Anti-war Statement

(Written April 13, 2003 or earlier.)

This U.S. corporation calls for nonviolence and international law.

Wenlin Institute endorses a speech by U.S. Senator Robert Byrd, in which he said,

Instead of reasoning with those with whom we disagree, we demand obedience or threaten recrimination. Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves. We proclaim a new doctrine of preemption which is understood by few and feared by many. We say that the United States has the right to turn its firepower on any corner of the globe which might be suspect in the war on terrorism. We assert that right without the sanction of any international body. As a result, the world has become a much more dangerous place.

We will never know whether the U.N. could have succeeded in preventing war with Iraq. Let's hope that by dropping cluster bombs on civilians, the U.S. hasn't planted the seeds for a new generation of terrorists, and that international law (rather than "might makes right") will prevail in the future.

On March 21, 2003, as the bombs were falling, Wenlin Institute put the intentionally controversial slogan, "Oppose U.S./British Imperialism!" at the top of its website. The following was written in response to a customer who complained that Wenlin's position was "anti-American".

I take full responsibility for the anti-imperialist statement, which is in keeping with Wenlin Institute's mission to promote peaceful international relations. I'm sorry that you were offended by it. I love the United States, and consider it a duty, both as a U.S. citizen and as the head of a U.S. company, to speak out, in spite of any possible negative influence on Wenlin's popularity.

I support the troops and would like to see them immediately brought home where they belong, and not in body bags. This war is anti-American, and has a lot in common with the crusades and the Opium War.

I appreciate your point that an appropriate statement could have been less inflammatory. I hope we can make it more constructive. However,

"Liangyao kukou, liyu bing; zhongyan ni'er, liyu xing."
"Just as good medicine which is bitter in the mouth is good for one's illness, so sincere advice which offends the ear is beneficial to one's conduct."

Peace,

Tom Bishop

Note: below is the proverb in Chinese characters. The translation above is from the ABC Dictionary of Chinese Proverbs (John Rohsenow, ed., UH Press, 2002).

良药苦口利于病, 忠言逆耳利于行。

(UTF-8:)

良药苦口利于病, 忠言逆耳利于行。

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