What is Freedom?

Hey Laowinners!

Thanks for voting on the video idea! Over 200 people voted, and I will shoot this video on the definition of love with Vivi this week.

On a colder note, it's freaking freezing here, and for once in my life, I can say I may enjoy the swampy warmth of Vietnam! Olivia doesn't know what to do with herself in these -20+ degree temperatures!

I was chatting to a close Chinese friend living in Beijing the other day, and he was discussing his first trip to the USA a few months ago. He was talking about the fact that in China, people (himself included) are very aware of other countries and cultures that differ greatly from China, but was simply blown away when he realized what freedom actually was.
He's a very proud Chinese man, and believes in the much needed rejuvenation of traditional Chinese values, but said that (I'll do my best to translate accurately as some of this was in Chinese) -

"...things were never free here, but the way China worked 5 or 10 years ago simply meant it felt freer than now. Sure, we couldn't protest in the streets about societal issues, but people could say and do what they wanted, more or less. There wasn't a paranoia in the air that people were going to rat you out for having less than favorable opinions about the leadership or government. I support the government of China for all of it's modern progress, but that feels like it's quickly disappearing. I don't read the newspaper, or pay attention to Chinese state media, and I never did, but glancing at the TV or papers now, you'd think that we live in North Korea.

This is the main misunderstanding that many Chinese people have, and I think the government as well. Other countries and their citizens just don't understand how good they have it. When I went to America for a few weeks, I saw a polarized people, with so many different (and sometimes crazy) opinions. Everything in the press seems to take a different side, and the people seemed so charged up about every little thing that is happening. I thought that it was kind of petty in the beginning, but then I realized that it is a really beautiful element of society. When people are free to point out the problems, they can actually be addressed. Nothing is perfect, and everyone knows the dark side of their nation. You can be the craziest guy in the world, and you'll still have someone to talk to, or at least someone to debate.

In China, we learn to roll over and take it. Everything portrayed in schools, the news, even daily conversation feels so neutered now, and no one cares. I didn't care.

I almost wish I hadn't seen the other side of the coin, because now I feel like I am suffocating."