Effective "Glocal" Involvement at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Subtitle: It's all About the Toilets!
A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to sit with about 36 individuals for a briefing in Hong Kong at the Chinese University. Most were Chinese. I was among the handful of white faces. Therefore, I understood my role was to learn. I believe I achieved that goal and walked away with an enhanced understanding of the continuing changes in China today and what it is going to take to serve effectively alongside our Chinese partners.
The final presentation was by Peng Liu. He is a communist. He also serves as a consultant for the Chinese government in matters regarding Western Religion.
His speech was pithily titled: "The impact of Religion Upon Sino-American Relations-Problems, Root Causes and Solutions."
To begin with, Liu demonstrated an accurate understanding of how we, in the USA, view religion and human rights. He then pointed out how devastating it is from the Chinese perspective when all negotiations at any level eventually end up with a discussion of religious freedoms.
Liu stated that when government officials (and remember Religious Affairs personnel are government officials) are asked, "Why don' t you change your laws on religious matters?" it is a conversation stopper. Not because the Chinese have no opinions or thoughts on these matters, but because China has NO LAWS governing religion, freedom of speech or freedoms of the press. There is nothing in their constitution and by-laws to change.
What China has are policies and regulations on these matters. One of the challenges is that these vary from province to province and city to city. He asked, "How many various regulations do you have in the USA - at the city, state, and national levels - on such matters? Do some of these conflict with one another?"
The answer is an obvious "yes."
His concluding challenge to those of us who wish to have long-term relations in China was as to stop worrying about changing China's laws and focus on a kind and on-going dialogue with those we have good relationships with inside of China.
He says "Chinese will hear the words of their friends." If enough people present strong arguments and seem concerned about a particular matter, in time, it is likely changes will occur.
He left us with the following illustration. Years ago when China opened up to tourism, millions flocked to see the Great Wall. Many foreign guests expressed concern because there were not Western toilets. Word came that some guests even waited until they returned to their hotel in Beijing to go to the bathroom.
To the Chinese this was amusing. They had been visiting the Great Wall for hundreds of years with no complaints.
However, as more and more guests expressed interest in the lack of Western toilets, the Chinese people, as good friends, responded. Today when you go to the Great Wall during the Olympics, you will find some of the finest toilet facilities in the world waiting for you when you go to your bus.
"That" said Liu, "is how change comes about in China!"
For the work of Grace for Asia, we are going to keep signs posted where all are reminded: "REMEMBER THE TOILETS!"
Subtitle: It's all About the Toilets!
A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to sit with about 36 individuals for a briefing in Hong Kong at the Chinese University. Most were Chinese. I was among the handful of white faces. Therefore, I understood my role was to learn. I believe I achieved that goal and walked away with an enhanced understanding of the continuing changes in China today and what it is going to take to serve effectively alongside our Chinese partners.
The final presentation was by Peng Liu. He is a communist. He also serves as a consultant for the Chinese government in matters regarding Western Religion.
His speech was pithily titled: "The impact of Religion Upon Sino-American Relations-Problems, Root Causes and Solutions."
To begin with, Liu demonstrated an accurate understanding of how we, in the USA, view religion and human rights. He then pointed out how devastating it is from the Chinese perspective when all negotiations at any level eventually end up with a discussion of religious freedoms.
Liu stated that when government officials (and remember Religious Affairs personnel are government officials) are asked, "Why don' t you change your laws on religious matters?" it is a conversation stopper. Not because the Chinese have no opinions or thoughts on these matters, but because China has NO LAWS governing religion, freedom of speech or freedoms of the press. There is nothing in their constitution and by-laws to change.
What China has are policies and regulations on these matters. One of the challenges is that these vary from province to province and city to city. He asked, "How many various regulations do you have in the USA - at the city, state, and national levels - on such matters? Do some of these conflict with one another?"
The answer is an obvious "yes."
His concluding challenge to those of us who wish to have long-term relations in China was as to stop worrying about changing China's laws and focus on a kind and on-going dialogue with those we have good relationships with inside of China.
He says "Chinese will hear the words of their friends." If enough people present strong arguments and seem concerned about a particular matter, in time, it is likely changes will occur.
He left us with the following illustration. Years ago when China opened up to tourism, millions flocked to see the Great Wall. Many foreign guests expressed concern because there were not Western toilets. Word came that some guests even waited until they returned to their hotel in Beijing to go to the bathroom.
To the Chinese this was amusing. They had been visiting the Great Wall for hundreds of years with no complaints.
However, as more and more guests expressed interest in the lack of Western toilets, the Chinese people, as good friends, responded. Today when you go to the Great Wall during the Olympics, you will find some of the finest toilet facilities in the world waiting for you when you go to your bus.
"That" said Liu, "is how change comes about in China!"
For the work of Grace for Asia, we are going to keep signs posted where all are reminded: "REMEMBER THE TOILETS!"
