The Politics of China or Olympics Part II

Being a political junkie mom, our family discussions about the Olympics could not be complete without a discussion of the differences between China and the United States.

I opened the door by talking about differences between freedom of speech in the United States and China, and the kids could not understand what I was talking about. It was simply impossible for them to comprehend being put in jail for saying something the government didn't like. So, like many things for the kids, the initial way they try to understand something new is to ask questions.

So, they asked questions like:

"Could they put you in jail if they didn't like the way they looked." To make it simple, I said "yes." To which, Andrew piped up - I want to live in China and have Emily visit me and then they could put Emily in jail because I would tell them I don't like the way she looks. Sigh....really, Andrew DOES like Emily....but they have had too much togetherness this summer.

So, then I had to clarify that what I meant is that China might put somebody in jail if they were wearing a shirt that said something the government didn't like, such as "give the Chinese the same freedoms and rights as Americans" (I couldn't think of anything else). Of course, their next question was:

"What if Michael Phelps wore that shirt?"

"No, they wouldn't put him in jail, but they might make him leave China."

"What if he was about to swim, would they let him finish? Or, what if he was waiting for his gold medal, would he still get it?"

At which point, I decided it was time to go back to watching the games on television. My lesson learned: Do not quit my day job to be a civics lesson teacher to 3rd and 4th graders!