Keep Writing

(This essay is my homework of writing class)

Keep Writing

Changping is a well-known journalist, editor, critic and columnist, who has worked for several newspapers for more than 20 years in China. He has a reputation for bold articles. Recently, just before 2011 Chinese New Year, Changping was dismissed by a newspaper because his bosses were under pressure from Chinese government.

Changping is an honest, courageous critic. He always writes the truth and criticizes governmental corruption, societal unfairness and some politically sensitive topics. He also advocates that the Chinese government should respect human rights and encourage civil society. Because these themes are related to political reform, Changping has been warned by the authorities many times. He has experienced investigations, demotion, and his column was canceled last year. In January 2011, he was required to stop writing and lecturing if he wanted to stay in the newspaper. He refused. Then, the newspaper he worked for forced him to resign, but he refused too. So, they had to fire him.

Changping persists in writing because he considers freedom of speech as a basic human right. He said,“Writing or speaking is a very important right and I do want this right!” He also said,“Dishonest reports and prejudice are not the most terrible things if public opinion exists. If we have rights to discuss problems adequately，we do have an opportunity to gain truth and justice.”

Lots of Chinese concern and sympathize Changping’s situation. The number of his twitter followers increased 10,000 after one night. More than 16,000 readers have donated money to him to show their support, and many journalists support him too.

Changping said he would not give up writing in the future, and he would express his opinions on his blog. He believes that the readers will support those who defend freedom of speech.

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry”

（This is my final presentation. You can consider it as a performance.）

Scene one: In Emma’s house


Michael：Hi, Emma, we need to talk.

Emma：Something wrong? You scared me!

Michael：It’s hard to say. I have some bad news for you.

Emma：Go ahead. I’m listening.

Michael：I met someone at the bachelor’s party yesterday.

Emma：Oh, my god! A girl?

Michael：Yes, a girl coming out of the cake. I’m so surprised because……because she was my ex-girlfriend.

Emma：Your ex-girlfriend？are you kidding me？You told me she went to Asia to run a company 3 years ago！

Michael：Yes！But, now, she is back.

Emma：When did you find out?

Michael：I didn’t know until she showed up at my party!

Emma：Why was she in Houston? What does she want?

Michael：I don’t know yet. What I know is she is so depressed. She lost all her money in Asia and her parents died in a car accident recently. She misses me and she needs my help.

Emma：I’m sorry to hear that. But, what’s you point?

Michael：I don’t know how to say it. At the moment, when I saw her, all of the memories came back. Actually，I was happy to meet her again. I think maybe I still love her.

Emma：Ridiculous! Love? You said love? You mean you still have feelings for her? Don’t forget she dumped you years ago. You told me you hated each other. Am I right?

Michael：Something changed. She made me recognize there was some misunderstanding between us. I regreted what I had done to her.

Emma：Are you crazy? How about me? I’m your girlfriend now! We are going to get married! Do you remember that? I’m so disappointed in you！

Michael：（silence）……

Emma：Michael，tell me……tell me you love me！

Michael：（silence）……

Emma：I thought love would last forever. Now I think I’m wrong. Get out of my house!

Scene two: In a park, the next day

Michael：do you still love me?

Emma：I don’t know……

Michael：serious？

Emma：Don’t ask me. You know the answer. “Every day without you is like a book without pages.”

Michael：I’m so sorry! I’ve ruined everything.

Emma：Did you know why I’m so excited these days? Because I know there is always someone in the world waiting for me, I feel happy every day for this. You're the one I want to be with and the one I can't live without.

Michael：I’m ashamed of myself.

Emma：Really?

Michael：Oh, Emma，my honey，I’m so sad！I hate that I let you down. You must know I love you too!

Emma：I don’t need sympathy but understanding. Yes, you love me, but you love me with your mind, not your heart.

Michael：No, no! I love you with my whole heart absolutely! If I know what love is, it is because of you. I admit I was confused yesterday. But，now，I definitely know what to do. It’s time to do the right thing.

Emma：Are you sure?

Michael：My baby, I’m so sorry I have made a terrible mistake but my heart is with you. I’m not a kid and I know what's the most important and what's the least. I came here just to tell you I would love to spend the rest of my life with you as soon as possible. Will you forgive me?

Emma：Of course. “Love means never having to say you're sorry”.

Craving Freedom

Today, I’m going to talk about the human rights in Mainland China.

Last month, a Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for “his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.” He’s not the first Chinese winner of the Nobel Prize, but He’s the first mainland China resident. He is also the third person winning the Nobel Prize while incarcerated by their own governments.

Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in prison because he has insisted on the right to free expression. He has persevered in telling the truth about China and advocated a different social system. So, he has lost his personal freedom. Many foreigners and Chinese regard him as a hero, but Chinese government considers Liu a criminal.

“Freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly…” were written down in China's constitution. But in practice, these rights have never been respected by China’s authorities. Chinese Communist Party believes that if people own these rights they will undermine the Party’s domination. So, people can’t discuss democratic topics publicly or on the internet. If you do that, you will be in trouble. The government wants you to be afraid. They hope you to give up you rights which you deserve.

We know the Great Wall of China. Do you know there is another Great Wall in Chinese cyberspace, called Great Firewall of China. It’s a surveillance system. The government uses this software to monitor, block，delete information and websites. So，if you live in China, you want to visit Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Google and Wikipedia. No way！Sometimes you even can’t use Flicker.

More than these, the government has built a list of sensitive terms. What is a sensitive term? For example, names of Chinese leaders, freedom, democracy and Tiananmen Square movement, even Chinese Communist Party itself. If you search these words in China, you will find nothing.

The government will update the list. The newest sensitive terms are the Nobel Prize, Norway and Liu Xiaobo. Liu Xiaobo is the most sensitive term. They blocks searches for his name. If your articles include his name, you are not able to post it online successfully. It’s impossible to use a cellphone to send out any text messages mentioning "Liu Xiaobo". The government controls everything. “The big brother is watching you!”

Liu Xiaobo has been detained repeatedly since Tiananmen Square movement, 1989. He can choose to leave China and live a peaceful life，but he refused. He always fights for freedom. He never gives up. His courage and persistence touch our hearts. The most precious thing Liu Xiaobo brings to us is hope.

In my opinion, political reforms of China need to be pushed. A Chinese winning the prize is a new start. I believe truth, justice, and hope. I believe time will change everything. I believe “The Constitution was not designed to protect the thought we agree with but the thought that we hate”. I believe if you really care about something, first, you should speak out what you think. You can’t just stand by and keep quiet.

I like America because the important spirit of America is freedom and democracy. These values make America strong. Maybe after many years, China is still not a democratic country. But someday it will be. As we know, nothing can stop people craving freedom.

Rebuilding the country school

This story is about me to help people of a needy village to rebuild their primary school. It happened 3 years ago.


I'm from China. China is not a rich country as America. Comparing to the eastern part of China, the western part is poor, such as Sichuan province. Though, there are so many wonderful views in Sichuan province, such as canyons，snow mountains, prairies，lakes and rivers，but their economy is not good.

There are a lot of schools in poor condition in remote mountain areas because the government doesn’t have enough educational budgets. I like travel and I have been there many times，so I know these old buildings are dangerous for students. The fact made me to think of helping them. I had an idea about rebuilding a country school.

I posted my plan online and I got great support from friends and strangers as well. Then，I found a poor primary school which locates in a small town of Mabian county，Sichuan province. Soon，I opened a bank account to accept donations.

People know me and trust me. So it just took me two weeks to get enough money successfully，more than 40 thousands Chinese Yuans（about $6,000 ）from 61 people including myself。

Another two weeks later, in June 2007, we started to pull down the old buildings and set up the new ones. Three months later, in September 2007，the new buildings had been completed.

new school
In next year(05/12/2008)，there was an high-intensity earthquake occurred in Sichuan province of China. The earthquake had a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale. More than 80 thousands people died and thousands schools collapsed.

But, in our primary school, luckily, the classrooms were fine, no injury. The students were all safe.

My point is every one can change the world. If you want to be a good person, the percentage of good person in the world will increase. If you like to help others, maybe their lives will be changed, even be improved just a little. I was proud of what we did. If I can, I will do more.