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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; S9 @* E4 A7 M
at Buffalo. : G# G6 d+ g J8 J4 x7 [! t8 f
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A Poem
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When we were the Sick Man of Asia, We were called The Yellow Peril.# R+ @+ c5 }5 \0 l8 s2 \8 A1 C0 h
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When we are billed to be the next Superpower, we are called The Threat.
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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.
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8 ^% r ^1 b K G2 |8 D When we were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your {: b8 r9 _+ h! @8 W; r6 _
fair share.
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! ?" W$ T3 ]- i; x+ r' B' b+ R When we tried to put the broken pieces back together again, Free Tibet you
2 b% P; x1 Y8 _" K% w4 j; Z9 Oscreamed, It Was an Invasion!
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/ r2 c4 ^/ F% `3 r' ^ When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist.- D/ W; x7 M) L# ?9 m
; n* C, f6 c- b1 O. E When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.2 J9 O" b* i; b" W y7 q+ O
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When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.; b0 ^' p2 `# Z G8 ~
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When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.* h7 H8 f: _7 H* I# I9 C
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When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.
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9 m3 u* X7 o+ J$ @0 r When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts.
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When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.: \, P3 |3 I2 U" U
9 N5 t9 }8 ]5 |" o5 P$ Y When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.
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5 A- V) ~; w. a. n, R" V7 d ~ When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide.
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' p$ w1 ]5 U: E4 x5 P When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.3 x# w* l5 Y* A8 |6 e
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When we were lost in chaos and rampage, you demanded rules of law.8 d; ^# j; |- G5 P. t; r' i$ T
9 [+ B+ Q n8 C/ A) {9 | When we uphold law and order against violence, you call it violating human
* w& C& U* S& T. A. ^rights.
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When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech.
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When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobics.
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& g4 J1 t/ l3 { Why do you hate us so much, we asked.
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No, you answered, we don't hate you.
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We don't hate you either,
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But, do you understand us?
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2 N' e: K6 m) x/ X3 v9 p' G Of course we do, you said,
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7 T7 K! ?* g/ E9 i/ a3 X We have AFP, CNN and BBC's...
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What do you really want from us?+ R8 o x# H3 c: S/ H* k
5 k1 t' U3 N& {. g: B7 a Think hard first, then answer...8 F* Z5 J( K8 p
: p( n$ K* [0 Q4 \ Because you only get so many chances.
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. M- b* W( M7 R7 N3 I' j5 ^/ { Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for This One World.& V. c1 ]1 T# l' h1 F; s( I
! I- W; P! e4 r) Y- W 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.* a; ^; y& s9 s* H+ f# H
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, G' d' A/ a6 Y0 ^$ ~1 k- V Duo-Liang Lin, Ph. D.
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- Y: d7 R- g& s1 D Professor Emeritus of Physics% [; `& Z, f9 h g! `9 h# _# N# W
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University at Buffalo
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) V9 `" M6 ~$ E: L) P State University of New York
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) W2 J9 o8 m0 D" \0 k' E Buffalo, New York 14260-15008 A0 ^- \4 b- ~2 j4 y1 G5 A
0 g' W* _$ G( V+ {# { Email: DLLIN@buffalo.edu |
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