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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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2 o) ^& r( _: A- k) y A Poem/ a! J; _! x# A0 O
Published by the Washington Post 8 {7 g4 [7 y# {8 I/ l1 \2 ^6 ^
5 T9 `9 T6 V/ l- m" ]8 H5 l* c0 n$ O 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.& U9 q: |* z" { P+ T- x
% v# A2 N7 Q# n0 M* ^3 }+ A, ~ When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to open markets.
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' [* r; k" x4 H When we embrace Free Trade, You blame us for taking away your jobs.( u5 m$ I, T6 x# c% C
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When we were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your
, i6 P1 }9 S! h" efair share.
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When we tried to put the broken pieces back together again, Free Tibet you$ d, b) F7 i0 G+ A$ F: g+ `1 U
screamed, It Was an Invasion!
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7 c! E; Z& U0 f% R5 P When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist.
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When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.
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* K2 \) o( b; e0 k2 ?& Q When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.
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4 }5 r8 s! t; `2 w+ ~; m When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.4 ?8 s* z$ x1 M1 n& h q0 K; S
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When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.
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$ K) v$ i: `: q$ C8 x! B8 j1 U When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts.
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2 m) `- ~; B8 T2 v1 g7 F" t When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.1 {$ T+ F% M* U L& j- u9 p: q, }
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When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.* d+ v) I& N, o1 A" q* F, F
5 x0 O4 x4 L' m0 J When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide.
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3 D! Y3 Z, G/ F3 L When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.) R2 X m: d- @
& r6 p/ L; @, h! o+ E+ I* C5 R" ?4 ~ p 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 human2 i. c* L" g2 O& _* @$ D
rights.# I2 u, b6 ^; u: j
0 F8 f* T2 l ]0 l2 J2 X1 |- ] When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech.% k6 K0 U2 L% C, n
, J' t2 E! m6 D( ]: @7 g1 S When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobics.- e1 }# d: \. P) _! z' s2 R
4 q+ y% d0 {8 ]' K Why do you hate us so much, we asked.; f: t! X0 \( K
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No, you answered, we don't hate you. B7 C H2 O& v: J) `+ F5 R7 f
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We don't hate you either,
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2 x9 V& W$ v# K But, do you understand us?$ ~* t3 F. ]2 h' I5 Y" f
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Of course we do, you said,
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; _* |, f3 v2 r# O We have AFP, CNN and BBC's...' |3 J# K+ ]& L: r. H4 {& Y- s9 o
0 B$ E, O: W: U& T9 V3 |5 I What do you really want from us?
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! L5 T& L+ f" d$ a% \% N2 i Think hard first, then answer...8 s+ v& }9 U0 W5 x& y0 B) l
5 X1 m. w7 ?. q |* o7 b7 `, ~0 r. } Because you only get so many chances.
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# a2 i2 q1 F7 @- e 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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. _2 b5 S- P! R6 l3 w, C0 I This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.# n6 Y6 L, A b r. {& U9 @
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Duo-Liang Lin, Ph. D.
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2 {# c, d6 L$ l- V4 p Professor Emeritus of Physics
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University at Buffalo* u& M7 q; o% J+ g: F
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State University of New York
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6 G- }4 O% J9 A; Y% u6 ^ Buffalo, New York 14260-1500
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Email: DLLIN@buffalo.edu |
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