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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/ w& E4 v. r: w. a) E# \6 F- S" Z
Published by the Washington Post
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When we were the Sick Man of Asia, We were called The Yellow Peril.% l# o: U4 F, x1 B- r
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When we are billed to be the next Superpower, we are called The Threat.
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6 \6 i1 q5 B( q) V! x When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to open markets.
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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( O0 I7 W/ k1 }2 ^: K3 [
screamed, It Was an Invasion!* T2 b8 L* G) C* V# Y; l
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When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist.
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! E8 a' q3 ^; X When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.
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9 S4 X4 ^$ C8 H+ A- Z When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet. t+ h0 ] ]" m
, v1 ~, w3 C, E, ~8 X, A5 ] When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.
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2 g3 O& B, o: v: c* l/ `" I# C% n4 k; \ When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.
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When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts.
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When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.. B1 G# C' J* R. _; {
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When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.
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$ r8 n0 `2 p) p+ ^ When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide./ N \6 A H5 C% ?8 F |
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When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.1 ~( N) y( X' m' s# D4 S
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When we were lost in chaos and rampage, you demanded rules of law.
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2 E7 u" c6 \* w5 X! } 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.1 T' t D: ]% Q% A
9 F) @5 h' V. n4 O When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobics.9 I8 b% `0 w* m% s1 S
: F% `+ J$ g2 u* N Why do you hate us so much, we asked.: S' N8 Z) y7 `8 V
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No, you answered, we don't hate you.
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But, do you understand us?
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Of course we do, you said,2 l1 A" ]( W* o6 }% H% H! M* r
& x" X0 v/ H& P5 b We have AFP, CNN and BBC's...$ O6 S2 S6 K# [, A1 w
* H% a, g2 _( t8 N9 @. z% t$ w What do you really want from us?6 }, j4 t+ U9 R
* A1 ^9 b- o/ T8 x! Y0 h7 Q7 ?( o Think hard first, then answer...8 K1 H# U* B: V+ I4 p
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Because you only get so many chances.4 }. l( c7 M* J2 T3 f8 v9 v
+ k) O# a0 y2 b9 B# o- ` Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for This One World.; Z! d# y7 `" k* S8 C$ G$ l- M+ g
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We want One World, One Dream, and Peace on Earth.
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0 }$ D' R& ?/ @9 H6 x This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.4 i3 N5 H, P: O3 _5 C5 d, D# I) _
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Duo-Liang Lin, Ph. D.
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Professor Emeritus of Physics
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University at Buffalo
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State University of New York
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- V4 u" |7 }% X" r6 L Email: DLLIN@buffalo.edu |
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