Re: Reality check time
The Mongols in their heyday slaughtered the rulers and the armies of the territories they invaded, but generally spared and welcomed craftsmen, artists, and some religious people. Craftsmen obviously because they had the chops to make the Mongols more powerful, artists, and religious people because the Mongol elite appreciated aesthetic beauty and had intellectual curiosity.
An interesting account of a debate sponsored by Mongke Khan in 1254 between Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists. A passage discussing it from " Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World" can be found at "Linguistic wrestling in the Mongol court" upenn dot edu.
> Mongke Khan ordered them to debate before three judges: a Christian, a Muslim, and a Buddhist. A large audience assembled to watch the affair, which began with great seriousness and formality. An official laid down the strict rules by which Mongke wanted the debate to proceed: on pain of death “no one shall dare to speak words of contention.” ...
> Their debate ranged back and forth over the topics of evil versus good, God’s nature, what happens to the souls of animals, the existence of reincarnation, and whether God had created evil. As they debated, the clerics formed shifting coalitions among the various religions according to the topic. Between each round of wrestling, Mongol athletes would drink fermented mare’s milk; in keeping with that tradition, after each round of the debate, the learned men paused to drink deeply in preparation for the next match. ...
> No side seemed to convince the other of anything. Finally, as the effects of the alcohol became stronger, the Christians gave up trying to persuade anyone with logical arguments, and resorted to singing. The Muslims, who did not sing, responded by loudly reciting the Koran in an effort to drown out the Christians, and the Buddhists retreated into silent meditation. At the end of the debate, unable to convert or kill one another, they concluded the way most Mongol celebrations concluded, with everyone simply too drunk to continue.
Conclusion: Things have gone terribly downhill since the Mongols, and the CCP won't hold a candle to that history. However, the CCP will welcome technologists who serves their purpose. Senior engineers pushed out by marketing/finance to lower costs and to be replaced by outsourcing may be tempted. It's a fact the China already picks up many senior engineers from Taiwan, Japan, and Korea, offering a second life and welcome income.
