The irony of all this is, that she is right. If you look at what has befallen her in China. She is right.

If you agree with her love for the US or the lack of. Everything she mentioned in her speech is correct.

The air in Kunming is good, on good days. And only in the areas without industry, traffick or construction. Where we life, close to Beichen, air is not good anymore.

This girl is being crucified by online thugs and gokunming thugs, for saying she loves free speech in US and the good air vs. Kunming.

Wow and I thought I am thin skinned.

She will be beaten to death when back in China, just because just loving China isn't enough anymore.

And what are all the mouth-poopers talking about the loss of democracy and stuff?

France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland(for the more right leaning), and especially England, aren't they very good examples for good functioning and safe democracies.

Just because you favourite lunatic or dictator hasn't taken over power just yet, doesn't mean doomsday is knocking on the door.

Even on high terrorist activities, the chance to die in one is extremely slim, even lesser than of a plane crash.

I feel sorry for the girl. She just wanted to say something she felt but the love-to-hate and aggression in China is to strong and too scared of the power of words.

So much about the improvement of free speech in here.

R.I.P. UM speech girl.

@vicar: Not sure that 'hate speech laws originated from communism' or that 'freedoms of speech are on the decline', although I've long noticed a constitutionally-built-in restriction of 'rights' in the US - but I agree with you that this woman, at least, seems not to notice the ipso facto restrictions of 'rights' in the US.
But I think this matter is getting way more buzz than it deserves in both the US and in China, where there clearly are restrictions on speech imposed by the state and accepted by large sections of the population.

I think it is great irony that the US is turning to worse and people complain about the loss of freedom and rights but vote a party and president that stands for all those restrictions.

Freedom of speech are on decline couldn't be more wrong. Except maybe in countries under socialist influence.

@hammer: you're right to point out weird contradictions in the US, but I think you may share some of the woman's naivete about US rights etc. AAnyway, I sort of feel sorry for the girl too, although I doubt if she is so naive that she didn't think she might get jumped on for saying what she said.
Would like to see her post on gokunming.

Fixit, in most of the countries you mentioned the citizens dare not speak what's on their minds for outright fear of repercussions. Most of the countries you mentioned have experienced recent horrific attacks and more are to follow as England has just upped its security alert to critical meaning the military is on the streets. Is this the safe democracy you're talking about? And yes the current US president does stand for those restrictions you mention, so I must be right.

@vicar: some people are perhaps afraid to speak their minds anywhere, but the percentage isn't particularly high in the countries fixit mentioned.

those nations have been dumbed down over decades. They are losing their identities, rights and freedoms. Only a few speak out for the majority just want to be silently wrapped up in the cotton wool they get thrown at them. More and more are finding it harder to provide for themselves and families. The rich are getting away with tax and getting more corrupt. Sorry, but I just see the opposite here.

@Vicar and alien
The people fearing reprecussions in the countries I mentioned are 0.

I would have mentioned more countries but I am not sure about them.

But you could add other nations like Spain, Portugal, Italy, and more, citizens not fearing to express their ideas and opinions.

About terrorism and gun violence, wasn't Kunming Thailand, US, Canada, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, well about every country hit by terrorists in one way or another.
It doesn't prove anything you mentioned, vicar.

What is the link between religious extremism and free speech or democracy?

Vicar, no you cannot just use a specified statement and use it to claim that you are right, generally.

Trump is nuts and he is incompetent, but his actions and the reactions he gets bi-partisan show that there are still very strong core values and unity in the democratic process in the US.

Politically the US is very messed up which has to do with its history and core values. But still there are very good things about the US or China or any other place in the world.

@all the other MU organizations, not in favour of the girl's speech. Mainly unionized overseas Chinese (not allowed to have unions in China and enjoying their special freedoms). Let me say what is thrown in my face very often here; "If you love your motherland so much and hate it here so badly, why don't you go back home!"

They don't seem to have a problem to take advantage of the freedoms and possibilities overseas and whine about literally everything there.

Sounds familiar right.

@Vicar
you are just talking nonsense now. What you said, has been said in the 70's and 80's, in these countries. It's tje opposite, with a few exceptions. People have mors income, better access to education, welfare and healthcare.

Student enrollment and access to universities is increasing annually and citizens are happier, and look more positively into the future, even in face of terrorism and other local and global issues.

Sorry vicar you are wrong. I guess you could call it alternative facts.

The link is that people would rather not talk about it, or the causes of it, or how foreign policy could be causing it, or immigration, or religion, or politics, or sects. Instead all you get is...'let's pray, let's stay together, let's carry on as normal.' Hey. It's not normal