“An escalation for restrictive trade could undermine economic recovery in both United States and China.”
— An official in American Chamber of Commerce in China
Since September 26, a tariff of 35 percent on Chinese tires for cars and light trucks has been imposed, which is about 9 times more than the previous one. According to an anonymous White House official, United States is just enforcing trade laws, not practicing protectionism. Whether the levied tire tariff on Chinese tires is a sign of commercial protectionism or not, any form of such protectionism is widely considered undesirable by world leaders and economists, especially the time period through this global economic crisis. People with a little background of U.S. history of the Great Depression period might know that President Hoover’s Smoot-Hawley Tariff—the highest tariff rates in American history—not only shocked the world but also sparked an international trade war and worsened the U.S. domestic economic spiral. That has been considered a typical and infamous example of practicing trade protectionism worldwide.
Although American Democratic Party somehow has cultural tendency of favoring protectionism, President Obama is the first U.S. president who supports such a punitive duty on U.S.-Chinese trade since President Ronald Regan. Such a heavy duty may not only cause about 100,000 Chinese workers lose their jobs but increase the cost for American consumers, as well.
It is understandable that President Obama’s first step toward U.S.-China trade is mainly driven by domestic political pressure, especially when he is facing difficulties for his health care reform right now. However, let’s think about international trade in another way. If people believe that importation is a disadvantage for domestic economy and local workers, then why bother about being a member of the World Trade Organization? I believe that WTO is such an organization that provides a frame for free global market and supports free global trading system. International trade could be a simply buy-sell process, but most of the time, it is more complicated and sophisticated than that—political tools is a good example.
There is a traditional Chinese saying—if you give me a fist, I will kick you back for sure. An immediate investigation that launched by Chinese Commerce Department on imported U.S. chicken meat products may validate such philosophy very well. Nobody wants to swallow a broken tooth without any kickback. Thus, does it mean that there will be an imminent international trade war in the near future? If there is one, it must be an interesting one.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
About the film--the Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Last Friday, my friend recommended me a film of WWII subject, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, which is a great film about people’s tragedy life in wartime. Different from other film with similar subject, its emphasis is on the dramatic change of life in a family with Teutonic ethnicity during the holocaust of European Jews by Germany Nazi in 1940’s. Although the story is told from a wartime friendship and experience of two children Bruno and Shmuel--one is a privileged son of Nazi family; the other, an “evil” Jewish boy in striped pajamas, the film also presents the subtle but dramatic conflicts and suffering within the Nazi family.
Their friendship is simple but special. They are friends separated on different sides of barbed wire fence. Their childhood belong to two totally different categories. When Bruno decides to do something adventurous to draw a meaningful period to their friendship before he leaves the countryside, nobody realizes, except audience sitting in front of the screen, that something horrible will happen eventually. Bruno’s commitment to his dear friend and his innocent brave lead him toward the edge of cliff. When undressed Bruno and Shmuel with other prisoner in the camp are herded into the crowd and dark gas chamber, it is really cruel and breathtaking for film watchers. Everyone in front of the screen knows what is waiting for the two boys. We know why Bruno is here. We know how fearsome and terrified these two little boys are. We also know how their precious friendship will end in. I was really moved and totally heartbroken when they hold their hands tightly together in the darkness; however, I was somehow released because, at least, they are not lonely at the very end of their life. They are lucky because they have the strongest belief of their pure friendship even at the last minute of their life. Therefore, Bruno and Shmuel might not be the most woeful victims of the war, instead, Bruno’s families are.
At the end, rain is falling heavily. Thunder and lighting are shifting. The elegant mother is screaming outside of the barbed-wire fence with her dear son’s clothes. Father is standing numbly in front of the gas chamber building. Who should be responsible for the distressing ending? It might the two boys’ innocent friendship and Bruno’s naïve and imprudent impishness. However, if there is no war, no Nazi, no holocaust, these two lovely boy will not end their life in the gas chamber and no parent will suffer the panic of losing their kids. It is undoubted that Bruno and his friend are one of the most pitiful victims in the war, as well his privileged Germany family.
There is a Chinese saying, “evil behavior eventually affects all those involved, including the perpetrators.” After the end of WWII, the president of Germany kneed down in front of the Monument of Jews. However, victims of the genocide by Nazi Germany are not only the 6 million Jews killed during the war, but the Germany people as well. Both of them was suffering huge physical and mental panic.
The catastrophic WWII seems to have been a history years away from us, but in fact, we are still living in a world surrounded by military conflicts and wars—Iraq War, Darfur-Sudan War/Genocide, India-Pakistan military conflicts and so on. Looking forward to the future, rarer natural resources and increasing populace in our planet will inevitable generate more conflicts, but no matter what excuse is used to launch a war, war is evil and people being passively involved in are the most woeful sacrifice.
Wish all the stupid wars vanish someday. Even though it is just a wish.
Their friendship is simple but special. They are friends separated on different sides of barbed wire fence. Their childhood belong to two totally different categories. When Bruno decides to do something adventurous to draw a meaningful period to their friendship before he leaves the countryside, nobody realizes, except audience sitting in front of the screen, that something horrible will happen eventually. Bruno’s commitment to his dear friend and his innocent brave lead him toward the edge of cliff. When undressed Bruno and Shmuel with other prisoner in the camp are herded into the crowd and dark gas chamber, it is really cruel and breathtaking for film watchers. Everyone in front of the screen knows what is waiting for the two boys. We know why Bruno is here. We know how fearsome and terrified these two little boys are. We also know how their precious friendship will end in. I was really moved and totally heartbroken when they hold their hands tightly together in the darkness; however, I was somehow released because, at least, they are not lonely at the very end of their life. They are lucky because they have the strongest belief of their pure friendship even at the last minute of their life. Therefore, Bruno and Shmuel might not be the most woeful victims of the war, instead, Bruno’s families are.
At the end, rain is falling heavily. Thunder and lighting are shifting. The elegant mother is screaming outside of the barbed-wire fence with her dear son’s clothes. Father is standing numbly in front of the gas chamber building. Who should be responsible for the distressing ending? It might the two boys’ innocent friendship and Bruno’s naïve and imprudent impishness. However, if there is no war, no Nazi, no holocaust, these two lovely boy will not end their life in the gas chamber and no parent will suffer the panic of losing their kids. It is undoubted that Bruno and his friend are one of the most pitiful victims in the war, as well his privileged Germany family.
There is a Chinese saying, “evil behavior eventually affects all those involved, including the perpetrators.” After the end of WWII, the president of Germany kneed down in front of the Monument of Jews. However, victims of the genocide by Nazi Germany are not only the 6 million Jews killed during the war, but the Germany people as well. Both of them was suffering huge physical and mental panic.
The catastrophic WWII seems to have been a history years away from us, but in fact, we are still living in a world surrounded by military conflicts and wars—Iraq War, Darfur-Sudan War/Genocide, India-Pakistan military conflicts and so on. Looking forward to the future, rarer natural resources and increasing populace in our planet will inevitable generate more conflicts, but no matter what excuse is used to launch a war, war is evil and people being passively involved in are the most woeful sacrifice.
Wish all the stupid wars vanish someday. Even though it is just a wish.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
About America's Sex laws
Weeks ago, I read an article about America’s Sex laws in Economist. The author argued the justice and necessity of the current American Sex laws. As a new home buyer and a mom of young kids, I do support strict curbs on any criminals, especially released sex offenders. Ratchet effect is one of the biggest concerns because sexual offense is considered as a psychological problem, which could be treated but not secured. If the current public sexual-offender registries can help homeowners and parents be alert of potential danger, there’s no reason to dysfunction it. However, I still agree with the author’s argument about making the punishment fit the crime.
When I used the California Megan’s Law website to check the safety of the new house we were going to purchase, it was convenient to check out any registered sex offenders by zip code and address, but on the other hand, it was not clear enough about what criminals those sex offenders convicted in specific. Most offense descriptions are like “lewd or lascivious acts with child under 14 years” or “rape by force”. As we know, registration is required for life by many states. Some offenders convicted their crimes decades ago and some did even when they were teenagers. On public sex-offender registries, there is no date of convicted crimes listed. According to me, it does not make much sense. If some of them are not recidivists with good record for a continuously long time period, it could be considered to remove them from the public registry. It is better for the Department of Justice to have specific assess of each individual offenders and mark the level the threats.
I believe that most sex offenders do not want to be titled “life-long sex offender” with most essential private information exposed to the public. Although their public personal information is legally not allowed to be used to harass offenders or their families, discriminations against them could easily ruin their life.
Personally, I believe in good human nature and support giving chance to anyone who’s willing to repent past mistakes. Therefore, any adjustment and reform that secures public safety and eliminates unnecessary difficulties for offenders’ life will win my vote.
When I used the California Megan’s Law website to check the safety of the new house we were going to purchase, it was convenient to check out any registered sex offenders by zip code and address, but on the other hand, it was not clear enough about what criminals those sex offenders convicted in specific. Most offense descriptions are like “lewd or lascivious acts with child under 14 years” or “rape by force”. As we know, registration is required for life by many states. Some offenders convicted their crimes decades ago and some did even when they were teenagers. On public sex-offender registries, there is no date of convicted crimes listed. According to me, it does not make much sense. If some of them are not recidivists with good record for a continuously long time period, it could be considered to remove them from the public registry. It is better for the Department of Justice to have specific assess of each individual offenders and mark the level the threats.
I believe that most sex offenders do not want to be titled “life-long sex offender” with most essential private information exposed to the public. Although their public personal information is legally not allowed to be used to harass offenders or their families, discriminations against them could easily ruin their life.
Personally, I believe in good human nature and support giving chance to anyone who’s willing to repent past mistakes. Therefore, any adjustment and reform that secures public safety and eliminates unnecessary difficulties for offenders’ life will win my vote.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Moving in Amercia
Usually, June is a season of farewell because of the graduation day. I went through it 5 years ago, in Shanghai. Back to 2004, half of my friends took their flights to Paris, half of them stayed and I arrived in Los Angeles International Airport. I didn't expect the season of "goodbye" came back again 5 years later. This time, it has nothing to do with graduation but our Mommy Club.
Our Mommy Club was formed back in 2006, when most of our kids were just starting their first walk in a park near our home. Except for having kids, we have a lot more in common. We all married, of course. We all came from foreign countries when we were young to chase our dream. We are all first-generation-immigrants, struggling for almost everything ourselves in this new land. Since we get little help from our distant families, Mommy Club becomes a big support of our lives. We not only share experience of childcare but also love each other as a big family. However, when our kids are taller and older, there are more to be considered, such as school district and a new home.... The place we are living now is a quiet and beautiful apartment community. The only concern is its "non-excellent" schools. Thus one month ago, Ontario's family decided to move to Austin and Taotao's family started their new life in Seattle. Just one week ago, Jonathon's family purchased a new house in cupertino and moved to their new house last weekend. Suddenly, most of the boys in our social net have left. I know it will take quite a time for my son to get used to it—making new friends and put old friends in best memories.
I still remember the day when we had our farewell party. Someone said that moving is just part of our life since our ancestors moved from woods to woods, tribes to tribes and continents to continents. Sometimes moving became adventure, and adventure evolved into epic, that’s how we got Iliad and Odyssey… In modern America, we are just average Joes, Jacks, Janes and Jeffs, trying to make a living here and there. If there is an American dream in this land, then moving is just something pragmatic—part of our life experiences, especially for immigrants. I am trying to count on my fingers that how many movings have I been through in America? LA to San Jose, back to LA, then Sunnyvale, back to LA again and eventually living in Sunnyvale now while expecting a big moving to Pleasanton the end of the year.
Definitely, we are enriching our life through moving, getting deeper involved in its culture and society.
Our Mommy Club was formed back in 2006, when most of our kids were just starting their first walk in a park near our home. Except for having kids, we have a lot more in common. We all married, of course. We all came from foreign countries when we were young to chase our dream. We are all first-generation-immigrants, struggling for almost everything ourselves in this new land. Since we get little help from our distant families, Mommy Club becomes a big support of our lives. We not only share experience of childcare but also love each other as a big family. However, when our kids are taller and older, there are more to be considered, such as school district and a new home.... The place we are living now is a quiet and beautiful apartment community. The only concern is its "non-excellent" schools. Thus one month ago, Ontario's family decided to move to Austin and Taotao's family started their new life in Seattle. Just one week ago, Jonathon's family purchased a new house in cupertino and moved to their new house last weekend. Suddenly, most of the boys in our social net have left. I know it will take quite a time for my son to get used to it—making new friends and put old friends in best memories.
I still remember the day when we had our farewell party. Someone said that moving is just part of our life since our ancestors moved from woods to woods, tribes to tribes and continents to continents. Sometimes moving became adventure, and adventure evolved into epic, that’s how we got Iliad and Odyssey… In modern America, we are just average Joes, Jacks, Janes and Jeffs, trying to make a living here and there. If there is an American dream in this land, then moving is just something pragmatic—part of our life experiences, especially for immigrants. I am trying to count on my fingers that how many movings have I been through in America? LA to San Jose, back to LA, then Sunnyvale, back to LA again and eventually living in Sunnyvale now while expecting a big moving to Pleasanton the end of the year.
Definitely, we are enriching our life through moving, getting deeper involved in its culture and society.
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