Wang, Ting: Water Can Bear the Boat, But It Can Also Capsize It
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Date: 6/4/2024 2:04:27 PM
Sender: Wang, Ting
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Wang, Ting: Water Can Bear the Boat, But It Can Also Capsize It
王婷（Wang, Ting）
"Water can bear the boat, but it can also capsize it" is a famous ancient Chinese proverb. It means that water allows a boat to sail but can also cause it to overturn—a metaphor illustrating that the same thing can be beneficial if used properly, yet harmful if used improperly. In a political context, this metaphor is often used to illustrate that the people have the power to both support a ruler and overthrow one.
Since World War II, the world has entered an era of democracy and human rights; as civic consciousness has awakened, incidents of the public taking to the streets to drive democratic transitions have occurred frequently.
For instance, the "Jasmine Revolution" in the Middle East began when a street fruit vendor in Tunisia was treated unjustly by the police. This sparked public outrage, rapidly escalated into nationwide protests, and even spread to neighboring countries, leading to the downfall of several authoritarian regimes in North Africa.
Mainland China has also seen instances where mass gatherings evolved into political movements.
A prime example is the "June 4th" movement of 1989. It originated from public mourning for Hu Yaobang—a former CCP leader who advocated for reform—which ignited dissatisfaction with the authoritarian regime. The movement quickly expanded nationwide, nearly toppling the CCP government.
Such mass protests could still occur in mainland China in the future; the CCP＇s one-party dictatorship could, in reality, come to an end at any moment.
Wang, Ting
June 4, 2024
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