On a recent post about celebrations for the PRC's 60th anniversary, I added the following comment:

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The PRC's 60th anniversary raises some important questions, especially when celebrations for it are supported by Atlanta's four largest Chinese community organizations.

Patriotism is all well and good, and I have nothing against being proud of one's country, or even against celebrating 60 years of undeniable economic progress which has lifted many people out of poverty.

But as thoughtful citizens and people interested in the best for China's future, it's worth taking a moment to consider the heavy toll taken by these 60 years of progress --- in human rights violations, in environmental damage, in ethnic conflict, etc.

For example, inside China, celebrations for the 60th anniversary involve arresting Xu Zhiyong, a human rights lawyer, and shutting down the Open Constitution Initiative (公盟), which works toward the rule of law in China.

It strikes me as odd that a community of Chinese expatriates living in a free country would not see fit to comment on these actions, which I find more noteworthy than an anniversary in and of itself.

If we truly care about the future of our country, we will not only be proud of what we have accomplished, but also critique that which can be improved.

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A few days later, I came back to find that my comment, along with all the comments on the article, had been deleted, and commenting had been closed.

As a Chinese-American living in Atlanta, I am shocked and disappointed that some people in Atlanta's Chinese community would not just ignore the concerns I voiced, but also actively seek to silence me. This anniversary is a good time to both celebrate what China has achieved in the past 60 years and discuss how we can improve our China in the next 60. And as expatriates living in a country that protects free speech, we have the unique opportunity to have these discussions without fear of repercussion. Let us not waste it.