 Letters and Blogs
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-02 07:40 Real baby boomers Comment on A Ying's column "Generation of 1950s back on center stage" (China Daily, June 28) Ying reveals a most unfortunate ignorance when it comes to US baby boomers in general. He or she states that "in the United States people born in the 1950s are known as baby boomers". Not so. The accepted definition for US baby boomers are people born between 1946-1964. But even more unfortunate is the blanket statement that "Few great people have grown out of this generation in the US". Let's start with the two most recent US presidents, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush both born within months of one another in 1946. While one may honestly debate their legacies and merits, the fact remains that they are baby boomers, as are their wives, one of whom, Hillary Clinton, was a historic force as the first significant potential female candidate for the office of president. Oh, did I mention Barak Obama, he also was born in 1961. Here are just a few other "great" baby boomers who have helped shape American culture and arts. I'll start with two Chinese-American baby boomers who have made significant contributions to the United States. While undoubtedly "A Ying" has not heard of many of them, all can be considered as notable Americans. Amy Tan (born in 1952), Chinese-American author Maya Lin (born in 1959), Chinese-American artist, architect and designer of the famed Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC Oliver Stone (born in 1946), film director Steven Spielberg (born in 1946), film director Condoleezza Rice (born in 1954), US Secretary of State Bill Gates (born in 1955), Chairman of Microsoft Corporation. Whew. I'm not even through the 1950s and these are just a very few names. But you get the idea. Peter Davis via e-mail Sichuan, you are not alone Last month I spent my holiday in China. I arrived in Guangzhou 20 hours after the earthquake hit Wenchuan. During my stay in Southeast China and later in Beijing I got deeply impressed by the enormous efforts throughout the country and abroad people were undertaking to save lives and help the victims. The reports I saw on TV and read in newspapers about tragic strokes of fate, heroic deeds and rescue operations really touched me. I made some small contributions in the form of donating money for the Chinese Red Cross. I also have been among the people at Tiananmen Square on May 19, 2:28 pm when China was standing still for three minutes. But I knew that's not enough. So from my Beijing hotel room I telephoned the headmaster of my choir in Zwickau, Germany and suggested it organize a charity concert for the victims of the Wenchuan quake. After my return home I joined the preparations. We gathered five amateur music ensembles that are ready to perform without payment for the good cause. Our choir even studied some Chinese in order to sing the earthquake relief song. The spectators and participants in the concert donated 740 Euros. Though it's not a very large amount it comes from the heart. We hope the money will help a little bit to ease the pain. People in Sichuan, you are not alone! Zhongguo jia you. Thomas Croy from Germany via e-mail Readers' comments are welcome. Please send mail to Letters to the Editor, China Daily, 15 Huixin Dongjie, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029 China. Send faxes to (86-10) 6491-8377. Send e-mail to opinion@chinadaily.com.cn or letters@chinadaily.com.cn or to the individual columnists. China Daily reserves the right to edit all letters. Thank you. (China Daily 07/02/2008 page9) |
