It seems that China is an ancient culture struggling to grasp the new and more modern ways that a government is run; it is as if they do not know how to gracefully shift into this new identity of a diverse people. I feel that the people in China really cry out for their own identity, but are instead suppressed by the idea that “culture” is something passed down, and not evolving. It is in this way that they are stagnant with their identity; never really evolving or changing, but rather simply identifying so heavily with what their ancestors or past leaders have done, that it is almost as if they do not learn the lessons of government leaders until it is long past when they have been in office.
One thing that Dodson says that really interests me is that the Chinese are said to victimize themselves, while also saying that they are very heroic and great (pg.’s 205-206). I find this really interesting, it is almost as if they are saying about themselves “I am the best of the worst.”
I’m not really sure just how much of Dodson I really agree with, because I feel that this generalization is a very big one to just throw on every citizen within one of the most populated countries in the world. I constantly feel torn between the wonderful and hospitable people I met there, and Dodson’s observations, if not mostly assumptions. Perhaps the Chinese do consider themselves more prestigious in knowledge, but look at the statistics - it’s not like they’re that far off! America is at the bottom of the academic boards and charts, while China dominates in science and math. Perhaps there is a boastfulness, but there is also a rebellion against the government within this nation. And just because the people who have a voice in this piece of work come off a certain way, does not mean that the majority of the country is not humble and extremely hardworking. And that is where Dodson is wrong.
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