Kevin Rudd, a role model for politicians to follow

Try to communicate, try to understand, try to participate, at least try to know the culture of our friends.

That's a interesting story about Kevin Rudd to share ,the new appointed and elected Prime Minister of Australia, he knows chinese language. Why interesting? Many of non-Chinese worldwide may be able to say a few words in Mandarin. However,the critical part is, he is a politician. Master in Mandarin, broke into fluent sentences and even cracked a joke during the public speaking in Beijing, studied ancient history of China, Rudd obviously worked hard along his path towards ministry.

To view from the prospect of politics, if he spreading sweats and tears for years to study Mandarin in the motive to win over the 3% votes of Chinese people in Australia, that's not worth. The cost is rather too high. Therefore, the learning of chinese language is not a political weapon. To me, he learns mandarin, is a motive to deepen his knowledge and the culture of the largest population of the world. By broadening his mindset, the new elected prime minister, may be able to think big for his future. Not only for his own politic route, but also a change for every Australian to learn something from their cabinet leader.

Let's keep our view in our lovely country. Sometimes i observe that when a minister or a YB in other races speak one or two words in Mandarin, like "da jia hao", "xie xie ni", and the famous "gong xi fa chai", we may be joyous to hear that. Maybe the VIP just simply learn the pronounsations of the few words on their journey to attend a public function or what, thinking that those few words may catch the people's mind, or to show some respect to their friends in other races. I was glad to hear those words, but that is before i know Kevin Michael Rudd...

There is only 3% of chinese people in Australia, very minor compared to our country, which contributed a lot before and after the independence. After 50 years of independence, any of non-Chinese sitting in the ministry, can speak like Rudd?