(a) "The news that Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng and his family might be allowed to leave China for a university fellowship in the United States brought relief not only to Chen but also to dissidents around the world.
"It also may have put a smidgeon of crow in the mouths of critics who perhaps protested too much too soon.
"Then again, maybe not. The outcry over how the State Department initially handled Chen’s dramatic escape from house arrest to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing ultimately may have helped persuade Chinese officials to concede to amped-up pressure from the United States. Whatever the case, the Obama administration and, in particular, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton seem to have prevailed under difficult circumstances.
(b) As to whether Chen’s plight should be the concern of everyday Americans, the answer is clear. Americans are noisy for all the right reasons, and the cacophony of protest from our shores to theirs can’t have hurt. Americans should care what happens to Chen because, if not us, then who?
Note: smidgeon (n): "a small amount : BIT" www.m-w.com