`Equality of Nations,' Not Accusations

``The Chinese want their heritage back -- now. If threats fail, they try cash.''

This was how Newsweek responded to China's bid to win back its stolen relics in May this year when auction houses Christie's and Sotheby's in Hong Kong sold the hexagonal ceramic vase commissioned by Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Emperor Qianlong in 1743 and a bronze tiger sculpture from a water clock made in 1744 seized from the Yuanmingyuan (the Old Summer Palace.

Alarmed? Then read on.

"An archaeological project to prove the existence of the mysterious Xia Dynasty, believed by some to be the first Chinese civilization, is providing fuel for a potentially dangerous form of nationalism in China.''

This was how the Far Eastern Economic Review, a weekly published by Dow Jones & Company, recently reacted to a group of Chinese scholars' research into their nation's roots.

Indignant? So you should be.

The above are but two examples of any number of articles appearing in the US media and show how China is represented to American readers and in the West in general.

In each story, nationalism is a theme as well as a target. Both writers were trying to incite fear and to create a target for others to aim their prejudices (and possibly more) at.

It is true that we Chinese are very proud of our national heritage. So are other nations, including the United States. Tourists who visit Philadelphia in the United States are encouraged not to miss the Lights of Liberty, a historical light show and a high-tech gimmick. The mayor of the city introduces it as a must for visitors. We can understand that this is but a legitimate expression of national pride.

In the same way, we are proud and we hold onto our cultural heritage dearly.

Many of our nation's incalculable wealth of historical artifacts are now outside the country. We find this an especially painful issue because part of what has been lost was looted by the Western powers in the 19th century.

Countries like the United States that have never been occupied by other nations and whose wealth is well guarded and protected do not, perhaps, understand how distressing it is to have had your nation's cultural heritage pillaged by outsiders.

Let's imagine what would happen if the not-so-old city of Philadelphia were looted by a foreign country? Would the United States create a "fuss'' about it? Would there be an "uproar?'' Or would the United States turn to NATO and the use of force to regain its wealth?

This is not something that is likely to happen in the near future. I am just trying to make it clear how strongly every nation feels about its past and its heritage.

We Chinese certainly value our past and treasure our culture. Many different ethnic groups contributed to it and their diverse cultures gradually merged and mingled to produce a civilization that has been continuously developing and spreading.

The nation's academic interest in the Xia Dynasty, which dates back to about 2205-1766 BC, is the innocent and rational investigation of our past. Is there any nation around the world, including the United States, that does not care about its roots in the same way?

We are thus amazed to read that our nation's scholarly efforts are seen to be "fuel for a potentially dangerous form of nationalism in China,'' perplexed by the twisted logic that says that digging into the past has "implications for the future'' ie "a growing fire of ethnocentric nationalism in China...''

In today's world, although the United States can go anywhere and everywhere and talk about its "national interests'' as if the world was the United States and the United States was the world, other nations cannot even look at its own past without risking its reputation as a responsible member in the international community.

While the United States can station troops all over the world and is still planning to develop National Missile Defence and Theatre Missile Defence systems, other nations must subject themselves to the inspection of the United States as to the development of their military capabilities if they want to avoid being labelled a "rogue'' state and being burdened with economic sanctions.

If US politicians are supported for their use of the phrase "national interests,'' then "nationalism'' correctly describes the prevailing mindset and sentiment in the United States.

US nationalism has its own trademarks: Americans touch their hearts with their hands when they hear or sing their national anthem. They train their children to do the same. They say "God bless America.'' Why is it that they never abuse this sentiment as "a dangerous form of nationalism''?

The Americans have no right to bash other people for expressing for their own country exactly what they feel for the United States.

Why should China's nationalism be accused of being "dangerous''?Because we are interested in our past? Are we therefore "a concern'' to the West?

Of course not. This is simply absurd.

We Chinese have a saying: The magistrates are free to burn down houses but the commoners are forbidden even to light lamps. The United States should stop burning houses down.

The world is in danger of becoming a very unstable place if individual nation's norms and practices are judged within the framework defined by the US media.



People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/