OPINION> Brendan John Worrell
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OPINION> Brendan John Worrell
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Following in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers
By Brendan John Worrell (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-07-04 17:22 The marking of the US' Independence Day offers us an opportunity to reflect on the vision of that nation's founders 232 years ago. Ideals of liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the desire for a representative and efficiently functioning government were at the heart of the Independence struggle. These issues remain at the heart of contemporary politics, not just in the US but globally. The US ethos, symbolized by the Statue of Liberty, promotes a beacon of equality and hope for all. This nation has a huge, at times burdensome, responsibility that compels it to perform admirably on the world stage. The recent obsession with the Democratic primaries here in China illustrates just how pervasive developments in the US can be. On a good day the US is unbeatable and inspiring in this domain. China too has great reserves of this stock that can be tapped as witnessed by the response to the Sichuan quake. Interestingly representatives from these two nations last night battled it out at Wimbledon in the match between Zheng Jie and Serena Williams. The latter came out victor but it was a win/win situation for all as the sport looks set to grow in popularity here and the Williams sisters now square off in the final. The moral of the latter's story very much is a rag to riches tale in true American style - driven by desire. Arising from the hard streets of LA's Compton, for years the William's sisters were treated less kind by the establishment. Over recent times they suffered setbacks but they came back providing inspiration to others. So too relations between the US and China, which this year celebrate their 30th anniversary, continue to push ahead. It too is a story full of ups and downs. Nevertheless, a commitment to the long term is increasingly bearing fruit for both sides. The progress made by the American Chamber of Commerce here in Beijing and that with peacemakers from China who sought to link arms with the US during more challenging times, is another story of those who struggled and refused to quit - over, what at times must have seemed, an insurmountable impasse. In recent times the China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue has forged ahead enhancing trade and fighting protectionism. Led from the front by US Commerce Secretary Carlos M Gutierrez he himself represents all that is possible appreciating his migrant upbringing as a boy and meteoric rise from delivery boy at Kellogg's to later be that huge company's CEO. Inspired by such examples and driven to make his mark in the world, today a former colleague and friend at the China Daily departs for the US to complete his MBA. He joins thousands of other like-minded Chinese who have made and will make their way to the land of the free and home of the brave, further enhancing and enriching this process of cross cultural understanding. In just under 5 weeks he'll watch from his student lodgings the 29th Olympiad and the tussle for gold medal supremacy. Without a doubt he'll be confronted with questions from other students regarding Tibet, Sudan and human rights. Fortunately his grasp of English and ability for diplomacy will enable him to engage and do some justice to the debate. Definitely along the way a lot of American students will take a shine to him and become interested in China. He too has come along way since his humble upbringing in a rural Shaanxi village, and is just as much a part of the American dream. In reaching for the future, he further expands and cultivates the ideals of the founding fathers. Independence Day 2008 on reflection is a celebration of humanity at so many different levels in so many different places. We just have to look for the bridge to pay homage to those ideals and remain focused in our steps.
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