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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& }; F" s3 @& y# u) G2 Z7 n
at Buffalo.
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A Poem" H g- l) o- Q# g
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.
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When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to open markets.
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/ D7 r, n A) f1 e$ J$ A7 ^ When we embrace Free Trade, You blame us for taking away your jobs.
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When we were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your
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When we tried to put the broken pieces back together again, Free Tibet you+ M4 K' f% `. N C0 z7 ?
screamed, It Was an Invasion!5 Z4 A: a- ~. b U1 }2 f# Y
* ~& w: c6 i& J! S# x# | When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist.- ?5 H0 I9 B! p$ R% \
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When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.
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* z e" E4 i# Q9 ~ When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.
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4 e& s/ r. d. p- W When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.! s1 s/ c5 t6 i% ? y
7 @& `5 z$ [& \4 }5 z0 I Q1 | When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.
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6 b; n$ G) F2 N1 f8 z When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts.$ ~) ]* X0 c) B3 |$ o5 M: T. [
9 w- i7 y' r _" Y4 y+ @ When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.+ w% z* @" ^# @) Z1 J$ \
7 x' O& p. [! U* n: i" e. p. w When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.$ w7 T7 z, Q+ I G! c+ d( e$ w$ B: C
3 m3 q: i9 U: e J1 Y1 _( f* j6 i When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide.
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' f8 a; \3 |- h0 c$ R/ E9 }! U7 ? When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.
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1 A* \0 V# k# o* m. j/ v, ]2 v When we were lost in chaos and rampage, you demanded rules of law.
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/ L; y6 c4 l) D When we uphold law and order against violence, you call it violating human3 c* `% w! C; l B% _
rights.- F: O' ]8 f$ @
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When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech.
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& ?' d1 V, g' H! _ When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobics.9 ?% N9 O0 a! L
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Why do you hate us so much, we asked.
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No, you answered, we don't hate you.5 M- K* Z9 k! }1 Z- K) f
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We don't hate you either, R2 Y j% j5 R( M# u, P" r
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But, do you understand us?- S1 Y( @3 W0 g: v0 E
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Of course we do, you said,
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We have AFP, CNN and BBC's...' W8 ~; u2 i) a3 z# I
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What do you really want from us?
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Think hard first, then answer...
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Because you only get so many chances.- t2 G1 o. ^: u# o. r* j7 j
* b5 z7 K% [' K) B7 V& W4 z0 V Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for This One World.
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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.; g8 o+ C9 x* W! I+ M- I
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! d' }4 ~: f: y Duo-Liang Lin, Ph. D.
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% G5 n+ y* _5 h# n5 b0 ^ Professor Emeritus of Physics
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4 v, P2 K0 M3 C' F University at Buffalo4 K$ ~0 r7 M- g* P7 |; K( Z
# n9 Y; c5 P$ e. ~0 K, D State University of New York
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Buffalo, New York 14260-1500) C7 k/ Z. }1 _: i8 X: i6 y
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Email: DLLIN@buffalo.edu |
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