My reply to a netizen who asked me: "What makes you interested in Xinjiang?"

Terrorist Attacks/War on Terror.
How should a government fight terrorism? Which is worse: China’s response to the many terrorist attacks within China, or America’s response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks?


Presentation of Information in the Media.
How is it that western media sources condemn the Chinese government’s attempts at reeducating Uyghur Muslims as concentration camps while the Chinese media sources laud them as peaceful programs that provide Uyghur Muslims with practical career education (e.g., baking, mechanical work, administrative work) and Mandarin language education? Are both sides engaging in misinformation campaigns? Are there elements of truth to both sides?


Atheism/Anti-theism.
In recent history, the Communist Party of China has promoted state atheism and persecuted religious adherents. How is it that the Uyghur Muslims maintained their religion during a time when Buddhist temples and religious texts were destroyed?

As an atheist/nihilist/anti-theist, I question: is government-enforced secularism appropriate? If so, under what circumstances? Is living with the threat of terrorism due to religious extremism a circumstance under which it is appropriate for a government to resort to a policy of enforced secularism/religious persecution?


Indigenous Culture/Cultural Genocide.
Is Xinjiang an example of the Chinese government engaging in cultural genocide? China has praiseworthy policies in place to preserve ethnic diversity: indigenous minority languages and cultures are protected and celebrated. Are the oppressive religious elements of Uyghur Muslim culture worth preserving?


General Knowledge of World History/History of Islam.
Over 20% of the world’s population is Muslim. My education left me with many gaps in my knowledge of world history, and I learned next to nothing about Asia until I lived in China. Learning about of the spread of Islam is crucial to understanding the history of the last 1,500 years. Because of my interest in Chinese history, I’m especially interested in the effects of the spread of Islam within China and Central Asia.

AR&IO Chinese Course Episode 1

The Case Against Pet Ownership

In this blog post, I share my reply to a former housemate from university who sent me Twitter comments and Instagram messages, namely:

"Melissa what the hell? This is the most extremist take I’ve ever heard and incredibly messed up. You were too smart to let some youtube psychobabble turn you into someone who makes these kind of comments..."

"Hmm so pigs can convey misery, suffering, and fear to humans but dogs “don’t care about the human ideas of family and love”? Your arguments make no sense"

Megan, I understand this may be this is the first time you’ve really thought through these concepts. You have said hurtful things in your Twitter and Instagram comments to me. I have every reason to simply delete your comments and ignore you, but I'm going to take the high road and offer an explanation.