What older person hasn't looked into the mirror, whether physical or metaphorical, and noticed, "I'm becoming my mother/father!"? I've observed both tendencies in myself, but the latest revelation is that I'm becoming my husband.
For much of my young life it was illegal in the United States to buy or import products made in China. Aware of this, I looked with awe upon a cheap Chinese toy in a Canadian gift shop, wondering perhaps if it might blow up in my hands or impart some poison into my body. Still, when the ban was lifted, I saw no reason not to buy the Chinese products that began to trickle onto our shelves. I grew frustrated with Porter's insistence on buying products made in the U.S.A. whenever possible, and embarrassed at his constant checking for the origin of items in the stores. I'll admit it: I laughed at his parochialism. After all, don't Chinese families have as much right to live and eat and make money as American families?
I'm no longer laughing. Porter was ahead of his time. The trickle of products became a flood, and our choice now often is buy Chinese or do without. Now I'm the one scrutinizing the labels, and rejoicing when I can find products made in the United States, Canada, the U.K, Switzerland, Indonesia, Bangladesh, even Vietnam, though the last not without some misgivings. I made the transition before the revelation of poisoned toys, toothpaste, medicines, and food products from China, mostly because it had become a challenge, almost a game, to find alternatives. But the game has turned deadly.
I'm glad we've gone beyond the days of pretending that Mainland China did not exist; it's right to continue talk, trade, tourism, and other forms of exchange between our countries. And I'm still in favor of Chinese families eating. But we're fools to put ourselves into a position of dependence with respect to a country so large, so potentially powerful, and so willing to ignore basic standards of decency, like not stealing and not poisoning children. We've already proven how dangerous it is to be dependent on other countries' oil; this is no better.
Three years ago I reviewed The Real War Against America, the story of one company's battle with Chinese pirates. At the time I thought the title a bit over the top; now I'm not so sure. Not that I think the Chinese are deliberately attacking our country—though the weakness is certainly there should they want to exploit it—the actions are more amoral than immoral. But "amoral" is perhaps worse; it might be easier to deal with someone who knows he is doing wrong than one who just doesn't get the point.
Take, for example, a recent article in Coin World, which highlighted a Chinese coin counterfeiter who sells his goods on eBay. The issue is so serious that the magazine has made the articles available for free: Part 1, and Part 2. You need to give them an e-mail address, but nothing more is required. Be sure to uncheck the box asking to be kept informed, however—unless you really want to be added to their mailing list. What I find particularly scary is the man's complete openness about his work, because what he is doing is completely legal as far as China is concerned. That he is lying, cheating, and stealing apparently makes no impression on him.
Then there is this overheard conversation, true in fact but with details blurred to protect the innocent...or a faulty memory, whichever you like. It was between a Chinese (Mainland, not Taiwanese) immigrant to the U. S. and a co-worker, and went something like this.
Co-worker: What religion do people have in China?
Immigrant: No religion at all.
Co-worker: None at all?
Immigrant: Only money. If they can make money by cheating you, they will cheat. If you're not Chinese and they can make money by cheating you, so much the better.
I've met wonderful people from China. It's a beautiful country and I'd love to visit it some day. I don't think twice about buying goods from my favorite local Chinese grocery store (though perhaps I should). And I'm not willing (yet) to make the sacrifice of not buying anything that comes from China. Nonetheless, we can't have the harmlessness of the dove for long without the wisdom of the serpent, and I'm being a lot more careful now about my purchases. The Chinese, as a people, are no more steeped in Original Sin than Americans, Bengalis, or Danes. But when counterfeiting accounts for eight percent of a country's GDP, and one instance after another is revealed of poisonous ingredients substituted for legitimate ones to save money, I'd rather—until we have convincing assurance of repentence—I'd rather support countries with better records.
[Li'l Writer Guy is clearly in violation of the rules of his cloister. Must...do...penance....]
