ASTF, I can see from what you've written that you might mean well enough. So I don't think I will escalate things any further. I am truly sorry if I made you think like I was on some high pedestal, but the fact is I only wanted to be straightforward with my points. I do not know you personally any better than you know me, and you have been civil enough compared to past posters who have disagreed with me that I will not assume the worst in any way whatsoever about where you're coming from.

I will say this and I do have to say this is touching more personal things: I grew up around enough Chinese people to know the family dynamics. My neighbor of mixed heritage has mixed Chinese blood. I have had enough experience going back to my childhood all the way to high school learning, understanding, laughing, and crying with them to know both the problems and the good, an anthropologist would call this "participant observation". In no way though am I speaking out of arrogance when I say this but perhaps sometimes the biggest critics are the ones who want to see you be the most successful. I knew even at a younger age what potential problems could come to China including the social strife that you see today. But being too open minded can mean you take in too much shyte and you end up believing official propaganda. I was taken aback by the abuse that I was put through at the places I worked at in China. But what's most disappointing is the fact that I see Chinese willingly making a choice to stand back and do nothing about so many things in their society. That saddens me and it makes me feel like I wasted so much time learning about them, but I am getting over that.

You I think mean well about not labeling such a big group of people and you want others to be more fair in their opinions. I can say to you that I respect how you feel and you can take my words with a pinch of salt if you must. But you can also take it to the bank that I will not back down from my beliefs, and if people want me to change they must show with their behavior that they're willing to admit mistakes and not have underhanded agendas. Unfortunately too many people I came across in China had that. Now I do not smoke, drink, or go to pink rooms so I have made an effort to avoid too many Chinese folks who might be more shady. I always try to give the benefit of the doubt, especially when it's making an opinion towards a whole country or culture.