That government is best which governs least.
– Thomas Paine
At Caring for China, the organization I work for, we talk a lot about political change in China. When I post a little more on Xu Wenli, the founder of C4C, and his history latter this week, you will understand why. The strange thing about that, though, is that I personally do not believe that political change in China will solve the problems there… or in any country for that matter. I would prefer to stay as far from politics as possible. I believe that the best thing any government can do is get itself and anything else out of the way of the people, and let the people do the rest. Real improvement can only be achieved through a change of culture.
So, are you wondering what a guy like me is doing at C4C?
It is simple, really. I met Xu Wenli.
Xu Wenli is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. After years of mistreatment as a political prisoner, he is not bitter. He smiles easily, and is a gracious host. He loves children (I have 5 so that is big for me). He is a scholar and a gentleman. He is a statesman rather than a politician. He has a deep love for the people of China and he has dedicated his life to making their lives better.
His approach is significatly different from most “activists” from the West.
Most human rights organizations, democracy advocates, free-speech activists, and other groups that want to change developing nations, focus most of their time and energy on pressuring the government. Many of them base their tactics on the fact that elected governments do respond when large numbers of people agree together on something. Things are a little different in China.
Xu Wenli and his compatriots in China are trying to change their government, but America and other countries frequently make things more difficult for these advocates of change through ill-informed attempts at pressuring a government that does not respond well to pressure. Xu Wenli believes that China will make significant moves toward freedom on its own over the next few years, if other nations can be convinced to only help in ways that are truly beneficial.
The key way that we as non-Chinese can help is to defend those within China who are putting their lives on the line to make China a better place. If someone is put in jail, we can ask for their release. If someone needs money to publish a book or periodical, or to just survive when the government prohibits anyone from hiring them, we can help. If the government blocks important information online, we can republish the info in other ways to get the information to the people that need it.
The focus is on helping individuals, and changing the nation one person at a time. With over a billion people this is a big task, but until each person understands what it means to be free and is willing to work to establish and maintain a free society, political changes simply will not stick. And in spite of the huge numbers and repressive government, China is changing, changing dramatically, changing fast, changing in ways that could make China ones of the best places on earth. I want to be a part of that change. I might even chose to live there some day.
That is why I chose Caring for China.
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China is indeed a beautiful place. Although it has many of its policies that the Western do not agree, there are still many in China who hope that one day, the government will fully embrace democracy. I was there for a hol. I must say that the country is beautiful…
.-= Scho´s last blog ..Home Schools vs Public Schools =-.