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.
GOT NEWS?  GOT OPINION?  Send your information,
photographs, or comments to WANGNEWS for consideration to be published in
WANG NEWS SERVICE.
To send, use this email address:   news@wangnews.net
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
TO RETURN TO FIRST PAGE NEWS, CLICK HERE

CLICK TO GO TO
>PAGE 1>  >PAGE 2>   >PAGE 3> >PAGE 4>  >PAGE 5> >PAGE 6>  
>PAGE 7> >PAGE 8>  >PAGE 9> >PAGE10> >PAGE11>
>PAGE 12> >PAGE 13>  >PAGE 14> >PAGE 15> >PAGE 16>
WANG NEWS SERVICE
An Independent Source of News & Views
GOT NEWS?  
GOT OPINION?
Send your information,
photographs, or
comments to
WANGNEWS for
consideration to be
published in WANG
NEWS SERVICE.

To send, use this
email address:

news@wangnews.net
You need Java to see this applet.
Reach out to the
decision-makers, opinion-
shapers, and change-
agents of Greater
Cincinnati and the World.

ADVERTISE with
WANG NEWS SERVICE.

For terms and conditions,
you are invited to inquire
by email:

advertise@wangnews.net
[ Yahoo! ] options
Current U. S. Eastern Time:
GOT RICE?
Those who would give up
Essential Liberty to
purchase a little Temporary
Safety, deserve neither
Liberty nor Safety  -
Benjamin Franklin (1759).
May 2008 Extra
Click here for April Extra
For Upcoming Sunday
Seminars on Current
Issues at Christ
Church Cathedral in
the City of Cincinnati
click here.
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
Photocredit:  Charleston C K Wang
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.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY 2008
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.
HARRY WU                 SPEAKS ON HUMAN RIGHTS
CINCINNATI ARTISTS CLAIRE DARLEY & REBECCA SEEMAN UNVEIL
"WATER'S EDGE"
FIRST COMMISSIONED PUBLIC ARTWORK OF CINCINNATI RECREATION COMMISSION
Water's Edge was created for the Otto Armleder Memorial Regional Aquatic Center
at the Dunham Recreation Complex by Claire Darley and Rebecca Seeman, both
faculty members at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.  This is the first public artwork
acquired by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission.  The metal design features
aesthetic creativity inspired by the summer sun and its shadow and at the same time
offers functional utility in creating a secure concession area.   This original artwork is
funded from a grant from the Otto Armleder Trust.  Photo shows from right to left at
the lectern, Claire Darley and Rebecca Seeman with Mayor Mark Mallory and
Norman C, Merrifield Ed.D., Director of the 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
Photograph courtesy of Jennifer Ulland
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