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Sinophobia is the new Islamophobia, which was the replacement for Russophobia when the USSR collapsed. The USA seems to need an enemy at all times so we don't f

Sinophobia is the new Islamophobia, which was the replacement for Russophobia when the USSR collapsed. The USA seems to need an enemy at all times so we don't focus on how bad things are in the domestic sphere.

Proven 5y ago
I'm sure Chinese Uighurs endorse that message.
tharne 5y ago
> Sinophobia is the new Islamophobia A phobia is an extreme irrational fear. There's nothing extreme nor irrational about being wary of a country that is A) Increasingly powerful, B) treats its own citizens extremely badly, e.g. the Uighurs, Tibet, etc., and C) very likely covered up the spread of COVID in the early stages in an effort to save face. If they treat their own citizens like enemies, it's only natural to worry about how they'll treat their rivals. And no, this in not a defense of U.S. policy, foreign or domestic -- it's to point out that a legitimate concern or criticism of another country should not be slapped with a knee-jerk "phobic" label. Western countries do not have a monopoly on bad behavior and no one should be above criticism.
- minikites 5y ago
  Of course China can be criticized, but lots of Americans think the USA is a force for good in the world, fighting against the "evils" of these other nations, while never reflecting on our own similar evils. That's what makes it irrational. The USA is A) already powerful, B) does the same with our own ethnic and racial minorities (e.g. the extremely racist criminal justice system and our centuries of poor treatment of indigenous Americans, just two of many examples), and C) has states like Florida continuing to cover up COVID. Pointing this out gets called "whataboutism" because many people have the romantic idea that the USA is a force for freedom and justice in the world, an idea that is demonstrably untrue.
  - tharne 5y ago
    The sins of the U.S. are many, but I don't think anyone can credibly say, in the modern era, that the treatment of minorities in the U.S. is in any way, shape, or form comparable to what's happening in China right now. Say what you will about the U.S., no one's getting put in camps.
    - minikites 5y ago
      We put people in prison because of race, because we choose to enforce some laws on people of certain races and not on others. Slavery is allowed as punishment for a crime (see the text of the amendment) and that's exactly what we do with prisoners. When people of certain races are executed by police, the officer(s) do not usually face consequences or punishment. We're the world's biggest glass house, maybe we shouldn't throw so many stones. We can set a better example by changing how our society operates, we only need to choose to do so.
estaseuropano 5y ago
Seems to me a rather fact-based analysis as to possible geopolitical role of these silos. where is the phobia?

Proven 5y ago

I'm sure Chinese Uighurs endorse that message.

tharne 5y ago

> Sinophobia is the new Islamophobia A phobia is an extreme irrational fear. There's nothing extreme nor irrational about being wary of a country that is A) Increasingly powerful, B) treats its own citizens extremely badly, e.g. the Uighurs, Tibet, etc., and C) very likely covered up the spread of COVID in the early stages in an effort to save face. If they treat their own citizens like enemies, it's only natural to worry about how they'll treat their rivals. And no, this in not a defense of U.S. policy, foreign or domestic -- it's to point out that a legitimate concern or criticism of another country should not be slapped with a knee-jerk "phobic" label. Western countries do not have a monopoly on bad behavior and no one should be above criticism.

minikites 5y ago
Of course China can be criticized, but lots of Americans think the USA is a force for good in the world, fighting against the "evils" of these other nations, while never reflecting on our own similar evils. That's what makes it irrational. The USA is A) already powerful, B) does the same with our own ethnic and racial minorities (e.g. the extremely racist criminal justice system and our centuries of poor treatment of indigenous Americans, just two of many examples), and C) has states like Florida continuing to cover up COVID. Pointing this out gets called "whataboutism" because many people have the romantic idea that the USA is a force for freedom and justice in the world, an idea that is demonstrably untrue.
- tharne 5y ago
  The sins of the U.S. are many, but I don't think anyone can credibly say, in the modern era, that the treatment of minorities in the U.S. is in any way, shape, or form comparable to what's happening in China right now. Say what you will about the U.S., no one's getting put in camps.
  - minikites 5y ago
    We put people in prison because of race, because we choose to enforce some laws on people of certain races and not on others. Slavery is allowed as punishment for a crime (see the text of the amendment) and that's exactly what we do with prisoners. When people of certain races are executed by police, the officer(s) do not usually face consequences or punishment. We're the world's biggest glass house, maybe we shouldn't throw so many stones. We can set a better example by changing how our society operates, we only need to choose to do so.

estaseuropano 5y ago

Seems to me a rather fact-based analysis as to possible geopolitical role of these silos. where is the phobia?