China's cheerleaders: China has many critics, both at home and abroad. Why aren't it's own young people among them?

• Author: Forney, Matthew
• Position: INTERNATIONAL

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Almost 20 years ago, thousands of Chinese students camped out for weeks in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, demanding democratic reforms in a series of protests that ended on June 4, 1989, with a government massacre of hundreds of demonstrators.

This year, China's young people have again taken to the streets--but this time, in support of the government.

Far from being embarrassed by or angry about their government's human-rights record or their lack of political freedom, as many Americans assume, China's young people are among the most patriotic folks around.

In their lifetimes, China has become a world power as a result of its booming economy, which has grown at an astonishing rate since the Communist Party began experimenting with elements of flee-market capitalism in the late 1970s.

Having grown up in an era of unprecedented prosperity and opportunity for China, its young people are rightfully proud of their country's accomplishments. That pride often takes the form of unquestioning support of their government, which remains the authoritarian ruler of a one-party Communist state.

STUDY, THEN STUDY SOME MORE

China's education system, which includes a good deal of indoctrination, also helps explain young people's worldview. Textbooks dwell on China's humiliations by foreign powers in the 19th century as if they took place yesterday, yet skim over the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s--the social and political upheaval in which tens of thousands were killed and millions sent to jails or work camps--as if it were ancient history.

Then there's life experience--or the lack of it--that might help young Chinese gain other perspectives: Young urban Chinese study hard, and that's pretty much it. Volunteer work, sports, church groups, debate teams, summer jobs--all the activities that are part of a typical American high school experience--don't factor into Chinese college admissions, so few participate.

Once they're out of college, recent graduates are a particularly optimistic group. And why not? The economy has grown at double-digit rates for as long as they can remember. Those who speak English are guaranteed good jobs. A cell phone, an iPod, vacations--no problem.

As for political repression, few young Chinese experience it. China doesn't feel like a police state, most are too young to remember the Tiananmen massacre--and odds are that nobody has told them about it.

Over time, however, their unquestioning nationalism...