Why can't many people separate ethnic chinese from communist?

I am ethnic chinese from singapore and proud of the growth of the mainland. I'm not a fan at all of the corrupt communist party but i respect the work ethnic and re-emerging chinese culture and people having a chance to shine on the world stage this century the further we go away from the bad culture of mao and cold war times. chinese culture is deep and sincere. i am not nationalist communist or anything at all but i am glad for chinese, asian peoples, and buddhism emerging on the world stage again.