Yet praise for their foresight is lacking. Why?
Because it led to a lot of killing of babies -- how many? millions? -- mostly girls, and other ghastly crimes.
There's a recent documentary about it, by the way:
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/08/one-child-nation-documentary-nanfu-wang-jialing-zhang/595894/
But I digress. And I happen to agree with your perception of reality, dark though it may be.
If this should appear as a poorly written copy of a reply I recently posted it's because I hit "post", and the damn thing disappeared,
Please consult the original.
PetM
I've a number of acquaintances and one particular friend that were reared in China while the One Child Policy was being enforced,
To a person they see the "Policy" as enlightened, noble, and a boon to both China and the world. They feel that if other cultures and nations were aware of the benefits that they too would have adopted similar legislation - and that had the world would then be a better place.
They're Chinese students here in Canada. Some plan to live in Canada or North America, most are here as a sort of immersion program to learn a foreign language and culture before returning to live out their days in China. Wonderful people, wonderful students. Little reason to lie - especially to an old man they'll probably not seen again.
My friend at 28 with a new Math/Physics based PhD in hand just paid cash for a modest home in Windsor. She hasn't found permanent employment yet because of rift between China and the US, but has a tenured position offered and accepted.
She paid cash for her home because, like many of her generation her parents have been transferring wealth to her well before their final wills are even written. She sees this as a beneficial byproduct of "The Policy"
She has a close relationship with her maternal uncle, and takes pride in not hating the Japanese even though her uncles nuclear family and his toenails were painfully removed by Japanese troops/torturers.
She recognises that these uncle niece relationships have come to an end after thousands of years and she regrets this. She also recognises that having no siblings has given her a huge advantage.
As an only child of an only child I concur with this. I had an adopted brother when I was 9 and he was 7. We haven't communicated for decades - no big breakup, just no real connection.
Back on topic. I'm sure that the Chinese students I've conversed with on this subject were not prevaricating. When my friend describes her family life she's sometimes emotional and always truthful.
The children, their parents and their parents parents take pride in the fact that their country initiated the One Child Policy.
I've no doubt that this is representative of the majority opinion in China.
I'm also very aware that various religious institutions and individuals see anything that would prevent their disciples from literally growing future generations of followers as the Devils work. That they do all they can to stir up hatred of such programs is entirely understandable. For decades I worked shoulder to shoulder with Mormons who saw any man without 20 children as a failed father.
I'm afraid I saw PetM's "documentary" as just such a propaganda piece.
Sorry for my frankness
and pissed that I lost my original reply to his post.
Terry
EDIT - never a sign of the missing missive
