My Ideals As A Citizen by Xu Zhiyong Lyrics
The guiding beliefs of citizenship include freedom, justice and love. In the ideas and
speech of citizens, there are no concepts such as “overthrowing,” “beating down,” and
“enemy.” We oppose hostility and hatred, and try to resolve them. We hope China will
transition, with minimal price, to a democratic and constitutional government, thus
realizing the dream of democracy and liberty fought for by generations of courageous
and idealistic Chinese. This is my conviction.
I am not a member of the Communist Party. But as a moderate and reasonable citizen, I
respect the historical reality that the CCP is currently ruling China, and after all, social
transformation needs order. But the CCP has the responsibility to make good on the
promise of the “People’s Republic.” For the people to be the masters of the country
means the people must have the real right to choose. I am happy to see any political
party, by direct, free and fair elections, becoming the ruling party. I sincerely hope that
the CCP will emulate the Nationalist Party [in Taiwan], doing away with the dictatorial
ideas that see all dissenting voices as enemies, sincerely respecting the will of the people,
and returning power to the people. The communists must follow the global trend on the
one hand, and answer those Chinese who have made the ultimate sacrifice over more
than one hundred years to pursue democracy and liberty on the other.
My ideals are not all that contrary to the original socialist ideals. For socialism to pursue
fairness and justice, it has to have democracy and the rule of law. For socialism to
develop productivity, it must have a market economy. Socialism is not the same as oneparty dictatorship, a planned economy and collective ownership. There are varieties of
socialism. Between 1949 and 1978, China implemented a planned economy and
collective ownership, or the so-called “scientific socialism.” Since 1978, China
implemented privatization of property and a market economy, and it is precisely these
“capitalist practices” condemned during the Cultural Revolution that have spurred
China’s economic development over the last 30 years. But in the end, whatever –ism is
not important; what’s important is to solve the country’s problems and bring freedom
and democracy to the country.
We want to behave like real citizens who enjoy the universal rights provided for by the
Constitution, and we want to promote social progress in rational and constructive
manners. If it is committing a crime to want to become a real citizen and to seek
freedom, justice, and love, then I am willing to pay the full price for such a “crime” – it is
something I will be forever proud of.
speech of citizens, there are no concepts such as “overthrowing,” “beating down,” and
“enemy.” We oppose hostility and hatred, and try to resolve them. We hope China will
transition, with minimal price, to a democratic and constitutional government, thus
realizing the dream of democracy and liberty fought for by generations of courageous
and idealistic Chinese. This is my conviction.
I am not a member of the Communist Party. But as a moderate and reasonable citizen, I
respect the historical reality that the CCP is currently ruling China, and after all, social
transformation needs order. But the CCP has the responsibility to make good on the
promise of the “People’s Republic.” For the people to be the masters of the country
means the people must have the real right to choose. I am happy to see any political
party, by direct, free and fair elections, becoming the ruling party. I sincerely hope that
the CCP will emulate the Nationalist Party [in Taiwan], doing away with the dictatorial
ideas that see all dissenting voices as enemies, sincerely respecting the will of the people,
and returning power to the people. The communists must follow the global trend on the
one hand, and answer those Chinese who have made the ultimate sacrifice over more
than one hundred years to pursue democracy and liberty on the other.
My ideals are not all that contrary to the original socialist ideals. For socialism to pursue
fairness and justice, it has to have democracy and the rule of law. For socialism to
develop productivity, it must have a market economy. Socialism is not the same as oneparty dictatorship, a planned economy and collective ownership. There are varieties of
socialism. Between 1949 and 1978, China implemented a planned economy and
collective ownership, or the so-called “scientific socialism.” Since 1978, China
implemented privatization of property and a market economy, and it is precisely these
“capitalist practices” condemned during the Cultural Revolution that have spurred
China’s economic development over the last 30 years. But in the end, whatever –ism is
not important; what’s important is to solve the country’s problems and bring freedom
and democracy to the country.
We want to behave like real citizens who enjoy the universal rights provided for by the
Constitution, and we want to promote social progress in rational and constructive
manners. If it is committing a crime to want to become a real citizen and to seek
freedom, justice, and love, then I am willing to pay the full price for such a “crime” – it is
something I will be forever proud of.