A Case of the Mean Reds.

In case you aren't an avid follower of the Times, please consider me your filter to the culturally significant.  Lately, I was intrigued and inspired by this piece:

Banned in Beijing!

Opinion columnist writes a blog in China containing communist.... criticizing? material and language.  Part of this content relates to the speculation that at any moment, his blog could be shut down no later than his article goes to print.

fascinating, huh?

In this age of information overshare and globalization, one of the most powerful nations on this planet is still censoring everything that their citizens see, read, listen to, publish, etc etc etc.  The three major social networking conglomerates are banned (FB, Twitter, Youtube) , and thousands of people are employed with the sole purpose of trafficking public information, moderating what becomes available.  The Commies unwittingly call this process "harmonization".  You know, like calling the Holocaust "cleansing".

Of course, my genetic material makes me particularly interested in this matter, but I believe also that this is also a phenomenon that will be appearing in the forefront of our generation's upbringing.  As my sister says, "all of the jock-y business majors are taking Chinese" at her university.  Know what this means?

We are about to tango with the slantys.  China's growth in economic power and urbanization is so rapid that it's inevitable that, in a few years, its influence will rival ours on countless fronts.  It's all over the news; american architects are finding work in China, financiers are investing in China's market.... blah blah blah.  How will they compete with us while still not being afforded the social freedoms to influence each other and the entities which govern them?  I cannot even imagine such creative stifling.

So, upon reflection of this observation and its practical application onto my life, I have added another item to my bucket list:

Get something of my own creation banned in China.

Hear that?  Chairman Mao is rolling over in his grave.