Philanthropist Roz Koo has been living in the U.S. for 67 years. Yet, she has watched her birth country of China change from an occupied war-zone to a Mao-inspired revolution to an economic giant. (see earlier posts one, two, three, four, five).
I asked her if she has any worries about China today.
I asked her if she has any worries about China today.
“The Communists took away religion. Took away philosophy. They did not put back anything in its place. The young people have nothing. What do they believe in now?
"I think China, economically, has become a major contender in the world. But...
“One major, major flaw is the lack of the rule of law. As long as
the (rule of the) Communist party is over the courts system, you will never be
able to do anything unless the party wishes you to do it.
“I don't worry about (sic) the current generation. It’s the future generation. I see the unequal distribution of wealth—like U.S. it’s the same. But more. It’s ten times worse in China. The wealthy is so wealthy. The poor is so poor.
"So, for the poor people, what chance is there? To me it is education. It has to be. Not to build schools, but to invest in individuals and their ability to think. People can’t take that away from you. In time, perhaps their children and their children’s children will benefit from the legacy of education."
As for the relationship with the U.S.?
"It will continue to go on. There’s no other way. One minute
you’re friendly. One minute you’re not so friendly. But, hey, you cannot do without each other.
Let’s face it.”
(...to be continued. Next--and final--post with Roz: Philanthropist Koo's Eight Rules of Advice to Chinese-Americans.)
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