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This is a poem that will be read and remembered by many. The author is a professor emeritus of physics at New York State University
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Published by the Washington Post
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When we were the Sick Man of Asia, We were called The Yellow Peril.
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When we are billed to be the next Superpower, we are called The Threat.' F' e' V2 E+ E! n' X4 k9 ?
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When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to open markets.
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When we embrace Free Trade, You blame us for taking away your jobs.) n7 f: Q$ [* w
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When we were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your. e1 L! }3 G2 e
fair share./ S% Z" y+ I+ u8 k/ @$ N1 h. U- i
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When we tried to put the broken pieces back together again, Free Tibet you
/ G7 \) ~3 u, ~) z4 Dscreamed, It Was an Invasion!# l* [+ J2 v9 y I; o2 M! ^
' n9 K4 j/ s* F ?/ l# C8 b When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist.
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, s# g* [2 E$ U" A: p; a6 B When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.
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When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.4 y. E; {; ^8 Z
Y; f8 a S6 t7 x When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.
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* k# r& t, B! s& `# S. L! ] d) | When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.
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: L$ a- z) Q7 P. H" d7 h& z2 ]9 T When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts.' j% v, a% A! ]7 P+ I/ A
) L& @! O7 e3 ~3 F When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.
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When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.
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1 l; g, A% r' S1 k/ f# { When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide.! K& v: z8 ^* e+ ]; l- y" N
, W) P. a5 V, K) [ When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.0 S. g; a/ k+ y* j
2 Z8 Y$ C+ u& p4 u. T* `1 C* L When we were lost in chaos and rampage, you demanded rules of law.
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When we uphold law and order against violence, you call it violating human
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/ j) D j0 a( h" U When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech.$ M( O7 c6 n3 y) K$ A C J
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When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobics.- [0 m0 ]6 {0 }$ {
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Why do you hate us so much, we asked.
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9 t- U( {3 d2 {, I No, you answered, we don't hate you.
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9 f0 f" D: l3 e6 @2 }, S We don't hate you either,
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" z4 y3 i( W; i7 @9 c. _" v8 O+ g But, do you understand us?
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: B0 \& u) f2 } Of course we do, you said,# \$ _! f D0 e" D9 A D: |! [6 m
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We have AFP, CNN and BBC's...4 T% h* {6 {. c: }' `7 l3 |: K" A
3 Q4 b) A+ A+ \6 y/ O7 ^1 P- T What do you really want from us?2 i8 ]* I+ k: Q D. J# G9 E; F' j
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Think hard first, then answer...
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Because you only get so many chances.
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5 [2 A/ p$ g1 ]# e7 G; E Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for This One World.
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3 |, h/ N1 ]; p9 u# A. S# f+ M We want One World, One Dream, and Peace on Earth.
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This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.
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( y0 _5 s) p5 P) `$ c) C5 @4 D2 X ************************************( _0 E& M9 G9 j9 h
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Duo-Liang Lin, Ph. D.5 `3 S. i8 p$ J- ]9 o
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Professor Emeritus of Physics/ G4 a2 D! H6 v$ z. I' ^8 J
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University at Buffalo
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State University of New York
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Buffalo, New York 14260-1500
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Email: DLLIN@buffalo.edu |
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