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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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A Poem
+ o, N* f" P. T9 {- g1 q Published by the Washington Post
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When we were the Sick Man of Asia, We were called The Yellow Peril.9 L# w8 C* _5 i. D a: g
2 m* x7 x' t8 |3 n; U! \5 a When we are billed to be the next Superpower, we are called The Threat.
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) [. ?6 E* X2 T9 L( l When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to open markets.
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; [4 I- h. Y. B# W7 T When we embrace Free Trade, You blame us for taking away your jobs.: _! J4 Q/ w' z2 w
) E! g5 g, f3 M4 ?4 V/ m When we were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your
9 J+ q' X9 S5 `% }/ z+ e/ A# _3 ifair share.
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& A( n! ^; _# W/ T When we tried to put the broken pieces back together again, Free Tibet you; z: ]% X9 [3 {0 `' c! L6 q
screamed, It Was an Invasion!
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When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist.3 B V2 C& d. v7 d) j
8 [* J$ ?2 x$ s z: _4 T. _# j5 i When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist." x% Z$ e6 E6 B8 b8 ?" p% g/ J
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When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.4 \) {( V- O8 H: k/ ]( z. I' z
5 T/ J1 ~1 M2 H& g When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.2 R" t( c' N0 J* z. b; a
6 Y M, t5 H/ Y! \/ b; n When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.
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$ o3 X3 n- }, t3 n x* [0 c+ M When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts./ n4 P* @6 x0 ?3 q F
( ^5 g2 N& t( r: s* F- z When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.+ M; c d) _: W9 q4 z) |
/ i$ P, ?) X; B( u When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming., c5 l+ d ~* ~& `
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When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide.
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' r L. Y1 s/ c$ F: _ When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.
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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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When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech.( j6 v, x. O. x1 q4 e* s
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When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobics.
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8 s+ |+ ~# g5 N: @ Why do you hate us so much, we asked.
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! |; p, F9 R, P$ s$ N3 B3 G ] No, you answered, we don't hate you.
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We don't hate you either,9 K/ T: _) K0 L$ X* `0 b% p4 n8 z
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But, do you understand us?
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Of course we do, you said,
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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...
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Because you only get so many chances.
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Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for This One World.
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/ y: X7 `( W: z! R We want One World, One Dream, and Peace on Earth.
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; q3 X! Y; Q& Q/ z4 r( B' a# z This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.
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2 u: b$ M+ a" F! T$ U ************************************
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Duo-Liang Lin, Ph. D.
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, d0 f8 x$ {2 m# U4 f/ s& a9 H Professor Emeritus of Physics7 R" E7 S. i% ~' I3 J6 [5 M0 P4 J
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University at Buffalo8 l0 Y5 r6 G; e4 ^2 o/ `
% @+ A( A7 J7 [; e! i: O State University of New York& f9 }6 o* M9 m9 w% z; Y# r9 G( v1 |
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Buffalo, New York 14260-1500
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( H" l" i+ A# I0 d: w Email: DLLIN@buffalo.edu |
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