Pasteurization of morals and scarcity of guilt

ment, spices, teas, and silk to be traded along the Silk Road. Around the 19th century, both countries also had negative encounters with the British empire: China had to recover from the devastating opium wars by forfeiting Hong Kong, and the United States fought a bloody civil war to claim its own independence. Both countries left the battles changed: they had been exposed to the European economy and launched into the world of global affairs.

The main difference between the two countries is the impact of World War 2. While the United States managed to ramp up production during this time, bringing the nation out of the Great Depression, the Chinese were unfortunately closer to the Japanese. The Republic of China, and the People’s Republic of China, had to join together in an uneasy alliance to prevent the Japanese from committing war crimes on their people. Ultimately, the Chinese lost thousands due to a lack of military force, and, following the war, the battle between the ideology of the communist People’s Republic of China and that of the capitalist Republic of China (ROC) began again, with the ROC backing into Taiwan. Mao Zedong, then the leader of the People’s Republic of China executed his Great Leap Forward, a serious reform plan which involved mandating the industrial, agricultural, and reproductive lives of citizens. Over 30 million Chinese would die.

*** “Not gold but only men can make A people great and strong; Men who for truth and honor’s sake Stand fast and suffer long. Brave men who work while others sleep, Who dare while others fly... They build a nation’s pillar deep And lift them to the sky.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson Good work, good deeds and good faith to all.