One may wonder how my China-related essay could correlate with the topic of “The Rhetoric of Freedom in America.” The United States of America—whether through imperialism, trade, or religious missions—has spread its ideals across seas. Resulting from that unwavering influence, American rhetoric has not only been crafted by Americans themselves but also by those who are familiar with American thoughts. The American-educated Mayling Soong, who was the First Lady of the Republic of China, served an epitome of the West’s entrenchment of ideals in the East. When I conducted my research, I could easily find Soong’s rhetoric on library shelves and online—her rhetoric, both in speech and in writing, was widely publicized around the time of World War II, charming Westerners with her flawless English. But Madame Chiang Kai-shek, as Soong was popularly known, did not merely instill American values in her rhetoric; she strived to elevate China’s position among nations, ameliorating prejudices against Chinese people in America. I believe Madame Chiang’s rhetorical efforts can serve a lesson for today’s prejudice-ridden America: One need not be of a particular race, nationality, or belief to excel.
DAVE SEBASTIAN ventures through words and adventures by slicing comma splices. He is a rising sophomore majoring in journalism in the College of Communication and also studying business administration. Born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, he spent six years at an all-boys’ Catholic school and is fond of Asian history and politics. Aside from his “nerdy” predilections, he jogs by the Charles River and plays the trombone in his spare time. He would like to thank Dr. Marie McDonough, of WR 100, who taught him clarity in writing and guided him in transitioning to the American curriculum; Dr. Thomas Underwood, of WR 150, who allowed students to pen through unconventional essay topics; and Dr. Veronica Ellis, of COM CO 201, who elucidated grammar conventions in the clearest way possible.