George Washington University » China

Susan Aaronson about Chinas censorship

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 08:10:50 +0000

Susan Aaronson, professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs entered the debate surrounding China’s attempted censorship of the results generated by Google , the most popular Internet search site in almost every country except China.
For years acquiescing to China’s demands that they censor the results that the search engine generates (blank pages appear whenever the user searches for something untoward) , citing that the Communist regime is merely trying to root out things like pornography and sexual exploitation through blocking the access , Google has finally decided to withdraw their agreement to censor their pages, due to a justification based on defending the rights of the common citizen to browse for and download what they wish and combating the alleged protectionist strategy that the Chinese government is using in its Web-based market

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China’s Great Potential

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:34:40 +0000

By Bobak Tavangar

“China is the country of the future!…China has most great capability. The Chinese people are most simple-hearted and truth-seeking…He must entertain no thought of his own, but ever think of their spiritual welfare…each one of whom may become a bright candle of the world of humanity. Truly, I say they are free from any deceit and hypocrisies and are prompted with ideal motives.”

~Abdu’l-Baha, China Tablet, The Baha’i Faith

I love China. I mean, I’ve fallen head over heels….over head over heels……in love with China. I’ve spent some time thinking about why this is; why a Persian kid from Philly feels something so penetrating in the Far East. It’s not the economic prowess, political intrigue, or social change that draw me to this beautiful country, although they are all fascinating to follow. It’s something much more subtle and powerful than those external trends. In fact, it is the source from which I believe those other things emanate

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Human Potential in Beijing

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:44:09 +0000

By Bobak Tavangar

“The endowments which distinguish the human race from all other forms of life are summed up in what is known as the human spirit; the mind is its essential quality. These endowments have enabled humanity to build civilizations and to prosper materially. But such accomplishments alone have never satisfied the human spirit, whose mysterious nature inclines it towards transcendence…”

–The Promise of World Peace, Universal House of Justice, The Baha’i Faith

Walking the streets of Beijing, China. Photo: Bobak Tavangar

I’ve been thinking a lot about human potential. Who? How much? How do we know? Where does it come from? How can it be unlocked?

Here in Beijing I see so much potential inherent not just in the individual but in Chinese society as a whole. History has shown us how capable the Chinese are with significant contributions to science, governance, commerce, and social theory and it is proving no different now. This country is rediscovering what it means to harness the world around them for the sake of progress

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