Social wreckage 2

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

Chenyuan grew up under the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) in China. Social power is in the hands of government people who control the economy. Buying, selling and managing decisions are made by the socialist government, and total obedience is required. 

She says this kind of power always corrupts, that it inevitably produces abuse because no checks and balances are built into the system to restrain it. Government elites at every level use intimidation and threats to protect their power. Her father said they had to live like dogs with their tail tucked behind their legs. 

photo

But Chenyuan noticed a big social difference when she came to the U.S. in 1989. She saw courtesy and mutual respect between people, which she believes comes from a system that values human freedom.

She begs Americans to continue to choose freedom over socialism.

from The Stream

Social wreckage 1

At the age of ~4 years, she woke up one night to a loudspeaker commanding all adults to get dressed and come out to the public square. Her parents suddenly left her and she started screaming along with the other abandoned children. 

They came back the next day but she still feels the trauma decades later. Her family lived in just one small room, though her father was a professor, and she picked up their fear and uncertainty. They used extreme caution in words and actions because any misstep could bring catastrophe.

Chenyuan grew up during the Cultural Revolution in China (1966-1976) with an unfocused sense of dread that went beyond the authorities. They had to fear their neighbors because friends commonly reported friends to the government for favor and benefits.

China's authoritarian socialism ruined their economy by 1976. But Chenyuan's lived experience tells her that it also devastated human relationships.

(cont'd tomorrow)

Vote tomorrow

(continued from last Friday's post)

About half American Christians don't bother to vote. Do they not care about all the issues that affect their families and towns? Or is it that they are completely confused about what candidates would be best? 

Chenyuan thinks they take our responsibility for granted, that everything will turn out fine whether they figure out who to vote for or not. But it bothers her big time that so many of us don't recognize the significance of our right to have a voice.

"[U]nlike Chinese Christians who can only passively watch when the government sets immoral policies, we can take an active part in political decisions. We have the privilege not only to promote the good but also to prevent evil."

One current hot issue among parents today is what schools have been teaching. Many parents found out that their neglect to pay attention to local schools resulted in bad outcomes. "When we surrender territory this way, our children bear the dreadful consequence."

Maybe there's still time for you to clear up a few of your own questions before voting day. There's no point in voting if you really don't know about the issues or the candidates.

from The Stream

Vote in 4 days

As an immigrant from China, Chenyuan Snider sees America in a different way from those who were born here, differently from the negative view now being taught in our school systems.

"She is, she says, "overwhelmed" when she thinks of the privileges she has as an American citizen. As one who had years of personal life experience in the two cultures, she offers her perspective to Americans who can only theorize about what it's like to live in China. She's on a mission to open their eyes and tell her story.

"As a fellow Christian, she's horrified that about half of us don't exercise our minimum civic responsibility to vote in elections. We have a right to engage with government policies, to organize on behalf of what we believe to be right. The Chinese don't. They are helpless to influence the direction of their government when it moves against their values.

Because "we have both power and opportunity to influence a political outcome, to remain silent would welcome the flourishing of evil in our society . . ."

photo

from January post

Exceptional 1

Chenyuan Snider grew up in China, is non-white, and now lives in the U.S. According to critical race theory, that means she must be suffering from inevitable racism. But, no.

photo

On the contrary. She is, she says, "overwhelmed" when she thinks of the privileges she has as an American citizen. As one who had years of personal life experience in the two cultures, she offers her perspective to Americans who can only theorize about what it's like to live in China. She's on a mission to open their eyes and tell her story.

As a fellow Christian, she's horrified that about half of us don't exercise our minimum civic responsibility to vote in elections. We have a right to engage with government policies, to organize on behalf of what we believe to be right. The Chinese don't. They are helpless to influence the direction of their government when it moves against their values.

Because ". . we have both power and opportunity to influence a political outcome, to remain silent would welcome the flourishing of evil in our society . . ."

from Stream

(cont'd tomorrow)

Exceptional 2

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

Why do so many Christians forfeit their right and privilege to vote? Here's just a couple of possibilities.

Sadly, confusion and apathy abound where "misinformation" reigns. It's harder now to know for sure what the truth is regarding any number of things. You'll have to think things through; that is, start with your convictions and patiently research selected issues you care about. Don't vote on a question you know nothing about.

photo

Long ago, my mom told me that Christians shouldn't get into politics because it's "dirty." Often, it is, and she had plenty of company in that opinion.  But it does not follow that we should abandon the field of public policy to selfish power lovers.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German pastor in WWII, felt he had to do something to oppose the Nazis in his country. He said, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless.”

Chenyuan says that Christians in other countries are praying for us to do what's right, to raise our voices.  We're here with exceptional freedom in an exceptional country for such a time as this.

from Stream