<p>... do you tone down your political views to them, even stuff you would normally share unreservedly with your other friends?</p>
<p>For example, on fb during the Iranian election protests I kind of publicly made my hope for the anger and chaos to escalate and thereby threaten the Guardian Council's position, but then 5 minutes later I realised that might tick off some of my Iranian friends so I modified my posts.</p>
<p>Sometimes I've also toned down my views of Chinese politics to PRC national students, partially because I don't know how they react. (Though those who have revealed their stances to me tend to be libertarian ... yay.) Would you consider it inconsiderate to make snide remarks about the PRC government in the presence of PRC nationals? (e.g. that the PRC government is illegitimate and the Republic of China government is still the legitimate heir to Sun Yat-Sen, or about Hu Yaobang, Tiananmen Square, etc.) Sometimes I'm not talking to them directly, but they're dining as a group with other students, etc. </p>
<p>And what about those from Honduras, Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan, etc?</p>
<p>Those issues to the Chinese are very very sensitive and controversial. Vast majority of Chinese will think you are trying to meddle in their business. It can quickly spread into a fierce debate (e.g. How is the ROC the heir when even Sun’s wife sided with the PRC in the civil war or how could China be prosperous if it ended up collapsing like the USSR?). The current Chinese administration enjoys huge support from vast majority of Chinese in China and many overseas Chinese are even more nationalistic than in the mainland. I would strongly suggest you not talk about politics with other Chinese students.</p>
<p>Well if you are of a Chinese descent and are overseas then you are. But I am just saying those issues are too sensitive and most wouldn’t want to talk about them. It will result in a fierce debate or subject changing.</p>
<p>Yeah, just don’t talk about it, really. If they are not open enough even for a reasonable debate, you will end up getting into an argument bringing up such topics.
I’m from ROC and so far I have not found anyone from PRC with whom I can discuss the issue.</p>
<p>^To be fair, the same can be said the other way around. In the end both sides will not compromise. Those issues are too controversial and polarizing.</p>
<p>A lot of PRC nationals like to act so hao lian anyway … they talk loudly in their big northern drawwrrl as though they’re the only ones in the building, bus, metro train, etc. </p>
<p>Chinese students aside, what about the Middle East?</p>
<p>You shouldnt change or alter or even silence your point of view because of what other people will think of it. Do you think they would change their point of view on the issue because you think differently? No, so just speak your mind and be able to defend yourself.</p>
<p>The thing is that I usually discuss these issues with other friends who would be interested (because they’re fellow debaters, my close friends, etc.) </p>
<p>I know a naturalised Northerner who used to tease this American-born girl of Taiwanese descent during high school over Taiwanese independence issues … okay so the second girl would get upset but they’re still good friends. </p>
<p>Now non-naturalised PRC nationals are a different issue, I suppose.</p>
<p>I believe in being open about one’s political beliefs. BUT, but, but, please:</p>
<p>If you are going to be talking about the Chinese government in front of a CHINESE PERSON you better KNOW your stuff. Some people will call China an evil dictatorship and leave it at that. Some people will say they hope the Iranian system of government is toppled and leave it at that. Have facts to back up your claims and opinions, and be educated and well-read on the subject before engaging in a discussion about a government/culture different than your own. These issues are much more complex than our American media makes them out to seem, and being sensitive to complexities and concerns which affect the nationals of these countries and NOT just Americans will make people respect you. Otherwise you are acting like an ignorant tool.</p>
<p>My roommate was Chinese and she was VERY defensive about MAO even (oh, you Westerners say he silenced/killed all these people, but my grandma was a farm laborer and the landlords were evil and Mao was the best thing to ever happen…blahblah)…as well as absolutely positive that Taiwan was part of China and that most of them wanted to be Chinese, anyway. Now I’m pretty sure everything we as Americans learned in history class was pretty ANTI Mao…but you better brush up on said history before just throwing generalized statements out there.</p>
If you friends make even a single comment about our style of government, I say it’s fair game.
[/quote]
I don’t think this is about what is and isn’t “fair game”. In this country, we are technically free to unreservedly voice our opinions regardless of whether someone else “did it first”.</p>
<p>I believe what galoisien was referring to was just whether his comments would provoke a significantly negative reaction, which isn’t something that’ll change depending on whether they made the first comment. You have to realize that while Americans are almost universally open to criticism about their government (and frequently criticize it themselves), PRC nationals generally are not.</p>
<p>That said, if you don’t want to pıss off a foreigner (particularly those haven’t been in this country long enough to become acclimated to our culture of open political criticism), I would suggest toning down the rhetoric. However, it’s completely up to you as to whether pıssing off PRC nationals (and foreigners from other oppressive regimes) concerns you. From your statement that
[QUOTE=galoisien]
A lot of PRC nationals like to act so hao lian anyway … they talk loudly in their big northern drawwrrl as though they’re the only ones in the building, bus, metro train, etc.
[/quote]
I get the feeling that you really couldn’t care less about them reacting negatively. Whether that applies to other foreigners as well is totally up to you.</p>
<p>I personally prefer to avoid making political statements around anyone, foreigner or not, until I know that they won’t take such comments personally.</p>
<p>Personally I wouldn’t aim for friends who would always take political statements personally.
Honestly if they do, they shouldn’t even be in the buisness of politics/debating.</p>