THE NEXT FACE OF CHINA An Opinion by Charleston C. K. Wang During the last decade, China astounded the world with an annual economic growth rate of around 10%. Presently, China is abundantly supplying the world with a cornucopia of affordable goods. This trade has created an emerging Chinese capitalistic class, and also fueled an expanding demand within China for raw materials, including oil. Economic prosperity has reignited a national pride that China yearns to showcase in the Summer Games. However, China is also straddled with internal conflicts, the most currently visible being the Question of Tibet. Can a totalitarian, godless state under the hegemony of the communist party withstand the aligned wills of the ancient gods of Mt. Olympus and those of the Himalayas with its peak at Mt. Qomolangma? This question must be on the minds of U. S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson and his Chinese hosts as they met once again for Strategic Economic Dialogue during the first week of April. While Mr. Paulson must be most concerned about stimulating economic growth for America in the face of cyclical recession, the political conundrum of Tibet is ever present. At this juncture of the fates, I see the need for continued vigil - the emergence of China as a 21st century economic superpower raises the inseparable question of what will be the next political face of China? From the beginning Karl Marx proclaimed a fundamental contradiction between capitalism and communism, an ideology now discredited by most nations. There appears an inevitable certainty that China’s political system must change to keep pace with her burgeoning capitalistic base. Under the light of 20th century experience, especially from a western perspective, it may seem that China has two options from which to choose (1) Democracy, or (2) Fascism. Clearly, it is in the national interest of the United States to continue to engage China economically, politically, and along all other facets. Through determined dialogue and astute economic incentive, America should continue to promote the virtues of democracy and demonstrate its suitability for sustained economic well-being. Only time will reveal the next face of China. Perhaps, as China is a cradle of ancient enlightenment well before the Renaissance of the west, the Chinese can reveal to the world yet another political theory that the World will call good. A version of this article was published as a Global Outlook in the Cincinnati Business Courier on May 9, 2008. |
UPCOMING CHARITY LUNCH FOR CHINA EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS: CASUAL WOK & GRILLE, 10000 Montgomery Road (between Cooper and Pfeiffer) on June 17, 2008 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM. Cost $12.95. All proceeds go to China Earthquake Relief Fund. For current information on China Earthquake Relief go to http://gccerf.blogspot.com |
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Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety - Benjamin Franklin (1759). |
DANCING WITH FIRE & WATER Celebrate As One 5/8/2008 Fountain Square, Cincinnati, Ohio USA |
MORE CELEBRATE AS ONE Multicultural Music Festival Produced by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati |
US Department of Justice Multi Cultural Advisory Council Meeting 5/6/2008 Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, West Chester, Ohio Discussion centered on Civil Rights as a priority within the Departmentof Justice |
2008 CINCINNATI HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION AWARDS DINNER Champiions for Connecting Cultures & Communities: Jack F (Jack) Cassidy, Penny Friedman & Dr. Lawrence Johnson The Merlin Pope, Jr. Leadership Diversity Award: Marvel Gentry Davis Bishop Herbert Thompson, Jr. Humanitarian Award: Dr. Michael E. Dantley 5/8/2008- Shown in Photo below are dinner guests from left to right Julieta &Tony Sims, Janice Tsai Jezek, Lee Wong, Fumiko & Shiro Tanaka |
Flower Array For Pentecost 2008 Christ Church Cathedral in the City of Cincinnati |
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY 2008 - On 5/10/08, the Ohio Chinese American News celebrated Mother's Day by honoring three Ohio mothers - from left to right, Mrs. Guo Hua Guan, 87, from Cleveland, Mrs. Yeh Or Hsu, 78, from Columbus, and Mrs. I-Tsen Wang, 82, from Cincinnati. Congratulations are also due Dr. Jung Jing on the right on the seventh anniversary of the publication of the first issue of OHIO CHINESE AMERICAN NEWS. |
On 05/13/08 Harry Wu spoke at the Main Street Cinema, Tangeman Center of the University CIty of Cincinnati about human rights in China and the Bodies Exhibition. Mr. Wu is a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and the author of Bitter Winds: A Memoir of My Years in China's Gulag and Laogai: The Chinese Gulag. Mr. Wu gave a moving account of his own life which as a political prisoner in laogai (reform through labor) camps for 19 years and his rebirth as an American citizen speaking out on human rights. He presented photographic documentation of executions in China and discussed the transplantation of organs from executed prisoners. Mr. Wu explained the reasons for suspecting that Bodies specimens could be that of executed prisoners. Shown in photo above is Harry Wu with Cheryl Meadows, Executive Director of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission and George Wharton, Chair of the Board of Commissioners. Shown in photo below are Harry Wu, Sarah Weiss, Director of the Center for Holocaust Humanity Education and Janice Tsai Jezek. Mr. Wu also toured the Holocaust Center and spoke at a luncheon reception there. To listen to a interview of Harry Wu by Carl Westmoreland on Freedom Radio(a note on this 2 hour digital audio file - 1st hour is an interview with Charleston C. K.. Wang, immigration attorney and 2nd hour is Harry Wu), click here. |
CINCINNATI ARTISTS CLAIRE DARLEY & REBECCA SEEMAN UNVEIL "WATER'S EDGE" FIRST COMMISSIONED PUBLIC ARTWORK OF CINCINNATI RECREATION COMMISSION |
A RECAP ON THE DIALOGUE CONCERNING THE BODIES EXHIBITION Contributed by Janice Tsai Jezek The following lecture and community forums have occurred: 1) Harry Wu lecture (5/13/2008) - Mr. Wu travelled from Washington D.C. and started his day in Cincinnati by touring the Museum Center, which included a visit to the Bodies Exhibit. This was followed with a tour and luncheon at the Holocaust Center. After lunch, Mr. Wu gave a radio interview with Mr. Carl Westmoreland on Freedom Radio. His visit concluded with the lecture that evening at the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Wu gave a moving presentation that was very well summarized by the Enquirer article below. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080518/COL05/805180354/-1/all 2) Faith Dialogue at Freedom Center (5/22/2008) Three panelists - Dr. Wenyi Wang, Rabbi Gery Walters, Father Rob Jack - presented perspectives on the exhibit from their various faiths. The Falun Gong representative spoke of their beliefs in the 3 principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance-- and for this, they are persecuted, as they have gained a huge following within just a 10 year period. Dr. Wang presented her case on organ harvesting in China, where organs are systematically being obtained from Falun Gong prisoners who are rounded up and confined to labor camps, subjected to blood tests, and executed in order for their organs to be used to supply the foreign demand for transplant organs. Rabbi Gery Walter spoke of the respectful treatment of the body after death, but that those of Jewish faith could opt to donate their body if it involved saving someone's life, or the advance of knowledge so others could be saved. However, his emphasis was that there must be clear consent. The sanctity of the body and the necessity to treat it with respect was also echoed by Father Jack. The discussions were moderated by Mr. Carl Westmoreland. The Enquirer report of this event can be read at http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008805290307 3) Cincinnati Perspectives Forum at the Museum Center (5/29/2008) 3 panelists - Suzanne Costandi (bioethicist), Rabbi Sandford Kopnick, and James Jackson (Cincinnati Enquirer) - gave their perspectives on the Bodies Exhibition Ms. Costandi stated that there was beauty to the body that it was great to have access to through the exhibit, however, she was firm about the ethical issues-- including the freedom to choose what becomes of our bodies after we die, and the integrity to not have injury done to the body for others benefit. In ethics, tone has to weigh the good gained versus the bad to get there. Rabbi Kopnick came across with a stronger statement. He supported educational value that can be derived from exhibits such as these, but questioned whether REAL bodies needed to be used to get this educational benefit, given the ability for us to create exact models entirely out of plastic. Without express consent by the individuals to be a part of this display, he was clearly against the exhibit. "Knowledge that we gain through evil means is knowledge not worth having." That these are unclaimed bodies is enough for us to reject this exhibit. "If we accept this exhibit of unclaimed bodies as is, then we have not learned enough what it means to RESPECT other people." "The idea that we accept these bodies because they are anonymous is simply a trap for us to feel better about things." These are a few of several very powerful statements he made last night. Mr. James Jackson applauded the Museum Center for being bold enough to host this exhibit and stretching our limits, and by doing so, giving us the ground for us to have this type of discussion. He presented a more moderate tone. Mr. Jackson had spent a bit of time in China, and relayed experiences such as a mass public-attended execution in 1982 at a stadium in China. He gave this as an example of the Chinese state's view regarding the sanctity of human life-- essentially that people's lives are not valued by the state, and saw that as part of the problem of how things like this that are unfathomable to us can happen over in China. My group had a good discussion. Prevailing view is that without consent, such an Exhibit is not respectful of human dignity. There were calls ranging from continued opposition of the exhibit to closure of the exhibit. I did not hear many pro-exhibit voices in the audience. In my group, there had been people who had been excited when they first heard about the exhibit, but refused to go once they began hearing about the questionable origins of the bodies. Another woman is boycotting everything at the Museum Center (with the exception of the dialogue last night) until the exhibit is gone. This is having an impact on people's perception of the overall Museum Center, and it is not isolated to this single exhibit. Discussions were moderated by Mr. Carl Westmoreland. Finally, the New York Attorney General came out yesterday with an announcement of a settlement with Premier Exhibitions. I have attached that below. http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2008/may/may29a_08.html Channel 9 did cover the Bodies Dialogue in last night's news. Here's the link if you are curious to learn more about their report: http://www.wcpo.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=16661@wcpo.dayport.com&navCatId=23 Janice Tsai Jesek |
CHINA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUNDRAISING SHOW Mason High School, Mason, Ohio 5/24/08 Dai Minority Dance by Anhui Art Troupe |
SYCAMORE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AWARDS 5/29/08 Recipient of Charleston & Shirley Wang (ESL) Award: Ms. Ayaka Matsui Congratulations to All Sycamore Grads and their Parents |
To you happy graduates of Sycamore High and your parents, I say, is it really true that it should come to this: Parting is such sweet sorrow that we say goodnight – till it be tomorrow? As scholars of a great school of scholarship, I remind you also that it is "The fool [who] doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” Enough said, for "Brevity is the soul of wit". The award serves to recognize the unique accomplishments of and to encourage future students of Sycamore whose mother tongue is not English to excel in the study of the English language. This year's winner of the English as a Second Language Award is Ayaka Matsui. Ms. Matsui moved to Cincinnati towards the end of her seventh grade year. She worked on mastering the English Language while taking difficult courses. She continued this into her high school career where she took very difficult science and math courses and continued improving her English skills where as a junior she was enrolled in the Honors English program. She has been very active in Sycamore through her music, sports, and club activities. In our community she has volunteered at Bethesda North for three years and she has been a member of the Blue Ash Youth Symphony Orchestra. She will be attending Boston University in the fall. Ayaka has been a great student and individual. She always has a smile on her face and her presence has been a great addition to the Sycamore Community. Therefore until we meet again, keep "[t]his above all: to thine own self be true." Charleston C. K. Wang |
by Anhui Art Troupe |