Just watched Obama farewell speech. After the election I have paid little interest in drama of American politics. Partly because I am living in China where democracy is not of the top priority. Partly because of the disappointment i felt towards the result. Watching the speech hardly helps at all. But that's not the point for tonight.
It's the concept of America as a country. Countries are defined by lines drawn on the map, by people. Countries are held together by various means. Most of them by race, color of the skin, by religion, by tribal traditions. Look at China for example, most Chinese are of Han, and those who are not are rapidly converted into Han's way of life. In time of need, China can always use race as a way to incite patriotism, in order to hold the country together. Most countries on earth behave similar way.
While America, ideally, is a different story. Ideally America is held together by a concept, a notion, that no matter where people come from, what God they worship, people will work together to build a new and a better system to help themselves. Patriotism for Americans should really be to protect such concept from harm. That's why America could be so diverse and still works. That's why different people would live and work together under a single banner of America. This never has happened before in history. To build something better on a grand scale or just for one self, is the ultimate concept of America, of success and now challenges ahead.
This is the political experiment that really matters.
It's the concept of America as a country. Countries are defined by lines drawn on the map, by people. Countries are held together by various means. Most of them by race, color of the skin, by religion, by tribal traditions. Look at China for example, most Chinese are of Han, and those who are not are rapidly converted into Han's way of life. In time of need, China can always use race as a way to incite patriotism, in order to hold the country together. Most countries on earth behave similar way.
While America, ideally, is a different story. Ideally America is held together by a concept, a notion, that no matter where people come from, what God they worship, people will work together to build a new and a better system to help themselves. Patriotism for Americans should really be to protect such concept from harm. That's why America could be so diverse and still works. That's why different people would live and work together under a single banner of America. This never has happened before in history. To build something better on a grand scale or just for one self, is the ultimate concept of America, of success and now challenges ahead.
This is the political experiment that really matters.
posted from Bloggeroid
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