Obama shook hands with my friends~

Obama had a town hall meeting with Shanghai students, therefore, many people I know took part in that meeting, and rightfully, sat in the front rows.

Probably my friends didn’t have the chance to ask questions, but a question about whether Chinese should have the freedom to use Twitter still impressed me, that the government would allow this question to be asked since it is something about the freedom of expression, a sensitive topic in China.

Obama answered the question in an indirect but perfect way to ensure that the transcript would be put on the website of Chinese official news agency. I applaud Obama’s attempt to reach out to Chinese student, who will be the future of China. State-run education is still cultivating anti-west mood and a charismatic American president would be really a good way to win support from China’s future.

Today’s students are more docile than those 20 years ago, but they can be the force to make change in China. Obama, the president of change, can make a difference.

New York Times mentioned that all students are hand-picked by the government and most of them are Communist Youth League members. It doesn’t tell a lot. I believe I would have had the chance to be be “hand-picked” if I had been there. They pick us because we study international relations. We could have maverick perspectives, but we won’t bring it up during such high publicity occasion. (One of my friends told me she didn't know this.... It seems people were using their connection to get a ticket)

New York Times should also understand almost every student in China are member of Communist Youth League. If one is not, he/she must have joined the Communist Party. The Youth League is the like the Young Pioneer. We didn’t have a choice to not join it without a risk to be weird and isolated from the others. It, by no means, shows our support for the system and the government. I am still a member of Communist Youth League, by the way, though I have no intention to apply for the party membership whatsoever.

Obama in China

Obama wasn't as popular as Hillary at first, but now he certainly is. Now he's on his way there, I would like to share some interesting pictures.

an unofficial poll on “US President will soon visit China, what do you most want to chat with him about?”

1. Winning the Nobel Peace Prize after just taking office, how did you get it?
   1487 votes (10.19%)
2. Discuss the Chinese human rights problem that Obama cares most about, how about it?
   620 votes (4.25%)
3. About the issue of whether Taiwan is a province of China.
   3322 votes (22.76%)
4. What will America use to secure China’s investment of American government bonds?
   2903 votes (19.89%)
5. How to promote denuclearizing of the world?
   614 votes (4.21%)
6. How does America plan to promote its relations with China?
   1670 votes (11.44%)
7. How can China and America cooperate in denuclearizing the North Korean peninsula?
   439 votes (3.01%)
8. What role does American want to play in the future East Asian Community?
   545 votes (3.73%)
9. When will America lift its embargo of high-tech products and weapons on China?
   2490 votes (17.06%)
10. How can China and America cooperate on anti-terrorism?
    503 votes (3.45%)

Green Olympics in Brazil, or Black Olympics?

Olympics is really beneficial for environment when China turned off numerous assembly lines to give Beijing a clearer sky last year. It seems Brazil was leading in this sense. But this wasn't so popular as China's.

The blackout of the country didn't show the commitment of Green Olympics, but the fragility of the country. Brazil has been doing very well under President Lula, but it still has so much to do before the World Cup and Olympics to showcase Brazil's modernization. In a democratic society, it is undoubtedly harder than authoritarian China. The process would take some time and effort, but it would be worthwhile. A Black Olympics is not likely to happen in 7 years.

Education in Spain: Learning how to use your hands -- to do job

Spain is still more religious than most other Western European countries as the Catholicism faith is still influential in the daily life for majority of the population. Most people go to church on Sundays, and they pray before meals, which is no longer the case in many other nominally Christian countries. On social issues, Spain is also more conservative. I remember Maria told me about the prohibition of oral sex, which sounds nothing but ridiculous in a non-Muslim country in 21th century.

But recently, Extremadura government launched a campaign to educate children about masturbation, based around the slogan "pleasure as in your own hands". Leaflets will be distributed, and workshops will be hold for students from 14 to 17 years old. This is no wonder hugely controversial. Social conservatives were extremely angered. (BBC)

I'm not sure about the benefit of this education, though not from a religious perspective. Probably most of the students have already become experts and the education would only reduce their level of enjoyment compares with the self-exploration process. But this is an interesting idea and I would love to know how it's implemented and the reaction of the students.

Being blessed 24/7

It is so nice when I hear somebody says "bless you" to me when I sneeze. This is a culture which doesn't exist in China. Trivial as it is, I feel the warmth of the society, even though many believe people are getting more indifferent to others.

But can you believe somebody who is surrounded by "bless you" everyday and all day long? A 12-year-old girl has this fortune, or more accurately, misfortune, of sneezing 12,000 times a day. (FOX News)

In fact, she has become a sneezing machine gun. Understanding this, she no longer goes to school. Poor little girl. Bless you!

New Berlin Wall erected

U2 is holding a concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall. But the authorities decided to erect a 2-meter wall around the concert. (The Times)

Setting up a wall to ensure the safety of the performer is understandable in most cases, but probably you should think twice before setting up a wall in Berlin.

Palau's double-standard immigration policy

Palau, a small Pacific island nation recently gained its independence from the United States, has announced its willingness to accept some acquitted Uighur detainees in Guantanamo. Those people have been proved to be innocent but no country would dare to accept them for fear of Chinese reprisal. China claims they are terrorists and many people fear they won't receive fair trial and will probably be executed if they return to China.

Palau has proved itself a credible ally of United States. When the United Nations General Assembly were voting to accept the Goldstone Report, in which it criticized Israel's human rights abuse in its Gaza Campaign, only three countries voted no. They were Israel, United States, and guess who, Palau. 187 countries voted yes. Surviving on U.S. aid, it is not surprising to see them as the staunchest ally of United States.

Today, when Palaun president Johnson Toribiong personally the Uighur prisoners, he even led them a tour, showing the country's hospitality. But on the same day, he announced plans to send home between 200 and 300 Bangladeshi Muslim migrants whose work visas have expired, and last month he banned anyone else from the South Asian country from entering Palau.

Oh, poor Bangladeshis. If they publicly denounce China's human rights policy, probably they will have a shot to be allowed to stay there!