Looking for courage in China

Never before have I believed more firmly that the right to protest, to argue and disagree, and to vote is where America's true power resides. Take that away and you have China, minus 1 billion "tolerant" people.

My students like the Americans they have met, but seem to have a low opinion of America in general. They believe it is a nation besieged by crime where there is no respect for marriage, family, or the lives of non-Americans.

Most of their knowledge, however, has been gleaned from movies. If only Hollywood understood how its movies have influenced the opinions of so many, and not in a good way. But Hollywood did not ask to be the sole source of information about America for an entire nation.

Maybe change is just over the horizon. Information is power. Can China's government continue to censor all that is available online? Probably not, but the desire to learn the truth must come before the truth is learned. That desire must be born of frustration, discontent, and yes, intolerance.

In the few frank conversations I have had with a Chinese teacher, he admitted that China has many problems: overpopulation, crime, pollution, lack of freedom, poverty. I asked why it seems problems are ignored. "To preserve our sanity" was the reply.

In my time here I question why I tolerate China – the crowded buses, packed streets, vendors who see every Westerner as their next target. Then I go to class and see my students. Not unlike their American counterparts, they want to have fun, fit in, find love, and someday secure a worthwhile job and a prosperous life for their families. My efforts may help them reach those goals, I tell myself.

Most of my students are the only child in the family. Only children aren't known for handling adversity especially well, and there will be much adversity for them to handle when they graduate.

Because China's leaders fear chaos, they will continue to control and silence their citizens, even as China experiences profound change. But courage can't be constrained forever. And everyday Chinese citizens will need extraordinary courage to speak out against injustices. It is in the world's interest to watch and assist when that starts to happen.

Thirty years ago, few could foresee China's move to a free-market economy. What unexpected change is around the next turn? Beauty walked out from a garbage heap; maybe progress will emerge from the silence.

• David O'Rourke is a writer who teaches oral English at a college in Guangdong Province, China.

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