Misopinionated,

I'd console myself with the thought that I'd still be a couple of years up on you :)

Maybe three.

Joe

Hi Foxy, Joe and Mr O.

Over the years I've been to the homes of so many different nationalities from all parts of the world, for dinners, parties etc, out to restaurants, all kinds of gatherings. All I've met make you most welcome. Just to give you the idea, a good Turkish mate, well educated with qualifications from top American universities. Hal's more Aussie than I am. Loves his kids, years back was so proud of how well they did at school. Hal is a "devout" Muslim, when the kids were little I went to his house for a Xmas catch up, BBQ, a few drinks. There in the corner is a decorated Xmas tree, with gifts underneath, when I asked "what the go with the tree" Hal say "well my kids are not going to miss out, Australian tradition". I was surprised the first time he offered me a scotch, good black label stuff, one for him one for me, according to the "devout" Muslim, what Allah don't see wont hurt him. Seems the majority of his Muslim mates like a beer as well, they were all having a beer with the BBQ, including his old father, his wife had a couple of wines, she knows her red wines, better than I do.

Paul1405,

So you've got some friends who are hypocrites ................ who hasn't?

Dear Joe and Paul,

I've always loved the Disney song - "It's
A Small World Aferall," because its part
of who we all are. And over the years I've
come to realise there's so much more that
unites us than divides us.

And it's that unification that will help us
and our grand children to hopefully one day
all live peacefully on this wonderful planet we all share.

Dear Joe, what's currently happening in the United
States is crazy. I'm so glad that we left when we did.
I would not want to live in that country today.
Australia really is a lucky country.

Mr O,

Have you ever seen any Chinese films? I recommend -
Ang Lee's - "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon". The
cinematography is spectacular. Also the next time that
the dance company - Shun Yen comes out to a major
city near you - go see them - quite spectacular.

OOOOps - my mistake.

I misspelled the name - the dance company should
have read - Shen Yun.

Also I forgot to add - there's a book worth reading -
"One Bright Moon," by Dr Andrew Kwong.
It's right up your alley Mr O.

Foxy,

You don't understand the point I have been making.

My beef is not with China the people, but with China the nation which I define as the global diaspora based on sociocultural and historical structures that I won't attempt to explain because I don't think it would be of any use to go into here.

It is the Chinese nation that I see as a problem, especially with a leader like Xi who has basically been installed as some type of resurrected Emperor Yu who is projected to the diaspora as the bringer of a new age in which a global nation will hold supremacy over the Other that Chinese have historically regarded as barbarians. They will turn the world upside down to put China at the top again.

I gather you, along with LOUDmouth, are in favour of Victoria signing up to China's Belt and Road Initiative because to you it would be seen as a unifying factor for the peoples of the world. I see it as a scheme of predatory expansion by the Chinese nation with the aim of creating a global empire out of the diaspora. We can see this already in some Third World countries especially in east Africa and will shortly see in the southwest Pacific.