Can literature transcend language? Ha Jin takes the worthwhile risk.

Through a recently published article, Chinese native Ha Jin defended his position in a struggle amongst conflicting loyalties of his immigrant and home countries. In the United States, freedom of expression is something often taken for granted. However, Ha Jin's decision to remain in the free states after the massacre of Tiananmen Square had roots deeply entwined with this principle. Because the Communist Party of China censors all published works, he felt that the literary value of his writings would be compromised. As a result, the budding author decisively began to project towards an American audience rather than a Chinese one, an act viewed as betrayal to many traditionalists of his own race. To justify his decision, Ha Jin conveyed his hope that "literature can transcend language," affecting China indirectly at first, but making a lasting impact later.
I feel that the article was well-founded in addition to well-written. It was clear, through the employment of simple but highly-impacting sentences, that the author was truly passionate about the subject. The reader became unavoidably wrapped up in the web of words making up Ha Jin's story, drawn in close; breath on breath, skin on skin. The paragraphs are not fluffy with excessive wording, but rather cleanly round the edges of raw emotion behind the life-altering decision of a man seeking truth. It is clear that neither fear of estrangement from his race, nor that of language barriers, nor that of gaining respect in a country of great literary geniuses could deter Ha Jin from attaining his goal to promote change presently rather than passively wait for it. I believe his risk was worthwhile and a great act of courage. Perhaps if more people would go to such lengths to promote positive change, the world could get on track and spin smoothly again.