Ulysses

For whatever reason, you're misunderstanding my point. I'm not sure why you're raising the issue of human rights as I was specifically talking about the nurturing of nationalism and China's human rights record isn't directly connected, or at least not as directly connected in the way that you're now suggesting, or at least suggesting that I was suggesting.

If anything, a (despicable) human rights record undermines any point you've made earlier about "brainwashing". China's approach, of you're taking the 'humans rights' tact isn't 'brainwashing', it's more an iron fist in a barely velvet glove.

If a(nother) country can foster a similarly visable and vocal sense of patriotism without the (known) human rights record that China and do it in a way where peer pressure - "you're not a 'real' American", "America: love it or leave it", "the American way or the highway" and so on - not to mention political and media influence the government doesn't have stamp down hard in the way that China does. In a sense, America has been better at brainwashing than any totalitarian or authoritarian state as it's achieved similar aims with a veneer of liberty.

To illustrate this, I'm sure you must be aware of the hysteria that's been on many politically-themed messages boards since Obama first ran, throughout the elections and since. Look at the way political discussion is often divided, particularly when it's coming from the right: how this isn't American, how that isn't American and so on.

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The Fields of Mars