The Fix

Hollywood loves a good war story. Almost every war story I've ever watched takes place on an overcast day. It's one of those things movie-makers like to do with war movies and horror movies, the dark backdrop that makes every scene visually dull. That backdrop screams DULL and the gloomy texture makes most of these films feel lethargic. They do it to create a mood. But that convention of creating mood also frames the mental picture that becomes the way in which much of the Western world views an entire country. Modern entertainment manufactures reality. For instance, when I think Middle East, I think SAND and Camels. When I think New York, I think CITY. When I think Vietnam, I think JUNGLE. And when I think China, I think PRIMITIVE and DARK. At least that's what the cinematic version tells me to see.

BMX bikes, in-line skates, skateboarding, Rock music and American Idol - those things feel as American as Chevrolet's baseball, hotdogs, apple pie commercial. They feel out of place in China.

This however, is the New China. China's government is very hip to the idea of creating the illusion of freedom; the illusion of opportunity and prosperity. Their desire to create this illusion is so profound that Beijing displays huge billboards tht read: "What New York Has, Beijing Has As Well." They idolize the Western model, but decline to take that next step - the step towards true Democracy.

In an attempt to find a happy medium, "Chinese official tend to approve of imports that can be described as wholesome and harmless." Their efforts to find a happy medium pokes a stick at the dichotomy of trying to maintain a market economy while simultaneously clutching at authoritarian control. They aren't seeing the bigger picture.

Freedom is the ultimate designer drug. The first line is the most fantastic high. Then you are absolutely hooked. The withdrawal symptoms are awful. They range from mild suffocating tremors, anti-authoritarian rhetoric, energetic text messaging, lethargy, marching in protest and standing in front of tanks. Extreme withdrawal is often accompanied by acute burning of government vehicles, destruction of property, violence and Ø t-shirts. The only known treatment is institutionalization or death.

As the West wafts into the Far East, all of China is catching a contact high. China's making a stab at treating the widespread addiction. They're attempting to use substitution therapy. Substitution therapy is illusory and is not sustainable. It will only work short-term. When these goggly-eyed freedom-fiends begin to feel that insatiable craving, the withdrawal symptoms will be unmanagable by anything less than the real deal.

It really isn't that complicated. Smokers use Chantex; heroin and opioid addicts use methadone, and freedom fiends can be satiated by carefully controlled doses of rock music, "Super Girl", skateboards and Yueqin Hero video games. So what happens when substitute therapy quits working? Jonesing and jonesing bad. You can always go back to the drug of choice. In the absence of Chantex, there is always nicotine. In the absence of methadone, jam a heroin needle in your arm. In the absence of illusory freedom...REAL freedom. For the most powerful high known to man, there is no satisfying alternative.

So here's a fun little homework assignment that will help underscore the power of this designer drug. 1: Go buy some crystal meth. 2: Go to your nearest biker bar and make sure everyone knows you have it. 3: Make sure everyone there also know...nanner nanner, you can't have any. (for added effect, put your hair in pigtails and dance around like an elf singing La La La, all fer me - none fer you, La La La, dancing around and gently patting the bikers on their buttocks; La La La, all fer me - none fer you!). It's a sociology experiment. They'll understand. They'll just laugh and laugh with delight. It's perfectly safe. I'll drop by with a shovel and some plastic bags to pick you up in just a bit.

Maybe the Chinese Government needs to quit dancing like taunting elves. The imminent wave of freedom-addicted, stoned-out-of-their-skulls-for-the-next-angry-fix crowd isn't going to allow them to dance and pat their bottoms forever.

Authoritarian leadership in China is walking a fine line. They fear losing power and prestige, and their fear inspires them to make decisions that are sometimes disadvantageous. It encourages me to consider Thomas Jefferson's words, "when the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty." It's a good sound bite. But is it just rhetoric or was Jefferson right? Because if Jefferson is right, then perhaps the growing pains in China are, in fact, the growing pains of liberty.

Most of us have grown up with suspicion and even a little animosity towards China. I still feel this way. But the possibility of what China might become is exciting. If the most powerful nations on earth come together, rather than remain divided by ideology and fear, won't that bring us one step closer to world peace? And perhaps, even one step closer to world-unity; a unified world with mutual respect and an appreciation of how our differences make us all stronger. Nobody wants a homogenized world anyways.

Source: http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0614/p01s02-woap.html?s=widep