Dear Mr. Lu:

Thanks for the message to raise the issues.

My position: Times change and circumstances change. Morality does not change. Truth, justice, liberty and human dignity will never change. These values are eternal and universal. Since the very beginning of human history, mankind pursued, has pursued, and is still pursuing these values. These values are the essential components of our moral compass so we know by it when/where something is not right.

Simply because Washington and Jefferson once owned slaves, because they were born into a system of slavery, it does not diminish their greatness in their effort to establish a just system with the eternal human values that eventually abolished slavery. To say that because I was born in China and was once a PLA soldier and therefore my views in criticizing the evil regime in China should be discredited and diminished is ludicrous and insane. The communist regime used my love for basketball as hostage against my liberty, individuality and dignity. And today they are still doing the same to other athletes and all the people. As long as the evil regime exists, human liberty and dignity will never be respected. That is given. Because I lived through such an evil system and suffered under such an evil system, I may have more to say about it than those who have not suffered under it.

By Ordinary People's (a visitor) logic, only those in China now can criticize China. Then he also contradicts himself right after by saying that if you lived in China (all people who lived in China worked for the Chinese government in one way or another), you were somehow guilty of helping the evil regime. What an insane proposition! When a slave decides to be free, he must shut up, not to criticize the master who tortured and abused him. Sick logic, isn't it? By Ordinary People's sick anti-logic, you can only criticize the communist regime if you join the communist party. And you can only criticize China if you are in Chinese jail waiting to be killed like a martyr. Is he out of his mind? (By the way, how do you know he is a "she"?)

Some issues by insane people do not deserve to be addressed and I am not wasting my time on them.

If you understand the principle of freedom by which America stands, then you know equating Chiang and Mao, equating FLG with the communist regime, equating anyone who makes errors or has flaws with the anti-humanity crimes by the cancerous communist regime on the mainland of China only shows our own moral confusion and corruption.

Did Chiang do what Mao did to the Chinese and the world? Did FLG in any way obstruct any body's freedom? If you are honest, you have to answer "No". Then why equate them in moral terms?!

Generalization is necessary only to understand concepts, but not to judge people. Each individual person should be judged by his or her own words and conducts individually. But this does not mean there is no standard or principles. Do not confuse both.

Thanks for the message. I hope more people will think about these important issues. It helps to clarify some moral concepts.

Best. Kai Chen