Miller 1

Zachary Miller
Dr. Heckman
English 1102
12 November 2014
The One Child Policy in China has been around since 1979 and attempted to cease the
rapid population growth in China. The One Child Policy has not only been a controversial topic
within China, but a question of human rights internationally. In almost all cases of forced
abortions, pregnancy prevention, or even removal of the child, great importance is placed on
females. The international community has put Chinas One Child Policy on the back burner to
humanitarian issues. Thus placing many questions on China and the crimes that have hit many
Chinese citizens and the entirety of the cultural structure it has reserved for hundreds of years.
Before delving into the aspects of the hideous crimes of China, a clear understanding of
the policy and how it has broken Humanitarian law must be viewed. In one, of many hearings,
the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights; an investigation of crimes
against human rights becomes the focal point of human affairs. In one particular case, a woman
by the name of Ms. Ji Yequig becomes the focus in the entirety of the hearing. Yequing states that
I had no choice but to undergo an abortion; otherwise, we would be sabotaging the family
planning policy and breaking the law (Committee on Foreign Affairs 6). Yequings testimony
shows that the policy implemented in China proves more than just a suggestion by a nations
government. It becomes an issue of forced infringements on personal rights. After the first child
is born, the Chinese Family Planning Commission forces women to get an IUD implanted. If a
women refuses to receive the IUD and becomes pregnant, the Commission will give a huge fine,
forced abortion, and the loss of ones job. Yequing knew the penalties enacted and describes that
not only would we be fined 200,000 Juan, equivalent to $31,300, which was more than three
times our combined annual income, but also, we would be fired from our jobs. We were very

Miller 2

afraid at the time of losing our jobs. We could never acquire enough money to pay the exorbitant
fines (COFA 6).
China is currently taking steps towards taking away the One Child Policy due to several
unintended effects from it. One of which being economic strife; because people are no longer
having as many children, it has caused a slippery slope on economic growth. Also, the simple
fact that Chinese citizens are not being replaced as fast as they are dying raises many concerns
for Chinese future. Lastly, a major idea roots from Dr. Valerie Hudson, Department of political
science, Brigham Young University of great cultural shift. Dr. Hudson gives insight on the idea
of male to female ratio in China. Due to the fact that the male population significantly out
numbers women, and that girls are being taken away and sent to other countries, a culture shift
could be happening. To Dr. Hudson, a demographic shift, actually can cause a major shift in the
cultural identity of a nation. Hudson expresses that On the Basis of these experimental findings,
we are now forced to wonder whether the One Child Policy will have significant cultural effects
and demographic effects that will long outlast the policy itself. If that is the case, that will be
truly a tragedy for China (COFA 22). Although the Peoples Republic of China is making strives
to democracy and the overturning of the One-Child Policy, it has still had catastrophic effects on
women, families, and even the cultural identity of China itself. After three decades of oppression
of these factors, it can prove difficult for China to stop the unmoral and unethical practices and
shift to giving people the rights they deserve. Through hearings produced by the Committee on
Foreign Affairs and World Human Right Activists it can be stopped.
Seeing how this policy is extreme and can allow for major repercussions if broken, it
becomes a question on how Satyagraha would or would not be a good idea for the Chinese
people to commit to. Satyagraha seems as a simplistic idea that has ideals of strict non-violent
protest mainly believed by Gandhi. However, this idea proves itself to be incredibly far away

Miller 3

from being simplistic. It brought upon these idea that some of the most iconic figures followed
such as Martin Luther King Jr. In essence, Satyagraha exhibits an idea of transcendence through
the use of non violent protesting. The focal point is it shows how ones self must be achieved
before the art of satyagraha can be of actual practice. Due to the fact that Gandhi practiced
Hinduism, he faced some challenges with practicing his idea of satyagraha because he believed
the main religious text The Bhagavad Gita endorses violence through the practice of what
justifies doing the right thing. This forced Gandhi to go against the religious text and practice
something that seems to be unorthodox yet incredibly effective. It becomes clear that the way
Gandhi taught this unpopular idea in the age of segregation and not allowing for equality.
According to Merriam- Webster Satyagraha is the pressure for social and political reform
through friendly passive resistance practiced by M.K. Gandhi and his followers in India. Yet
the word passive resistance grows a response from Gandhi of strong disapproval. In American
translation, the word passive shows something neglected or ignored. Yet, to Gandhis philosophy,
the way of satyagraha is far from negligence, but the idea of action through inaction. This central
idea dominates Hindu religious texts such as the Bhagavad Gita which pushes the best way
acting in the current society reaches to inaction which means that by sitting at thinking of your
actions while others act merely on impulse shows ignorance. In that, we see a huge parallel to
how Gandhi expressed the nonviolent protest. Confusion can occur when people dont
understand how someone who felt strongly in the religion of his soul yet disagrees with the
religious texts. In the Penguin Gandhi Reader Gandhi gives understanding by stating Others
come to me and, assuming that I secretly must be plotting violence, inquire when the happy
moment for declaring open violence must be (The Penguin Gandhi Reader Gandhi 98). This
encounter gives proof that satyagraha pushes all forms of protest, except violent protest, until the

Miller 4

end. This idea can arouse exasperation from many as a concept of non violence or satyagraha can
deviate so far from the status quo. However to Gandhi, fighting the status quo brings upon
that main idea of transcendence and becoming a better person both spiritually and emotionally.
It is important to understand that even Gandhi himself tried to teach the entirety of
satyagraha to all of his followers yet seemingly backfired in some instances as his followers
pushed what was a peaceful demonstration into something of violence. Another large aspect of
satyagraha, that has had much controversy in those who study Gandhi and his teachings, stems
from the idea of passive resistance. Overall, Satyagraha has many ideas that serve as a major
umbrella for obtaining somewhat of a perfect way to do what deems right. First, is the idea that
being passive does not hold the same connotation to the ideals of Gandhi. Passive resistance is
not from neglect rather, getting a point across through peaceful means. The next overarching
theme roots from the inability to reach any form of transcendence through the use of violence or
any form that relates. This serves as the main focal point for satyagraha and must be taken into
serious account. Finally, the idea of breaking the cycle of a dangerous and evil world from our
ancestors is something that must be destroyed. If continued, a constant cycle of hate and violence
will never end and work as a cycle to reach each generation following.
In order to completely gain the view of how grotesque the crimes are in China many
writers and poets get the point across in deep imagery from paragraphs to stanzas. The poem
Colourblind by Jason Cope gives an incredible insight on how China implements the One
Child Policy on the citizens. The poetry that Jason Cope gives shows a complex web of literary
elements, vivid insight, and in essence, placing the reader into an intense realism. By breaking
the entire foundation of the poem down it makes it a clearer and concise reason for the way the
author could convey such an emotional message. Similarly enough, Forsaken by a man that
goes by the Oister, gives a complete push against the Chinese government without giving a

Miller 5

personal recollection of events that occurred during Oisters childhood. In understanding both of
these poems and the importance to the policy at hand, it gives a realization of the Chinese One
Child Policy.
Jason Cope gives a story that displays events that occurred in a familys life where the
daughter was forcibly removed. Through a faced pace poem with little to no rhyme, it keeps the
reader engaged, and for a short period of time, in suspense. Both the beginning and end of the
poem ends with the stanza of I used to see in colour all bold, bright, and grand when everything
was going exactly as planned ( Colorblind, Jason Cope, 3,4). These stanzas prove to have
incredible importance as it puts emphasis on both a literal and symbolic way. However, it
becomes difficult to discern on if the mother actually becomes severely colorblind from the
violent ways of the officer, or if the event was so traumatic that it made her world dark. This is
not the only instance where this can cause trickiness in how the author conveys the message.
Cope also states in the eyes of the mother that but now my eyes, they see red thats all they see
since the day that my baby was taken from me. I remember it vividly, I remember it well, like I
stepped off of earth and straight into hell (Colourblind Cope 3,4). It is well known that the anger
of people can mostly be described as seeing red. However, once again, this cause confusion as
it could be related to the hit on the back of the head causing actual colorblindness, or the idea of
her emotions over powering her eye sight. Even though personal interpretation becomes a
requirement, the poem is still filled with imagery and emotional aspects promoting literary
affectivity.
Imagery allows the reader to place themselves into the piece of literary work and feel,
see, smell etc the different images. Jason Cope utilizes this technique well by saying things
such as I used to see in colour all bold, bright, and grand when everything was going exactly as
planned (Colourblind Cope 13). It appeals to the sense of sight in the way that the reader can

Miller 6

relate to and know how these colors are important to everyday life. This concept seems to have a
much deeper meaning. Before China implemented the One Child Policy on September 25th
1980, the Chinese people were able to see the boldness and brightness of their nation. Yet, when
this policy became law, families began to be torn apart and restricted to a certain amount of
children to be had. This proves a direct relation to what is being said by Jason Cope. Now that
families are unable to freely have children, especially daughters, without consequence, it gives
an incredibly bitter nationalism with major resentment. Which brings the final point of
symbolism in the entirety of the poem. The idea of the daughter being forcibly removed as
described by Cope is more the just one family being completely stripped of rights, rather China
as a whole. The Chinese government stripped the power away from the already oppressed people
of China. The father, Chen Lao Yu, sadly replies to his son Im afraid I cant son, cried my dear
Chen Lao Yu, Theres no way to fight them, theres nothing we can do (Colourblind Cope 10).
Just as the father feels helpless in the loss of the daughter, the Chinese people know there is
nothing that can be done in order to stop the Government to stop from their oppressive ways. Just
as Colourblind gives a helpless sentiment towards the Chinese Government, Oisters
Forsaken gives forces a lash onto the Chinese Government and the One Child Policy
Oister tends to take a much more direct approach in tackling the ever growing problem in
China at a personal level. It comes in the form of questioning to the Chinese government by
saying Why is is that we all die and you get away with murder on the grandest scale, Will it
ever be our day? (Forsaken Oister 12). The importance of this quote stems from the idea that
also presents itself in Colourbind.. A pondering of why the Chinese Government is allowed to
oppress in such a way that it literally means the difference between life and death. However, this
is not the most gruesome part of the poem but when Ositer states The World will be upset, But
millions will become a stat, And then the world forgets (Forsaken, Oister 16). The chilling

Miller 7

aspect comes from the absence of the world in the horrible situation of killing or taking a girl
child away from a family. Abandonment becomes a focal point for Oister and isnt just directly
related to the nations of the world, but from the abuse of the own national government.
In essence, the idea of hopelessness in both pieces of poetry stem from the inaction of
those who live in China. Satyagraha could very well be a just mean to a just end as Dr. Martin
Luther King would have strived so hard for in the 1960s. Yet, as an outsider looking in, the
powerful message presented by the writers of these pieces it puts a whole other perspective in
how sneaky and difficult the situation is in China and for all of its Families.
In China, the idea of a One Child Policy has been in effect from many decades within
the country. The policy goes that all nuclear families are to only have one child, preferably a
male, and are highly encouraged to do so due to the exponential rise in population since the
1970s. However, violence from a communist government use is absent, but instead a means for
incentives are present. This may not seem to be something to fight due to the fact that an
incentive is being given and not violence. However, it proves a hidden oppression that is of the
highest in unjust laws. The following of such unjust laws becomes abundantly fought in Martin
Luther King Jrs Letter from a Birmingham Jail.
In Letter from a Birmingham Jail Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visits an array of topics that
tend to vary through rhetoric to somewhat of a means to an end. In respect to the outstanding
rhetoric that King demonstrates roots from all aspects of pathos, logos, and even ethos. These
rhetorical methods can prove to be challenging especially in a small jail cell after extreme abuse.
In response to the accusation presented by the clergyman, King states with a sense of
astonishment In your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be
condemned because they precipitate violence. But is this a logical assertion? Isnt this like
condemning Socrates because his unswerving commitment to truth and his philosophical
inquiries precipitated the act by the misguided populace in which they made him drink

Miller 8

hemlock? (A Letter from Birmingham Jail MLK 186). This use of logos proves an incredibly
high level of understanding and transcendence that completely exhibits satyagraha in its pure
Gandhi form. However logos is not the only rhetoric that Martin Luther King provides in his
letter as a strong sense of pathos or emotional appeal engulfs the entire letter. By using emotional
stories from the black youth of America, the forthcoming of said stories causes an increase in the
unjust ways of the clergy in which imprisoned him. King shows When you have seen vicious
mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim
(ALFBJ MLK 183). In bringing light to the current horrible conditions, the way that Martin
Luther King is able to properly convey the message really allows for a strong foundation in
asserting a bigger persons mentality.
Rhetoric is not the only strong set of cards that Martin Luther King brings to the table.
Its overwhelming abundance of importance come from the laws that are seen as unjust and just
that prove to be a central focal point with King. King states that I have tried to make clear that it
is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends. (LFBK MLK 192) He makes the assertion
that regardless if a moral end sets to be achieved, using ways that are not right or go against the
natural law of things allow for everything to be done in vein. This becomes extremely important
when discussing the One Child Policy in that it has moral ends (population control and a better
living environment for the Chinese) yet it is China or the Republic of China are moderate and
will no challenge it. This is a direct comparison to that of Martin Luther King and how he felt the
most disgruntled against white moderates. This meaning, that it would be preferred to be either
totally against something or completely for it then just sitting by and allowing immoral things to
occur for the sake of peace. Martin Luther King directly quotes T.S Eliot with the Last
temptation is the greatest reason: to do the right deed for the wrong reason. (LFGJMLK 192).

Miller 9

It becomes east to try and say objectively that the people of China need to react and fight
their government on this policy. Evidence is being shown that in modern day China, the law is
being challenged greatly. Although Gandhis Satyagraha was something that should be used in all
cases, it wouldnt work in this particular situation. This does not mean that the oppressed
Chinese nation should stay quiet and not fight back on laws that actually threaten God given
rights to all.

Works Cited
Committee on Foreign Affairs. Chinas One-Child Policy; The Governments Massive Crime
Against Women and Unborn Babies. Washington: US Printing Office, 2011. Print.
Cope, Jason. Colourblind. Poetry.com. N.p. N.d. Web. 7 October 2014.
Easwaran Eknath The Bhagavad Gita. Canada, 2007 Print.
Gandhi, Mohandas K. The Doctorine of the sword Mukherjee 98. Web.
Morse, Anne. China Ratchets up One-Child Policy; Ignores Calls from Population Experts.
Web. Nov 1 2014.
Mukerherjee, Rudrangshu, ed The Penguin Gandhi Reader. New York: Penguin, 1993. Print.
Oister. Forsaken. Community.sparks.com. 16th August. N.d. Web. 7 October 2014.
Smith, Xioyun. Telephone Interview. 30 October 2014.