In the outskirts of a town like Kunshan on the campus of a university with academic freedom, it’s easy to forget where I am. I’m in China. Things are different here.
I was inadvertently pulled into a discussion about voting while walking and talking the other morning. We were talking about a student campaign to name the mascot, and I brought up the Boaty McBoatface story. To me, it’s a story of a community collectively taking it upon themselves to be funny, and succeeding. (And a cautionary tale of why we might not want to make naming the mascot a student vote.) To my Chinese colleague, it was a demonstration of why voting doesn’t work. Of course, then he brought up Brexit and Trump.
This is the DKU mascot, by the way. Robot McBotbutt maybe?
I was told to be careful about political discussions in China, so I demurred something about how half of us don’t agree with the results of those votes, but it’s really true that sometimes in a democracy, you don’t get what you want. The majority does– or at least the voting majority.
So please go out and vote, Americans. Really, I don’t care who you vote for. But make your voice heard. If the majority is unhappy with how things are going in the United States, we can change it if we use our voices. USE THEM.
Being here in China just makes me all the more idealistic about it.
Thanks for listening!
Meanwhile, tonight I’m riding the high-speed train to Beijing where I’ll stay in a fancy hotel, do a whirlwind tour of all things Beijing and the Great Wall, and then have Sunday brunch with a co-worker and head back on Sunday afternoon. I’m tired and excited just thinking about it! I promise lots of pictures and stories.
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