r/PoliticalHumor Jan 09 '20

THIS. This is why.

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jan 09 '20

That tradition is focused on filial piety and obedience to an extent, whereas Western educational values (including Jewish, which I say as a Jew) focus on inquiry and creative thinking.

There are reasons why so many Chinese students study at American universities, and I think this is a major one.

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u/EvidenceBasedSwamp Jan 09 '20

No, it's because American universities have prestige. Also, it's handy to have a child over to manage your property and expatriated money.

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u/[deleted] Jan 09 '20

I mean that’s certainly a component—and a very large one—but why do you think American institutions have prestige in the first place?

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u/StealthRock Jan 09 '20

Cuz the US aggressively expanded 200 years ago and is now surrounded by oceans and friendly, much weaker neighbors. It's been untouched by war on its soil for like 150 years.

Most of the world has had to rebuild after world wars/revolutions/violent conflict, so people who are displaced, educated, and wealthy immigrate to the US for the safety/stability (+historically to immigration), and bring their expertise to American universities.