Let the Olympic Games Go On,Washpost,4/9/08 p.A19

Joan Chen,a US citizen in 1989 wrote an honest and objective article that I would share with her views as a US citizen since 1954. Even though we were naturalized in different decades but we are interested in proper US-China relations for the mutual benefit and for the best interests of USA and the world as a whole.

Since the Cultural revolution ended in the late 1970s, she has witnessed unimaginable progress in China. A government that had no ties to the West has evolved into a more open government eager to join the international community. Since I was an American expert lecturing and teaching Western economics in China since 1981, I have observed China's economy has gradually turned into a market economy, raising standard of living of folks in China. The government has made rapid progress during the past years to be a participant of the international community. The evidence is clear,indeed! We can look at the record.

Henry Kissinger's article dated April 7, 2008 described US-China relations as the former Secretary of State for the best interest of USA. Joan Chen's article is a reinforcement from her observation as an ordinary American citizen. I am sending this blog as an octogenarian Citizen of USA and as a graduate student focusing in Economics since 1947 in the United States.

In her conclusion of the article: For decades, anti-China human rights groups have spent millions of dollars denouncing China. To many folks, it seems that this lobby is the only voice that is acceptable or newsworthy in the media and to America. But times are changing. We need to make friends than enemies. Remember what a little ping-pong game did for US-China relations in the 1970s? Let's celebrate the Olympics for what the Games are meant to be - a bridge for friendship, not a playground for politics. I endorse such wholeheartedly!

My view is that Olympic Games are designed for international competition for sports in the name of humanity. Should we condemn the violation of law and order by some Tibetans to try to disrupt such a good cause for their own politics? "Human rights" is an expression with buzzwords and discrimination may be a violation of human rights to make a living. Civil Rights Act of 1964 was meant and is meant to improve human rights of Americans to make a living as Presidential candidates have also spoken out for a better America without discrimination as guaranted by our Constitution.

I wish to add that we must strive to have peace and economic development in the days to come in the nuclear age as I have sent my blogs as an independent and objective watcher for positive relations of two great nations on both sides of the Pacific. Ponder about the consequences of any conflict in the name of economics for US-China or Sino-American relations as Kissinger has aptly pointed out for readers of the Washington Post,April 7, 2008.

American economy is in a recession and we need to understand globalization in the name of Economics for the best interests of all folks in America. Thanks for reading my views and I hope you would see fit to read the entire article by Joan Chen from Washpost online.

Have a great day,every day to be informed about the truth as I earnestly seek for your insightful understanding of the significance of US-China/Sino-American relations in the 21st century.

Francis Shieh,Fulbright Senior Scholar, 1989-1990 on Wednesday,April 9, 2008 at 10 a.m.