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China vs U.S. in an 'Internet Race'
avatar4d writes to mention an article on CIO about a new 'space race' on the internet between China and the U.S.. China is currently hard at work at what is being called the 'Chinese Next Generation Internet' (CNGI). With plans to unveil the project at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the network is part of a plan to leap ahead of the United States in innovation and technology. From the article: "The strategy, outlined in China's latest five-year plan, calls for the country to transition its economy from one based almost entirely on manufacturing to one that produces its own scientific and technological breakthroughs — using a new and improved version of today's dominant innovation platform, the Internet. 'CNGI is the culmination of this revolutionary plan' to turn China into the world's innovation capital, says Wu Hequan, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the chairman of the CNGI Expert Committee, the group overseeing the project. 'We will use it as a way to break through and be competitive in the global economic market.'"
Since when does technological innovation have it's roots in "beating the other guy".
Since the first guy picked up a rock and used it as a weapon.
It's for advancement of society, for curiousity, for problem solving. Just because China does some research doesn't mean it's trying to win a "race". Sure they might have wanted in the past to play catch up in technological progress, but why are we so quick to assume it's a race? Why not just assume they're doing it for the betterment of society?
The betterment of whose society? Their own? Censorship, control, brainwashing, newspeak?
Why would they want to help our society? Altruism?
Where does all this xenophobia come from?
Tiananmen Square, 1989. Among other examples.
The average Chinese citizen doesn't feel this way towards Americans, but for some reason, we are so paranoid about them.
I'm not afraid of the average Chinese citizen. I empathize with them, in fact. I'm afraid of their government. And, if they were smart, they'd be afraid of my government, too, just like I am. I'm sure they're just as smart as I am, and are able to make the distinction between the citizens of a country and that country's leadership.
Just my two cents.
than most other people here. On June 4 1989, a friend and I were the second and third persons in my (US) city to demonstrate, by the end of that day, there were hundreds there, the next day, thousands. I am also against repression in other totalitarian countries. And I've gone on the record with that. The reason I pointed out this similarity is that I'm very afraid totalitarianism could come to the US. And I'm not the only one who feels this way. Extremism only leads to more extremism. History shows us that. The surest route to communism is fascism, for example. Before every communist 'revolution', there was a fascist dictatorship. Fascism makes a lot of promises, but it never keeps them. Both kinds of totalitarianism are climax ecologies of lies. We have never learned the lessons we should have learned from WWII, it is pretty clear. Until we support international, binding standards on human rights of all kinds.. (The US, as well as China, oppose these) we will keep on repeating the same mistakes. For example, what will we do when technology makes it nobody 'has' to work anymore? How will we handle the economics of that situation? We need to start discussing this future dilemma now. Not doing so - could lead to genocide.. It could also lead to a level of hatred and global war - and the end of the human race..