A different view of China

The stories coming out of China's earthquake shattered region have made me check my assumptions. I have been particularly interested to hear NPR's reports since they have had two experienced reporters in the area since before the earthquake. The terrible agony of parents whose single child is now dead, the outpouring of local Chinese energy to find and save those who might have been buried, and the dramatic stories of cadres of Chinese driving, walking, and flying to the scene of the disaster to help are very moving. These are not the automatons portrayed in our old views of the PRC. These are not the downtrodden, soulless rural serfs. These are not the faceless masses of the People's Army confronting protestors. In fact, these Chinese act and sound a lot like human beings might, even here in America. I heard yesterday that many people had leapt in their cars in Beijing and driven the 900 miles to get to the scene of crisis to help. I am relieved to have an opportunity to see, more clearly, that the people of China share much with us, that their humanity is like ours, and to hold out the hope that this can be a step toward our connecting on that shared ground in the future.