National Symphony Orchestra is emissary to China

Washington Post,June 8, 2009 Style section,C1,C8: Music is borderless across the Pacific Ocean.
Classical music has effectively become a symbol of economic prosperity in both countries. For American orchestras, a tour signifies a certain level of financial stabilty. A trip to China, furthermore, is potentially a way to tap into a tremendous new audience to appreciate American culture to strengthen Sino-American economics during the global financial crisis.

In sending instruments to China,the NSO is following a precedent set four centuries ago when the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci arrived in Beijing with a clavichord for the emperor in 1601.

Well, I was educated by Jesuits in China and in USA from late 1930s in Tianjin,Shanghai to USF in 1947 and Georgetown from 1948-1950. I have inherited their avid zeal to learn and to teach even as an octogenarian now. Learning is fun and I live to study in USA with an open mind and a warm heart. Life is worth living with the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.

Francis Shieh aka Xie Shihao, a lifelong student to study American English,American culture of economics et al on Monday,June 8, 2009 at 9.26 a.m.