Access to alcohol or Freedom of speech, which one matters more to you?

Last Saturday, Aron and I were invited to a dinner with a very mixed group: a few Singaporeans working for Deloitte Tax here in Shanghai, their foreigner friends, some AIESEC interns and alumni.

A middle aged Chinese lady sitting next to Aron together with her American husband. Knowing her having lived in USA for quite some time and married an American, we asked her how does she feel about the difference of freedome between living in USA and China. Rest assured that this is a sensitive question, that is why we were interested in it.

It was hard to tell she was very stupid and brainwashed that she had no understanding of 'freedom and rights' or she was very smart and diplomatic towards sensitive questions. She said, in USA, you can only drink when you are 21, however, in China, you can buy alcohol anywhere regardless how old you are.

Aron and I looked at each other, no comment! If that is the angle she takes, we certain are not in the same boat regarding what are the much more fundamental rights we aspire.