Tag Archives: inauguration

Communism has been shunned by Americans and democracies world wide, but is the hate so deserved? Ideally it sounds really good. Although some aspects sound awful (doctors making as much as garbage men), ideas like everyone having an education and health care are awe inspiring to me. And certainly the optimal form of government for a country will be different everywhere. It’s just about finding that middle ground, I think a truly effective government requires a few small doses of a variety of theories (I want national health care!!). 

However, yesterday in Obama’s speech, he said,  “Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.”

While this statement is true, it hit China hard. The government ran the inauguration live until the word communism. At which point the sound faded out and Obama’s lips continued to move. The Chinese translations of the speech omit the word “communism” however the English translations have retained it. While some Chinese are annoyed by the censorship, other’s are offended that Obama clumped communism and fascism together. 

While my family has personally faced the hardships of communism when my grandparents fled Shanghai in 1937 for Ann Arbor and the communist party proceeded to repossess their estates, I think that all parties should remain respectful of the existence of other governments. After all, they all start out with similar good intentions. The Chinese should not feel offended by our distaste for communist rule as we should not assume that our government is superior. Government is a work in progress. Let our “sturdy alliances and enduring convictions” prevail with our respect.