China’s new nationalism

Evan Osnos does a good job of getting up close with China’s young intellectual conservatives in this week’s New Yorker. His main interviewee, Tang Jie, a 28-year-old graduate student and the architect behind a ultra-nationalist video that quickly became rapidly popular on the web, takes up most of the article. Osnos conveniently clears up many misconceptions we have of modern China. The information censorship we often talk about is easily breached by China’s extremely web savvy youth. So, contrary to popular belief, they do know about Tiananmen square. Also, young intellectuals are self-admittedly Westernized, but they turn to ancient Chinese philosophy and neo-conservative philosopher Leo Strauss as a guiding light in forming their doctrine.

Chinese are in no hurry to fight for democracy when they have material prosperity like never before seen. Call it a Faustian bargain, but they have forgone freedom of speech for extra disposable income.

The only problem I have with the article is that we have no way of knowing how typical or atypical Tang and his friends are. My assumption is that this intellectual conservatism is supported by an elite, as in any other country.

Having attended the Olympic torch relay that never was really a relay, I saw the vitriol spewed forth by Chinese of all ages when confronting those critical of China. This is why this paragraph needs to be emphasized:

“The initial rhetoric of that nationalist outcry contained a spirit of violence that anyone old enough to remember the Red Guards–or the rise of skinheads in Europe–could not casually dismiss.”

Piracy off the coast of Somalia

pic by SYOIN KAJII

From the Economist:

“African governments have yet to realise that they will have to do more themselves. East Africa does not have a single warship in good shape. Tanzania’s navy chief, Brigadier Said Omar, says that his fleet never reaches the high seas; its operational range is 20 nautical miles. When asked to describe his ships he laughs sadly. “Ships? We don’t have ships. We have very old, very small boats.” Peter Kivuyo, Tanzania’s police marine chief, says his force might reach five nautical miles offshore “if the waves are small”. His men do not even have binoculars.”

Saw Gonzo last night. Now I have some ideas for some Thompson-esque journalistic antics, and I picked up some rare personality affectations.

This is the talk of the town. I lost all dwindling respect I had for the NYer. When is the last time there was a must read? Is this a summer slump thing, or just an overall lame time for the magazine industry?

Music of the moment:

Solo Andata, Marsen Jules (Yara), Duran Duran (Rio), OUTKAST (speakerboxx), Monolake

YEPA YEPA YEPA, by Silverio

This is amazing smut glam blood rock from Mexico. Mexico, did I tell you how much I love you? Here, I’ll say it again….

talked to Milena last night…

She just got back from France, and is now eating croissants for breakfast.

photo of the day

by ZHU HAO, more here  http://www.artscenechina.com/chineseart/artists/chinesephotography/zhuhao.htm#QuickLinks

Myanmar capital decadence

futility music in Guantanamo interrogations

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/goingson/2008/05/futility-music.html

Chimpanzee’s copulations calls

Female Chimps wail during sex to attract other males, a study reported in today’s NY Times. Females chimps are very promiscuous, and they’re sleeping around may be evolutionary. Males will kill babies that they can confirm are not theirs. The female needs to have as many males’ sperm as possible to make their progeny unrecognizable.

Japan loosens North Korean sanctions

North Korea agreed to reopen an investigation into the fate of 8 Japanese citizens that it kidnapped in the 1970s. The move prompted the Japanese government to lift travel and economic sanctions, a presents a shift in the dynamic between the two countries.

IN 2002 North Korea admitted that it abducted 13 Japanese nationals suspected of espionage in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Five were returned and the remaining eight were believed to be dead. But Japan wants proof of their deaths and a full investigation of the circumstances.