"I especially don't agree with any patriotic education now, this patriotism is not educational, Yue Fei and his mother carved four words behind his back, he can fight?"
Do you dare to believe that this sentence will come from the mouth of a professor at Tsinghua University? In addition to this, he has said that "surrender is the quickest way to peace" and "the army is violent" and other things that are inconsistent with social values.
Professor Yan Xuetong, who said these words, is a senior professor and dean of the School of International Relations at Tsinghua University.
So, why did the dignified Tsinghua professor say such "rebellious" words? Are these theories valid?
Tsinghua professors questioned patriotic education
Professor Yan Xuetong has an influence in China's academic and policy-making circles that cannot be ignored. As a senior professor and dean of the School of International Studies at Tsinghua University, his position in itself gives him great responsibility in the field of academic research and education.
However, although Professor Yan Xuetong is an internationally influential scholar, his academic views and public discourse have often caused widespread discussion and controversy.
In particular, his views on the military and his attitude towards patriotic education are particularly striking and often seen as having Western overtones.
In Yan Xuetong's view, the army is essentially a war machine, and the main function of its existence is to fight rather than maintain peace.
This view is also marketable in some Western academic circles, but it tends to provoke a fierce response in China, where the military is traditionally seen as an important force for national peace and security.
In Professor Yan's argument, this questioning of the military's function seems to ignore the military's active role in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On the issue of patriotic education, Professor Yan Xuetong's views are also quite controversial. He opposed compulsory patriotic education, believing that such feelings should arise naturally in the minds of citizens and not be imposed through the education system.
This stance challenged the educational approach adopted by many countries, especially in China, where patriotic education is considered a cornerstone for fostering a sense of civic responsibility and national identity.
While these views provide a wealth of perspective in academic discussions, they have also raised questions from some critics: Are these ideas really suitable for China's national conditions? Is it true that Western countries will not carry out "patriotic education"?
Patriotic education in Japan since childhood
Patriotic education in Japan has always been a topic of great concern. Although there are articles claiming that patriotic education is banned in Japan, this is not the case.
Elementary school students in Japan receive patriotic education from an early age, and the frequency is quite high. Not only do they have to learn about it in class, but they also need to participate in various practical activities, such as visiting places with symbolic significance such as the Yasukuni Shrine.
The Yasukuni Shrine, a shrine in Tokyo, is not only a place to worship the war dead, but also an important base for patriotic education in Japan.
Even every year, thousands of Japan elementary and junior high school students wear clothes with the pattern of the Rising Sun Flag and go to the Yasukuni Shrine to pay homage. The campaign is widely accepted and supported in Japan, and photos and videos of these events on social media are often hotly discussed and even received thousands of likes.
Not only that, but Japan's education system is permeated with elements of patriotic education in many ways. The school's curriculum design, extracurricular activities, and even cultural festivals all imperceptibly convey the recognition of the country's history and culture.
This kind of education is obviously very different from the so-called "forbidden patriotic education" in some reports. In addition, the patriotic education of United States also implements the children's learning life.
Patriotic education everywhere in United States
United States patriotic education, with its unique way and far-reaching influence, runs through the growth process of children. From elementary school onwards, United States students are immersed in a series of patriotic activities.
Every morning, the children recite the "Oath of Allegiance" in unison, which is not only a tribute to the national flag, but also a recognition and commitment to the country's values.
Step into a classroom in United States and you'll find the Star-Spangled Banner hanging on the wall, marking the country's symbol and pride. In United States history class, students learn the stories of the founding fathers and understand the hardships and glories of the Revolutionary War, which subtly cultivate students' sense of identity and belonging to the country.
United States patriotic education is not only embodied in schools, but also permeates various cultural products. For example, the Japan anime "Doraemon" introduced by United States has been adjusted in detail, and the original scene of using chopsticks has been changed to using a fork.
In addition, visiting important historical sites such as the Presidential Palace is one of the important extracurricular activities for students in United States. In these places, students can not only see sculptures of past presidents, but also listen to exciting historical speeches.
Through these activities, the students have a more intuitive understanding of the country's history, and at the same time, they have strengthened their patriotic feelings.
Obviously, these so-called "developed countries" have only surpassed China in their efforts to carry out patriotic education. It also directly proves that Professor Yan Xuetong's theory of "independent patriotism" is biased.
Yan Xuetong has been criticized for many remarks
In addition to the above remarks, Yan Xuetong also made some remarks, such as "surrender is the quickest way to maintain peace" and "the army is violent", which caused quite a lot of controversy in Chinese society.
As an accomplished scholar in the field of international relations, Professor Yan's views clearly collide fiercely with traditional national sentiments and mainstream ideologies.
Professor Yan's original intention to argue that "surrender is the quickest way to maintain peace" may be to propose a way to avoid war at the strategic level. However, for a country that has experienced a century of humiliation, this undoubtedly touches people's sensitive nerves.
The Chinese people's long-standing firm determination to resist aggression and safeguard sovereignty makes this remark particularly harsh. Many believe that this narrative downplays the significance of the heroic war and ignores the enormous sacrifices and efforts made for peace.
On the other hand, the idea that the military is violent challenges people's basic understanding of the role of the military. In China, the armed forces are not only seen as a symbol of national defense, but also an important guarantee of national security and stability.
Since ancient times, the story of defending the country has been sung among the people, and the People's Liberation Army is known as the people's soldiers, shouldering the heavy responsibility of protecting the country and the people. Therefore, Professor Yan's statement has been interpreted by many as a belittling and misunderstanding of the image of the military.
These remarks spread quickly on the web, sparking a lot of discussion and controversy. Some people support Professor Yan's remarks, arguing that he has put forward new ideas from different perspectives that deserve in-depth discussion.
However, many more people strongly disagree with his views, arguing that these statements lack a deep understanding of history and reality.