I have a confession to make: I have been naively, and arrogantly, patriotic. Though there are many things I love about Chinese culture, and I am honored to know so many wonderful Chinese friends, I have secretly believed my country's governance was better. It's understandable, when you think about it. For the past five years, I read (and heard personally) story after story about wealthy Chinese coming to the US to have babies in order to seek US passports. I read about how these same Chinese take any steps possible to get their money out of China and into Western (often US) bank accounts. I learned how Chinese of means are buying property in the US, Australia, and Canada because they trust their purchase agreement will be honored in those countries, and not stolen from the government.
I've been proud of my US right to assemble, my freedom of press, and my freedom of religion. I gained new insight into how precious those rights were only after I did not have them. I figured there's a reason that so many Chinese not only send their children (even as young as elementary-aged!) to the US for schooling, but also that the reverse isn't happening; there is NOT a huge flood of Westerners pushing their 10-year-olds into Chinese schools. Expat children in China (including Americans) send their children to international (i.e. Western, and often US) schools, because it's assumed those schools are better than local ones. I assumed the US was still the beacon on the hill that its first pilgrims declared it to be.
Most of all, I was proud of the idea that anyone, no matter her or his background, ethnicity, religion, or language, could become an American. Here's the thing: I could NEVER become a Chinese citizen even if I wanted to; it is not possible for an American to gain Chinese citizenship, even if they are born in China, or marry a Chinese person. The best a foreigner in China can hope for is permanent residence. Here's the other thing: only Han Chinese have full rights in China. Even someone whose ancestors have been in China for centuries, but is not Han Chinese, is not a full Chinese citizen. Chinese minorities, as one such minority told us, cannot serve in higher levels of the military because they are not trusted with that power. To be Chinese at the end of the day is to be a particular ethnicity, which ensures an unchangeable class system.
After 5 years in China, I came home with an inflated pride for my country. I had seen the brokenness in China, I had been abused in China, and I had been taken advantage of in China. Honestly, I came home for some rest and reprieve, because I believed my country would have more hopeful options for me. I came home assuming things would get better, because I was now in a country with better governance and values.
Until last Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Last week's election forced me to realize my country is no better. I learned that the power structures in the US are set up only to benefit white Americans, especially those who label themselves evangelical. But here's the thing: I am ALSO an evangelical. I believe faith in Christ, and a personal relationship with Christ, is good news of salvation and freedom from sin. After all, isn't that what the word evangelical means: GOOD NEWS? So then the million dollar question is this: good news for WHOM?
Certainly not good news for me. Voting a man into office who has shown utter disregard for our democracy by threatening to lock up his opponent, who has said he does not need Christ's forgiveness because he hasn't sinned, who is appointing white supremacists and KKK sympathizers into his inner circle, and who hates women by either seeing females as ugly, his to assault, or both is NOT good news. Trump won this election because of the white evangelical vote. So, Trump-voting white evangelicals, WHO is this election good news for?
Certainly not me, as I realize my country is just like China: it cares more about power than justice, and it cares only to offer full citizenship (and participation in public life) to a certain ethnicity.
I've spent the past 1.5 years mourning my losses and the injustices I suffered in China. Now I am forced to confront the reality I must mourn the same in my own country. Christ, have mercy.
I've been proud of my US right to assemble, my freedom of press, and my freedom of religion. I gained new insight into how precious those rights were only after I did not have them. I figured there's a reason that so many Chinese not only send their children (even as young as elementary-aged!) to the US for schooling, but also that the reverse isn't happening; there is NOT a huge flood of Westerners pushing their 10-year-olds into Chinese schools. Expat children in China (including Americans) send their children to international (i.e. Western, and often US) schools, because it's assumed those schools are better than local ones. I assumed the US was still the beacon on the hill that its first pilgrims declared it to be.
Most of all, I was proud of the idea that anyone, no matter her or his background, ethnicity, religion, or language, could become an American. Here's the thing: I could NEVER become a Chinese citizen even if I wanted to; it is not possible for an American to gain Chinese citizenship, even if they are born in China, or marry a Chinese person. The best a foreigner in China can hope for is permanent residence. Here's the other thing: only Han Chinese have full rights in China. Even someone whose ancestors have been in China for centuries, but is not Han Chinese, is not a full Chinese citizen. Chinese minorities, as one such minority told us, cannot serve in higher levels of the military because they are not trusted with that power. To be Chinese at the end of the day is to be a particular ethnicity, which ensures an unchangeable class system.
After 5 years in China, I came home with an inflated pride for my country. I had seen the brokenness in China, I had been abused in China, and I had been taken advantage of in China. Honestly, I came home for some rest and reprieve, because I believed my country would have more hopeful options for me. I came home assuming things would get better, because I was now in a country with better governance and values.
Until last Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Last week's election forced me to realize my country is no better. I learned that the power structures in the US are set up only to benefit white Americans, especially those who label themselves evangelical. But here's the thing: I am ALSO an evangelical. I believe faith in Christ, and a personal relationship with Christ, is good news of salvation and freedom from sin. After all, isn't that what the word evangelical means: GOOD NEWS? So then the million dollar question is this: good news for WHOM?
Certainly not good news for me. Voting a man into office who has shown utter disregard for our democracy by threatening to lock up his opponent, who has said he does not need Christ's forgiveness because he hasn't sinned, who is appointing white supremacists and KKK sympathizers into his inner circle, and who hates women by either seeing females as ugly, his to assault, or both is NOT good news. Trump won this election because of the white evangelical vote. So, Trump-voting white evangelicals, WHO is this election good news for?
Certainly not me, as I realize my country is just like China: it cares more about power than justice, and it cares only to offer full citizenship (and participation in public life) to a certain ethnicity.
I've spent the past 1.5 years mourning my losses and the injustices I suffered in China. Now I am forced to confront the reality I must mourn the same in my own country. Christ, have mercy.