Today in History-August 22
In memory of Deng Xiaoping2004: Xiaoping one of greatest men of 20th century
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The late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping was one of the greatest men of the
20th century, who contributed a great deal to China's development, said former
US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in a recent interview with Xinhua on the
occasion of Deng's 100th birthday.
"In current China, it is unimaginable without Deng Xiaoping. It is a case
where one man makes a decisive difference. Almost everything that is happening
in the current reform, I have heard him saying at some point 15 years ago. Of
course, it has evolved in a way that was unimaginable even when he was still
alive. His contribution to current China is decisive," the US statesman
said.
"The reform in China was initiated by him. I had the honor of hearing him
explaining to me on many occasions. I had the honor of being able to compare
what he said to me in 1974 and again in 1979with what actually happened. Very
few statesmen can say they achieve their own predictions," he said.
As one of the foreign guests who met Deng most often, Kissingersaid he was
impressed by Deng's charisma as a statesman and as an ordinary person. He
described Deng Xiaoping as "a man of few words who had the great ability to sum
up a subject and reduce it to a few sentences, so he got a lot of businesses
done in a limited period of time."
Kissinger also recalled how Deng Xiaoping invited him to his favorite dish,
Mongolian hot pot, in a restaurant. "It is not often done by Chinese leaders to
invite a guest to a restaurant," said Kissinger, noting that though they had an
exclusive room, it was in a regular restaurant, not a state guest house. This
indicates that Deng took him as a friend and treated him in an informal manner,
he added.
On another occasion, said Kissinger, he happened to be in Seattle when Deng
Xiaoping was traveling through the city during his visit to the United States.
Kissinger left a note at Deng's hotel, asking to visit him in his hotel
room.
"I got the message back, saying since I already called him in Washington,
now he owed me a visit. He walked from his hotel to my hotel, to my room,
creating absolute chaos among the security people," Kissinger said.
On US-China relations, the former secretary of state said a strong and
prosperous China would make huge contribution to the development of the
world.
"As long as I know Deng Xiaoping, he was a strong advocate of close
relations with the United States and friendship with the United States. I think
the current Chinese leaders, the third generation of Chinese leaders and the
fourth generation of Chinese leaders also carry this legacy of Deng Xiaoping,"
he said.
He noted that as the world is faced with a host of new problems and new
situations, such as terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and
the emergence of countries as new major international players, it requires a
change in the traditional ways of looking at foreign policy.
"But at the same time I think the solution of all problems is greatly eased
when China and the United States work together. The development of US-China
relations benefit not only the two peoples,but people of all Asia and the
world," Kissinger said.
IOC President Avery Brundage compared the anti-Rhodesia campaign to the
terrorist attack on the Olympic village
1972: Rhodesia out of Olympics
Artificially 1969: FilmTheTheAA Rhodesia has been thrown out of the Olympic
Games with just four days to go before the opening ceremony in Munich.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted by 36 to 31 with three
abstentions to recommend Rhodesia's expulsion in the face of mounting
international pressure.
Two days ago the National Olympic Committees of Africa threatened to pull
out of the games unless Rhodesia was barred from competing.
The African nations were demanding Rhodesia's expulsion on the grounds the
country was an illegal regime and its team were not therefore British
subjects.
Seven years ago Ian Smith declared Rhodesia's independence from Britain and
then in March 1970 he announced the country was a republic - breaking its last
link with the crown and ending any hopes of black majority rule.
The IOC issued Rhodesia's invitation to the West German games on certain
conditions, which included appearing under their old colonial flag.
In a bid to appease the IOC, the Rhodesian team did arrive in West Germany
with the Southern Rhodesian flag - made up of a Union Jack and a coat of arms on
a blue background - and stood to attention when the national anthem, God Save
the Queen, was played.
But comments by the Rhodesian team manager, Ossie Plaskitt, when the team
arrived in Munich did little to smooth over the disagreement.
He was quoted as saying : "We are ready to participate under any flag, be
it the flag of the boy scouts or the Moscow flag. But everyone knows very well
that we are Rhodesians and will always remain Rhodesians."
The decision is a blow for the retiring IOC president, Avery Brundage, who
had argued for Rhodesia's inclusion in the games.
He told reporters he was "shocked and surprised" by the decision. He
continued: "The political pressures in sport are becoming intolerable."
Many of the Rhodesian athletes were in tears when they heard the news. The
44-strong team of black and white Rhodesians will, however, be allowed to stay
in Munich to watch the games.
In the Rhodesian capital, Salisbury, sports officials said the decision was
a disgrace. A spokesman for the prime minister said there was "no doubt that the
Olympics are in the hands of the politicians."
Vocabulary:
charisma: a personal attractiveness that enables you to influence
others(超凡魅力;号召力)
proliferation: a rapid increase in number (especially a rapid increase in
the number of deadly weapons)(增殖;扩散)
appease :to make quiet; to calm; to reduce to a state of peace;(安抚;缓和)
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