From sea to shining sea

If there is anything I have learned in the past 15 years since coming to America in 2000, it is that America is beautiful. Today, I will be dipping my toes in the Atlantic Ocean as I spend Fourth of July with my parents in Jacksonville, FL this year. I can't help but think that exactly one year ago, my breath was being taken away, in much the same way, by the Pacific Ocean at #CampEmeraldBay, and for everything in between, I am endlessly grateful.

Looking out into the Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville, FL)

America is great because it is so vast. It's not only vast in landscapes, but also vast in ideas and in diversity of its People.

Each city that I have had the chance to visit in the past year has been so absolutely different, each so absolutely gorgeous, energizing and vibrant in their own ways. Yet, what is more noticeable is all the things that weave us together as Americans and the common story, aspirations, hope and Dream we all share, whether born here or not.

America is not perfect and we have made mistakes, many of them. In fact, the manner in which we became such a vast Nation is not one of our best moments. But, as Emily Mortimer (MacKenzie McHale) says in Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom,"America is the only country on the planet, that since its birth, has said over and over and over that we can do better. It's part of our DNA."

People around the world look to America when they need a leader, a Nation that has a moral compass to stand up for the fundamental rights of all People and a Nation that recognizes the values it was created for. There's a lot to easily be cynical about, but it is the moments where America acts uniquely that we so often forget about how great our home is. From creating some of the brightest minds and promoting creativity to taking action on some of the world's hardest problems, America still remains both a force for good and a beacon of hope for much of the world. We are not in that position because we are perfect—we are in that position because we can so honestly, openly and vigorously have the tough conversations publicly, while still remaining one Nation.

A lot of people compare America with China nowadays. They talk about the Chinese government working so efficiently, a comparison that scares me. Efficiency is not what we want and was not what our Founding Fathers intended for. That's also not how democracy works, even if the world is moving faster now. For all the gridlock we have, we should also keep in mind that this Nation was built on the notion that there is no one right way and that all ideas should be put on the table, to be considered and discussed by the American People.

So, this Fourth of July, while you celebrate with friends, good food and amazing fireworks, also take a moment to reflect on all the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans and all the responsibilities so many of us, so often, shy away from. Reflect on how different we each are as Americans, but also everything that makes us One Nation. Reflect on all the mistakes we have made, how We the People can all work together to make this Nation better and all that we can be proud of and celebrate.

And so...

I pledge allegiance, to the Flag, of the United States of America,
And to the Republic, for which it stands.
One Nation, under God.
Indivisible. With Liberty and Justice for all.

Cross-posted on Google+: https://plus.google.com/+iantang/posts/e8qxXWySz7z

I LOVE HK: a spark for democracy

I LOVE HK.

My beautiful birthplace, Summer 2013.

There's a quote most often attributed to Thomas Jefferson that says: "When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When governments fear the people, there is liberty."

And then, in "The Hunger Games," there's a quote that reads: "Every revolution begins with a spark."

I genuinely believe in these two profound quotes. And that's why today, my thoughts are with the brave peoples of Hong Kong, from students to working professionals, standing up for something they believe in and fighting for a universal right, namely universal suffrage, that we, as humans, should each have. I stand with you. I feel your pain and suffering. 

I say peoples, and not people, of Hong Kong because it's a diverse city comprised of so many backgrounds, beliefs, national and ethnic origins, race, religions and sexualities, all of whom are united to defend the freedom that Hong Kong has enjoyed over the past decades. It is precisely this freedom that has allowed Hong Kong to become a cultural, economic and political beacon in the East to so many.

Hong Kong today, September 28, 2014. Courtesy: CNN.

Governments like China cannot endure, at least not in their current form, especially in this new digital age. And a simple spark can lead to something revolutionary. The way governments work is a new game for this next century—people can demand their voices to be heard, more so than ever before and I believe what is right will prevail. Hong Kong has been so prosperous because of the equality and freedom—freedom of assembly, of expression, of information, of the press, of speech—that has existed over the past several decades. I don't think there is anywhere as prepared as Hong Kong to remind us that freedom is truly not free and must be defended daily.

My heart hurts and I am saddened seeing the devastating photos come out of Hong Kong, photos of streets that I have walked on and admired. But it also makes me proud of the citizens of Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, just like as in American cities, these shouldn't be seen as embarrassments, but rather, a functioning civil society able to hold thoughtful conversations and stand up for what they believe in. The government is the entity that should be embarrassed for their oppressive response and for governing without the consent of the governed.

That's why I also think, for me, I find stories like "The Hunger Games" so powerful, because people are living out these scenarios each and every day. It's quite inspirational if you think about it.

Night lights in Hong Kong, Summer 2013.

"Echoing Tiananmen, 17-year-old Hong Kong student prepares for democracy battle"

CNN and CNN International
—"Fear has been deeply rooted in our genes through the past 65 years. The majority of China's 1.3 billion people are not true citizens; most of the people are simply submissive."
—"You can form political parties in Hong Kong. You can publish books that are forbidden in mainland China. The media can criticize the central government and the chief executive of Hong Kong."
—"Mainland China is a tinderbox that's been physically suppressed by the authorities, and Hong Kong is a seed of fire."
—"The Communist Party is very scared of this tiny bit of land, because if true universal suffrage can blossom in Hong Kong, it is very likely true universal suffrage will end up happening in the mainland."

America: not as flawed as she seems.

Small government is better.

American government was built on the basis that the government should interfere with its citizens' lives minimally, allowing for a broader range of freedoms. This has led America to decades of brilliant innovation and economic success. During these times of recession, we cannot solely rely on the government to make things better. Likewise, in the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt and his administration did not magically wipe out all the hardships; they only contributed to fixing them. Economies will always have cycles, but ultimately, the government can only do so much. Instead, making our government bigger will only mean a loss of freedom and a worse long-term country. 

So why is America not as flawed as she seems? Because economies naturally have their cycles, and competition from other countries only leads to a better world for everyone. Because incentive, a fundmental American ideal, drives people to work hard, allowing more people to achieve the American Dream. Because the American education system actually works, really. Here we go.

Home of the free, and the reason why America has been successful for decades on end.

Competition leads to better nations, and a better world.
The Chinese are great people. Heck, I'm Chinese. However, I still think China's growth is overhyped, overstated and unsustainable. In fact, I think it is artificial. It isn't because of the people, but because of its government. As long as America continues to focus on fixing herself, and not slowing the competition, the future still belongs to her. The only thing the American government needs to do is ensure that America is the number one place to start a business - that starts with having the most economic and personal freedoms. Remember what happened during the Cold War? America continued to be free, focused on extending democratic ideals around the world and launching its own innovative programs, like the space program. In the end, she prevailed while the Soviet Union, which lacked the diverse marketplace America had, collapsed.

Like business, competition can only make things better. If not for the Cold War (competition with the Soviet Union), humans might not even be in space today. We might not have developed so many crazy inventions. And I think the same thing will happen with this tension with China when looking back in hindsight. America will only become greater in the end, that is, if we focus on growing ourselves, and not trying to stop other countries from advancing. America may be in a recession right now. But we have gone through tons of recessions and a Great Depression. We've only gotten stronger.

Incentive drives people to work hard.
We need to stop bagging on the "1%" or promoting the "99%." When did that even become a thing? Focus on the individual. It doesn't matter if it's 1%, 99% or even 50%. America has always been about the American Dream. Those people who have worked hard, figured out a way to move around the obstacles, and achieved success shouldn't be "shunned." Neither should they be scolded when they don't "help out" the poor or don't pay "more" taxes than that set by the government. Certainly, those that do contribute to charity should be thanked and recognized! But imagine a person going to a grocery store, picking up a $5 product, and paying the store $100, just because. If people aren't required to pay that much, don't expect them to or go complaining that they don't pay extra. And, having the rich be obligated to help the poor will only make the poor, poorer. Making it an obligation takes away all incentive for people who aren't in the upper class to work hard to achieve success. Again, this does not mean society should not help out one another - we should educate people to do that, but we cannot reprimand those that do not wish to. It is equally important that we do reprimand those when they breach ethical guidelines (scams), but that is the only reason. Never has America taken the stance that one person is doing bad because the other is doing well. Strive for success, independent of another person's success, or lack thereof.

Maybe American education works.
Education is very important - that's the source of human progress. However, there's also a lot of talk about American education being ranked very low compared to other systems in the world, and that maybe our system is not competent. But maybe, that is what has made Americans so great. Maybe that is what has made Americans succeed in the world. Because it's not all about what we learn in books, but what we experience first-hand in the world, that teaches us even more than pages and words. In other words, American education has never been confined to classrooms, textbooks, pencils and desks. American education has allowed children to explore and discover. Making it more "rigorous" and strictly tied to what we learn in textbooks will remove the ability and time for students to freely look into the things that interest them the most. 

Maybe a kid does get a C in English, but at the same time, he may exceed in Chemistry, and so, focuses on that, doing personal research at home, on the Internet, so vast with information. Why should we force them to also succeed in English as well? What makes that A in English so important? That time studying for English may have been time that could have led him to a scientific breakthrough that could have changed the world forever. As long as our curriculums expose students to what's out there in this world, those with an interest in that subject will go out and educate themselves. Our teachers should focus on encouraging that, helping students to develop their passion, and teaching life morals. 

For me, I haven't even been able to learn about technology in school, but because I have had personal time, I've been able to do my own research at home. If I had to focus solely on the subjects of school, I'd never have the time to do this. This is the same for so many other areas. Many of our world's greatest innovators have been focused on one area, and many have not been produced because of schooling, but because they've been able to explore their passions.

Consider the following example to China vs. US.

Imagine two children on a playground. One has parents who are constantly hovering, making sure she doesn’t fall and scrape herself. By contrast, the other child’s parents give her more distance, letting her fend for herself. She stumbles and cries more often, but when she becomes an adult, she’s more resilient... In Guo’s view, the helicopter parents are the Chinese government, while the other parents represent Washington. In the end, he said, the U.S. economy will be stronger.

What this whole post ultimately comes down to is individuality. Stop trying to make everything equal. Life is not fair, nothing is equal. Not countries, not people, not education. Some countries will be better than others. Some people will be better than others. Some people will be smarter than others. That's life.  The rest is up to the individual. 

America is a nation where freedom flourishes, and will continue to in the future, as long as citizens simultaneously stand up to prevent the government from growing in size and participate in the democratic system by voicing their opinions. I still believe in America, do you?

This post was inspired by Washington Post's "If China is doing so well, why do so many Chinese think of moving here?"

The American panoramic picture is courtesy of David Kozlowski (+David Kozlowski)