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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: b& I) Z5 [0 |4 t4 A1 h
at Buffalo. * X1 X9 r) k/ u' r( j
+ O" u: K6 @7 {9 s4 h A Poem
. B7 s# q. e$ H: ?( O 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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6 B2 Y. A7 A; e5 W9 _ When we are billed to be the next Superpower, we are called The Threat.% `' D, B+ w8 |$ Z
c) }0 _4 ~- A L1 { When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to open markets.
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& t( J, g6 ^8 U& n) A% t$ | When we embrace Free Trade, You blame us for taking away your jobs.& k/ S, o! F$ i4 O) u. _
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When we were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your( g$ D+ H& N; ^
fair share.2 L+ U! ?) y1 Q/ ]
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When we tried to put the broken pieces back together again, Free Tibet you
5 \: u: N& q# _0 X% a) u$ Escreamed, It Was an Invasion! \5 a* m2 J6 ]2 b9 e2 Q
( d7 J: x) k' F" ^, V1 f' e. O: {/ k When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist.
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When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.) V/ G2 _5 o# e5 q
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When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.8 Z. b; _5 K+ F3 ^9 r5 N0 r( J+ _: t* Z9 z
' w: l5 T2 s: f3 A) f# F When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.
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When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.* P* f& g3 H% f& b) e% o; q9 H# Z
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When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts.% X3 e+ r2 Z# Y4 e9 P
6 j) m; }4 y" s5 B) x When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.
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) s1 T: C' i# m3 I) k When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.6 G9 c$ g3 ^7 ~# R7 I5 Z
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When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide.
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When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.
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& _. E! e* q" X5 o& n! j 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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2 A$ Q( y, H6 r% P: x4 a When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech.! q2 ?! I# v2 l9 b+ d5 a( X
% j C* J3 P3 _" ~( {. {* N When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobics.& X; ]. K2 V4 r0 f" S
+ V8 \6 v1 f/ Q$ l Why do you hate us so much, we asked.
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No, you answered, we don't hate you.7 p. ?" D; o' R) d5 o
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We don't hate you either,: M* V1 j( {% r T; E( n1 s
, R4 h+ d" ?: m* o. ]% F But, do you understand us?% k/ ?6 }7 [3 ]% x1 @1 q$ k4 h
0 T, E- \& a; A/ z Of course we do, you said,. R- }. ~9 s+ P6 T# @
" E a2 b2 p% [# y, x. q' | We have AFP, CNN and BBC's.../ ~% B* P8 B9 U- R$ l
C- c# W5 z! T8 y9 G$ { What do you really want from us?
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6 N! v2 c( e/ [) [ Think hard first, then answer...
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( x/ x# l* V" b/ U7 ~ Because you only get so many chances.6 U U; a9 [4 Z: t. u
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Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for This One World.' A. @4 p- k5 B, U! r
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We want One World, One Dream, and Peace on Earth." K' y" ?6 t" }; i
5 C4 v6 p2 Y( @- {; {# j% u This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.
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6 F3 ~( _" S- v& a ************************************
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' I" {. ~ a) E7 o: G Duo-Liang Lin, Ph. D.
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* X5 j# a& V! o/ r) { Professor Emeritus of Physics
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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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