Allen Weber’s Take On The World

French Trip-Up Over Diplomacy

It all started in a century a long, long, long time ago. With attitudes far, far away from what they are today.

The French have a magnificent history including the claim they invented diplomacy.

If the French Invented Modern Diplomacy How Come They Suck At It?

There was a Chinese Olympic torchbearer named Jin Jing who is confined to a wheelchair. She is a Chinese wheelchair athlete. And as she was proudly (in her National Pride of China), bearing the torch along the Seine River in Paris. Protesting thugs attempted to rip the torch out of her hands. She struggled mightily and kept hold of the torch April 7, 2008. This started the troubles for the French.

Sarkozy the French president rather than apologizing to the Chinese people, and rather than showing up in China with his ministers to save Carefour (the French supermarket chain now being boycotted by millions of Chinese) instead sent a letter to Jin Jing

Did he apologize?

No!

His attempt at putting out the fire in fact poured more gasoline on it

Rather than showing up himself, he instead sent the head of the French Congress Christian Poncelet to China in a special trip on the 21st of April, to personally hand Sarkozy’s letter to and meet with Jin Jing

One would think an apology at least to Jin Jing, and moreover to the people of China for the behavior of the French people and the glee the French press took in the vicious attack on her while all where was doing was carrying the Olympic Torch in the relay… Oh did I mention she was wheelchair bound when the French thugs attacked her?

French Diplomacy?… Make That Arrogance

The letter was reported to have said…

“I acknowledge there was an intolerable attack on Jin Jing. And this hurt Chinese peoples feelings. The incident happened on April 7 in Paris. It made Chinese people very angry. I strongly condemn those peoples behavior. And I want Jin Jing to believe that a few people created this incident, and it does not represent the French people’s friendly feelings towards the Chinese people.”

So when he says “I strongly condemn those peoples behavior.” is he referring to the thugs who attacked Jin Jing… or is he referring to the angry Chinese people who are boycotting French products and the French supermarket Carefour?

It was reported when Christian Poncelet was reading this letter to Jin Jing He said

“I saw Jin Jing was attacked when she was holding the Olympic torch. I was very surprised. And Jin Jing was very brave. I deeply respect Jin Jing and China.”

Jin Jing’s response?

Priceless

Jin Jing said…

“Christian Poncelet seemed sincere.

I’m surprised, in he and president Sarkozy’s letter I did not see any apology or sorry.

This attack in Paris while passing the torch was not only on myself. It is to my country China. I hope that the French government should consider a sincere apology to ALL the Chinese people’s feeling.”

President Sarkozy had previously claimed he was sick and could not make the trip to China, which is why he sent Christian Poncelet in his place.

Paris City Council passed the Paris city mayor Bertrand’s suggestion to give the Dali Lama and a Falun Gong Leader an official Honor similar to the keys to the city. ON THE EXACT SAME DAY Chirstian Poncelet met with Jin Jing.

This is Diplomacy?

More like an insult.

The Sleeping Giant Has Awakened

In the 1970’s and 80’s many people involved in international trade saw great potential in China. At that time, China did not appear to see the potential in herself.

She was called the “Sleeping Giant”

Unfortunately, China’s history especially from the 1800’s onward was one of being physically invaded and dominated by foreign powers. You had the Opium Wars the British started in the 1800’s. Then Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the USA all bit off parts of China.

Around 1900 there was a rebellion called the “Boxer Rebellion” that ultimately failed. Leading to stronger restrictions placed on the Chinese by the invading powers.

This all culminated during World War II when the Japanese drove out all other powers and over took China to make them into a Japanese colony.

After World War II the Russians crossed over and dismantled all the modern factories near the Russian border constructed by the Japanese, leaving China with nothing.

China then went into hibernation for decades.

Finally when President Nixon went to China, it was starting to awaken. You know, like when you are just waking up after a long sleep. Still very drowsy.

In the 1970’s and 1980’s everyone saw China had vast deposits of raw materials, chemicals, cotton, gold…

The problem was the Chinese could not do the necessary refining. They learned, and grew richer.

They started exporting like mad, and the country grew richer. They progressed by leaps and bounds.

The people became freer and freer. They could own their own property. They could travel around the country, and to other countries. They could own their own businesses. Large government companies became privatized.

They built their military… not for conquest… but to prevent them from being over-run by foreign powers again.

Nationalism Was Missing

The only thing missing was Nationalism. National pride. Like the French have in France, the Germans in Germany, The British have in Great Britan, the people of the USA have in the USA.

The Chinese people needed a catalyst.

The French and the world wide press primarily provided it with the disgusting manner in which the French thugs started the attacks on the Olympic Torch and the world wide press gleefully praising these vicious attacks.

The Chinese have done what any self respecting people would do. They are lining up behind their country and National Pride that is being attacked by other countries who apparently are jealous of the progress and riches the Chinese have made for themselves.

People around the world, and governments around the world should remember… this is NOT the Imperial China of the late 1800’s.

It is not dis-united. With groups fighting to overthrow the Emperor, weakening the country. Today, modern China is a vibrant, self sufficient, modern country. And it has a modern strong military, and it has citizens who really care a lot about their country, and have a lot of national pride. In fact much more than the politically correct Western countries have displayed toward themselves.

Something to think about.

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