Chinese Journalist Says that Democracy is a Universal Human Value

Story by Zhang Wen

In my 30 years of life, 2008 was an unparalleled year of events: winter storms, rebellion, earthquake, Olympics, poisoned milk scandal, every one influencing and moving China deeply. So many lives, homes, tears, so much anger in one year.

This year changed my life too: I spent a month in America and experienced this new but familiar nation with my own eyes and ears. After much travelling and conversation, it confirmed my opinion that human nature has universal connections; so-called freedom and democracy can't be divided by west and east but are values shared by all. At the same time, I now feel America represents a model of future development of mankind and human integration.

All men are created equal, human beings are born free. These are the human rights given by God and represent a universal truth applicable to any country, any nation or any individual. Those who openly declared that "democracy is not suitable for China" angered me. I would like to ask these people, if democracy is not suitable for China, which mode is suitable to China? Despotism? Don't tell me about the "Beijing model" or "new authoritarianism"....[Zhang's story continued here]