Fateful Ties

One recent evening, my 11-year-old daughter seemed preoccupied. Something was bothering her, she admitted – she'd had a disagreement with one of her best friends. Naturally, I asked what it was about, but the answer I got was unexpected: China.

Her friend, my daughter explained, was always saying bad things about China. "I keep telling her they aren't true, but she won't believe me! She's never even been there."