Bravery and Wisdom at Duke
Perhaps it's due to my nature, or my undergraduate background in social science, but I've always taken a dispassionate, analytical view toward current events. I love reading the newspaper, in particular. At first glance, an article on the front page illustrates a current event: the who, what, when, where, and how. The "why", though, is typically underexplained or omitted altogether, and for me one of the pleasures of reading the news is scratching the surface and getting to that "why". Like in a science experiment, variables multiply and interact, and while some situations are simply too complex to rationalize, the mere process of seeking leads to an enhanced understanding of the world.
But sometimes, certain items in the paper provoke an more emotional response. This was the case when I came across a Washington Post piece (excerpted at Peking Duck) by a university student named Grace Wang, a young woman who recently found herself in a spot of trouble due to an innocent act of goodwill.
A brief summary: Wang hails from Qingdao, a large and lovely port city in eastern China. At Duke, where she studies, she encountered a demonstration pitting the university's Chinese students against an assortment of pro-Tibetan protestors. Hoping to facilitate a civil discussion, Wang discovered that neither side wished to interact with the other and instead were reduced to shouting epithets and slogans. This obstruction only prompted Wang to try harder, but before long she found herself under verbal attack from the Chinese camp, members of which calling her a traitor. The abuse and threats traveled across the ocean to her native China, where her parents have been forced into hiding and their home defaced with dung.
Clearly, this situation would not be easy for anyone to deal with, much less a young university student living in a foreign country. Yet from her editorial, Wang comes across as wise, brave, intelligent, and absolutely correct. The idiots on the message boards who abuse, threaten, and slam her may consider her a traitor, but she is a credit to China and this country would be a lot better off if there were more people like her.
Various aspects of China trouble me, but none more so than the brainless nationalism festering like a sore in this country. Yes, I realize nationalism exists everywhere. But really- this sort of thing is absolutely ridiculous and reflects very, very poorly on a country that should really be above it.
April 22nd, 2008 - 06:58
I agree those viciously targeted Wang were pathetic idiots. And I am sure China would be better-off if there had been less idiots like fanatics. But I am not sure if China would be better-off if there were more Grace Wang’s.
People say the Chinese are nationalistic because they were brainwashed by the government with the victim mentality. Perhaps. Those Americans who went nuts over a printed beer ad featuring a pre-US-Mexican War map were brainwashed by who?
April 22nd, 2008 - 14:23
Pfeffer,
Believe me, I hold no brief for the Michelle Malkin’s of the world who want to boycott Absolut over a silly and harmless ad. Of course, there are uber-nationalist idiots in every country.
But ya know….at a certain point China has to stop pointing fingers at other countries whenever it, or Chinese people, are criticized. As an American, I can reconcile being proud of my country with criticizing it voluminously, which as you know I do on a regular basis here. In fact, I would argue that true patriotism means being able to analyze one’s country’s faults and problems. The “I know you are but what am I?” attitude is too pervasive in China, I think, and Grace Wang typifies someone I think others in the country should emulate.
April 23rd, 2008 - 03:53
Matt,
It’s not about criticizing the government or the country, the Chinese have no problem doing that, they actually spend a lot of time criticizing the ridiculing the government. However they get upset when they see foreigners criticizing their country, particularly if they believe the criticism is not warranted.
I kind of understand their mentality: You can say some of your family members are nutjobs but if your neighbor says the same, you might be upset.