Hello there! I am finally outside of China's Internet restrictions in Hong Kong, and able to update this page. My apologizes for lack of contact, but those who were able to talk to me through facebook, will vouch for the difficulties I encountered to be in contact at all.
I want to first say, thank you. For you all who have made this trip possible. The events of the past month have culminated into an eyeopening experience. Many of my goals, and beliefs were reaffirmed, yet I have gained new perspective on so much. I have been through a lot. I have experienced more in one month than I expected I would experience in a life time. I can easily say it has been a happy, depressing, exciting, scary, but most of all an amazing experience. I am now more confident in my ability to pursue and achieve whatever I lay out in front of myself for the good of humanity. This trip, was a success.
As i have been through so much, I need time to process it. In the coming weeks I will be begin to articulately write and explain what has happened in my adventures through China, and how it reflects the need and possibility of goodwill between our nations. I am now more optimistic than ever.
However, today is a special day that I feel is pertinent to comment on, given the amount of personal growth and perspective that I have ascertained from my travels. It is the 20th anniversary of Tienanmen square.
I am only a few miles away from a 10,000 candle vigil dedicated to our dark moment in history. 20 years ago, still whispers on, and should not be ignored. Yet we must not let diatribe undermine multilateral, even bilateral relations. This week, China and the US sided together against an authoritarian's exhibition of an ICBM. This coalition between us maybe prove the strength of peaceful pluralism and that the UNSC maybe prove effective, thus peace may thrive in this nuclear age.
We must not let ideological, political, or cultural perceptions legitimize this increasingly important bond between our nations. I say this for us as Americans, and my friends as the people's republic. Much remains for both countries to work on, but we have an a distinct opportunity to learn from each other. Whether learn from China's superior crisis management in light of US's folly with FEMA , or how China can learn from our mature system of developed industry (and the political maturation that follows) in light of their rapidly growing middle class.
There is an opportunity for peace, as I just lived it through many different types of Chinese demographics. If peace were not plausible, we would stick to our Unitarian measures, but more importantly - if it were not possible, I would not have experienced this miraculous one month journey of mine. We are all independently democrats, republicans, Baptists, Evangelicals or Buddhists, Muslims, Confucian, communist, PRC or ROC... but we are all Human, together. This is a time for mourning, not hate, as the time will come to test the strength of our bond. The road will be hard, as we have much to tread. However, now we must continue making our steps... together
That being said, I am off on my departure to LA! I am very excited to see my family and girlfriend, also to drink milk that is not warm!
I thank you all who have kept an eye on this blog, and I hope you continue to over the next few months, as I have a lot to share!
Xie Xie (Thank you),
~WD
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