The Wall Street Journal
05/21/12 Josh Chin & Laura
Kusisto
“Blind Activist Starts New Life In US: Chen Will Study Law in New York but the Fate
of His Backers and His Influence in China are Unclear”
Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng's departure from
China raises difficult questions ranging from the fate of his extended family
and allies to his ability to spur change at home, even as he enjoyed his first
taste of freedom in seven years following his arrival in the U.S. over the
weekend.
Mr. Chen, his wife and their two children touched down in
the U.S. on Saturday evening after a sudden rush to Beijing International
Airport that ended weeks of speculation over his fate and concluded one of the
tensest episodes in U.S.-China relations in several years.
Jerome Cohen, co-director of New York University's U.S.-Asia
Law Institute, where Mr. Chen will study, said on Sunday that Mr. Chen was in
good spirits and planned to spend his first full day in America resting.
"He's much less tired. He's, I think, in admirable
shape considering he hasn't been here 24 hours," Mr. Cohen aid.
Mr. Chen is going to
study comparative law and hoped to improve his English, Mr. Cohen said.
"He's very smart and he is a quick learner. He'll start in a week or two,
whenever he's ready."
NYU spokesman John Beckman said the university was forbidden
from discussing the finances of any student under federal law. "However, I
don't think it will come as a surprise to anyone that there have been
significant offers of philanthropy regarding Mr. Chen," he said.
Common Sense Review
Why is this guy so different from the thousands of other
activist around the world fighting against tyrannical govts? I find this situation quite unusual. Many activists in countries that are under
the tyrannical, oppressive govts tend to have their lives threatened. The monks in Tibet are an excellent example
of this forceful police state upon its citizens. Are the monks seeking asylum in the US? Not
to my knowledge.
Now that this Chen guy is in the US, how can he lead his
followers in fighting his govt? What
hypocrisy when a leader sits in his cushy New York apartment sending commands
to his followers who are under the veil threat of death, and struggle day to
day to survive?
Now let’s get down to brass tacks, how much is this going to
cost the US tax payers? Mr. Chen could
have gone to any other country until his papers were in line to get a visa
under the pretense of political asylum without the fanfare or financial support? Now if a private citizen wants to financial
support Chen, so be it but the taxpayers shouldn’t be flipping the bill for
this person.
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