Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Gary Schelvan's avatar

Good morning Helen…

Thanks for this post you shared on this “Big Brother Watching You” aspect of living in Communist China. As I’ve mentioned before, I lived in Tianjin, PR China 2012-2020 mostly under Xi Jinping. Starting around 2016, I watched as the govt. tore up streets and sidewalks to install so many utility poles that in a short time held “surveillance” cameras meant to monitor all outdoor activity virtually everywhere in a city of 16 million souls. They were installed in every apt. complex as well, so in theory you only had “privacy” while inside your home, but I always thought that it wasn’t even safe there. American citizens have absolutely no concept of what living like that feels like, and I pray that as a nation we never have to find out. George Orwell had a saying in 1984 that goes something like this; “The only thing that was your own was the few centimeters inside your skull.” As a former American expat, right now I fear ever returning to Tianjin with my Chinese wife, Yirong, who has retained her Chinese citizenship and has a green card here. 😢

Expand full comment
Gary Schelvan's avatar

BTW, I purchased your book some time back through Amazon, hard copy, and thoroughly enjoyed every part of it. One question; Do you think it’s still totally relevant in light of the huge change in our national leadership? I feel strongly that Xi Jinping feels emboldened by the obvious weakness of America, and Xi’s open lecturing of the puppet Trudeau? Xi and his CCP seem to be able to do any darn thing they want, and never fear having to face any consequences for their egregious crimes against humanity! Thanks for any thoughts you might have.

Expand full comment
3 more comments...

No posts