The similarities are so obvious I’m surprised I don’t see this kind of news article more often. Xinhua, China’s largest news organization and an acknowledged government mouthpiece, ran a short story today about the American Indian tribes in New Mexico and Arizona. Why, you ask? Good question.
The story ran in both English and Chinese, and has obviously been sitting in a file waiting for the right moment to be published. I believe, prompted by all this news about the Dalai Lama and an arms deal with Taiwan, somebody decided that moment should be now.
Why the American Indians?
The story of the struggle between United States and its native inhabitants runs parallel to China’s relationship with Xinjiang’s Uyghurs and the Tibetans with the exception of one major difference: time. While ours has mostly become history, this battle in China – evidenced by certain riots last July – is very much a current dilemma Listen to the language of the two pieces (which, by the way, are completely different articles) and notice how they are making a story out of a non-event:“The Native Americans are living at risk in the United States.” (English)
“Native American culture…is facing the danger of extinction” (translated Chinese)
“Some Indian tribal languages are vanishing among native tribal members.” (English)
“Now it’s rare in the United States to see the head feathers and face decorations of the Native Americans.” (translated Chinese)
What’s the Point?
The unspoken yet subtle argument of these articles is simple: you’ve got problems, too, America. All of the statements above are correct, of course, but that isn’t an adequate defense. One of my students once tried to argue their way out of not turning in their assignment by pointing out that one of his classmates also forgot. I failed them both.
I would have laughed even harder, however, if that student had pointed to a kid who failed to turn in his homework 100 years ago as his excuse. The analogy isn’t perfect, of course, but you get the idea.
The Hypocrisy of it All
On one side you have the Chinese, who speak of a Native American culture dying within the beautiful reservations of New Mexico while ignoring the fact that they just tore down Kashgar’s Old City for the purpose of “modernization”.
On the other hand I’m not convinced that the U.S. was completely fair to the Native Americans and didn’t handle the situation very well in the beginning the way that the U.S. handled their native people was a complete failure. Our government tends to believe that the lessons learned from this should be shared on a global stage while China wants them to just focus on their own problems.
Neither side is going to own up to its hypocrisy, though, which means that one of the few results of this feud is going to be stupid articles like this one in Xinhua that is passed off as being “news”.
What do you think? Is it wise for China to bring the Native Americans into this fight or are you suprised it took them so long?
Update 2/03: I have received a stronger reaction from this post than I expected. I apologize if it seems that I brush past the plight of the Native Americans. I am not. I have not researched that situation as much as I would like and so I prefer to not open my mouth too wide. I am merely pointing out how unfair it is to use another person's suffering as a defense for your own behavior.
Update 2/03: I have received a stronger reaction from this post than I expected. I apologize if it seems that I brush past the plight of the Native Americans. I am not. I have not researched that situation as much as I would like and so I prefer to not open my mouth too wide. I am merely pointing out how unfair it is to use another person's suffering as a defense for your own behavior.
