Usually, when I browse Facebook, I keep the sound off so as not to grab the attention of children. But today, as I was scrolling through my phone, I came across an article titled “Wenqian’s World Weekly” about falcons and 30 writers joining forces to resist populism and turn the tide. I couldn’t resist turning on the sound. And, of course, the two little ones who were happily playing with their Playmobil toys pulled up their chairs and leaned in to listen. We watched the ten-minute video carefully, and the children were engrossed. Then came the question—I pressed the space bar to pause the video and quickly tried to figure out how to explain it in a way they could understand…
Explaining “populism” to children is not easy, especially since I don’t know much about it myself. The only information I had was from the video messages in the film, which recounted events that happened in Europe over the past year. These events included the French yellow vest movement, Italy’s blockade of the sea to prevent refugees, Hungary’s shift towards Catholicism, and the mention of Kurds in the context of the fight against ISIS, which we had discussed in a previous class. So, I had a vague impression…
The world’s development in recent years seems to have reached a state of extreme polarization, from openness and freedom to sudden and extreme reversals. Honestly, despite having grown up, I never fully grasped the concepts of left and right in politics. Perhaps it’s because I’ve always been indifferent to politics and even a little disgusted by it, so I never subconsciously remembered some political terms. However, my previous indifference doesn’t give me an excuse to ignore what’s happening in the world anymore. It may sound a bit hypocritical, but it’s because I have a child now that I can no longer afford to disregard what’s happening in this world…
POPULISM Populism (Photo taken from the Internet)
In the past month or so, my life has undergone significant changes, prompting me to reflect deeply on my path—both in public and private spheres. Today, I watched Li Wei’s impassioned video. While I am neither a philosopher nor a celebrity, nor do I hail from Europe, the power of his words resonates with my own sense of uncertainty.
I firmly believe that culture serves as a bridge between people.
I believe that cultural differences often spark conflicts but also hold the potential for resolution.
As we embark on the new year, perhaps this is my calling. I aspire to make a difference through my own efforts, striving to instill in children an understanding of and tolerance for diverse cultures from an early age. I hope to create a small world of my own—a world that positively influences the lives of one or two children and contributes to their future. These are my aspirations as we enter the Year of the Golden Pig in 2019.
