Democracy has achieved so little for so many
It was a pleasure to read the article by Lau Nai-keung ('Be thankful that Chinese think differently', October 2).
Those who scream against China, and against anyone who praises China, don't know what it was like before the revolution. I lived in China in 1948-51 and saw the joy of the people of Nanchang , Jiangxi province, when the People's Liberation Army arrived. I am aware of the sadness of the events that followed several years later, but feel proud to have seen the progress of history and the unbelievable development and independence of that great country since the 1980s.
The antics of those in Hong Kong who call themselves democrats, but behave like dictators, should read history and realise that when a country reaches a state of lawlessness, the people must fight for freedom.
Hong Kong has not reached that stage. Can those demonstrators not see how countries that take up sudden Western-type democracy are poorer than they were before they were given the vote? Political leaders in those countries have enriched themselves at the expense of the hard work of the poor. Many are forced to sell their votes to relieve their poverty and there is no sign of the improvements we see in China.
I agree that China still has far to go, but in 60 years many millions of people have been pulled out of poverty and one can only hope that, step by step, all injustices will be dealt with and that misery caused by poverty will be eliminated. Instant, complete changes are not possible. Those countries that accepted quick 'democracy', American style, almost without exception, have nothing democratic to show except a vote. Surely we do not want Western democracy here, as it is the cause of the present economic crisis. Chinese should develop in their own way, not follow the West like sheep. I am, by the way, British by birth.
Young people should not be misled by those who deliberately ignore the past, in order to gain present popularity for themselves.
