Chaos & Order

One of the things that truly amazes me about China is that amoungst the chaos of seeming like 6 gazillon people moving in every different direction, there is an order about it-unlike nothing in the United States!

Take cars and drivings, for instance. My observation is that there really are no rules of the road in China; just suggestions(and very loose, at that!). Car ignore street signs, weave in, out and between other vehicles and sometimes srive in the other direction, yet there are very few accidents. How is that?

I've been told that its because China is more like an "us" society instead of a "me" one. That is, people tend to look out for one other before ever putting themselves first. With everyone cooroperating in this way, there are fewer altercations.

Secondly, whether you agree with it or not, it is illegal to own or have weapons in China. Thus, very little or no violence. Imagine a time when your kids could walk the streets at any hour without the threat of harm. Imagine not having to always keep a close watch on your child. It happens every day in China; in part to a disciplined and total respect for authority.

Everytime I go to China, and am riding in the car between stops, I find myself just shaking my head at the chaos, and wonder if we as Americans could ever achieve that order?