|
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/ P6 s7 L* w5 L \$ E
at Buffalo. ! m* G, k) u1 e5 J
; f( |# E# j& |5 b
A Poem" K. m5 C6 Y5 ^+ p
Published by the Washington Post * o5 {1 L7 M. R6 k
5 F! O+ \/ U% A" D) d+ u& d
When we were the Sick Man of Asia, We were called The Yellow Peril./ H% N* H3 ?# | @; Y9 D& L5 h
" G4 E7 n! k* @6 N0 f When we are billed to be the next Superpower, we are called The Threat.# G. h4 o! y* e4 x7 n1 z: V
' u4 \1 L8 a" c6 J7 H9 ^8 ] When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to open markets.+ B' X0 r A6 m+ W% a
. i- s. X/ q$ j8 n& j2 m) M: L- c- j
When we embrace Free Trade, You blame us for taking away your jobs.
0 |( q" p1 S2 G* t# K J( e: Z9 n4 Q' \, v s- _
When we were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your
( [5 G6 d: ]( K; r- V8 ?fair share.
# K) ]( [( {" f4 {
5 ?# i% z3 f( v3 _ When we tried to put the broken pieces back together again, Free Tibet you- d8 d& s; F$ V) v* e+ \! l
screamed, It Was an Invasion!
) C! V; W9 v5 T; V5 V' V8 F- z( s9 K" a; T' m' W# K
When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist.+ a e$ X6 E" b. N- [' [
4 _8 \& V* `& f0 e When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.
6 o: f6 M/ L; \' y0 `3 `# q X* Z4 @1 e) f
When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.
/ p8 Z/ I; Q6 s0 ~- v8 w' c# Z# n6 j `
When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.
* d0 s+ P8 |3 U& D. L: \- x; z' ?- R$ a. P! P$ d
When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.
* Y* c T6 V! R. `& k! t% D/ b
/ Z! J: G8 a& n+ h0 L5 e9 t When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts.+ G$ b7 ~& J; U' ^
( s, J% y& k# v When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.& _5 { h) Q( F( L, X
2 s2 w& {+ y( P2 ^0 }8 { When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.- P: s1 C! L+ l* z" H
# [/ ^' N% M- P6 f
When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide.- V+ O ] w7 w( A6 i$ g
+ X' K% H- \& y& E G0 H5 L& `3 t) Q% z
When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.
4 J- m$ n7 ~2 b- X* b, _3 N r. N: G+ v; t; D/ P: r# E# _, n
When we were lost in chaos and rampage, you demanded rules of law.& R8 {3 K. \, e, @$ q' e3 I7 l
" e( \, ?; l6 Z0 H7 I: T
When we uphold law and order against violence, you call it violating human
, y1 H- w7 O8 w' qrights.
& Y% Y4 o- D3 u. g; `( T! |; @: D/ c |$ n( I5 N
When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech.0 T) V( Y3 s$ P0 E
/ ^' R+ w+ z% N1 o$ e2 a3 Y5 L1 l
When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobics.
' G1 a- \$ k1 M
1 Y9 D, S& H0 K, w0 e Why do you hate us so much, we asked.
3 w- S$ k6 `7 b4 G2 r& O0 v7 N7 k5 Y3 N% g$ C
No, you answered, we don't hate you.6 I M0 p- L4 g& O# R; \0 {
. e4 {7 M" e4 F2 q, |
We don't hate you either,: b' x9 y6 H6 E4 f& Y
; {, h2 p4 o" D& ` But, do you understand us?5 ]& L s9 Q$ |
$ G! q. s% u& Z4 i Of course we do, you said,! V) g0 x9 ?# d {0 N3 j* n3 b8 W) o7 U
2 }% J& r* S2 X3 W& M
We have AFP, CNN and BBC's.../ ^ U) j" l5 ^$ c2 r
1 L( c+ Y9 l. h0 U4 L
What do you really want from us?1 ?* |# w' R" l" u
6 E6 D* ]$ ~! s2 f( T Think hard first, then answer...
* ^. {7 i! V3 B- j0 @
. P; v" m( L6 r+ a4 V5 }7 ?" a Because you only get so many chances.
& S& n& m- C) z* G6 X2 S- m/ h3 r7 ]" @
Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for This One World.% p$ ?% a; B" u1 V" q
& W' q9 C( W: ?; r5 u8 j* y
We want One World, One Dream, and Peace on Earth.
& M# S: y" i' `6 ?6 v; b+ n4 P" A5 D. n5 P, G. h+ I6 T
This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.' O7 ~$ `6 \. D& j4 a' B) R
0 [* m% M* V+ c' S$ D& S1 H1 Q6 R ************************************
7 V1 |. n. B. @. V" v" _! T2 w; `* \( w) N
Duo-Liang Lin, Ph. D.0 i% v, c$ p# I; P4 ~, i# M! o
) C$ k+ f9 [2 d
Professor Emeritus of Physics3 ~, a, I( o$ F4 O% {) T
' A9 \% Y: Y$ | University at Buffalo: Y# G C! V3 m- e& |* i
5 l2 @8 P* d, p
State University of New York$ c- _# [! u' T9 u' |' z7 C
$ |- M$ H- O; x1 O* m Buffalo, New York 14260-1500
+ p' O- W* T& ?0 g
P, j2 G% B, O Email: DLLIN@buffalo.edu |
|