This You Tube video re: China-US relations was just too good not to post. I came across this after perusing Lonnie’s OMB blog. For any who can’t take or spot a joke, this is NOT a real news feature, but the usual (and sometimes unfair) cut and paste to make a politician look bad.  By the way, when the Prez says his wife’s name in public is he saying “Laura”, or “Lawwwrrrrrraaa”? Those Texans and their drawls …

On a serious note, this video clip DID make me think back to one of our firm visits where the speaker hinted that based upon his experience in working in Washington DC, most politicians, Repubs and Dems, do not understand China and likely never will, most on both sides of the isle have never even been there, and even a select few of the really not-so-bright ones may not be able to find China on a map if their life depended on it.

Therefore, we may have only ourselves to blame when we look to the Beltway crowd to set our national policy re: how to engage China.  You, on the other hand, can now say you HAVE been there and are now semi-seasoned vets compared to most of the 300 plus million people who live in the US. 

I hope that through this trip, the next time you see one of these politicians, activists and/or business people on TV, you can better see who has something thoughtful to say and add to the debate re: China, and who is blowing smoke.

See this very timely FoxNews.com article on Starbucks in China that just came out as a follow up to our visit. And see also this very good CNNMoney.com article I just came across, “China’s New Cultural Revolution“.

We visited with both Dr. Woon at Starbucks in Shanghai, and you saw for yourself the Forbidden City. Thus, you should be able to make an informed, sophisticated and reasoned opinion on this issue, either way; and much more so than the normal American blah-blah-blah who doesn’t know jack about Starbucks or branding and/or could not locate China on a map to save his/her life ….

See also my previous post you read on this issue: Battling Brand Boycotts.

When we visited the Forbidden City, you made it a point to track this small outlet down and take a look at it, right? Your thoughts?

Between 33 students a 4 faculty, we collectively took a bizillion photos.  Click on the two below links to see just a small sample of them:

Link From OCOB Grad Programs Web Site  (see 2007 photo gallery of pics)

Erik Slayter’s China Trip Blog  (he shot some really nice pics)