In Response To: "Exports from China - Are They Trying to Kill Us?"

IN RESPONSE TO ANOTHER'S WRITER'S CONCERNED WORDS

While I think AC Content Producer Brenda Seigler's article entitled "Exports from China - Are They Trying to Kill Us?" is certainly eye-catching, I think the title and the article itself does little to foster an accurate - or at least fair - perspective on the very China that lies overseas - versus the land portrayed by a media driven by interested parties wishing to garner viewership at the possible cost of a partial skewing (skewering?) of the truth.

Discourse of exactly what the "real China" is, what the "real truth" is - as well as any mention of how said skewing of said truth takes place - may all be fodder for discussion as separate issues. Indeed these topics have filled volumes written over the centuries. I will not go there.

I wish to address some of Seigler's comments on a point-by point basis and venture some further comments in the hopes one can walk away with the benefit of a singular perspective as a former expatriate resident.

SEVERAL POINTS ADDRESSED

Point-by-point comments worthy of mention:

* "...Are They Trying to Kill Us?" - Again, an eye-catching title, I believe more for rhetorical effect than actual statement. My concern on this selection of words is what may be an already exacerbated skew which mainstream media moguls have spun before the eyes of many. To ask the question whether China is actually trying to kill us is a bit naïve, and insensitive to a majority audience that has little to no venue to defend itself. See my comment on China's mostly-poor constituency later in this article.

* "...art beads contained a date rape drug" - That a heated topic would be associated with yet another - is this just throwing one fire into another?

* "...then came the lead paint on our children's toys..." - No mention here of American toy giant Mattel's brave apology, which would hopefully bring this into better perspective.