Ms. Yang Shuping, a senior graduate from the University of Maryland, recently delivered the commencement speech at her graduation. She said she grew up in a city in China where she had to wear a face mask every time she went outside, otherwise she might get sick. However, the moment she arrived in the United States, she not only felt the fresh and unpolluted air, but also appreciated the fresh air of democracy and free speech. She overtly criticized the dictatorship of Chinese government, which controls people’s mouth and mind. “Democracy and freedom are the fresh air that is worth fighting for,” Ms. Yang said bravely.
Yang was furiously condemned by the Chinese government and attacked by Chinese media and her fellow Chinese students. Terrified, she formally apologized to the Chinese government, saying “I apologize and sincerely hope everyone can forgive me. I have learned my lesson.” Honestly, I was furious and extremely disappointed. Of course, I understand what she is facing- harassment, political pressure, intimidation, worry and fear. I experienced the same trauma under the Chinese Communist regime. The tragedy is we, Chinese, who have been physically out of China, still have no freedom of speech. We are still psychologically controlled by the Chinese government.
I fully agree with Ms. Yang’s commencement speech – the United States is the land of the free, a “shining city upon the hill.” After inhaling and exhaling two distinct political airs, we can surely tell the world that the Chinese political system is polluted and would make people sick, while the American political system is filled with oxygen and would refresh people. As Ms. Yang remarked, China needs the fresh air of democracy and free speech. By no means should any Chinese apologize for praising the fresh air of democracy of the United States.
I felt hope for my son’s generation in China, because more young Chinese can be educated in the United States and spread the fresh air of democracy in China. Free speech is a fundamental right of human beings, regardless of whether they are Chinese or American. When my son visited the United States, his passport was taken away by his teachers and he was not allowed to spend half a day with his mother, whom he had not seen for eight years. He was almost 19 years old then. In order to “trade” a couple of hours for dinner together, I had to let the teachers of my son hold my American ID. After we left his teachers, my son expressed his feelings the same as that of Ms. Yang. He told me, “I feel free now.”
I wish one day my son could join me in the land of the free.
America is exceptional. Happy birthday, the United States!