Wokeness Across the World

For John, BLUF:  The problem with immigrants is they bring the horrors from their home nations with them and react to them when they see the early indicators of same here in the US.  This is bad for Democrats.  Democrats should oppose immigration, except from Commonwealth Nations.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Wokeism Is Not Cool, Chinese People Know Too Well

From The Epoch Times, from Writer Jean Chen, 26 January 2021.

Here is the lede plus five:

Let’s begin with a true story that happened in China.

Mr. Zhang (an alias) was my father’s high school English teacher in the 1960s.  Twenty years before that, he worked as an interpreter for American liaison officers in China during WWII.  He and his wife were from rich families.  After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took power, they lived a low-profile life in order to avoid troubles that might arise because of their family backgrounds and his experience working with Americans.

In 1966, the Cultural Revolution began.  Young people were encouraged to accuse, turn in, or even beat up their parents to prove their revolutionary devotion, or to break away from their unfavorable family backgrounds.  Those who dared to do that were considered heroes.

Mr. Zhang’s teenage daughter, Ling (an alias), a classmate of my father, put up a poster accusing her parents of dancing the waltz and having capitalist thoughts.  This ignited a ferocious campaign against her father.  Posters attacking him were everywhere, calling him a “monster.”  In front of mass rallies, half of his hair was shaved.  With a big and heavy board hanging on his neck with his name crossed out with red ink, he was beaten, spat on, and cursed at.

As a result, Mr. Zhang’s son went insane and the whole family suffered tremendously.  Ling lived her life with immense guilt.  Two years ago, before her death from cancer, her parents came to visit her.  However, she kept her eyes closed, pretending to be asleep because she didn’t dare look at them.

This is just one of millions of sad stories that happened in China.  Families torn apart, friends betraying friends, teachers beaten to death by students….

Respect for the opinions of others is part of what free speech is about.

On the other hand, attacking people for their opinions, as opposed to reasoning with them, respectfully presenting your own opinion, is tyranny.

Regards  —  Cliff