Newton student penalized for democracy notes in China
Source: Boston Globe
Newton North High School senior Henry DeGroot was visiting a school outside Beijing on a semester abroad this year when he decided to have some fun and also make a point by writing prodemocracy messages in the notebook of a Chinese student.
Democracy is for cool kids, he recalls writing. Dont believe the lies your school and government tell you, said another message, and Its right to rebel.
But when Chinese school officials found out, he had to serve five hours of detention. And when he returned home, it got worse: Newton school officials barred DeGroot from his prom.
Newton school officials say he violated semester abroad rules, embarrassed the principal of the Chinese school that was hosting Newton students, and showed so much disrespect for the Chinese that the longstanding relationship with the school may be harmed.
Read more: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/06/05/newton-student-reprimanded-over-pro-democracy-messages-during-china-semester/5WrQ0viYPZTnCNfi6folwK/story.html
Also featured on PRI's The World today (which is produced by WGBH public radio in Boston).
7962
(11,841 posts)but on the other hand, it sounds a lot like something I would've done at that age.
FairWinds
(1,717 posts)the U.S. had a democracy a bit more worth defending.
Do you really think our votes count for much of anything?
We're talking oligarchy. Many of you have seen this, but . .
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/princeton-experts-say-us-no-longer-democracy
But good on the youngster for questioning authority.
alp227
(31,959 posts)Questioning authority is good, but so is respecting boundaries. If he didn't want to experience life without a First Amendment, he shouldn't have participated.
FairWinds
(1,717 posts)the First Amendment is worth less every day.
(BTW, I was also in China as a guest (professor),
but I thought I just had to speak out - while trying to respect
any Chinese who might disagree. You should not have
to give up your basic rights as a human when you travel.
But you are correct that one should respect the local culture, and
just as importantly, not endanger anyone.)
I now get Chinese state TV here on my local cable (CCTV).
Not really much different from our own MSM.
defacto7
(13,485 posts)at the expense of others by mocking not only their culture but ours as well. He didn't write this in his own notebook but on another student's notebook, another student from another culture and within that culture... a joke? Oh how we teach our children respect for other human beings. Actually, it could have been a fearful and even dangerous thing for the other person. To top it off he applies the other excuse used by well indoctrinated American children of well indoctrinated helicopter parents which is to deflect the blame, in this case pretending it had to be said like some sort of patriotic democratic stand for freedom. Bull Shit. It was a selfish, rude act not a patriotic anything. He received a very lenient disciplinary action having ridiculed their culture, the program he was representing, the school he attended, the school he came from and in a small way sewed one more stitch of callousness that is known the world over as American Exceptionalist Privilege also known by many other derogatory names.
As I see it, it's not just the kids mistake, it's a failure of our society to have not taught him how to keep and respect all humanity equally no matter the culture, politics, or ideology. No... we teach American children that all other humans are beneath our red white and blue radiance and are only worth our grand guffaw at their pitiful expense.
Nothing learned here... just a bit more lost in a world that lacks US honor and trust. Is there any left to be had?
heaven05
(18,124 posts)No kid writing in a notebook and having his/her say about their political viewpoint of their country and the 'adults' running it caused that lack. But I have a list of the modern culprits who did and they belong to the raygun cult and PNAC crowd.....