I have been treated with the utmost respect! Although different when in
Ecuador. The people here are very kind and peace loving, and yes they
have a perception of americans that is not great, but most of the world
views us in less than optimum ways. And with the things that have
happened I can't say that I can blame anyone for viewing our policies as
not very good. But when they get to know who you are, and what you stand
for, the barriers fall.

Maybe it's the opium........

yes wildflower, I agree with the poison just being careless. I read that
it was from poor control in rodent control and not
intentional....carelessness!!

two, two

HI Fanta. I read the newspaper article myself. And yes it is due to not
so much carelessness, but maybe the not having the knowledge and
sanitary conditions. This isn't America...isn't huge amounts of money
here...and the people are doing the best they can with what they have to
work with...

My point JJ, was not to sling mud at Americans...people...but it is
interesting how we perceive a Nation, through Governmental
decisions...and that onflows to how the nation's people are seen.

Aussies are typically perceived as laugh out loud, humourous people,
with not a care in the world, but bbq's and beaches, and cooking prawns,
(shrimp)... or were, bfore our government started messing around in
political and trade policies globally.

Our government has sold off so many of our natural resources, and
allowed global ownership of large tracts of our land, the Japanese,
American, European investment in this country is huge, and China is
already on the table..

Oh Lee, I know you were doing no mudslinging, our government does it
quite well!

I find China, and its people very interesting.
They are very industrias, and the grand canal project attest to that,
but other than the SEZ'z they are communist, and poor with a definitive
class system. They also have some of the worlds worst pollution
problems, but they are attempting to fix things. Their human rights
record is terrible. I read where the forced population control policies
of the "past" accounted for 365 million less people than had they not
had it, and India will surpass them in population before long. I guess
that means it worked.
I think their future looks very bright, and would love to visit. Just as
soon as they let the Dahlia lama return from exile. Dont they have a
death warrant for him?

Lee, that sounds an awful like Canada!

The Fed's sold off the majority of the crown corps to foriegn investors
along with a large portion of the natural resources.
Sad part is that we as Canadians are subsidising the export of these
goods and paying more than we ever have for finished products.
Globalisation!

Same here Harry!

Subsidised crops, meat, sugar, wheat, all of it. natural resources...

and yet we are suffering, as the people who live here...with food prices
escalating at a rapid rate through crop reduction through droughts, and
rising transport costs...bizarre...prices have doubled in less than one
year!

However, wages haven't.

...

And Utsnokokoro

Xenophobia has its delusionally dangerous limits.

Calling everything foreign, a threat, and every 'out-islander', an ennemy, is applying a grossly distorted and unhealthy perspective to International relations, and to the future of this planet.

'spider' wrote:
"... This has nothing to do with the Chinese people, it has to do with the Chinese government. The Chinese government is gearing up for war with the US and unconventional warfare would give them the advantage they need to win..."

To claim that the "... Chinese government' is gearing up for WAR with the US, through unconventional warfare (methods presumably including, according to our host, INTENTIONAL bacterial contamination of export food)...", is a xenophobic misinformation and mischaracterization of the emergence of the Republic of China in the club of developped nations, as a force to be reckoned with.

China is simply victim of its own incredible recent economic success. A combination of legitimate errors, and retaliatory propaganda from western Nations to slow their 'climb' down.

Retalioratory propaganda IS unconventional warfare, but it is not China practicing it in this instsance, it is the US. Systematic 'propaganda' to seed doubt, scare markets, and have them turn against the incredible fast pace growth of the emerging 'manufacturing centre of the planet', China!!!

Very doubtfull it could be effective in the US though.

Check Wall-Mart, and other US Corporate addiction to the 'extreme' low cost manufacturing base in China, coupled with the insatiable consumer goods appetite of America. Anything altering this compulsive balance will have to deal with an internal revolution.

Let's keep our brain engaged, our eyes and ears open, and put that good 'ole xenophobic hysteria back in the 'jar'. Read some, research lots, and figure out sensibly. Will g a long way in helping most of us adapt to a rapidly changing world.