Los Angeles, don't live up to your "City of Angels"

Source: People's Daily Overseas Edition

LosAngeles, a large city on the west coast of the United States, means "angel" in Spanish, and Americans call Los Angeles "City of Angels." I have visited the city many times and feel that the people there are tolerant, friendly, warm and generous.

However, in this city, there have recently been a few "little people" who are incompatible with the "angels" and humiliating Los Angeles.

Recently, when a number of Chinese students entered the country at Los Angeles International Airport, they were restricted and suppressed by US border inspectors under various pretexts, repeatedly interrogating the purpose of studying in the United States, past academic achievements, whether they had ever been employed, whether they had received disciplinary punishment, whether they had "plagiarized" laboratory data, etc., and some of them were threatened, intimidated, and even restricted from their freedom for dozens of hours, and finally refused entry and repatriation to China. In addition, some Chinese students were interrogated by US border inspectors when they left China and returned home, and their personal electronic devices were confiscated...

The erroneous practice of the US side using various pretexts to unreasonably restrict and suppress Chinese students is an out-and-out "villain" behavior.

"The friendship of the country lies in the affinity of the people." In the exchanges between the people of the country, there should be more "angels" and fewer "little people"; friendly exchanges should be encouraged, and "little people" should not be allowed to mess around. China and the United States are far apart, with different historical backgrounds, cultural traditions, and different levels of development, and it is all the more necessary to strengthen communication and seek common ground while reserving differences.

I remember that on November 20, 2005, as the director of China's National Religious Affairs Bureau, I was invited by Dr. Shu Le, the founder of the Crystal Cathedral in Los Angeles, to participate in the 50th anniversary of the founding of the church. Dr. Shuler said he was "the first pastor to give a public speech in the Communist State, the Soviet Union," and that "Ye was probably the first minister of a Communist state to go to a cathedral in the United States to speak publicly in front of so many believers and to the world on television." It is a great honor for me to witness this historic moment when Chinese government officials are communicating with the United States and with Christians around the world. Let us extend a warm welcome to this distinguished guest from China. ”

In my speech, I said:

Dear friends, I came from the East to the West, to this "City of Angels". I believe that the world is divided into East and West, not to make each other stand in conflict, but to unite and harmonize with each other; the world is divided into men and women, not to make them quarrel endlessly, but to make them love each other. We should respect the facts and reject prejudices. Prejudice is farther away from the truth than ignorance, and prejudice is more able to hinder communication and exchange between us than thousands of rivers and mountains.

We all agree with Sister Teresa's words: "A smile is the beginning of peace, teach people to smile." ”

I also believe Dr. Schuler's words: "Weave your dreams and they will make you happen." In 1968, when the penniless Dr. Schuler decided to build a crystal cathedral in California from glass, he was weaving his dream. But after 12 years, the dream has become a brilliant reality.

Friends, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, is also weaving her dreams, the Olympic slogan is "one world, one dream" The same world - a "peaceful world" in which "different civilizations respect each other and multiculturalism coexist harmoniously"; the same dream - the "beautiful dream" that can "seek understanding through dialogue, unity through consensus, and harmony through tolerance".

The same world, the same dream. Achieving the same dream requires more "angels". Even if you can't be an "angel", you should strive to be a "gentleman" and not a "villain". "Gentlemen are harmonious but different, and villains are the same but not harmonious." "Gentlemen are not compared to the week, and villains are not compared to the week". "Gentlemen are frank, and villains are long-standing relatives."

Los Angeles, don't let and tolerate the misdeeds of a few "little people", and don't live up to your "city of angels".

(The author is deputy director of the Culture, Literature, History and Study Committee of the CPPCC National Committee)