Comments on Raymond Zhou's column "Netizens distracted by 'small evil'" (China Daily, January 20, 2007)

I agree with Raymond Zhou's comment on the protest against the presence of a Starbucks coffee shop inside the Forbidden City. And I want to ask those who support the ban a few questions: Why is the Palace Museum singled out for their concern while the Summer Palace and Beihai Park, both former royal gardens enjoying the same status as the Forbidden City, are left out? Shouldn't they be off-limits to foreign businesses as well?

And why should Starbucks be barred while Kodak and Fuji photo kiosks are allowed in those tourist spots? How about all the foreign products sold there and numerous signs advertising Coca Cola, Pepsi and other familiar foreign brands?

If we love the cultural heritage site so much, why haven't we demanded that all those who deliberately damage the ancient compound be banned for the rest of their lives from the precious premises?

Because most of them are our compatriots, I suppose.

Hua Ming

Beijing

What would happen to all the Chinese enterprises and small restaurants if all the other authorities in other countries impose the same restrictions on foreign owned establishments as it seems likely to happen now in Beijing. Some may say that a Chinese restaurant with strange sounding names like Peking Duck restaurant or Wok Inn or Chop Suey Chinese take away, serving less than authentic "Chinese food", may look out of place say in the middle of London's Chinatown or in any of the provincial towns in England.

I am all for protecting the integrity of Chinese culture but surely the main thing is to have a sense of balance, and remember to keep everything in perspective and have a sense of appropriateness of what is being proposed.

For example, would a teahouse in the style of Chinese inspired architecture based on anything you might find in Shanghai be appropriate on the grounds of, say, Buckingham Palace in London or in a French chateau of historical importance?

What is most important is surely the ability of officials to stop the wanton destruction of old buildings/streets and entire areas of historical interests in the name of progress.

Yo

Via e-mail

Strange that so many Chinese go ballistic over a small shop when for most the entrance fee to even enter the palace is worth several days/weeks of hard work. Some small commercial enterprises could help to lower this burden and allow for more Chinese to see their national heritage.

Anonymous

On China Daily website

(China Daily 01/24/2007 page11)