Beijing's new harmonious society

[euphonius]

Just as we all hope and wish for uniform, consistent law enforcement to create a safer living environment for all of us, whether Chinese or expatriate, we too have a responsibility to do our best to be good citizens. The stakes already are high for foreigners because we stand out in a crowd and and are easily taken as representatives of "all foreigners" or "all people from Country X or Country Y". The stakes then rise even higher for us as motorcyclists in China because of the chronically negative stereotypes we face.

So we motorcycle-riding foreigners, like it or not, bear a special dual responsibility: to live to the highest standards of decency as people, since we are, fairly or not, seen as representatives of all foreign people, and to ride to the highest standards of safety and responsibility, since our behaviors can strongly affect perceptions of all motorcyclists.

There's always a risk that some hothead out there will observe something about us, whether the way we treat people or the way we ride, and decide to engage in reprisals. All the more reason to be model citizens and model riders. All the Gear All the Time, and All the Courtesy All The Time. Keep your middle finger tucked away, bite your tongue when you feel like cursing, smile when you feel like sneering.

I'm not trying to sound like a saint; these are ideals for me, but I'm human and sometimes a hothead, and I often fail to live up to my own ideals. I hereby resolve to work harder at it.

And let's hope this thing passes before someone gets hurt.

cheers

[998S]

Is this a copy of the self-reflection you wrote when you were caught for speeding last time?

But seriously, I agree with you on this matter (and that from an other hothead), well written.

[bigdamo]

I agree with euphonius well written.Might not want to eye the fairer sex to much in these times too.Drat there goes another favorite past time.

[bigdamo]

Better watch your back i mean buttocks http://www.echinacities.com/beijing/...r-qianmen.html

[ZMC888]

It's all very well trying to be good, but sometimes it's hard, especially when you get some sudden policy change that effects your lifestyle or income without any consultation, or you get people running you off the road. Where I live I haven't seen any anti-foreigner sentiment more than usual, even more people wearing overseas football and other T-shirts, meaning a lot of people aren't buying into this crap.

Zhu, I'm grateful for your calming words, but I think we are all feeling China is becoming more hostile. A lot of this media frenzy seems to be connecting into some ancient tribal 'hands off our women' mentality.

[prince666]

"

It's all very well trying to be good, but sometimes it's hard, especially when you get some sudden policy change that effects your lifestyle or income without any consultation, or you get people running you off the road. Where I live I haven't seen any anti-foreigner sentiment more than usual, even more people wearing overseas football and other T-shirts, meaning a lot of people aren't buying into this crap.

Zhu, I'm grateful for your calming words, but I think we are all feeling China is becoming more hostile. A lot of this media frenzy seems to be connecting into some ancient tribal 'hands off our women' mentality.

"Hands off our chinese women" we all need a chinese wife to translate for us so play the safe bet and marry a not so good looking chinese lady like i did works for me as the chinese men all love me and think i am brave ??? heheh

[prince666]

ok you want to see her ....very-ugly-chinese-woman.jpg



well she not that bad is she ????? votes 1-10 please

[bigdamo]

It's all very well trying to be good, but sometimes it's hard, especially when you get some sudden policy change that effects your lifestyle or income without any consultation, or you get people running you off the road. Where I live I haven't seen any anti-foreigner sentiment more than usual, even more people wearing overseas football and other T-shirts, meaning a lot of people aren't buying into this crap.

Zhu, I'm grateful for your calming words, but I think we are all feeling China is becoming more hostile. A lot of this media frenzy seems to be connecting into some ancient tribal 'hands off our women' mentality.

"Throughout the ages Chinese have had only two ways of looking at foreigners. We either look up to them as gods or down on them as wild animals." - Lu Xun (1881-1936)

[TB-Racing]

Lets all get "harmonious" during the Beijing Classic Bikers Party on 26/05...... traffic still sucks in capital city!