<p>It’s not a matter of whether or not there should be freedom, democracy or not in China. At the current moment, it’s a matter of PRACTICALITY! Yes, it’s very easy to sit in America and say that China must have democracy and freedom immediately. Right now, there are still millions of people unable to find jobs, unable to support their family, unable to receive adequate health care, and unable to find enough money to acquire the most basic necessities of life. </p>
<p>Such enlightenment ideas are great and their meaning universal. Yet, implementing them in the real world is another matter. How long did it take for England and France to establish a truly functional democratic system? Hundreds of years of evolution. Evolution. Currently in China, we are not interested in REVOLUTION, since we are fed up with the potential chaos and economic depression it could bring. We’ve had the 1911 revolution, the 1949 revolution, the cultural revolution all in the last century. Each of them claimed millions of lives and uncountable devestation. When we consider the implementation of such ideas as “freedom” or “democracy,” we MUST proceed with caution and care. Such massive changes in the very structure of the nation can cause very disastrous consequences if taken recklessly, like Iraq and the former USSR. </p>
<p>Our principle of development and reform is based on the basis of social, economic, and political stability. We don’t want to make massive changes, but rather miniscule, subtle changes step by step over a gradual period of time. At the same time, we also want to educate our citizens about modern democratic values, like the rule of law, the rights of the citizen, supremacy of the constitution, and the importance of proper legislative process. </p>
<p>Some of you accuse me of ignoring the democratic rights and freedoms and the plight of my fellow citizens at home. You misunderstood me. I also have a dream that one day my fellow citizens could live harmoniously under a state of peace, properity and freedom. I have a dream that one day every Chinese child will be able receive the best public education and equal opportunities to excel beyond their potential. I have a dream that one day senior citizens like my grandmother in China could retire and enjoy life without economic or social burdens. I have a dream that one day, every Chinese citizen has the right to enthusiastically participate in their civil society and public political process. I have a dream that one day our mountains would be once again covered in green, streams crystal clear, and oceans and lakes a habitable home for all living species. And guess what, these dreams are already on their way to becoming a reality for many, step by step.</p>