Marble detail, Esplanade
I like this ad which goes
You can talk about it.
You can think about it.
You can hope for it.
But if you actually want to cut a bolt, use a bolt cutter.
Conveys the get-it-done attitude really well — “Because if you want to cut through the difficulties of managing growth, think of us as your bolt cutter. It’s what we do. And we want to do it for you.”
WAS enlightened on why top i-bankers get multimillion salaries — top-level bankers, brokers and traders can get up and walk away, taking their clients with them. Management has to comply with their salary requests or watch the guts of the operation leave and go to work for the competition. So they shell out the huge salaries or else. The competitive advantage of the ibanks is not in products or services but lies in an elite group of employees within the company.
Had a lovely lunch at Rochester Park, it’s one place I’ll be going back to for the pretty good restaurants and lush greenery, with water features in the lounge-y areas. Also found out about QI from Poach, which is not the Chinese word for qi (气) as in 气功 (qigong). It stands for Quite Interesting and is a very fun British show similar to Just A Minute.
*
L’air détendu, amis autour, famille aussi. Crépuscule violacé, foule pressée entre bureaux et magasins. Et art de penser et de raisonner en strict accord avec les limitations et les incapacités de l’humaine incompréhension. Surface, profondeur, jamais les deux. Voilà ce que je n’en ai pas dit, des voyages encore, du déracinement, du loin de chez moi ou de ce qu’il en reste, encore ces autres langues, aussi, c’est cela, le détachement, bien sûr, les bagages plus légers, l’inconstance, l’inconséquence, mais aussi, la rupture, le brisement, la discontinuité.
Image © Hippie-dweeb University
An educated man is one who knows a lot and says nothing about it.
– Gracie Fields, 1898-1979, English comedienne.
I LOVE my university for the undergraduate engagement we see both in and out of the classroom — I think I’m probably irritating some of my fellow students in a Japanese candlestick charting course for I keep asking questions; but that’s the way I was trained, just as our teacher is training us in the Sakata method. We’ve been trained to pick up any subject, identify the key points and then hit the ground running. While asking a hell of a lot of questions. Am not going to speculate or trade, however, it goes against my nature. Speculation’s not my style and I’m not the type to sell short etc.
If you have kids or are thinking of universities to attend I highly recommend both Hippie-dweeb University and University of Geeks, the two places where I was lucky enough to meet fantastic teachers and stretch myself. Whatever small successes I have had along the way are due to my luck in getting an excellent education at home, in Singapore and also in university.
And if I were to run a university I’d make sure, like Cornell, that everyone can swim — and I’d also make every student take a basic course in personal finance.
*
布朗大学圆了我的大学梦又正在圆我的中国梦
——2003年5月25日在布朗大学的毕业典礼仪式上的演讲
布朗大学沃森国际研究所高级研究员
徐 文 立
尊敬的儒赛门丝校长
尊敬的各位校董
老师们、同学们
各位家长：
在布朗大学的第235届毕业典礼上讲话，我感到十分荣幸。
这不由得，让我想起十年前的今天，即中国的1993年5月26日，那是我被判十五年徒刑之后、第一次走出监狱大门的日子，在那个监狱里我被单独囚禁了12年之久；1998年底我再次被捕，又被判了13年徒刑，在被关押了四年多之后，于2002年12月24日的圣诞之夜，第二次走出监狱，走出中国，来到了这里。
帕布登斯市是一座美丽的城市，在她的东山上，有一所美丽的大学——那就是布朗大学。大学建在山上，可以使她一代又一代年轻的学子们站得高、看得远。
这个周末，在这里祝贺应届毕业生，我想大家都明白：大学毕业，只意味着人生漫漫长路的开始。
中国的圣贤孔子说他自己：“吾十有五而志于学，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲不逾矩。”
孔子生活在中国的两千多年前的乱世，但他有强烈的社会责任感，尽管他一生不得志，他却在苦苦追求治乱平天下的理论，虽然他未能走上法治的道路，他却悟出了心治的路径。晚年时，他致力于教育，使他成为了中国教育事业的开创者，他有弟子三千、七十二贤人，他的思想影响了中国、影响了世界。孔子是伟大的思想家和教育家。
人生的年轻时期是立志的时期，你假若想做一个有作为的人，那就应该在年轻时期立下大的志向，做大的事情，服务于大众，服务于社会。
但是，不论你立下的志向是什么，那必须是你自己的选择，是你想做、爱做的事情。因为，一个人只有做自己热爱的事业，才会不论从事的这个事业有多么艰难，也是幸福的；有了这种幸福感，才会有足够的勇气压倒一切艰难。
当我是年青人时候，中国大陆还没有一所像布朗大学这样——以自由主义著称的大学，尽管我高中毕业时的学习成绩很好，但是，我还是毅然放弃了进入围墙式大学的机会，选择了一条艰辛的道路，走入了社会大学，之后，又投身到了中国大陆的自由、民主、人权的伟大事业中去。为此，我和我的家人付出了巨大的代价。我的夫人和女儿苦苦地撑着这个家庭，并承受着巨大的社会压力，我自己也两度16年在牢狱中度过，以至我女儿的所有的毕业典礼、特别是她在美国大学及研究生的毕业典礼，我都未能参加，只有在狱中默默地为她祝福并请求女儿的原谅。苦难磨砺我，也磨砺了我的家庭，使我能够成为一个对中国的民主事业有所贡献的人。
我个人的经历如果有什么值得奉献给大家的，那就是这样两点：
第一， 人生苦短，认准了目标，就要心无旁顾地为此而全力以赴。
天道助勤，不助懒。
人的一生，每个阶段都一定有一、二件最值得你去
做的事情，只有抓紧了毫不放松才有可能做好。
人的一生，能作好一、二件大的事情就很了不得
了。
第二， 乐观面对人生。生活对每个人来说未必都是公平
的，可是我们自己的内心却要公平地对待自己。自
己的内心是任何人无法强加给你的，那应该是一片
最自由的天地。快快乐乐是一天，愁眉不展也是一
天，那何不如让自己的每一天都是快快乐乐的呢。
我在几乎全是单独监禁的十六年中就是这样以内心
的平静和快乐度过每一天的，否则我不可能身心健
康地活到今天。
我欣赏这样的口号：吃好，多笑，长寿。我知道许多美国朋友也喜欢这个口号。
我庆幸，我和我的家人来到了美国。
当去年的圣诞之夜，我和我的夫人背井离乡流亡到美国的时候，布朗大学和她杰出的领导人儒赛门丝女士慷慨地伸出了双手，接纳了我这个政治流亡者和我的家人，并给予我崇高的荣誉，让我真正地实现了我年轻时代的梦想，进入了一个没有围墙的大学，呼吸着自由的空气，并开始了继续为中国自由、民主、人权事业奋斗的新的历程。
中国是一个有着悠久历史的古老国家，中华民族是优秀的民族，她也曾有过许多杰出的思想家和哲学家，但是，二千多年来，她却惨遭专制主义的束缚，今日的中国，虽然经济有所发展，但是压制自由、压制民主、压制人权的状况却没有改变。我参与创建的中国民主党的主要领导人都被关在狱中，许许多多社会良心失去了自由，现在“萨斯风暴” 袭卷神州大地。作为一个政治流亡者，有国不能回，遥望我的祖国，竟然是这样的一派景象，怎让我不心急如焚！值得庆幸的是，在美国人民、各民主国家人民的帮助支持下，特别是在布朗大学以及沃森国际研究所那些可亲可爱的老师、同学们的帮助支持下，使我有可能为实现我的中国的梦想而奋斗。
我也和马丁·路德·金一样有一个梦想，那就是我的中国
梦。我的中国梦是：我希望我的祖国，也像美国和其他所有民主国家那样自由，那样民主，那样尊重人权，那样繁荣，那样富强。
布朗大学圆了我的大学梦，我希望她还继续帮助我圆我的中国梦。
今天是一个欢乐的日子，即将毕业的同学们和他们的父亲、母亲、所有亲属来欢庆这个盛典，他们是把每个毕业生的荣耀看成是整个家庭的荣耀，看成是整个国家的荣耀；也是把每一个家庭成员的荣耀看成是整个家庭的荣耀，看成是整个国家的荣耀。
青年的朋友们，为了你自己的荣耀，为了你家庭的荣耀，为了整个国家的荣耀，让我们站得更高，看得更远，立更大的志向，为世界和平，为世界人民的幸福和安康，做更大的事情。
谢谢大家！
————————————————————————
布朗大學圓了我的大學夢又正在圓我的中國夢
——2003年5月25日在布朗大學的畢業典禮儀式上的演講
布朗大學沃森國際研究所高級研究員
徐 文 立
尊敬的儒賽門絲校長
尊敬的各位校董
老師們、同學們
各位家長：
在布朗大學的第235屆畢業典禮上講話，我感到十分榮幸。
這不由得，讓我想起十年前的今天，即中國的1993年5月26日，那是我被判十五年徒刑之後、第一次走出監獄大門的日子，在那個監獄裏我被單獨囚禁了12年之久；1998年底我再次被捕，又被判了13年徒刑，在被關押了四年多之後，於2002年12月24日的聖誕之夜，第二次走出監獄，走出中國，來到了這裏。
帕布登斯市是一座美麗的城市，在她的東山上，有一所美麗的大學——那就是布朗大學。大學建在山上，可以使她一代又一代年輕的學子們站得高、看得遠。
這個週末，在這裏祝賀應屆畢業生，我想大家都明白：大學畢業，只意味著人生漫漫長路的開始。
中國的聖賢孔子說他自己：“吾十有五而志於學，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳順，七十而從心所欲不逾矩。”
孔子生活在中國的兩千多年前的亂世，但他有強烈的社會責任感，儘管他一生不得志，他卻在苦苦追求治亂平天下的理論，雖然他未能走上法治的道路，他卻悟出了心治的路徑。晚年時，他致力於教育，使他成為了中國教育事業的開創者，他有弟子三千、七十二賢人，他的思想影響了中國、影響了世界。孔子是偉大的思想家和教育家。
人生的年輕時期是立志的時期，你假若想做一個有作為的人，那就應該在年輕時期立下大的志向，做大的事情，服務於大眾，服務於社會。
但是，不論你立下的志向是什麼，那必須是你自己的選擇，是你想做、愛做的事情。因為，一個人只有做自己熱愛的事業，才會不論從事的這個事業有多麼艱難，也是幸福的；有了這種幸福感，才會有足夠的勇氣壓倒一切艱難。
當我是年青人時候，中國大陸還沒有一所像布朗大學這樣——以自由主義著稱的大學，儘管我高中畢業時的學習成績很好，但是，我還是毅然放棄了進入圍牆式大學的機會，選擇了一條艱辛的道路，走入了社會大學，之後，又投身到了中國大陸的自由、民主、人權的偉大事業中去。為此，我和我的家人付出了巨大的代價。我的夫人和女兒苦苦地撐著這個家庭，並承受著巨大的社會壓力，我自己也兩度16年在牢獄中度過，以至我女兒的所有的畢業典禮、特別是她在美國大學及研究生的畢業典禮，我都未能參加，只有在獄中默默地為她祝福並請求女兒的原諒。苦難磨礪我，也磨礪了我的家庭，使我能夠成為一個對中國的民主事業有所貢獻的人。
我個人的經歷如果有什麼值得奉獻給大家的，那就是這樣兩點：
第一， 人生苦短，認准了目標，就要心無旁顧地為此而全力以赴。
天道助勤，不助懶。
人的一生，每個階段都一定有一、二件最值得你去
做的事情，只有抓緊了毫不放鬆才有可能做好。
人的一生，能作好一、二件大的事情就很了不得
了。
第二， 樂觀面對人生。生活對每個人來說未必都是公平
的，可是我們自己的內心卻要公平地對待自己。自
己的內心是任何人無法強加給你的，那應該是一片
最自由的天地。快快樂樂是一天，愁眉不展也是一
天，那何不如讓自己的每一天都是快快樂樂的呢。
我在幾乎全是單獨監禁的十六年中就是這樣以內心
的平靜和快樂度過每一天的，否則我不可能身心健
康地活到今天。
我欣賞這樣的口號：吃好，多笑，長壽。我知道許多美國朋友也喜歡這個口號。
我慶倖，我和我的家人來到了美國。
當去年的聖誕之夜，我和我的夫人背井離鄉流亡到美國的時候，布朗大學和她傑出的領導人儒賽門絲女士慷慨地伸出了雙手，接納了我這個政治流亡者和我的家人，並給予我崇高的榮譽，讓我真正地實現了我年輕時代的夢想，進入了一個沒有圍牆的大學，呼吸著自由的空氣，並開始了繼續為中國自由、民主、人權事業奮鬥的新的歷程。
中國是一個有著悠久歷史的古老國家，中華民族是優秀的民族，她也曾有過許多傑出的思想家和哲學家，但是，二千多年來，她卻慘遭專制主義的束縛，今日的中國，雖然經濟有所發展，但是壓制自由、壓制民主、壓制人權的狀況卻沒有改變。我參與創建的中國民主黨的主要領導人都被關在獄中，許許多多社會良心失去了自由，現在“薩斯風暴” 襲卷神州大地。作為一個政治流亡者，有國不能回，遙望我的祖國，竟然是這樣的一派景象，怎讓我不心急如焚！值得慶倖的是，在美國人民、各民主國家人民的幫助支持下，特別是在布朗大學以及沃森國際研究所那些可親可愛的老師、同學們的幫助支持下，使我有可能為實現我的中國的夢想而奮鬥。
我也和馬丁·路德·金一樣有一個夢想，那就是我的中國
夢。我的中國夢是：我希望我的祖國，也像美國和其他所有民主國家那樣自由，那樣民主，那樣尊重人權，那樣繁榮，那樣富強。
布朗大學圓了我的大學夢，我希望她還繼續幫助我圓我的中國夢。
今天是一個歡樂的日子，即將畢業的同學們和他們的父親、母親、所有親屬來歡慶這個盛典，他們是把每個畢業生的榮耀看成是整個家庭的榮耀，看成是整個國家的榮耀；也是把每一個家庭成員的榮耀看成是整個家庭的榮耀，看成是整個國家的榮耀。
青年的朋友們，為了你自己的榮耀，為了你家庭的榮耀，為了整個國家的榮耀，讓我們站得更高，看得更遠，立更大的志向，為世界和平，為世界人民的幸福和安康，做更大的事情。
謝謝大家！
————————————————————
Brown University Baccalaureate Ceremony Speech
My Journey to Brown: A Personal Odyssey
May 25, 2003
Xu Wenli
Visiting Senior Fellow
Watson Institute
Brown University
Respected President Ruth Simmons
Respected Board of Directors
Professors, Students
Families and Friends:
I am deeply moved that I have been invited to speak today at the Baccalaureate service of Brown University’s 235th Commencement.
Today is also a special day for me personally as it makes me think of where I was in China ten years ago on May 25, 1993. It was on that day that I was released from prison, and it was the first time that I was allowed to walk out of the large prison gates where I had been incarcerated for 12 years of a fifteen-year sentence. In 1998, I was again arrested and sentenced to 13 years in prison, and, after being locked up for four years, I was again released on December 24, 2002. Following my second release, however, I not only left jail, but also was forced to leave China and subsequently arrived in America.
I am delighted to find myself in Providence, this beautiful city, and on its eastern hilltop is the home to the beautiful Brown University. From this hilltop, Brown University year after year encourages outstanding students to stand tall and to look far beyond the hilltop they have called home.
This weekend, dedicated to celebrating your graduation, marks only the beginning of a life-long process of growth. China’s eminent sage, Confucius, described his own process of development by saying: “From fifteen, my heart-and-mind was set upon learning; from thirty I took my stance, from forty I was no longer doubtful; from fifty I realized the propensities of heaven and fate; from sixty my ear was attuned; from seventy I could give my heart-and-mind free rein without overstepping the boundaries.”
Confucius lived 2,000 years ago, during China’s Warring States period when violence and chaos was common. But he felt a strong sense of responsibility toward society. So, despite the surrounding unrest, he painstakingly pursued his own ideals. Confucius did not promote or praise the virtues of authoritarian rule. Instead, he promoted an ethical system that made room for compassion, benevolence, and moral virtue. Eventually, Confucius became widely known for the value and wisdom of his teachings. While he lived, he attracted over 3,000 pupils and 72 disciples. His ideas were the foundation for China’s traditional educational system. His influence spread beyond China, and today Confucianism continues to be a powerful social, moral, and political philosophy.
Youth is a defining time in life. It is a period of self-discovery and decision-making which greatly influences the path your life will follow. If the path you choose is to lead you to be a person of great accomplishment, the journey must begin very early with great ambition. To accomplish something important, you must serve and help shape the society in which you live.
No matter what your aspiration, it must be your own choice, what you love to do. And while the path you choose may be difficult, so long as what you do fills you with passion and inspiration, the happiness you find will make the sacrifices and suffering worthwhile.
When I was young, China lacked a university like Brown. There were no institutions that offered the freedom and liberal choices that Brown can afford its students. I graduated from high school with high grades and good test scores. But, I could not bring myself to attend the kind of college that existed in China. I could not enter an institution based on a narrow ideology. After making that choice, I realized that the road I had chosen was full of hardship and struggle. I began to study at a different university, the university of society. I studied society, relationships, human behavior, and of course government, drawing lessons from the interactions between people and institutions. It was then that I began to work for the causes of freedom, democracy, and human rights in China.
My family paid a huge price so I could put my knowledge to work and become an influential activist. While I was in prison my wife and my daughter had to keep our family together, at least in spirit. Together we stood strong; we withstood the enormous pressure of the Chinese political system.
I spent 16 of the last 22 years in prison because I was a man who believed in the cause of Chinese democracy, a man who felt he had a responsibility to fight for his rights, for his family’s rights, for his fellow citizens’ rights. During that time, my daughter grew up, and graduated from both college and graduate school. I was unable to attend either of her graduation ceremonies or celebrate her accomplishments.
I have personal regrets, especially when it comes to my family, but I still believe that we must pursue our goals with perseverance and purpose. From my own experience I have two thoughts that I wish to share with you today:
1) Life is short. You must pursue your goals with the utmost passion. It is true that God can only help those who help themselves. You have one life, and in each stage of your life there should be one or two things worthy of doing. You must devote yourself wholeheartedly to accomplish these goals.
2) Enjoy the life you are given. Life may not be fair, and equality for all may not be realized. Yet we are, to a remarkable degree, in control of what is inside us. Don’t let others influence your inner feelings. This is personal freedom. Be fair to yourself. Be happy each day. Being happy one day and worried the next is not as good as experiencing happiness each day.
During my 16 years in jail, I was alone and isolated most of the time. Yet it was then that my own heart and mind were most tranquil. I was even able to appreciate each day spent in prison for what it taught me. Looking back now I know that had I not been able to enjoy life, even in those most unbearable circumstances, my mind, body, and health would have long since given out.
I admire greatly the saying: May you eat well, laugh much, and live long. These sentiments are important, for it is the simple things in our lives that we must remember and enjoy. I know that many Americans also share these sentiments and I rejoice that my family has been able to come to America where we can freely celebrate life.
It was only six months ago, on Christmas Eve, that my wife and I arrived in the U.S. Brown University, President Ruth Simmons, the Watson Institute for International Studies, and the entire faculty embraced me with open arms and welcomed me to this community on the hill. They received me, a political exile, and not only have I found a home and many supporters here, but I have also been given the honor of speaking today, which exceeds anything I could have imagined. Today I stand here, enjoying the dream I dreamed as a youth: to enter a free and open-minded university, and to breathe in the clean air of freedom. From here, I am ready to continue my struggle for Chinese freedom, democracy, and human rights.
China is a nation with an ancient history and the Chinese are an outstanding people. For centuries my motherland has produced many thinkers and philosophers. Yet for over 2,000 years, democratic thought has been fettered. In China today, despite the tremendous economic development, freedom, democratic values, and basic human rights have not been realized. It is tragic – and it is frustrating – that the changes have been so narrow. Many of the leaders and members of the China Democracy Party are at this time facing long prison sentences, also there are many other prisoners of conscience in Chinese jails, and the SARS disease has spread across the nation. As a political exile, I look at my mother country from a long distance. To see these examples of oppression and misinformation disturbs me and makes me anxious. But I am optimistic. This optimism has come about through my interactions with the people of America, with the people of every democratic nation who have offered their support and help, and especially with the people at Brown who have shown me so much passion and energy. My optimism and hope is derived from the students who continually help and support me, and from the organizations and institutions like Brown and Watson Institute that support my efforts. You are the people who have given me the ability to fight for the realization of democracy in China.
Like the great Martin Luther King, Jr., I too have a dream, and it is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. It is my dream for a brilliant Chinese future. I hope that my motherland can someday become a nation more like America and other democracies, with freedom and liberty, with justice and openness. I dream China will one day reach for democracy and will finally become a democratic society that serves the people, that respects human rights, and that is able to provide freedom and prosperity to every man, woman and child. And since Brown University is my dream university, I hope that here I will be able to work for the realization of my dream for China.
Today is a wonderful and joyful day for the graduating students, for their mothers, fathers, and all the relatives that have come to celebrate and join in the many happy ceremonies. I hope everyone can see that the honor and achievement we celebrate is not just the success of the graduating students. The honor of this weekend belongs to the families of these bright young people, to the communities that supported them, and indeed the honor lies with the entire nation. But beyond this celebration at Brown, the accomplishments and achievements of every young adult throughout the world reflect the success and honor of all parents, communities, and countries worldwide.
My young friends, I hope for your own integrity, for the honor of your families, and for the respect of your nation, that in the future you will continue to stand taller, look further, and pursue grander ambitions for world peace and for the rights of all people. May you take your passion and knowledge and do great things for this world, and may nothing deter you from supporting the causes you believe to be just.
Thank you.
Sharing the image © pai. A prince? No, it’s dinner.
TO find an equivalent of the Bodley/Radcliffe Camera in Singapore. Is…the Lee Kong Chian Library! Spent a very pleasant afternoon on the eighth floor by the floor-to-ceiling windows reading all about Warren Buffett.
*
Went for Canon’s digital camera training, and the trainer takes excellent pictures. Visit his website if you’re curious about South-east Asian/Singaporean landscapes.
Speaking of pictures, check out les grenouilles at xz’s site.
I saw them and thought: Yum! You’ll know you’re with a Chinese person when she’ll not want to kiss the frog — she’ll want to eat it. One should love animals, they are so tasty.
(PARENTS bickering in Chinese)
Me to father: You send a small missile over the border and get an atomic bomb in return.
Father: It’s like I’m Iran and your mother’s Israel.
Mother: I like Israel. Small but powerful. Let me be Israel.
Me: But Israel is technologically advanced. You don’t even have a handphone.
Mother: Do you want an atomic bomb?
I JUST have to share this masterpiece by xz, as quoted by Jo:
“You know it’s a good day when
ND says:
roll roll roll ur eyes,
gently down the stream
grumpily grumpily grumpily grumpily
i just want to scream”
To appreciate the above you must realise that sub-editors are downstream of everybody in the newsroom, and we’re like the sewage system filtering out the crap before the end-product flows out to the ocean of readers.
*
“She has a great capacity for happiness.”
- What confirmed bachelor Warren Beatty said about what drew him to ask Annette Bening to be his wife.
*
YL was Time’s Man Of The Year and had his face put up over Times Square!