While we're distracted by the dumpster fire in the White House and reeling from the second wind our dumpster king has managed to give the first wave of covid-19 across most of the country, some in his rabid entourage have been tearing up what remains of our relationship with the most important other country in the world. I have no illusions about the Chinese government but what these cold warriors are doing is weakening connections with everyone else, making conflict more likely,
Last week Ian Johnson, an American journalist who's also written perhaps the best book on religion in contemporary China, had his visa cancelled, as part of a tit for tat war begun by the Trumpies. In a much shared article, he shared his heartbreak at it:
My whole life, and that of many of the people I love, is built on that premise, too.
Our current government relishes the moment's pandemic-induced isolation, and distrusts anyone who might be loyal to ideals or communities or relationships which go beyond it. Since their counterparts in China are suspicious of the same things, and both parties are busy blaming the other for domestic problems, it's hard to see this breakdown of relations slowing down. My hope - but it's a distant hope, given the current frenzy of bridge-burning - lies in a new government which doesn't think in blocs. I was heartened to read these words from Tony Blinken, a foreign policy advisor to Joe Biden, on CNN.
Blinken cited the power vacuums we've created in international organizations, schisms with allies, the president's "green light" to commit human rights abuses in Xinjiang and, perhaps most damaging of all, "debasing our own democracy." All true. "Race to the bottom" describes Trump's approach to everything, and his desired effect on others, and they're racing ever faster as the election approaches.
I pray for peace, and pray that we'll have a chance to restore what he and his enablers have wrecked.
Last week Ian Johnson, an American journalist who's also written perhaps the best book on religion in contemporary China, had his visa cancelled, as part of a tit for tat war begun by the Trumpies. In a much shared article, he shared his heartbreak at it:
Not to sound maudlin, but people like me built our lives around a premise: that the world was interconnected and that it was a worthwhile calling to devote one’s life to making other cultures a tiny bit more intelligible. And also that even if dedicating oneself to this life wasn’t going to be easy or necessarily well-paid (unless one wanted to hawk dodgy Chinese securities), it would be meaningful and was in some way safe: The world wasn’t about to return to old-style blocs, where people from one camp couldn’t enter the other’s side. This was a world of standardized visas, regular flights and some sort of career prospects, whether in business, journalism, academics or cultural exchanges.
My whole life, and that of many of the people I love, is built on that premise, too.
Our current government relishes the moment's pandemic-induced isolation, and distrusts anyone who might be loyal to ideals or communities or relationships which go beyond it. Since their counterparts in China are suspicious of the same things, and both parties are busy blaming the other for domestic problems, it's hard to see this breakdown of relations slowing down. My hope - but it's a distant hope, given the current frenzy of bridge-burning - lies in a new government which doesn't think in blocs. I was heartened to read these words from Tony Blinken, a foreign policy advisor to Joe Biden, on CNN.
We're engaged in a serious competition with China. Competition can be a good thing, but we want to make it a
race to the top, not a race to the bottom, and that's a race we'll
win. ... But here's the problem. Right now, by virtually every key metric, China's strategic position is stronger and ours is weaker as a result of President Trump's leadership.
Blinken cited the power vacuums we've created in international organizations, schisms with allies, the president's "green light" to commit human rights abuses in Xinjiang and, perhaps most damaging of all, "debasing our own democracy." All true. "Race to the bottom" describes Trump's approach to everything, and his desired effect on others, and they're racing ever faster as the election approaches.
I pray for peace, and pray that we'll have a chance to restore what he and his enablers have wrecked.
