The Chinese government’s program to promote learning of Chinese language and culture abroad, which includes funding for so-called Confucius Classrooms in U.S. schools, has gotten a great deal of attention as part of the discussion about China’s soft power. Outside of Los Angeles, in a community called Hacienda Heights, the school board has been besieged by opponents to a program that would introduce Mandarin classes to a middle school there. Read more about the debate here and here; opponents say Chinese government-funded classes for American children are equivalent to “brainwashing.” Last night, Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show reported from Hacienda Heights about the controversy:
