Mark Rosneck
I was struck deeply by watching this video
Referring to the China visit,
The Washington Post said that “If Richard Nixon had revealed he was going to the moon, he could not have flabbergasted his world audience more.”
In the article Nixon wrote in the Reader’s Digest titled Asia After Viet Nam he said:
Taking the long view, we simply cannot afford to leave China forever outside the family of nations.There is no place on this small planet for a billion of its potentially most able people to live in angry isolation.
Also very memorable was Nixon’s toast:
TRANSCRIPT OF RICHARD NIXON’S TOAST TO PRIME MINISTER ZHOU ENLAI
Mr. Prime Minister and all of your distinguished guests this evening.
At this very moment, through the wonder of telecommunications, more people are seeing and hearing what we say than on any other such occasion in the whole history of the world.
Yet what we say here will not be long remembered. What we do here can change the world.
As you said in your toast, the Chinese people are a great people. The American people are a great people. If our two peoples are enemies, the future of this world we share together is dark indeed. But if we can find common ground to work together, the chance for world peace is immeasurably increased.
In the spirit of tranknesi; which I hope will characterize our talks this week, let us recognize at the outset these points. We have at times n the past been enemies. We have great differences today. What brings us together is that we have common ‘interests which transcend those differences.
As we discuss our differences, neither of us will compromise our principles. But while we cannot close the gulf between us, we can try to bridge it so that we may be able to talk across it.
‘Let Us March Together’
And so let us, in these next five days, start a long march together. Not in lockstep; but on different, roads leading to the same goal the goal of building a world structure of peace and justice in which all may stand’, together with equal dignity and in which each nation, large or small has a right to determine its own form of; government free of outside, interference or domination.
The world watches, the world listens, the world waits to see what we will do.
What is the world? In a personal sense, I think of my eldest daughter, whose birthday is today. And as I think of her I think of all the, children in the world, in Asia in Africa, in Europe, in the Americas, most of whom were born since the date of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China.
What legacy shall we leave. our children? Are they destined to die for the hatreds, which have plagued the old, world? Or are they destined’: to live because we had the, vision to build a new world?
‘No Reason’ to Be Foes
There is no reason for us to be enemies. Neither of us. seeks the territory of the other. Neither of us seeks domination over the other Neither of us seeks to stretch out our hands and rule the world.
Chairman Mao has written; “So many deeds cry out to be done, and always urgently. The world rolls on. Time. passes. Ten thousand years are too long. Seize the day.” Seize the hour. This is the hour. This is the day for me, two peoples to rise to the heights of greatness which,. can build a new and a better. world.
And in that spirit I ask., all of you present to join me in raising your glasses to.
Chairman Mao, to Prime Minister Chou and to the friendship of the Chinese and, American people, which can lead to friendship and peace for all people in the world.
While Richard Nixon’s trip to China was known as “The Week That Changed The World,” President Trump’s visit with Chairman chairman Kim Jong Un has a similar potential. Sadly, while Nixon’s trip was filled with excitement, President Trump’s is filled with fake news and marginalization by the MSM. An opinion piece from CNN is titled Watch Trump try to pull off the ultimate distraction. How sad for our country.
How fitting it is that the meeting is in Vietnam which was once a hated enemy but is now a trading partner. It is striking how close our relationship with North Korea could mirror Vietnam. I suspect this is not by accident.
There is so much that parallels Nixon’s trip to China. President Trump is on the verge of making what seemed almost impossible come true and North Korea will join the family of nations. I couldn’t be prouder.
Might I suggest, Mr. President, a toast:
Taking the long view, Mr. Chairman, we simply cannot afford to leave North Korea forever outside the family of nations.There is no place on this small planet for a country with nuclear weapons but with such huge economic potential to live in angry isolation.
Loading…