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President Daniels responds to Chinese student's harassment

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Re: President Daniels responds to Chinese student's harassment

#821

He needed to make this about harassment, not China. If the first paragraph was corrected to leave these parts out, I think it would be a much clearer case: From: > Purdue learned from a national news account last week that one of our students, after speaking out on behalf of freedom and others martyred for advocating it, was harassed and threatened by other students from his own home country. Worse still, his family…

I disagree. The CCP has made itself a very big problem internationally. WE need a LOT more conversation about that government in particular, urgently. Hypotheticals can wait.

I also think that it's a big problem and was thinking that not mentioning it would be an easier way to deal with it (i.e. expel the perpetrators). Expelling students who harass other students, or giving death threats (for the case of Emerson) should be a relatively straightforward decision without getting politics involved.

Re: President Daniels responds to Chinese student's harassment

#822
post #721

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this is exactly the white savior crap that much of the world hates from the US. the sheer arrogance to think that even a significant fraction of Taiwanese would be interested in moving to America, let alone the entire populace. And then the gall to suggest _Ohio, the Mojave, and Alaska_. Bit on the nose, don't you think? I don't understand how you think this rhetoric helps anyone. I guess it lets Americans puff out t…

No, no, this is about exactly right. When the CCP comes for Taiwan, the exodus will be on a scale unseen in our generation. It seems your family history has been blessed to not know this sort of existential crisis. For generations now, The US of America is, actually and literally, viewed as the land of salvation and opportunity for millions of people around the world. Do not pretend that it is not.

Times have changed. I've lived through that era where much of my childhood years were living under the impending threat of a takeover but over the years, I've come to realize that the path laid by the late Lee Teng-hui had been a noble and justified one. If it weren't for him and history, I would have continued to believe in the KMT (I no longer do).

Re: President Daniels responds to Chinese student's harassment

#823

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most Americans who do not have relatives in China think it is almost literally 1984.

oh you mean like this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Credit_System

Everything I could possible write about that is covered on that page, especially the Misconceptions section.

The nearly non-existent line between public and private sector in China really derails all possible discussion and comparison to equivalences outside of China, but regardless I just don't find what goes on in China to be different enough when we tolerate the same things from the private sector that runs our daily life. It isn't different enough for me to draw the line at "but our government isn't doing it".

Re: President Daniels responds to Chinese student's harassment

#824

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the surface, this seems like FUD or at least exaggerated. Anecdotally, Americans across the spectrum are at least weary of China if not openly hostile. China does have a lot of corporate influence at the upper levels and corporations do pull many of the levers of government here, but on an individual level, I don't think it's that's dramatic. Although this topic has been sensationalized a lot, personally I don't t…

On an individual level, it would appear that just being from Hong Kong and not China will get you death threats.

I feel compelled to clarify this: Hong Kong is part of China, and has been since 1997. Saying that Hong Kong is not part of China is like saying that Texas is not part of the United States because at one point they seceded. These days, Texas has no more right to secede from the US than Hong Kong from China, even if there are people in both territories who would prefer full independence. Consequently, to a Chinese person, hearing "I'm from Hong Kong, not China" would be like hearing "I'm from Texas, not the United States" as an American.

Granted, someone saying the latter should never be met with death threats, just like the former!

Re: President Daniels responds to Chinese student's harassment

#825

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the surface, this seems like FUD or at least exaggerated. Anecdotally, Americans across the spectrum are at least weary of China if not openly hostile. China does have a lot of corporate influence at the upper levels and corporations do pull many of the levers of government here, but on an individual level, I don't think it's that's dramatic. Although this topic has been sensationalized a lot, personally I don't t…

Their PR and media game is superb.

I would agree.

The British also have excellent game, but they work a lot with film and news. The Chinese have managed comparable results without.

Re: President Daniels responds to Chinese student's harassment

#826
post #579

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While it doesn't have the immediate satisifaction of a twitter pitchfork mob, I appreciate a measured approach IF there is serious (albeit slow moving) action taken. The last thing we need is an equally impactful response in the opposite direction. He's the head of the school and needs to balance a wide range of perspectives and demands. The context has been set so now I'm watching to see if the actions back it up. I…

>>The last thing we need is an equally impactful response in the opposite direction. We need a MORE impactful response form this side, but it does not have to be instant. And you are correct that it has to be carefully investigated, soundly based, and measured for maximum effect. Ultimately, if you are a "student" here and are participating in state power projection, spying, or abuse of anyone merely participating in…

Just imagine the headlines if they did do something more impactful like taking a stance and expelling the relevant students. Many headlines would be conflating this expulsion with racism and who knows what other rhetoric. Not only that, but the university would be sued for years if they did this. Also, this guy would get fired in at-most a year. Not necessarily for his stance, but for rocking the boat and bringing so much attention to the university.

People don't realize just how much the rules are stacked in favor of bullies.

Re: President Daniels responds to Chinese student's harassment

#827

I’ve had the pleasure of working with and getting to know several Chinese nationals and nearly all of them were hesitant to take about China when discussions at bars would turn to world politics. I wonder if this is how your average American would have felt at the height of McCarthyism? I hope one day Chinese people feel more free to speak their minds about their government.

This is how 40-50% of America feels now, btw. Many of us are silent because we know that any view right of the orthodoxy can lead to negative social and career repercussions.

Re: President Daniels responds to Chinese student's harassment

#828

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On an individual level, it would appear that just being from Hong Kong and not China will get you death threats.

I feel compelled to clarify this: Hong Kong is part of China, and has been since 1997. Saying that Hong Kong is not part of China is like saying that Texas is not part of the United States because at one point they seceded. These days, Texas has no more right to secede from the US than Hong Kong from China, even if there are people in both territories who would prefer full independence. Consequently, to a Chinese per…

While I more or less agree with you, I think in this particular case using Hong Kong instead of China MIGHT have some validity due to the entirely different system a person grew up in.

Saying you are from Hong Kong gives you a ton of information that would be lost versus China

Re: President Daniels responds to Chinese student's harassment

#829

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well said: "In my world there's always a place for you; you can disagree with me; you can even insult me; I will not fire back because that is your freedom of expression, however In your world there's no place for me; you want to eliminate me and even my family from the world just because I disagree with your government or your ideology; this is puzzling isn't it?"

Does that mean freedom is self-defeating? It comes down to a simple formula: are people learning and appreciating freedom faster than it's being diluted by people who are ignorant or disdainful of freedom? There's no fundamental reason one rate must remain above the other. Education, immigration trends, business, and culture all play a part. But once the anti-freedom are greater in number than the pro-freedom, then f…

Karl Popper had quite a bit to say on this topic:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance

Re: President Daniels responds to Chinese student's harassment

#830
post #31

Response from the student: https://old.reddit.com/r/Purdue/comments/ri95tp/in_response_...

Well said: "In my world there's always a place for you; you can disagree with me; you can even insult me; I will not fire back because that is your freedom of expression, however In your world there's no place for me; you want to eliminate me and even my family from the world just because I disagree with your government or your ideology; this is puzzling isn't it?"

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
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