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Why America's discussions about China are really about America
By Gao Ceng |
September 13, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
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CHINA is a hot-button economics topic in America, but US author and Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas Friedman says "China" discussions in the United States are really about America and what it lacks and longs for.
New York Times columnist Friedman was in Shanghai last week to give a talk for the launch of his latest book, "That Used to Be Us," translated into Chinese.
In an interview with Shanghai Daily, Friedman said it's important for both Americans and Chinese to keep up with the fast-changing world, which has now become flatter, more challengeable and hyper-connected through social media.
The book analyzes the four challenges Americans face at this time: globalization, the revolution in information technology, chronic budget deficits, and excessive energy consumption.
The author puts forth five elements necessary for the United States to overcome challenges: education, infrastructure, immigration, research and development, and regulation.
"Although the book is mainly about the problems of our own country, maybe some of the issues are confronting China as well, but in different form and scale. Hopefully, I can find some solutions for China," Friedman said.
Twins
He told Shanghai Daily that he has believed for a long time that the United States and China are like conjoined "Siamese twins."
"Our future and fates are inextricably linked. When we do work together to solve problems, we can be an incredible engine for problem solving. If not, we'll not be the source of stability that the world needs us to be," Friedman explained.
During his talk at Three on the Bund, he read aloud the opening paragraphs, comparing a Chinese company which took 32 weeks to build a world-class convention center, and the Washington Metro, which took 24 weeks to repair two tiny escalators.
That example is not about China but the US, Friedman said.
When asked whether America was in decline, he thought a moment and then said, "If America doesn't get its act together, it will become a declining power. But I don't think it's there yet."
Advice
Of the four big challenges he cites (globalization, the revolution in information technology, chronic budget deficits, excessive energy consumption), the one that concerns him most is how people, not just Americans, stay themselves in a hyper-connected world created by the merger of globalization and information technology. This world is smaller, flatter and more competitive.
He encourages Americans and Chinese (and everyone else) to develop their extra three "Rs" - reading, writing and rethinking; and three "Cs"- creativity, communication and collaboration.
He also encourages people to think like new immigrants, like artisans and wait staff.
"A new immigrant thinks, 'I just show up here in Shanghai and there's no special place waiting for me at Fudan University. I had better figure out what the biggest trends and opportunities are here and assume them with bigger energy and focus than anybody else'."
He called immigrants both "paranoid and optimistic." They are optimistic because they pick up from somewhere and go somewhere else for a better life. They're paranoid because they know opportunities and employment can be taken away in a second, Friedman said.
In the interview he mentioned about the Chinese dream, which he believed should be based on green power, clean energy and sustainability.
His book is yet another reminder about realizing a new and different American Dream in a very different world.
New York Times columnist Friedman was in Shanghai last week to give a talk for the launch of his latest book, "That Used to Be Us," translated into Chinese.
In an interview with Shanghai Daily, Friedman said it's important for both Americans and Chinese to keep up with the fast-changing world, which has now become flatter, more challengeable and hyper-connected through social media.
The book analyzes the four challenges Americans face at this time: globalization, the revolution in information technology, chronic budget deficits, and excessive energy consumption.
The author puts forth five elements necessary for the United States to overcome challenges: education, infrastructure, immigration, research and development, and regulation.
"Although the book is mainly about the problems of our own country, maybe some of the issues are confronting China as well, but in different form and scale. Hopefully, I can find some solutions for China," Friedman said.
Twins
He told Shanghai Daily that he has believed for a long time that the United States and China are like conjoined "Siamese twins."
"Our future and fates are inextricably linked. When we do work together to solve problems, we can be an incredible engine for problem solving. If not, we'll not be the source of stability that the world needs us to be," Friedman explained.
During his talk at Three on the Bund, he read aloud the opening paragraphs, comparing a Chinese company which took 32 weeks to build a world-class convention center, and the Washington Metro, which took 24 weeks to repair two tiny escalators.
That example is not about China but the US, Friedman said.
When asked whether America was in decline, he thought a moment and then said, "If America doesn't get its act together, it will become a declining power. But I don't think it's there yet."
Advice
Of the four big challenges he cites (globalization, the revolution in information technology, chronic budget deficits, excessive energy consumption), the one that concerns him most is how people, not just Americans, stay themselves in a hyper-connected world created by the merger of globalization and information technology. This world is smaller, flatter and more competitive.
He encourages Americans and Chinese (and everyone else) to develop their extra three "Rs" - reading, writing and rethinking; and three "Cs"- creativity, communication and collaboration.
He also encourages people to think like new immigrants, like artisans and wait staff.
"A new immigrant thinks, 'I just show up here in Shanghai and there's no special place waiting for me at Fudan University. I had better figure out what the biggest trends and opportunities are here and assume them with bigger energy and focus than anybody else'."
He called immigrants both "paranoid and optimistic." They are optimistic because they pick up from somewhere and go somewhere else for a better life. They're paranoid because they know opportunities and employment can be taken away in a second, Friedman said.
In the interview he mentioned about the Chinese dream, which he believed should be based on green power, clean energy and sustainability.
His book is yet another reminder about realizing a new and different American Dream in a very different world.
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