78

That's what I was gonna say, atheism / communism Lordquinton Dec 2018 #89

My experience Cartoonist Dec 2018 #23

As an atheist and a human rights advocate, MineralMan Dec 2018 #27

They can dvduval Dec 2018 #39

Again, this thread isn't really about China. MineralMan Dec 2018 #41

Their preconceived notion dvduval Dec 2018 #49

Interesting post. PatrickforO Dec 2018 #26

It's no effort at all to be an atheist. MineralMan Dec 2018 #28

"...it's a heck of a lot of work to be an atheist." Mariana Dec 2018 #35

I will speak to mine. violetpastille Dec 2018 #60

So, you're firm in your belief. MineralMan Dec 2018 #61

It's probably hardware. violetpastille Dec 2018 #104

People are openly critical of the CCP. Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #109

Soft Totalitarianism violetpastille Dec 2018 #114

Thank you for your answer. Mariana Dec 2018 #65

No but violetpastille Dec 2018 #70

If you believed those were the only choices, you'd still be a theist. Mariana Dec 2018 #83

You're right. violetpastille Dec 2018 #85

I personally find it effortless The Genealogist Dec 2018 #52

Me too. violetpastille Dec 2018 #53

Sounds like philosophy of non-duality, aka Advaita. c-rational Dec 2018 #81

Wow. I didn't realize my little contribution would cause such a stir. PatrickforO Dec 2018 #82

That was me. violetpastille Dec 2018 #86

Oh. Yeah, I hear that. I do not discuss my beliefs at all, pretty much. PatrickforO Dec 2018 #92

I've been to China. Fascinating country Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #45

I'm sure that's true. It's one of the oldest continuous MineralMan Dec 2018 #47

They even survived edhopper Dec 2018 #72

LOL! MineralMan Dec 2018 #73

When did you go last? And where did you go? violetpastille Dec 2018 #54

Two years ago and I was mostly in Nanjing. Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #95

Just inquisitive. violetpastille Dec 2018 #101

dont underestimate China AlexSFCA Dec 2018 #64

Where did I do that? This thread is not actually about China. MineralMan Dec 2018 #66

it implies that china's atheism is somehow bad AlexSFCA Dec 2018 #67

No. My post does not imply that at all. MineralMan Dec 2018 #68

I thought you were just pointing out that some people who are against atheism equate it with the Nitram Dec 2018 #74

Some do edhopper Dec 2018 #79

and I was trying to point out that chinese atheists AlexSFCA Dec 2018 #84

"China may very well become the world's largest democracy." A very naive view. Nitram Dec 2018 #99

Even Soviet Union eventually fell apart AlexSFCA Dec 2018 #102

Alex violetpastille Dec 2018 #107

Does "freedom of movement" mean you can move and live where you choose? Go abroad? Nitram Dec 2018 #111

I hope you are able to visit China. violetpastille Dec 2018 #80

I think I agree. There is more than one China. sfwriter Dec 2018 #106

This atheist believes in freedom of and from religion. JNelson6563 Dec 2018 #87

China has been cracking down on Maoists, and I'd assume Maoism is more compatible than religion Pope George Ringo II Dec 2018 #88

The Chinese political model also prioritizes social organization over most other concerns. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2018 #90

Oh, definitely true Pope George Ringo II Dec 2018 #94

I understand the example of Chinese atheists is an issue. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #91

It would appear that you are about the only one with this "understanding"... NeoGreen Dec 2018 #96

As I said, a double standard. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #97

No text... NeoGreen Dec 2018 #98

No text, no response. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #118

The church is not the only organization that covers up such crimes. Look at all the companies and Nitram Dec 2018 #100

Boy Scouts is a relevant example AlexSFCA Dec 2018 #103

Yes, children are more vulnerable, and a traumatic event can influence them negatively for Nitram Dec 2018 #112

I wrote a post on the tendency of institutions to engage in cover ups of abusive behavior. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #120

Pointing out that abuse takes place in institutions other than the church does not in any way Nitram Dec 2018 #123

Bingo! And that is what gets missed all too often. MineralMan Dec 2018 #124

I agree. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #133

Which is exactly what you did. MineralMan Dec 2018 #125

This message was self-deleted by its author Nitram Dec 2018 #129

My post was a reply to guillaumeb, not you. MineralMan Dec 2018 #130

My sincere apologies, MM. I wondered why your two posts seemed contradictory. Nitram Dec 2018 #131

No worries. I've done that, myself. MineralMan Dec 2018 #132

Misframing on your part. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #135

Diversion and whataboutism is never appropriate. MineralMan Dec 2018 #127

Ironic response. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #134

I'm turning chi-anese I think I'm turning chi-anese Corvo Bianco Dec 2018 #126

Indeed. Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #128