When the veteran came to Fang Zheng's room again, he found the young man watching educational programming on the television with great interest.
"...The main reason democracy failed was that sociologists plunged the world into chaos. In the end, veterans took control of the government, bringing Earth lasting stability. Why do only citizens have the right to vote? Rights that are simply given have no value. Voting rights are political rights, and that is power. Power is violence, and violence is the source of all authority. History has proven that naked violence can solve many problems. The claim that violence cannot solve problems is merely self-deception. The difference between citizens and civilians is that citizens accept the responsibilities granted by the government and fight to the death to defend Earth, while civilians are different..."
"Why are you watching this?"
The veteran looked at Fang Zheng in confusion and asked. This was part of the political curriculum, something they had all learned long ago. The veteran had long since stopped watching such boring lectures and historical propaganda, yet Fang Zheng seemed quite focused, which puzzled him greatly.
Even the students in those classrooms back then probably had not paid this much attention.
"It's pretty interesting."
"Interesting?"
"Mm-hm. Different ideas lead to different systems and different paths. Well... violence truly can't solve every problem, but it can indeed solve problems."
Fang Zheng clapped his hands and turned his gaze away from the television screen.
"What is it?"
"There is something."
The veteran looked at Fang Zheng in confusion. The doubts in his heart grew even stronger. What Fang Zheng had been watching was a course every person on Earth had to take, yet Fang Zheng looked as though this was his first exposure to it, and he seemed genuinely interested and entertained.