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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* r4 w7 W/ d$ U+ h/ Q# Z* A l
at Buffalo.
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A Poem
8 \4 _' ~' w( Z+ D Published by the Washington Post
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% G9 _5 m( T' _4 C0 Y! t When we were the Sick Man of Asia, We were called The Yellow Peril.
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! ~* N! d& Z8 D. R! T 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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: A9 W+ O! d( B! |" n When we embrace Free Trade, You blame us for taking away your jobs. a4 I8 \. H3 M! ^9 Z1 m* p! T
+ I& |! y" E8 @3 \3 e 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
$ X, V% f1 m/ E6 Jscreamed, It Was an Invasion!
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When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist.4 T9 i/ s0 p0 h0 v9 k0 ], \
7 d1 l+ t: \2 j$ P @% ^7 Y When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.9 Z/ T. P# K, z: i, l. o
+ O0 x1 J" R6 J+ Y When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.
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+ V9 n- ~6 m @3 J- i$ t% `$ R1 J When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights. n4 P1 s% s. l7 }- ^1 r; v
. j! Q# J* o4 ]4 Y/ x$ l+ L When we were poor, you thought we were dogs., v" |% T; x+ I& x {
; q' l, `$ |3 s& i When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts.
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6 B4 j; ]" i c, s& |6 L+ v" v When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.; [: w) W# I- ]% r3 _: }7 h, i
4 i* @8 I+ ~8 u4 x3 n When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.
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When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide." z: e e5 G$ g8 C% h& x- I! Z! u
9 }' t2 u3 g! l* i6 t When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.3 X; j" I. q i, ?8 f
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When we were lost in chaos and rampage, you demanded rules of law.
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2 d4 \2 T# f3 A When we uphold law and order against violence, you call it violating human& W2 V/ i( Y$ c' o
rights.$ x9 R# k3 @6 ~, _- B
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When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech./ n2 T" q. m2 i5 }2 }$ m
7 H& E2 _5 s9 L) ? When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobics.
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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.
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2 j3 C2 A# y* Z% p& U- r8 j We don't hate you either,3 n) f$ @$ A0 W4 _- l! Y7 b
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But, do you understand us?
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Of course we do, you said,
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# t' ?) n% b5 R- E. W We have AFP, CNN and BBC's...
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What do you really want from us?
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Think hard first, then answer.../ s. G/ z& r& a6 C
- m& c/ D) I' Y8 o3 w4 b( ~& M Because you only get so many chances.; \% @- ?! e: u x. K/ y
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Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for This One World.' K1 k$ X9 v7 L' T9 t
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We want One World, One Dream, and Peace on Earth.: I0 n* S7 x, a3 t# D, \; ]* ?9 w
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This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.9 y; m+ J/ x0 N7 A
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# N" u3 t, u2 z( Q9 G Duo-Liang Lin, Ph. D.9 r, G# G# ~1 d# P% e7 s
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Professor Emeritus of Physics
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University at Buffalo
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" n; i( @8 ?% \9 K; S0 L State University of New York1 X6 Q( x# o" F5 b1 F3 f& }8 t
+ S! T7 j# f0 M. Z% {( h Buffalo, New York 14260-1500- b j: I9 m0 o4 }$ S5 o+ S
3 G/ h$ f, h g Email: DLLIN@buffalo.edu |
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