The following is an excerpt from OpinionJournal.com’s “Best of the Web” written by the editor, James Taranto.
After Last Night, Neither Are the Spurs
“US World Cup Team Isn’t Worried About Heat”–headline, Associated Press, June 11
Is Our Children Learning?
“Chicago Public Schools Prom Slogan: ‘This Is Are Story’ “–headline, EAGNews.org, June 10
The Prommunist Bloc
“Newton North High School senior Henry DeGroot was visiting a school outside Beijing on a semester abroad this year when he decided to have some fun and also make a point by writing prodemocracy messages in the notebook of a Chinese student,” the Boston Globe reports:
“Democracy is for cool kids,” he recalls writing. “Don’t believe the lies your school and government tell you,” said another message, and “It’s right to rebel.”
But when Chinese school officials found out, he had to serve five hours of detention. And when he returned home, it got worse: Newton school officials barred DeGroot from his prom.
Newton school officials say he violated semester abroad rules, embarrassed the principal of the Chinese school that was hosting Newton students, and showed so much disrespect for the Chinese that the longstanding relationship with the school may be harmed.
This suggests a variant of an old Soviet joke:
An American is visiting Beijing and gets into an argument with a Chinese guy. “Here in China, we have freedom of speech,” the Chinese guy says. “If I want to, I can stand in the middle of Tiananmen Square and yell, ‘Down with America!’ ”
“We have freedom of speech, too,” counters the American. “If I want to, I can stand in the middle of Harvard Yard and and yell, ‘Down with America!’ ”
Is Our Children Learning?
“Chicago Public Schools Prom Slogan: ‘This Is Are Story’ “–headline, EAGNews.org, June 10
For more “Best of the Web” click here and look for the “Best of the Web Today” link in the middle column below “Today’s Columnists.”
