re:  What would China's mail say?  America, you're stupid

So Thomas Friedman thinks that the Chinese are laughing at America right now.  Perhaps he's right:  the Chinese — well, the Chinese government anyway — probably do think that we are stupid.  While we waste our time debating issues and having elections, they simply jail those who disagree with the government, and they certainly don't have to worry about elections or the will of the people.  While we waste our time enjoying our prosperity, the Chinese government censors things they don't want their citizens to read.  While we celebrate Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas, the Chinese government harasses Christians, Muslims, Falun Gong, and others who practice religion.  While we celebrate our freedom of speech by having protests or rallies — whether Tea Parties or anti-war protests or Stephen Colbert rallies  — the Chinese government sends tanks to crush innocent people who seek to assemble peacefully. While we are free to move around as we wish seeking better opportunities and have families make decisions, the Chinese government issues permits for who can live in cities and how many children you can have.

Perhaps the Chinese government does indeed think we are stupid, but I'll take liberty over tyranny any day of the week, and apparently the millions who seek to come to America every year — some risking life and limb to do so — agree.

Sincerely,
Dave Smith
Houston, TX