A few impressions

Just a few impressions that I thought I would share. First I think it is impossible not to walk around day after day and not compare our country with China. From my limited exposure to this culture I would say that the people are happier here. They certainly laugh more and if some minor disaster should befall them they take it in stride. Today I watched two men pushing a two-wheeled wheelbarrow full of sand, they had a small incline to maneuver, but in the middle of the push up the incline the whole load tipped over, they laughed as did the bystanders around them. There are people who's job it is to keep the public toilets clean, they ware sonic-blue uniforms, but you can hear them singing quite often. The main difference, as I see it, is that the culture does not have as its main thrust or theme the desire for advancement. Most people seem to accept their lot and do what it is that IS their lot. The free market system of economics works fine with this mindset.
Second, Democracy will be opposed at all costs by the Central Committee. Democracy while giving the individual some temporary freedoms would in not to long a period result in class division, leading to class repression, leading to class struggle, which is where they originally began. China has a huge peasant class, there is no comparison in the U.S., this class had an uprising in 1644 which ended the Ming Dynasty and began the Qing Dynasty, and while not perfect is known historically as a benevolent Imperial power. So Mao and the gang were fighting for more of the same against the Republicans of 1911 - 1949.
Third, China and Tibet have a very long and interwoven relationship. There have been llama's and temples in China constantly for over 2000 years. While I am disgusted with the course of the occupation, the loss of culture the mass influx of Han Chinese etc., the fact is they have had a relationship, something that I personally was not aware of. It seems we in the west are not given that part of the history.
Fourth,and on that same subject,during the aftermath of the earthquake the news media here was as it would be in the U.S. constant coverage with heroic feats repeated over and over. Then after one week, because the Gov't. controls the media all entertainment was banned for three days of mourning. When the one week anniversary came up, because the entire country is on Beijing time, the entire country stopped, literally. It was supposed to be for a time of silence but most people in cars, buses and taxis honked their horns in a show of unity. The news media also showed repeatedly, the giving of cash by regular citizens which you could not help but be affected by, chacha and I gave twice. But a headline on Yahoo the other day told of the enormous citizen giving, then added that some people were "forced" to donate. The percentage of times where that was the case is so small as not to be a news item at all. My point is WE in the U.S. have a propaganda oriented news media. I'm shocked!