The other day I was talking to a friend in mainland China. I
was complaining about the gridlock in Washington. We talked for a bit about Bo
Xilai and how little the Chinese people knew about what was going on.
He then said to me, "I think you live in a very good
country."
Those words brought back my perspective. As much as I
criticize politics in this country, I can never forget why my ancestors came
here in 1620. And it isn't just religious freedom that marks our country as a
fine place. People still can be outspoken about any subject they want and about any
one of our leaders.
Some time ago, when I was in China, I picked up the
Chinese name for GW. He was called Xiao (little) Bush because his father was Da (big) Bush.
Bringing that concept back to America I put it in a very different context, one that
the Chinese never intended. But I could denigrate his decisions in a college
classroom. In China, denigrating Hu Jin Tao could end you in the slammer.
Calling him little Bush was a cheap shot, but I took it.
They never came in the night to take me away.
I think I live in a very good country
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