Elsa W., an American woman based in Eugene, Oregon, USA., concerned about the way the Chinese government has used the WeChat app as a means to monitor and censor speech throughout China, sets about finding a way to communicate directly with the leader of that nation, Xi Jinping.
After much effort and frustration over a period of three months, she is able to finally breach the super secure fire walls protecting Xi’s communications and leaves him a personal note.
Xi is very upset when he finds her email in his private inbox. How could that happen?
He immediately calls the chief of cybersecurity for all of China wanting an explanation and asks that the matter be rectified immediately. But will he delete her message?
Here’s Elsa’s text:
Dear Mr Xi:
I have been much troubled by the way you are interfering with free speech in your nation. Human nature, in its infinite wisdom, is constantly creating more and more variety so that we will have more and more talent available to address our many problems. All of us, must be free to express ourselves so that, through our many interactions, we can find new ways to enhance our development and so benefit others.
When people are able to speak freely, then there will be more thought to deliver better ideas.
Free speech comes, of course, with responsibility, and that is fostered through education.
The major responsibility of governments everywhere ought to be to educate, that way every country’s productivity will be the greatest possible.
It is true that freedom can be perverted, but the more widely educated a nation’s citizens, the less likely that will happen.
Here in America, we are now emerging from a very dark four years under Mr Trump, who managed to persuade millions of voters that it was White America who had to be given priority.
But our nation is very varied and, in that variety, lies great strength. To think otherwise is to do ourselves great harm.
We Americans made a grave mistake when we were not sufficiently critical of Mr Trump as he campaigned for President. He was elected because vast sections of our citizens showed poor judgment. If they had paused to think, then they would have seen that Mr Trump was only a tribal leader, a man who had much difficulty reflecting on his emotions and, thus, could not manage the emotions of his tribe.
It is clear that we have paid a dear price for electing him.
And just like in America, so in China today.
I do not think you are the right leader for your country. I must be blunt because you may choose to delete me and not see another one of my letters.
To attempt to restrict free speech is to restrict and retard the civic and scientific development of China.
Your nation is filled with talent and the full expression of it will be a great boon to the entire world.
Don’t be like Trump. Think broadly and do not be afraid of letting Chinese people be all they can be.
Thank you.
Elsa W.
Xi read Elsa’s email and was upset that she compared him with Trump. He was about to hit delete but then changed his mind and kept it. He would reread it at another time
Will he eventually answer Elsa?
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