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On the train in China
Thos.P.Jackstraw Updated: 2004-06-28 09:30
Taking my place among the friendly Chinese folks, I had the fortune to meet a young man, a salesman for sports shoes. His English was remarkably, very good. He came from Hubei Province and now worked in Fujian Province, displaced from his family and his home to pursue an occupation. A familiar type of story, for us Americans.
He was on his was on his way to visit some friends while he awaited his Visa approval to go to Nigeria. Full of promise, hope and excitement, he was looking to expand his company's business in a place far away. A place with its own set of difficulties. With a set of immunization shots to his credit, he looked forward with the excitement of a new adventure ahead.
We spoke of many things, and soon everyone in the our train cabin was participating. Interrupted occasionally by the hawkers of toys drinks food and clothes, our long trip went quickly. We spoke about things in science and culture and politics. He was very well read and very aware of the difficulties in the world and China's role.
It was interesting, once again, to discover the resolve of the Chinese people. Knowing the difficulties of the China's government, he too was anxious for changes in the political infrastructure, especially in his home Province. We talked of the things he has experienced from the changes within China, and soon he was able to agree that the complexity of the problems the central government now faced in this modern world, would require some time and understanding to resolve. He discovered within himself, the hope, and the very certain belief, that China was on its way to solving the problems of today and that one day not too far along, China will take its rightful place among the big power brokers of the world.
What I also discovered was the lack of his awareness about himself: the great gifts of the Chinese people, their friendliness, their care and concern, their own innovativeness. Innovation, however, had so often been dashed by certain greedy, short-sightedness of overlords, which had the eventual result of suppressing desires of the Chinese to try new enterprises). He knew that Chinese were clever and smart.
He talked about Bill Gates, and his desire to promote things in China, and his generous gifts to charities. He was surprised to hear my side of this man's story. I explained that the Windows platform and the mouse interface was apparently stolen from Apple, that Microsoft had the power to fight off any challenge by the smaller computer system maker. I spoke of the methodology of copying software created by others, as the 'Money' software was of 'Quicken', or of the clever design of MSN into the Internet connection from the Windows framework, later reconciled after a big legal fight. Smaller outfits just were not able to match the prowess of Microsoft's attorneys in the courtroom. I suggested that now that the man had gotten to the top of the heap, by less than honorable means, that perhaps now, as rich as he was, that Bill Gates could see the bigger picture of things, that the world we live in needs assistance not the stealth and combativeness that made this man so wealthy. Is this a balance? It seems so often that giants, once getting to the top, discovered they was nothing else to do with the vast amount money they had accumulated. I wonder though, is he really such a nice guy, or is it just to recover his face, stretched over the rotten facade underneath. We talked of such things a little longer and soon the train ride was over. All of the good folks in that cabin were so kind and enthusiastically wished me on my silly little way, with sincere smiles and handshakes and so on, I left my new friends, still in wonder? Does Bill Gates believe there is no God, that all that is really necessary, is to be at peace with oneself?
| The above content represents the view of the author only. |
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