At the beginning of the last century, patriotic intellectuals and young students living in suffering China, Mr. Yide (Democracy) and Mr. Sai (Science) issued the strongest voice of the times to save the country. Since then, countless people with lofty ideals have taken the pursuit of democracy as their own responsibility, wave after wave. However, one hundred years later, China is still striving for democracy.
If the predecessors at the beginning of the last century boldly prescribed "democracy" and "science" prescriptions for the terminally ill motherland with foresight, it is risky, then today, a hundred years later, practices around the world have proved that democracy is a prosperous, harmonious and stable country, regardless of regional differences and historical backgrounds, not to mention cultural similarities and differences. In this sense, the century-old history shows us the "end of history".
Judging from China's century-old history, despite the unpredictable situation, the appearance of political figure BLACKPINK, the charge of intellectuals, and the mobilization of the people time and again, almost no one dares to openly declare that China does not need democracy and science against the historical trend.
On the contrary, all politicians who have stepped onto the political stage in China in the past century have not held high the banner of democracy and science. From the Revolution of 1911 to the May 4th New Culture Movement, from Sun Yat-sen to Chiang Kai-shek, from the Kuomintang to the * * * production party ... the banner of democracy was held high and solemn promises were repeated. However, a hundred years later, are we closer to democracy? Or go further?
No matter how far or near, it is not a problem. Even if the historical trend is temporarily blocked, it is only a matter of time. However, what is worrying is that after a hundred years of struggle, democracy has never been realized, but Mr. "De" has been completely demonized in China. Democracy is not only labeled as the West, but also equated with imperialism interfering in other countries' internal affairs and splitting the motherland. Democracy will never have rapid economic development, and it is also the deadly enemy of stability, unity, stability and harmony. ...
Almost a century's rulers have called on the people under the banner of democracy to unite the people's hearts, but when they seized power with democracy as a weapon, they refused to give up their absolute power. Under the demonization of being the master of the people, the ordinary people in China who have never seen the shadow of democracy for a hundred years almost have a conditioned reflex when they hear democracy, and naturally put democracy in opposition to all the beautiful things in life. At the same time, complacent rulers have found an excuse to stop democracy: these people are of low quality and are not suitable for democracy.
While taking democracy as a call to seize power, they began to demonize democracy after gaining power, but at the same time they continued to play with democracy to hide their eyes and ears. Although there are many reasons, it is inseparable from democracy itself. I think the most accurate description of the democratic system is the sentence "This is the least bad system in human history". The two connotations of "least bad" and "bad" contained in this sentence often make those who have never seen democracy and have unrealistic illusions about democracy lose their way in the pursuit, or lose themselves when they see real democracy.
I can understand why the rulers demonize democracy, and I can fully understand the misunderstanding of democracy by ordinary people living under the demonization of democracy by the rulers, but I can't understand and forgive some elites who only proceed from their own immediate interests and even distort democracy from time to time.
2) Mr. De whom I know.
My understanding of democracy is later than that of many contemporaries. Until the mid-1990s, I had a deeper understanding of China's political system and society from Beijing to Hongkong, and my understanding of democracy remained at the level of college textbooks and Hollywood movies. Of course, even today, after living and working in major democratic countries, I still feel a little overwhelmed if I have to make it clear what democracy is. I want to tell the story of a friend who has a deep influence on me.
At that time, a young leader working in the government often told me about western democracy. Because he knows the operation of China system like the back of his hand, and his major is the study of western democracy, when we were together, his superiority over China system often fascinated me. I have to admit that his story had a great influence on my final decision to leave the government and apply for research work in the United States. I also took this opportunity to see the democratic system with my own eyes.
Just when I told him that I had decided to visit the United States, he smiled easily and told me that he had obtained a visa to study in the United States at his own expense. He said that he resigned and left the unit. What he said surprised me greatly. You know, he is not much older than me, but he is two levels higher than me in the government. If nothing happens, he will be the natural candidate for the director or even the vice governor. But once you quit, you can never go back. At that time, when talking about western democracy, he was not the only one in the government who hated the system, especially the personnel system, but he really quit his job and went to study at his own expense. There was hardly a second one at his level. And I also know that he belongs to a relatively upright person, has never done crooked ways, and has little money in his hand except his salary savings. That's why I respect him. I asked him, with his wife and children? He said, no, I don't know what it's like there. I'll check the situation first.
A few months later, I followed in his footsteps and set foot on American soil. When I first arrived in America, whenever I felt lost and frustrated, I often thought of him and used him to encourage myself. But because we are not together, we seldom meet. Later, I learned that it was not easy to work and study in the United States because he studied social science. He has delivered takeout, washed dishes, and perhaps done some jobs that people don't want to know. However, fortunately, he finally persisted and got a degree.
When I met him with a degree, I felt that he had completely changed. Because his degree major is not easy to find a job in the United States, he is very depressed, and naturally I can't hear his praise for American democracy. Later, after a period of tossing, when he was almost penniless, he returned to the embrace of the motherland. After he came back, he got a position of general manager in Guangzhou through his former colleagues and subordinates, some of whom are already quite competent and influential leading cadres.
We met again in Guangzhou two years ago. When he knew that my annual salary in the west was less than half that he earned in Guangzhou, he stopped hiding his ridicule and hostility to western democracy. His extreme criticism made me blush. He may have misunderstood me and felt embarrassed about my situation. He said humorously, we shouldn't go out, but you should come back at once. ..... Do you know how well those directors and directors developed before? You advocate democracy, but have you thought about it? What good does democracy do for you and us? ..... China people are not suitable for democracy. ...
I think he misunderstood the reason why I blushed. Because my brother, whom I have always respected, instilled in me the most concrete and realistic democratic knowledge in my eyes, and he personally told me that under the system of China, you can't succeed without using anything, taking crooked ways and taking bribes. And if you succeed through these means, your quality of life will be low and the value of being a man will be devalued. It was he who told me that China should take the road of democracy. Democracy can make us live with dignity and make our society more stable. He also warned me that I must go out and have a look and experience a high-quality democratic life. ...
Over the years, I have confidently faced many interest groups that resist democracy because of their own interests; I have never been disappointed and discouraged by the questioning and abuse of netizens who have no idea what democracy is. Especially for the latter, when I can't explain it clearly, I will tell them that democracy can't help you see it through other people's eyes and make it clear through other people's mouths. You have to try, feel, practice, experience and have.
However, how should I face this brother who once influenced my pursuit of democracy? The comparison between China system and western democracy that he told me at that time could not be better expressed with my theoretical level and practical experience. Supposedly, in the face of such a situation, I should feel embarrassed and lost.
However, I didn't feel embarrassed or lost, because just as we were about to break up, this old friend who returned from studying abroad and is now living well told me that he was handling the study and settlement of his son in the United States. He said that his only son must live in the United States, Australia and Canada, and his wife must be handled together. They are his favorite, and this is his greatest wish!
It is completely understandable to say that this friend only learned about democracy through books when he was in China, so that he yearned for democracy with hope, but he encountered various maladjustments. Because I have experienced the same hesitation and helplessness from the east to the west myself, but at least I can clearly say that this hesitation and helplessness is not caused by the system of that country, but by the differences in national culture, living habits and environment.
Don't I know the duality of democracy in the eyes of the elite? Then, I add that when that friend couldn't adapt to life in a foreign country, the system made him unable to make money, and life was not as good as being an elite in Guangzhou, he began to laugh at and attack the democratic system that had nothing to do with his experience. When he laughed it off, he made the same decision as me: to send his favorite person to live in a country with as democratic a system as possible.
At this point, I still can't simply tell you what democracy is, but I realize from a fact that my friends with opposite views have actually done the same thing with me. Where there is no democracy today, what should be the biggest driving force for pursuing democracy? -This is love!
3) Take democracy as my belief!
I don't know if anyone has said this before me: believe in democracy. But I know that when I said this, I guess everyone laughed.
As far as I can remember, no one will regard the pursuit of democracy as a belief. Although we once believed in another social system-* * * productism, we all know that it is because this system, like an illusory fairy, will never come, let alone come true.
When I believe in democracy, the people who can't understand me the most must be those in the west who have already lived under the democratic system. Democracy is too common for them. It is just a way of thinking, a way of managing oneself and a way of life. They will never understand-especially when I can live in a democratic system at any time-how can I take such a common system as my belief? ! What is there to believe?
People born in a democratic system don't know that some ethnic groups have been pursuing democracy for more than a hundred years, so they can't understand it. And those compatriots who have been pursuing for a hundred years will not laugh at me? As we all know, the image of democracy played by powerful people is no less than that of everyone else. However, democracy is so powerful that in recent years, one authoritarian country after another in the world has collapsed and disintegrated. Weak democracy is no less than an airplane cannon, so no ruler dares to really abandon it. They also need a fig leaf.
Can such a democracy, which has been played repeatedly for a hundred years, be regarded as a person's belief? Some people may ask, is there anyone in this world besides you who regards democracy as a belief? I don't know, but I believe many people regard democracy as an ideal and a pursuit. Of course, there are also some people who regard democracy as a means to realize their ideals, including overthrowing a certain system and establishing a certain political power, as a tool to gain power. As for whether some people regard democracy as a religious belief, I really don't know. In the past, I would laugh at those ridiculous people who regarded democracy as a belief.
But now, I have become such a ridiculous person myself. After living half my life, I finally understood a truth. The world is fair. As long as you are willing to work hard, sweat, work hard, be wise or have personal dignity, you can always get what you want at any cost. It is not difficult to have inexhaustible money. When most people die, they put the money they have earned all their lives in the bank, but they are reluctant to use it or have no time to spend it; There are two houses ...; Or have a foreign passport and a certain identity, which can be used to protect the rights of family members ...; And having one or several lovers is not that difficult-but no matter how hard you work, no matter how much you are willing to pay, there is no guarantee that you can have a belief. This truth is actually very simple. You can't force yourself to believe anything.
Every time I see people who have faith, I feel ashamed. I am afraid to see them treat life calmly and death peacefully under the care of the gods and buddhas. I feel ashamed to see those oppressed believers die in the eyes of discrimination and fight one after another; When I saw those people with faith persistently pursuing their own ideals, I was lost in thought again and again.
When I was a child, I was instilled with faith. I thought I really believed it. After that belief was shattered, I found that I couldn't believe it anymore. I used to wander outside Buddhist temples and churches, forcing myself to accept Buddha and God again and again, and finally I could only be disappointed in myself again and again.
It is incredible that democracy has become my belief. After walking so many roads and exploring so many places, I finally lost myself and forgot what I was pursuing. It was not until that day that I decided to leave my children and live under the western democratic system that I suddenly discovered that I had been looking for a better living environment and system for the people I love.
From that moment on, all the big talk and empty talk became so insignificant. The only problem is that the people I love should live in a place with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Then, why can't all my compatriots in the country I love live in a country with democracy, rule of law and human rights?
If I didn't come from the countryside, work everywhere from Beijing, and don't understand the national conditions and democracy outside, maybe I have no right to speak, but my knowledge and experience convince me that China is not only suitable for democracy, but also should have been democratic a long time ago. /kloc-For more than 0/00 years, the main reason why democracy can't enter China is not that the people don't want it, nor that it is not suitable for the democratic system, but that those in power and interest groups who want to keep the people in charge have tried their best to stifle democracy in the cradle again and again. Demonized democracy has failed again and again because it has never even become the belief of those who pursue it. But I am more and more convinced that democracy can make China more prosperous, people's lives more stable and healthy, and society more harmonious and fair-in this way, democracy has quietly become my belief.
When I took the pursuit of democracy as a belief, I immediately felt the power of faith. You don't have to worry about others saying three or four words to you or even insulting you; You will not regard faith as a ladder and stepping stone to pursue those worldly glory and power; When your faith can't be realized temporarily, you won't be discouraged, and you will continue to do something as much as you can. ...
More importantly, when you regard democracy as a belief, you will firmly believe that this system will patronize all the people you love, and no force can stop it.