I thought for a long time that China would be a very community-based nation where people were kind and helpful to one another, but was rather surprised and disheartened by the widespread national 'apathy' when I got there and how compassion seemed to only extend to family and friends. Throughout the time I was there, I realized it was a result of the massive population (and, of course, derived from several cultural shortcomings). To be honest, I was very concerned with what I perceived would eventually happen in other nations once they also became overpopulated, selfish matters became more detrimental and the majority became economically disadvantaged. Well, I suspect there is no reason to wonder about what will happen. I have seen it become gradually more disheartening since I returned from China - mass killings and social chaos, unethical political/economic/employment practices, people living on-edge and quick to anger - rather than work things out, etc. There are notable (and frightening) differences, though... In China, people are apt to keep their disagreements quiet and respond in a manner lacking compassion...silently (though, just as personally shameful) and either by saying nothing in public or by keeping their fights and arguments confined to private places, like at home, etc. However, in America, people seem very outspoken, proactive (often, in a very negative way), inclined to demonstrate tasteless/violent rhetoric in public and to be very vocal about what bothers them - which can be catastrophic in a nation where there are more guns than people. Fortunately, there is only one fifth the population in America that there is in China. Unfortunately, if these same types of behavior and personal irresponsibility continue to manifest themselves and develop into something 5x what they are now, Americans should be very concerned. Trust me, I know... After a decade of peaceful living in China, I nearly bled to death after being attacked by 4 teens/young adults while peacefully walking with my wife and, despite the police capturing it all on video, nothing was ever done about it (hence, my trip back home). The potential is far more disturbing in America - if we don't get our #^&* together, folks. Many people already fear being in public, movie theaters, schools or malls. Many people who think they will have time to react and are armed, who don't realize they will probably become a victim well before they have time to react, have a false sense of safety (nevertheless, are fearful). Many others who don't see the reasoning for adding more weapons to an already overarmed public...even fear those who may be peaceful (and afraid), but are armed anyway. I don't think this is the kind of world people really want to live in. Many of the younger people today can't even remember a time, like many of us do, where we were friendly with our neighbors, only officers carried guns and we felt at peace in our communities. There is a reason it is not like that anymore and will probably not be like that again. That is because we are not managing things the right way - at federal, state, local or even personal levels - and it is sure to develop into a much greater problem if we don't start earnestly working towards moving in an alternate direction. We should be moving in a direction of peace and compassion, not fear and aggression. Please don't fool yourselves into thinking "But that is China." because it is only a matter of time until people here (and everywhere) will experience the same things and, possibly, much worse. Just a thought... 😊

I thought for a long time that China would be a very community-based nation where people were kind and helpful to one another, but was rather surprised and disheartened by the widespread national 'apathy' when I got there and how compassion seemed to only extend to family and friends. Throughout the time I was there, I realized it was a result of the massive population (and, of course, derived from several cultural shortcomings). To be honest, I was very concerned with what I perceived would eventually happen in other nations once they also became overpopulated, selfish matters became more detrimental and the majority became economically disadvantaged. Well, I suspect there is no reason to wonder about what will happen. I have seen it become gradually more disheartening since I returned from China - mass killings and social chaos, unethical political/economic/employment practices, people living on-edge and quick to anger - rather than work things out, etc. There are notable (and frightening) differences, though... In China, people are apt to keep their disagreements quiet and respond in a manner lacking compassion...silently (though, just as personally shameful) and either by saying nothing in public or by keeping their fights and arguments confined to private places, like at home, etc. However, in America, people seem very outspoken, proactive (often, in a very negative way), inclined to demonstrate tasteless/violent rhetoric in public and to be very vocal about what bothers them - which can be catastrophic in a nation where there are more guns than people. Fortunately, there is only one fifth the population in America that there is in China. Unfortunately, if these same types of behavior and personal irresponsibility continue to manifest themselves and develop into something 5x what they are now, Americans should be very concerned. Trust me, I know... After a decade of peaceful living in China, I nearly bled to death after being attacked by 4 teens/young adults while peacefully walking with my wife and, despite the police capturing it all on video, nothing was ever done about it (hence, my trip back home). The potential is far more disturbing in America - if we don't get our #^&* together, folks. Many people already fear being in public, movie theaters, schools or malls. Many people who think they will have time to react and are armed, who don't realize they will probably become a victim well before they have time to react, have a false sense of safety (nevertheless, are fearful). Many others who don't see the reasoning for adding more weapons to an already overarmed public...even fear those who may be peaceful (and afraid), but are armed anyway. I don't think this is the kind of world people really want to live in. Many of the younger people today can't even remember a time, like many of us do, where we were friendly with our neighbors, only officers carried guns and we felt at peace in our communities. There is a reason it is not like that anymore and will probably not be like that again. That is because we are not managing things the right way - at federal, state, local or even personal levels - and it is sure to develop into a much greater problem if we don't start earnestly working towards moving in an alternate direction. We should be moving in a direction of peace and compassion, not fear and aggression. Please don't fool yourselves into thinking "But that is China." because it is only a matter of time until people here (and everywhere) will experience the same things and, possibly, much worse. Just a thought... 😊 - After a grainy video of a traffic accident in the city of Zhumadian surfaced on Chinese social media this past week, the initial reaction was one of outrage directed at the more than 40 pedestrians and drivers who passed within metres of the woman, all failing to offer help.