A Chinese student in the US speaks out on ‘patriotism’ after Maryland speech uproar
Do I love China more? Maybe not. Do I love China any less? Absolutely not, says Alex Shi after five years of living in the United States
Yang Shuping, a graduating senior at the University of Maryland, drew harsh criticism from many of her fellow Chinese classmates and from social media users in China recently when she delivered a commencement speech that praised the United States’ “fresh air” and freedom to speak one’s mind. The collective nationalistic rage, much of it expressed online, took many people by surprise. Do overseas Chinese students tend to be more patriotic than those who have never lived abroad? One such student gives the South China Morning Post her take on the issue.
Do I love my country more after living abroad? The answer is: I honestly don’t know.
Patriotism is too big a word.
Having lived in the United States for five years, I have politely corrected stereotypes, checked misconceptions, stated simple facts or semi-violently shoved books about China in my boyfriend’s face.
Do I love China more? Maybe not. I’m joyfully working with the most talented people, not worried about excessive office politics. My girlfriends do not obsess over losing five more pounds from their two-digit frames.
Do I love China any less? Absolutely not. I am lucky to have been exposed to Western culture and have been surrounded by like-minded people; but nothing changes the fact that China is a country with so damn much history that any current issue has its historical roots, and there is always that much more you can dig into.
