China and America don’t exactly get along. I mean, there isn’t a war, there wasn’t a war, but anyone who knows what the terms “communist” and “democratic” means would know that America absolutely repulses communist countries. So, China and America don’t exactly get along.
Of course, this ‘side’ of China that America sees is projected onto us, the students, one way or another— in this case, what they make us learn in social studies, or “world cultures.” At the start of sixth grade, I remember being extremely excited for the second-to-last unit, namely about East Asia. I wanted to see what America thought about my own country.
Optimism quickly died out midway through “Russia and Eurasia,” Unit 7.
When we reached that topic, I was expecting “culture,” the type with music and art and food and all that, like many units before. I thought—and still believe so—that Russia has a beautiful culture, with beautiful art and many things that would’ve been so, so much more interesting than what we talked about—the fall of the Soviet Union. Well, come on. That is a topic beyond old. The impression that unit gave me was, “America’s democratic government is beyond the term ‘right,’ see what happened to the Soviets.” It seems like whatever went against this noble country had to be painted as the embodiment of true evil. That’s the thing—It was an impression given to children indirectly. For the time being, there were many brainless children in my grade who didn’t know nearly enough to form their own opinions saying “Russia is evil” when no teachers were listening. I don’t know if this is what America would’ve wanted or had done on purpose. This, however, gave me a negative memory.
The thing is, if Mr. T has no idea how to answer that question, it proves the following.
1. He doesn’t know anything interesting, anything that isn’t in the plan. We basically self-learned, and I find that kind of lazy on his part.
2. He doesn’t know anything about China that isn’t bad. He’s never been to China. He’s never heard any opinions of someone who is Chinese on stuff like this.
3. If all it takes to be a teacher is to follow the curriculum, summarize what random worksheets are on, and then pass out papers, even I can be a teacher. Anyone who can walk, talk, and read properly can be a teacher.
So, after 6th grade, I was more than happy to be away from American-written China-related articles. I didn’t have to be torn between what opinions surround me (except for maybe my family) and remaining loyal to my own country. I didn’t give it much thought afterward.
But recently, being in EWC has brought it up once again. When reading an article while writing the news article for Week 2, I found an article on how Australia and China are trying to develop a friendlier bond. From that, I discovered the incident where China forced an Australian Jet down during a maneuver and another time when the Chinese Navy pointed a laser at an Australian plane. The Australians and Americans deemed it extremely dangerous and unprofessional. I was interested in this topic and did in-depth Googling of what China has to say. And of course, both versions were different. The Chinese media claims that if Chinese planes acted and took flight, it means either the plane was headed toward China territory, or the patrol was without China’s consent. “Taking flight itself is a warning,” they said. And China said the other aircraft that was aimed at with a laser was being maliciously close to the Chinese ship. They felt threatened and it felt right to act.
It felt right to write about all of this. Recently I read an article written by Summer Chu, “Why America, Why?” (Go check it out, it’s pretty interesting!) Published in the EWC Journal. It was new to me since I haven’t seen an article in English that actually criticized this forever idealistic country. The new mention of the inconvenience of the customary system. “To our downfall,” was what the article described it as. I haven’t given it much thought, although ever since I moved here, having to use reference sheets during math problems posed as a bother.
Another thing the article got me thinking about was something I’ve since heard, about Xinjiang cotton, I think. Something about forced labor, I think. Well, America’s “human rights” banned Xinjiang cotton for what is considered human labor. Something else reminded me of how similar this familiar this situation was: a recent visit to Boone Hall, a plantation that also made bricks, that was fully reliant on slaves. On the row of brick houses (slaves lived in it, though it is actually built for advertisement) live slaves. On one brick, lay the imprint of a child’s hand.
When being accused of using forced labor, America itself has done such messed up things. Africans. Indigenous people. Children. Even children. And now they point their critical fingers at Xinjiang? Though I do admit, some things Xinjiang was accused of are pretty—no, really messed up, even a country that was created on the idea of freedom and self-control itself has inflicted forced labor on people who didn’t deserve their ill-treatment before.
I am fully aware that America has amazing things, home to beautiful architecture and sites, maybe bear some or provided resources for clever people to use their wit. Don’t get me wrong, I think America is amazing. It’s just that as a Chinese living in America, I feel that some things might have to be clarified.
Of course, this ‘side’ of China that America sees is projected onto us, the students, one way or another— in this case, what they make us learn in social studies, or “world cultures.” At the start of sixth grade, I remember being extremely excited for the second-to-last unit, namely about East Asia. I wanted to see what America thought about my own country.
Optimism quickly died out midway through “Russia and Eurasia,” Unit 7.
When we reached that topic, I was expecting “culture,” the type with music and art and food and all that, like many units before. I thought—and still believe so—that Russia has a beautiful culture, with beautiful art and many things that would’ve been so, so much more interesting than what we talked about—the fall of the Soviet Union. Well, come on. That is a topic beyond old. The impression that unit gave me was, “America’s democratic government is beyond the term ‘right,’ see what happened to the Soviets.” It seems like whatever went against this noble country had to be painted as the embodiment of true evil. That’s the thing—It was an impression given to children indirectly. For the time being, there were many brainless children in my grade who didn’t know nearly enough to form their own opinions saying “Russia is evil” when no teachers were listening. I don’t know if this is what America would’ve wanted or had done on purpose. This, however, gave me a negative memory.
The thing is, if Mr. T has no idea how to answer that question, it proves the following.
1. He doesn’t know anything interesting, anything that isn’t in the plan. We basically self-learned, and I find that kind of lazy on his part.
2. He doesn’t know anything about China that isn’t bad. He’s never been to China. He’s never heard any opinions of someone who is Chinese on stuff like this.
3. If all it takes to be a teacher is to follow the curriculum, summarize what random worksheets are on, and then pass out papers, even I can be a teacher. Anyone who can walk, talk, and read properly can be a teacher.
So, after 6th grade, I was more than happy to be away from American-written China-related articles. I didn’t have to be torn between what opinions surround me (except for maybe my family) and remaining loyal to my own country. I didn’t give it much thought afterward.
But recently, being in EWC has brought it up once again. When reading an article while writing the news article for Week 2, I found an article on how Australia and China are trying to develop a friendlier bond. From that, I discovered the incident where China forced an Australian Jet down during a maneuver and another time when the Chinese Navy pointed a laser at an Australian plane. The Australians and Americans deemed it extremely dangerous and unprofessional. I was interested in this topic and did in-depth Googling of what China has to say. And of course, both versions were different. The Chinese media claims that if Chinese planes acted and took flight, it means either the plane was headed toward China territory, or the patrol was without China’s consent. “Taking flight itself is a warning,” they said. And China said the other aircraft that was aimed at with a laser was being maliciously close to the Chinese ship. They felt threatened and it felt right to act.
It felt right to write about all of this. Recently I read an article written by Summer Chu, “Why America, Why?” (Go check it out, it’s pretty interesting!) Published in the EWC Journal. It was new to me since I haven’t seen an article in English that actually criticized this forever idealistic country. The new mention of the inconvenience of the customary system. “To our downfall,” was what the article described it as. I haven’t given it much thought, although ever since I moved here, having to use reference sheets during math problems posed as a bother.
Another thing the article got me thinking about was something I’ve since heard, about Xinjiang cotton, I think. Something about forced labor, I think. Well, America’s “human rights” banned Xinjiang cotton for what is considered human labor. Something else reminded me of how similar this familiar this situation was: a recent visit to Boone Hall, a plantation that also made bricks, that was fully reliant on slaves. On the row of brick houses (slaves lived in it, though it is actually built for advertisement) live slaves. On one brick, lay the imprint of a child’s hand.
When being accused of using forced labor, America itself has done such messed up things. Africans. Indigenous people. Children. Even children. And now they point their critical fingers at Xinjiang? Though I do admit, some things Xinjiang was accused of are pretty—no, really messed up, even a country that was created on the idea of freedom and self-control itself has inflicted forced labor on people who didn’t deserve their ill-treatment before.
I am fully aware that America has amazing things, home to beautiful architecture and sites, maybe bear some or provided resources for clever people to use their wit. Don’t get me wrong, I think America is amazing. It’s just that as a Chinese living in America, I feel that some things might have to be clarified.
