Google out of China

I have been following the "Google-China" news item for some time now.The move has been analyzed on a lot of web sites. When you read through all that you get the idea that it is indeed a noble gesture. Someone is finally standing up against the big bad bully.

This opinion is especially highlighted in all western media. But I read an intresting comment to one of these news items purportedly by a Chinese origin person. He/she claims that Chinese/Asians need censorship and need to be told what to do and what NOT to do. According to the reader's rationale, China is what it is today because of its communist ideology and government who decides what each and everyone can do or read. I do not necessarily agree with the comment which includes all of Asia but the reader pointed out to Indonesia as an example. Indonesia is a democracy struggling to develop into a developing nation. Whereas China a non democracy is well on its way to being a developed country. Thinking in that fashion, it makes sense.

The other side of this issue is whether it is Google or the US government who is responsible for having Google move out. If it is then Google for all its rhetoric is just a pawn in the game of politics. Time and time again the US government have meddled into the affairs of other countries mostly with disastrous consequences to all concerned. Hopefully this does not turn out into one of those.

The other reason could be that Google with all its popularity in the rest of the world could not penetrate the Chinese consumer where Baidu still reigns. This could be a face saving measure to not let it be public that even Google can fail.

I sincerely hope is is neither of the above two and that Google is standing up for what is right. The issue should not be about governance or politics or business. It should be about one's right to information and ability to choose. It should be about individual freedom.