http://www.dianaswednesday.com/2008/08/wednesday-night-1379/ Where the world comes together Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:49:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 http://www.dianaswednesday.com/2008/08/wednesday-night-1379/#comment-3355 David Jones Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:51:44 +0000 http://www.dianaswednesday.com/2008/08/wednesday-night-1379/#comment-3355 I'm glad that you are circulating the "Last Thoughts on China" column. It echoes some of Terry and my conclusions to the extent that (a) you hear nothing good about the Govt of China in the western media; (b) many/many Chinese are quite satisfied with the financial compensation they have received for property expropriation, etc; (c) there is substantially greater toleration for dissent than the media would suggest. You and we have a much longer perspective than many observers. We were aware of the "Great Leap Forward" and the "Cultural Revolution" as they were happening; the costs in human lives and ruined futures were in the tens of millions. What is happening now is bitterly unpleasant and a clear violation of human rights and humanitarian norms--but these are now more like retail violations of human dignity than wholesale depredations. I’m glad that you are circulating the “Last Thoughts on China” column. It echoes some of Terry and my conclusions to the extent that (a) you hear nothing good about the Govt of China in the western media; (b) many/many Chinese are quite satisfied with the financial compensation they have received for property expropriation, etc; (c) there is substantially greater toleration for dissent than the media would suggest.
You and we have a much longer perspective than many observers. We were aware of the “Great Leap Forward” and the “Cultural Revolution” as they were happening; the costs in human lives and ruined futures were in the tens of millions. What is happening now is bitterly unpleasant and a clear violation of human rights and humanitarian norms–but these are now more like retail violations of human dignity than wholesale depredations.

]]> http://www.dianaswednesday.com/2008/08/wednesday-night-1379/#comment-3353 David Mitchell OWN Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:42:10 +0000 http://www.dianaswednesday.com/2008/08/wednesday-night-1379/#comment-3353 Wow, Diana and David, the presence of four favourite people (Cleo, Penny, Allenna and Gary) is almost enough to pry me loose from this place. Almost, but alas, not quite sufficient. It should be a very interesting evening with such talent added to the ever-present roster, even if there are no newsworthy events between now and then. You noted Allenna's late partner, Stafford Beer (friend of Penny and Gary, and my friend and mentor). I ... think the title and first bit of <a href="http://www.cybsoc.org/contacts/opendrunworld.pdf" rel="nofollow">this</a> --from a founder of Open Democracy (which I assume you have book-marked) -- might tickle your imagination. Bon weekend, <strong>David</strong> Wow, Diana and David, the presence of four favourite people (Cleo, Penny, Allenna and Gary) is almost enough to pry me loose from this place. Almost, but alas, not quite sufficient.
It should be a very interesting evening with such talent added to the ever-present roster, even if there are no newsworthy events between now and then.
You noted Allenna’s late partner, Stafford Beer (friend of Penny and Gary, and my friend and mentor). I … think the title and first bit of this –from a founder of Open Democracy (which I assume you have book-marked) — might tickle your imagination. Bon weekend, David

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