The Good News
I am on my way home after two weeks teaching in China. It was a lovely trip, more delightful than I had expected.
The people were eager to learn. The downtown areas in the two cities I stayed in, Shanghai and Hangzhou, were amazing. I was treated with respect and grace. What else could I ask for?
What else…a connection to the west.
This was surprisingly easier than I thought as well. All though I had trouble accessing Facebook and Twitter, I could access all the news sites I read including my posts on Huffington. I understand the younger generation knows how to work around the system to get on the sites they want anyway, so I didn’t see any problem with censorship other than the deletion of videos and pictures on emails I received.
In fact, I got CNN and BBC in Shanghai. However, I was only able to watch an English-speaking Chinese news channel in Hangzhou. This turned out to be a real gift.
The Chinese news station had about 5 minutes of global news at the top of the hour, which included local fears of inflation and difficulties dealing with pollution.
The rest of the hour focused on good news.
I learned about the new rail lines for the high speed train, which I rode to Hangzhou at over 200 mph.
I learned that the global Paralympics were being held not far from where I was staying and the Confucius Conference in Beijing was just starting.
I learned about the developments going on around the country.
I learned about the cool new restaurants from Europe and the US that were coming into Shanghai and Beijing.
I saw a number of art exhibits and interviews with local and foreign artists.
If this is propaganda, I think I would like a little more propaganda back home.
I watch the news at home and it is all bad or irritating news. Then I talk with my friends about this bad and irritating news. I plan my future around this bad and irritating news.
How crazy is that?
I think it’s time we make our own news programs on our blogs, in our families and at work to focus on what is right and good.
I’m not suggesting we overlook problems that must be solved or that we be naively optimistic.
But wouldn’t a little good news be a great way to start your day?
I am in! If we can’t change whatever the bad news is delivering I do not wanna know. I value my time and I will not be here (Earth) forever so while I am lets talk about good and how we can make it better. Thanks for sharing your time in China, I am sure you and your contribution there is part of their good news 
Right on! I’m with you on this, Marcia. I’m always looking for the good news, and wish more of it would be reported! What would it take?
I guess we need to start a campaign to let the news channels know. And get people who love to watch the fear- and anger-based news to taste something different. I’m setting my intention for a change.
Hooray! You’re back! What a wonderful take away from a country where I might have guessed you’d feel like you would have fewer powerful takeaways. And positive news IS powerful! I just don’t watch the news…and see how optimistic I am !
We may not be able to control what the networks dish out, but we can control what we let in and what we do with it: “Then I talk with my friends about this bad and irritating news. I plan my future around this bad and irritating news.” I love thie challenge, Marcia. I’m ready to start talking happy talk!
P.S. LOVE the photo!
How wonderful that your trip went so well, Marcia!
You were treated in the way that you deserved…a wonderful ambassador of the U.Sl
Thanks for being you!
Suzanne
Congratulations, Marcia! You get back what you put out into the world. Thank you for sharing what the other part of the world is doing and what it looks like. You are the perfect one to create the relationship.
Susan
Absolutely agree. Grim grim and nothing but grim news in our country as well. I gave up being under way with everything going on – I sometimes feel ignorant of current events, but it’s worth it for the piece of peace I trade it for.
