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Bod · #1

I love to travel and often go it alone, but a friend of mine said she would like to accompany me so we got together and eventually decided on China. Neither of us have been anywhere even close and got Intrepid Travel who do very lucrative tours.

My friend has a partner that she lives with but he will not fly and has no desire to leave the UK. She's gone abroad without him a few times and it's never been a problem.

So I was quite shocked last night when he tore strips off me for deciding to go to China. He says he can't understand why I would go to a place with the worst human rights in the world, where they skin dogs alive etc etc. That my visiting is putting money into an economy that supports executions for minor crimes. He got so angry that he was shouting, standing up and waving his arms about, he was that mad about it. He was that vile and threatening I was stunned.

I certainly don't deny that bad things happen there, but is this a reason not to visit a country? I want to see it for myself, get to know random general members of the public, feel the cities and visit the old stuff. I'm curious to see far away places and China has always intrigued me, but now Im wondering, is this guy right? Or is he jealous? Im just not sure.

Tadao · #2

It all depends on what you view is on what is right. There is a lot of villages and farmers in China, they do things differently in villages. They have cities just like we do. There was a lot of things going on in Africa when you went.

I would suggest you stay in the cities unless you have good friend over there.

Bod · #3

I think many of us would agree that China is known for it's poor human rights and the things I've read about I would say is wrong. But my going there isn't going to make the problem worse or signify that I condone it.

We're going to Beijing, Xi'an, Suzhou and Shanghai, all tourist stompin grounds, though i don't think our personal safety was the guy's gripe.

And yes I did point out to him that he never had a problem with me/her visiting South Africa, Zambia, Egypt, Jordan etc etc. There's a good few thing I don't agree with that America does, but I still like visiting and many of the people I've met there. So why the issue with China in particular?

Tadao · #4

China is the last real Communistic Country and a threat to our democratic idealism.

Bod · #5

MY own democratic idealism doesn't feel particularly threatened.

Tadao · #6

I believe that the world needs someone to hate at all times. China made it easy because they don't communicate with the world on a daily basis. If the world didn't hate China, it would most likely be America then, and America isn't gonna let that happen so they have a huge smear campaign going on about China. These human rights issues in China, are they about all Chinese or the poor? How does any nation treat their poor? Yeah I know, I should feel more morally outraged at how much worse China is with it, but I really don't see things that way. My thinking is way more damaged and generalistic about the whole world and how I hate humans.

I guess you shouldn't even be taking what I say seriously as I am biased against man and have no hope for our future.

Bod · #7

Yeah all countries have issues they don't want to share with tourists. The dirty bits that are swept away. But so does my country. I've never seen advertised a tour of Notorious Riot Sites of the UK, Excursions of the Miners Strikes featuring re-enactments of police brutality or a museum of IRA bombings in England.

Tadao · #8

There are two countries that I am weary of visiting. China and Mexico. I don't want to wind up in their jails.

Bod · #9

I wouldn't fancy jail in Thailand either.

Tadao · #10

Poor Thailand. It could have been China's Hawaii.

VaporTrailx1 · #11

and Beirut used to be the Paris of the Middle East. At least Dubai decided to be an example of progress in the middle east and the world for that matter.

Tadao · #12

Didn't everyone flee Dubai for some reason?

Dimnos · #13

So how does he know its oh so bad over there if he never flies or leaves the UK? So a few bad people skin some dogs so you have to condemn an entire country? Sounds like he needs to relax. Fact is that China a rich culture and some really neat art and architecture that really worth seeing. Just make sure to stay out of trouble and dont try to smuggle drugs in or out of the country and you will be fine.

executioneer · #14

yeah esp. not opium they HATE when you guys do that

Bod · #15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dimnos

So how does he know its oh so bad over there if he never flies or leaves the UK? So a few bad people skin some dogs so you have to condemn an entire country? Sounds like he needs to relax. Fact is that China a rich culture and some really neat art and architecture that really worth seeing. Just make sure to stay out of trouble and dont try to smuggle drugs in or out of the country and you will be fine.

He's read it in the Guardian and on the internet.
And yeah, I've been looking up about human rights in China and its bad.
But there's a lot more to it than that.