A2 - Wednesday, September 15, 1982 - North Shore News

Chi

A

strictly personal

crs

by Bob Hunter

RECENTLY, I had a conversation with Ken

Kesey,

the author of One Flew Over The

Cuckoo’s Nest and Sometimes A Great Notion, novels which, as far as 'm concerned, are among

the best ever written.

Kesey had just returned from China, where they appreciate both of his books, that country having sometimes been a_ great cuckoo’s nest during most of its recent history.

Kesey was bubbling with optimism about the future of relations between China and the West. “They want to play with us,” he said.

In his view, China is being reborn again.

Kesey was impressed by the eagerness of the Chinese to learn. “The people want to get into the 20th Century.”

He says the scars left by the Cultural Revolution are finally beginning to heal.

During the early part of that upheaval, the Com- munists “killed all the people who were tending towards Western thinking.

“They killed all the heart specialists, saying that heart disease was a symptom of the capitalist mind.

“Imagine what would happen to this country if all of a sudden we just went through and took out the

fact ah

best of everything and left the country just kind of staggering around.”

The fact that China has turned in the direction of capitalism is reason enough for us all to breath a little easier. It means that one- quarter of the human race has come to its senses in realizing the futility of Marxism

The constitutional amendments which have just been passed at the National People’s Congress in Peking have altered the country’s political institutions dramatically, creating an entity more Western in many respects than Marxism.

For instance, the basic unit of rural government — the commune — is being dismantled, to be replaced by elected township governments. The army’s own governing body is to be elected by parliament rather than being appointed by the Communist Party central committee.

China is a long way from democracy as we know it

~

SALE

na wants to play

yet, but when a billion people shift political gears, you know that the history of the world must sooner or later be affected.

In the last few years, under the leadership of Vice-Chairman Deng Xiaoping, changes have taken place which demonstrate China’s resilience and pragmatism. Clearly, China’s leaders are making their long-delayed move to catch up with the developed world.

Those fantastically successful economies in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore have been created mainly by Chinese people. If mainland China itself ever “gets its show together,” as Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew puts it, the economy of the worid would be transformed.

A billion new customers with disposable incomes would generate an incredible surge of business around the planet.

The “economic miracles” of the Asian mini-states would look like mere firecrackers compared to the awakening of free enterprise in China itself.

Socialist countries have traditionally feared foreign investment, which of course

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is one of their fatal weaknesses. If they wished to reverse their fortunes and become wealthy within a decade, all they have to do is follow the lead of Singapore — throw the doors open wide.

It is a lesson China's leadership seems finally to have grasped. This is why I don’t think that the recent overtures to Taiwan, of- fering the Nationalist Chinese autonomy and a share of power if they surrender, are entirely to be written off as a trick and a fraud.

In Ken Kesey’s view, the Chinese are moving toward the formation of a “Fourth World,” a blend of East and West.

A reflection of the new mood in China is the fact that “a lot, a lot” of Chinese are once again using the I Ching, the ancient book which has served as an oracle for untold ages.

All in all, good news.

Korean veterans

group launched

VETERANS of the Korean War living in B.C. at last have their own association. The newly formed branch 16, Korean Veterans Association (Canada) holds its first formal meeting this Sunday, Sept. 19, at 3 p.m.

in the Armouries, 1513 Forbes Avenue,’ North Vancouver.

Ceremonial presentation of the branch charter and a flag presentation ceremony will be highlights of the special event, followed by dedication of the colors, including a U.N. flag presented .by branch president Michael Wood.

Guest of honor will be Dae Wan Kang, Consul General of the Republic of Korea, who will present a Korean flag. —

Two other flags will be presented by Chuck Cook, M.P. for North Vancouver-

ck

Burnaby, and Angus Ree, MLA for North Van- Capilano.

All Korea veterans and their wives or guests are welcome to attend Sunday's ceremony.

For further information on the association, call Michael Wood at 986-1722.

Centre opens

THE LATEST community centre on the North Shore will be in business this weekend.

The official opening of the Delbrook Community Centre takes place Saturday, September 18 at 11:00 a.m.

Light refreshments will be served following the opening ceremony by North Van District Mayor Don Bell.

The centre is located at 600 West Queen’s Road, North Vaan.

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