A seemingly ordinary commencement speech delivered across the ocean recently sparked a sizable wave of exposure and criticism on the Chinese internet, evoking memories of the terrors of the Cultural Revolution and the chilling atmosphere of mass campaigns. This is not to immediately “set the political tone,” or to “label and attack,” but rather to describe the genuine impression left on me by the controversy.
To be fair, Jiang Yurong’s speech was just a typical graduation address—even if it was delivered at Harvard’s commencement. Its content was nothing more than the familiar refrain: the world is small, we are all villagers in a global village, and we should care for and embrace one another. Even many of her critics admit that there is nothing inherently wrong with these words. Is it wrong to confidently speak of “the ideals of globalization, calling on people to bridge differences and embrace our shared humanity” (Yan Wushuang, “Another Miss Jiang Has Fallen from Grace”)? Of course, it’s normal not to like such a speech or to make a few critical remarks, but there is truly no need—and certainly no justification—for such harsh condemnation.
Many people dislike the emptiness and affectation of Jiang Yurong’s address. It is perfectly normal to have different reactions to the same thing; I too found her speech somewhat pretentious, but to call it “empty grandstanding” seems excessive.