Another riot, but not same

About Xinjiang's riot, I got something to say.

Well, I this they choose July 5th is not a good idea, if they want to attract the world's attention. Michael Jackson's death is undoubtedly a more eye catching big shock for people around the world. Nobody really cares what was going on in west China. So, timing is bad.

If these people want to follow the Dalai Lama's path and try to separate China, they should have a stronger and convincing leader like the Dalai Lama. Rabiye Qadir is far from that point. At least, she does not have that reputation and she is only a minority leader, unlike the Dailai Lama, he is a spiritual leader around the world. Chinese government should be careful not to frame her as another Dailai Lama.

For the Chinese government, since Uyghuristan has been the place originated terrorism in central Asia. One of Shanghai Cooperation Organization's mission is to promote cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism. They already have definations for the terrorists in that region. Therefore, this enables the Chinese government to frame this tribal dispute as terrorism.

As some US comments about his riot, they focus more on the way the Chinese government deal with this issue. Some of the articles say that the Chinese government learned a lot from the Tibet riot and is trying to open the region to foreign reporters. I see it consequential. Of course they have learned from the previous incidents. I checked note of the press conference on the website of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they offer a video CD recording that bloody riot for reporters. It is definately a public diplomacy approach. Although I doubt it will be convincing in those foreign journalists’ eyes, at least the government is doing something to tell their story. As long as they speak out, there will be more chance to win people's hearts and minds.

Chinese media are more cautious, as usual. But I know that some of them emphasis on foreign media's reportage on this issue. They revealed that some of the foreign press distort the facts and using the photos about other incidents to illustrate this issue. This internal probaganda aims for domestic audiences. They know that people have various channels to get the foreign reports and maybe hear from friends abroad. Trying to avoid the unecessary trouble, the Chinese government utilizes the press to deliver some message like the Western media has bias on China or something like that. To be honest, the criticism on China is not as huge as the one after previous Tibet riot. One reason is probably because of MJ's death. Another reason is that people do not know much about Xinjiang and the history in that region. So, people just don't care about it.

I can see that it is a chance to do some public diplomacy for China, but I don't know how successful it will be. Let's see.

New York

The place I stayed is not far from New York, so I can go to the city by bus, which is good because I don't have a car here. I have been to NY twice. First time I went to the Metopolitan Museum of Art and the second time I went to Times Square, United Nations Headquarters, Grand Central Terminal and Battery Park.

The museum was really tunning. I don't go to museums that much so I was almost absorbed by those arts. I like the paintings most although there are many religious paintings that I don't understand. I heard that most famous one is The Dance Class by Edgar Degas. I love the ballet dresses. I especially went to Asian Arts exhibition hall to see Chinese arts. They have that little Suzhou Garden. I went inside and the decoration made me feel I was in China. The only thing about the garden is that it is so new, and most of the Suzhou gardens were built during the Ming Dynasty. They should be old. Anyway, it was nice to see the familar scene.

Times Square is so crowded. I went by the Tussauds Wax Museum and I saw Michael Jackson's wax figure was in the window. Lot's of people were taking pictures because this Super Star just passed away. As I walk along the 42nd street to the UN Headquarter, I accidentally met the Grand Central Terminal and the Chryler building.

Since it's Saturday, most parts of the UN Headquarter are not available to the public. I just went to the ground lobby and the basement. There were two photo exhibitions in the lobby, and both of them were about animal protection. I found out there was a Chinese photographer who took some photos about animals in Kenya. I like the way he took these photos. They made me calm. You know, most of the photos in exhibitions are shocking and disgusting, inorder to be memorized. Well, I agree that these photos have their values which advocate some causes, but I still prefer the ones showing the beauty of nature. Like this time. I also bought a postcard for Chen and posted it through the UN post office.

After seeing the UN, I walk to the Grand Central Terminal and took the subway to Battery Park. I went there to see the Staue of Liberty. To my disappointment, she was too far from the shore. I couldn't see her clearly. But I like the park very much. After ‘pushing and shoving’ at the Times Square, I can tell the time goes slow at this pretty park. I sat down for a while and took some photos.

I don't know what's it like to live in a city like this. Will it be too much? I still like the experience to explore it and know more about this tolerant city.

My Life in New Jersey

I am doing my internship in New Jersey. The place is called Bergenfield. Pretty nice small town, and I like the trees. I walk to work every morning. I like walking on the street here except there aren't sidewalks on both sides of the street, so I have to watch out for the cars. I worst thing here is, cars do not always watch for pedestrians. It is not as bad as in China, but it's still weird.

I am living with a girl Vivi. She's the daughter of my dad's friend, and she also works in that company. She takes good care of me and has showed me around, introduced me to colleagues. It is always good to have someone like this. Things always have their bad sides. Can you image being together with someone 24/7? We sleep on the same bed. (I know, I tried the couch but it is so uncomfortable) We go to work together and we eat together. Think about it! She's nice but sometimes it's just too much. Also, we have different values and different living habit. It is hard.

There is a military warehouse beside Vivi's apartment. Some weekends there are many demonstrators calling for withdrawing troops from Iraq. I saw once. There is also a big Korean grocery store. We buy foods there.

Like typical internships, my internship at this company is just about some random work. Like arranging the invoices and so on. It is almost nothing related to public diplomacy. But it is not all meaningless. I got the chance to live in the East, close to the NY city. And this is my first job in the US. I meet people and I know what it likes to work here. I wasn't expecting that much. So it works fine with me.

This is pretty much my live here in Bergenfield. It is slow and peaceful. It often rains here and makes me miss California sunshine.

First English Blog

I should get a English blog, though I am not good at writing in English. I have a Chinese one that I wrote for about 2 years.

I have been writing blogs since I was in college. I abandoned my first blog because they changed the system and it became too slow. I stopped using my second one because one ass hole was reading it and commented on my page. Well, I was not scared or angried by him. I believe that my blog should be something very private and I tried to not let many people know about it. It is usually about my feelings and my daily lives. I don't want to be judged by some random people or share my feelings with the people I don't want to.

My first blog shouldn't be like a statement. Anyway, I creat this blog for my friends in the US. So you can read my immature English writing and my photos.

By the way, here is my Chinese blog. In case you may want to read it.