Well, book burning is kinda dumb because most of them, if not all, are already digitized. It's a statement at this point in time. While really stupid and backwards, expression is still a right and freedom that Americans enjoy.
This is unlike other countries where you can be thrown in jail for something even lesser and never have a recourse or trial.
Who said anything about book burning? Expression isn't a right that all Americans enjoy - teachers in Florida can't tell their students that they are anything other than straight CIS people...but freedom, amirite
Of course they can. They might get in trouble or even fired. But they can still say whatever they want. They are also protesting on both sides of it, too, as is the right. The great American discourse.
You've missed the point - I am pointing out that being forced to hide who you are at the risk of losing your job doesn't actually give people a choice and saying that they do is disingenuous. Criminalising someone's identity doesn't give people freedom to be who they are which the supposed freedom you say exists.
It's just leaning into semantics while forgetting there's real life people at the end of it being told to hide their sexuality or gender because some chuds are up in their feelings because not everyone is straight or identifies with their gender at birth. Sounds free to me /s
We're comparing China and the USA. That's the topic.
There's a reason Florida currently has thousands of vacancies in teaching positions and is one of the bottom 10 states in terms of education.
Teachers are still free to do what they want and express their opinions (i.e., staying and risking prison, leaving the state, not working as a teacher, being politically active, teaching outside the classroom).
Book burning and expressing your opinion are protected rights. It's absolutely embarrassing that the law exists, but the law will be challenged in court.
Discourse doesn't happen in China. If the government wanted, you just go to prison and they throw the key away. That's if you're not killed outright. No discussion, no politics, nothing.
The USA has freedom. China does not.
EDIT - Ironically, even you and I discussing this online is forbidden in China. You're not allowed to express your disgust with problems of the Chinese government or state.