I'm pleased the Democrats won majorities in the Senate and House this last election. It's not because I necessarily support or oppose either party, but because I now have reason to hope that bigoted "values" politics will return to the 12th century where they belong and we can get our fiscal situation back in order.
But I fear that Republican gay bashing will soon give way to Democratic China bashing, probably with regard to China's human rights record. After all, incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is one of China's most vocal critics.
To be fair, the Chinese government limits many of the civil liberties that we Americans take for granted, severely limits workers' rights and executes more criminals than any other country in the world.
But I sense hypocrisy from our politicians. A search of Pelosi's Web site turns up countless documents referring to China - mostly unfavorably - but none concerning Saudi Arabia.
In Saudi Arabia, women can't drive; Chinese women can and do. The Chinese government views religion as subordinate to the state and bans unauthorized groups it considers a threat to security, although Buddhist and Taoist temples, mosques, churches and religious supply shops abound. By contrast, the Saudis forbid public expression of any religion except Islam. China has no sodomy laws, while the government has recently set up telephone hot lines, informational Web sites and clinics for gay men and lesbians; homosexuality is a capital offense in Saudi Arabia. While China recently granted the Supreme People's Court sole authority to approve death sentences, according to the China Daily, the Saudis still have public beheadings.
Nevertheless, while American politicians and the media are quick to demonize China, Saudi Arabia remains one of our closest allies.
Clearly, this has nothing to do with human rights and everything to do with stifling competition to America's political and economic hegemony.
Earlier this year, Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., delivered China an ultimatum: Let your currency, the yuan, dramatically rise in value or we'll levy a 27.5 percent tariff on all Chinese imports. The senators did this following lobbying by American manufacturers.
Next time you go to the Muncie Mall, you'll find that just about everything there, ranging from clothes to computers, bears a little tag that says "Made in China," "Hecho en Mexico" or some other country. Simply put, we hardly make anything in this country anymore. Most of the cheap products we take for granted, such as the $479 laptop I'm typing this on, are inexpensive because they're made in developing countries.
By listening to selfish American businessmen looking out solely for their own interests, the senators failed to recognize that our country's future does not lie in manufacturing. It lies in high-paying service jobs that require education after high school.
For all their faults, China's leaders more are likely to make decisions based upon pragmatic, realistic considerations than the narrow interests of corporate and union lobbyists and whatever brings in votes.
The nationalistic desire to ensure the US remains on top motivates those politicians who seek to play the economic and human rights cards to keep China - and any other country that tries to compete with us - down.
We have two choices: We can either accept that the future belongs to China, not us, and adapt to reality, or we can stubbornly cling to the past.
Unfortunately, it appears that both the Democrats and Republicans have chosen the second option.
Alaric DeArment is a junior journalism major and writes 'The Dork Report' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Alaric at ajdearment@bsu.edu.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
