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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 University7 J- _ k( O# U7 T& \$ C
at Buffalo.
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* o5 Y% M; |3 v* S0 { A Poem5 B) O4 S4 p1 V5 t% g% @; Q: {3 N
Published by the Washington Post 8 L$ Y4 M! |0 M9 N! M+ k$ w( L
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When we were the Sick Man of Asia, We were called The Yellow Peril.+ |4 s% W! f5 a
; T" _& E5 D& C$ @ When we are billed to be the next Superpower, we are called The Threat.
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0 i- C9 ~6 x5 M. P% q1 L When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to open markets.! E3 ~, {: a& U7 w( w! n5 r; E
! g$ l3 z0 d, a4 @( o a When we embrace Free Trade, You blame us for taking away your jobs., ]$ \) t ^+ c7 u. v: K/ L0 Z `
L& j9 J% C! Q& [# e5 r8 I* s5 n When we were falling apart, You marched in your troops and wanted your5 A" K$ `$ J% l* u6 P
fair share.3 U* u* B6 h. I( z' D1 f& t
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When we tried to put the broken pieces back together again, Free Tibet you+ Y0 w* n, o! Z% b
screamed, It Was an Invasion!
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( s" [% z& W) p2 ] When tried Communism, you hated us for being Communist.
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When we embrace Capitalism, you hate us for being Capitalist.7 p* I3 L( G+ q0 Q% L
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When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.0 K; N5 T1 |' F9 L
2 M$ [0 V4 U0 b$ v, Y7 s When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.
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' [5 ^# S/ Q$ @" X When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.- \/ a+ ?" }) `0 `8 C( a) ^
8 C( m# b2 ?) G7 g5 w3 v! z When we loan you cash, you blame us for your national debts.
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, y, X6 q0 e# d$ U" m$ W4 J When we build our industries, you call us Polluters.
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When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.% P$ P1 S' i, `# c) _
& y( l7 t% Y1 _: Q* b When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide.
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When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation. k( l3 x6 I. P ^: V
/ p# B) x! R& e8 o5 G' m 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
9 H) m8 z2 M9 Q; w1 }- jrights.
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4 E ^. \( ?. ^5 v, F When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech.( ]8 [3 W, v/ \) W' T) H
+ u6 c! [( u! f6 P# R0 j7 K; Z' p When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed-xenophobics.! v9 d3 p; I3 c& U8 W- g" q5 Z
& k9 ?# a8 ^- \' [9 ` Why do you hate us so much, we asked.
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# [" z/ o( X# t7 G: h& Z No, you answered, we don't hate you.
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We don't hate you either,9 ?& M" e# O6 Q8 X+ R
' @1 R% \# \7 [$ y But, do you understand us?. e- r4 B: C; Z$ B4 v* G
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Of course we do, you said,
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! z6 Z" B1 _# `9 t) h+ c4 D6 f) d We have AFP, CNN and BBC's...
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What do you really want from us?) S8 }& ~1 \, k. R2 f2 Q
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Think hard first, then answer...; N; s2 h) [+ H0 W6 Q* s
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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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4 M% N' z9 }, z9 n& |6 Z K5 t" s/ d7 i3 \ We want One World, One Dream, and Peace on Earth.
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, N: Z p* ~& G& g9 Q This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us.& Q' L6 o3 ?, D$ C- p, ]* n0 r
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Duo-Liang Lin, Ph. D.
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Professor Emeritus of Physics# Q; g) w) b" r$ V, d" Q' U* n
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University at Buffalo
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& E3 o5 d0 \! B9 X+ y State University of New York
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2 m6 O1 y C$ @2 \4 O6 ? Buffalo, New York 14260-1500
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% V( A, J, {5 ], Q. q) k- W Email: DLLIN@buffalo.edu |
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