In the cartoon we see a servant bringing a cup of coffee for the emperor. The joke is that the idea
of emperor and the idea of coffee do not usually come together. It is funny to think of the emperor
drinking coffee. But the cartoon may yet have another meaning. It implies that emperor, if he were
still there today, would learn to drink coffee. Modernization is a historical trend.
China is a country with a long history. It has special traditions and customs. They are the nation’s
great treasures which we should do our best to preserve. However, as China opens up to the world,
more and more foreign ideas and products come into country. How we take this western influence and
what relationship should be established between the east and the west have become urgent questions
for us to answer. For example, should we allow a coffee shop to be opened in the Forbidden City, a
place which is thought to represent the essence of oriental life? Can the coffee shop integrate
itself into the surrounding or will it from an eyesore?
I believe that we should be open-minded about western influence. If it is good, we should not refuse
it. A coffee shop in the Forbidden City will not pose an threat to our traditional culture. It will
instead provide a convenient resting place for visitors who have to walk through the huge palace.
The spirit of the 21st century is one of cooperation and coexistence. We should allow different
cultures to exist together and flourish together.