Information asymmetry should never be a shield for rumors and prejudices. And blindfolding and ear-covering should never be used to prevent the public from learning about the truth.
Recently, a number of short videos depicting the real life of Uighur people in southern Xinjiang have attracted much attention on social media platforms. Through relaxing and intriguing content, they reveal the reality of the lives and work of Uygur people in southern Xinjiang.
The U.S. government insisted on adopting the so-called "Uygur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020" months ago despite China's firm opposition. Such an act has wholly ignored the tremendous achievements Xinjiang has made in economic and social development. It maliciously attacked the human rights situation in Xinjiang and slandered and defamed the Chinese government.
Actually the main characters of the short videos widely spreading on social media platforms are all graduates of Xinjiang's vocational education and training centers.
In the centers, trainees taking courses of standard Chinese, legal knowledge, vocational skills and deradicalization. They have found stable jobs and are showing off their talents in respective professions after completing their studies.
On the other hand, the U.S. government is still self-fettered on this issue. It is turning a deaf ear and even blocking the channels for accurate information to proliferate, thus preventing its people from learning about reality.
What's more, it is making vain attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs wantonly, and slander the efforts and achievements of Xinjiang's development through the so-called act.
"I know that starting my own business is not an end, but the beginning of my dreams," said Abduazez, who is about to become the owner of a child-care center, as he stands in the room where he had just signed the lease.
He aims at providing solid backing for young people who have left home to make money. By setting up a child-care center, he dedicates to help them take care of their children.
As he envisioned his future life, a big, child-like grin spreaded over the face of Abduazez, who enjoys getting along with children.
"I enjoy photographing," said Turgun, a photographer who captures beautiful moments with his lens.
Walking on the road, Turgun fills his eyes with beautiful things. He wants to record all the happy moments when he walks through the lively wedding sites as a photographer.
In recent years, with Xinjiang's society developing further, young people want to record their most memorable moments through photographs as they get married. That's what Turgun is rushing around for, tired but happy.
In today's Xinjiang, no one is forced by unauthorized imams who preach illegally to do what goes against the doctrines of Islam. Local people are busy pursuing their dreams and living and working in peace and contentment.
Asygul has common Uygur girls' common characteristics — thick eyebrows, big eyes, and passionate about singing and dancing. Her experiences studying in the center freed her from the rigid control of religious extremism. Putting away her bulky burqa, she now wears trendy clothes with bright colors.
"I firmly believe that confidence makes the most beautiful girls," she said with a big smile.
Studying in the center enabled Asygul, who once had no job and did not like to talk, to master the technique of making clothes. Through her current job in a garment factory, she has met many people, is exposed to new things, and become more confident.
Asygul is now a model for the factory, trying on and showcasing new clothes.
"I want to marry someone who speaks the same language and can give me happiness. I know what I want and how I should live," Asygul said, smiling as she rolled up her long hair and put on makeup.
Instead of restrained and ignorant women, we can find in today's Xinjiang modern women who are confident and courageous to pursue happiness and love.
Israyil is an auxiliary police of an industrial park responsible for the safety of the park. He routinely patrols the park for potential safety hazards and is happy to see the park welcoming more enterprises and becoming better off economically.
Dressed in neat police uniforms, Israyil communicates with business owners in fluent standard Chinese. During his free time, he chats with friends on the internet or brings his parents to the park for a walk.
In today's Xinjiang, one will find an inclusive social environment in which all people can obtain equality, freedom and human rights.
People should never fabricate rumors because of a lack of understanding, let alone defaming and slandering others for their selfish desires.
Through the series of videos, we can see graduates of the center pursuing their new lives in diverse professions.
They are now the owner of a child-care center, a photographer, an auxiliary police, a music lover, a landlady of the night market, a delivery man, a community worker, an internet celebrity salesperson, a supermarket manager, and many more.
People of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang understand that today's harmony and stability in the region did not come easily.
Ethnic equality and unity, religious harmony and peacefulness and people living in peace and stability are the common goals of all people in Xinjiang.
It's a sincere demand to the U.S. government, which is preoccupied with its own affairs, to stop slandering and discrediting the Chinese government's efforts with the issue related to vocational education and training centers in Xinjiang. Any of its attempts to interfere in China's internal affairs will eventually shoot itself in the foot.