Voices of Youth

As a first-generation Chinese immigrant living in the United States, I have witnessed, experienced, and can attest to the immense nationalistic pride that Americans hold for their democratic form of government. Patriotism, they call it.

But from such patriotism occasionally stems a misguided close-mindedness towards other forms of government. Democracy, such people believe, is the only rightful way to govern a nation. Further, these people seek to eradicate any other form of government that stand in the path of democracy. Such sentiments are exemplified by the anti-communist panic that swept America during the Cold War era of the 1950s.

With that said, let it be clear that I neither denounce nor disagree with the aforementioned breed of patriotism, but only seek to propose an alternative point of view:

Just as one cannot assign a dollar value to individual human beings, one cannot judge government from a theoretical angle.

Limitations exist for a reason. If happiness can be universally achieved through complete freedom, then why on earth did we need a government in the first place? When we talk about limitations on rights, there are many questions that need to be addressed.

First, where does the right to govern originate? Is limitation justified at all? And if limitations are necessary, who or what is the agent that can or should impose such limitation?

Second, speaking from a practical angle, what consequences do such limitations lead to, and how can these consequences benefit or harm the society? Do the benefit outweighs the harm, and can this potentially justify the limitation (even if theoretically it cannot be justified)?

Third, what exactly are the limitations we are talking about? Is there any instances where this limitation cannot and should not apply?

Fourth, why does this limitation exist in this country and not others? What are the causes of these differences, and are these differences justified?

Fifth, what assumptions are we making when we say this limitation is okay? What assumptions are we making regarding to human nature and inherent rights of individuals? Why can we make these assumptions, and with what kind of evidence can we back up these assumptions?

Culture and government are ultimately interlocked, as cultures determine what kind of government is needed and is just while government shapes the culture. Yet because of such distinctions in cultural values, there is no "best" structure of government for all nations.