If I were Chairman

About 2 hours ago I watched John McCain make his concession speech. I didn't have time to watch Obama's speech- I had to go to class. But today's class was no ordinary English class. Today it was time to spread the word. The word, and I misspell it on purpose in case my blog is watched, is Demorcracy.

Of course there is a wide range of subjects I'm not supposed to discuss. Taiwain, the Dalai Lama, Agricultural reform, the thing on Mao Zidong's chin, to name a few. But today's action-packed electoral showdown created the special environment necessary to discuss the sweetest taboo.

We began with a rundown of what Democrat and Republican means. One says big government, one says small governemnt. Soon the board was littered with phrases like "social services," "a welfare state," "tax-and-spend," etc. The students generated some thoughtful points: welfare can reduce crime. However, people might take advantage of a free healthcare system.

The we dicsussed what I consider to be the central question in American politics: what are the responsibilities of government? After a few snoozers like infrastructure and national defense, lo and behold, I'm writing civil rights on the board. We discuss the rule of law. Is there rule of law in China? No, they chime, in terrifying unison. I warily swerve towards onother off-limits topic: anti-corruption. How does the Chinese government deal with corruption. Scoff, goes a brown-noser in the front row, they don't.

Ooh! How exciting. I'm not sure how close I am to getting fired, but the same soft-spoken humanist that first began discussing rights decides the moment is right to mention Human Rights. What are human rights? They are things that every person should ahve that the governemnt can't take away from you. We're not talking about America anymore, are we?

Oh God I'm gonna get fired.

The right to a fair trial. The right to live where you want. One student claimed it was wrong to restrict children to a choice of only three universities. Another noted that you can't really tkae a year off between High School and university. Minor but valid. It became less of a class and more of a public airing of grievenaces in slow and broken English (Please note student comments have been corrected for the benefit of the reader).

Finally, it was time to calm down so we spent the remaining 20 mintues writing "If I were Chiarman, I would..."

I can't wait to read them.