Xi'An, Bei Shaopo,6 December 2007.
What is left of the day before yesterday's vivid market street with cosy shops and restaurants, is reduced to a dark rubbled warfar zone. This once joyful typical market alley is history now. An alley near our living area, just across the street.

Our neighborhood is dead! Our flat owner said not to worry because they can't just trow you out of the living area (Dong Xin Hua Yuan Bei Qu) if not all of the owners agree to sell their flats (until now 2/3 of the owners disagree to sell their property).

The ugly side of it all is that the government uses dirty illegal tactics to work on everyones nerves. Sending people in "quasi" military uniform, like 50+, intimidating and after hanging banners in our living area (past the gate enterance!) with e.g. "Lets make this place more beautiful"; with what? Ugly skyscrapers? "Make it a better place for the people"? By pressuring innocent, decent people to leave their homes in 15 days?
And after a meeting yesterday where 2/3 disagreed to leave and sell their apartments, they start to paint "拆" (to tear down) within our living area, on our front doors and even in our flat halls???!!!
I know from other Chinese people that what they are doing is ILLEGAL! But of course this is China. A country who considers worthy to be part of WTO and of hosting the Olympics 2008?

I know we are not in Europe! 'Cause if this would happen, there would be a riot and everyone would inflict a lawsuit upon the city government or company who infringed the harmony and peace of the society, by not only invading a private area, but also by staining the walls and front doors of the inhabitants of that area; which can be seen as an act of vandalism and disturbance of peace.

All this reminds me of all the ugly things I have seen that law officials have to execute in favor of "fat-ass chinese". Maybe I could write a book about it or a blog. Or maybe not if I want to be able to keep the website on the Chinese internet ;).

China wants to develop, but they are going to stumble and sacrifice a lot to keep this hasty pace. I am just afraid it might fall and never recover if they tread the fragile bridge between changing generations and cultures too recklessly.