From: hzhang@bank.ecn.purdue.edu (BRIAN H. ZHANG)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.china
Subject: (FWD)  Discussion on IFCSS past, present and future
Date: 5 Oct 92 20:18:05 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network


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             This seems a relatively quiet time and I feel  probably
        we  can  take this opportunity to ponder over several issues
        concerning lobby, and the IFCSS in general. This  is  impor-
        tant,  not only to lobby at the final stage, but also impor-
        tant to the lobby in the future (if by any chance, the  bill
        is  vetoed,  and fails the override attempt), as well as the
        general IFCSS work which concerns so many people here.


        I.  IT IS A VICTORY


             No matter what turns out to be the result , this  lobby
        activity  is  a  victory,  in a sense that this is the first
        time for Chinese student to unite in such a large scale,  to
        fight  for  their fate.  We use to be "sand in a plate", but
        no more, never. The IFCSS is the largest foreigners' organi-
        zation,  isn't it amazing that we have achieved this in only
        three years? I am a new participant in IFCSS, and I am  just
        impressed by the work the IFCSS has done.

             The importance of all these is not just a  green  card,
        it  is, as we finally realized, that we have such a strength
        if we unite. As a team, we will experience failure,  suffer-
        ing,  difficulties,  and  success.  The difference between a
        good team and bad team is: a good team is a solid rock  even
        when it loses some battles.


        II. IT IS NOT THE END


             No matter the bill passes or not, it is  not  the  end,
        for you and me, to be a part of the IFCSS.

             If the bill is signed into law, people will  be  happy.
        But  wait,  we  have  more to try, and we will keep a strong
        organization for communication, for  carrer  promotion,  for
        serving as an coordinator for the community of Chinese.

             If the bill is vetoed and the override  attempt  fails,
        it is not the end of the world and surely not the end of our
        fate; LET US FIGHT THE NEXT ROUND, like a famous boxer  said
        "once  down,  never out." (Actually I really think we should
        at least have this "psychological preparation". Be calm  and
        tough, to whatever we encounter.)


        III.   NOBODY'S FAULT


             When things don't go that well, it is far too  easy  to
        put  blames  on  people,  with  an irresponsible attitude of
        "hey, you guys messed it up."   Let  us  be  nice  and  con-
        siderate  to HQ and Haiqing and all the hard working people.
        It is just natural to have disputes, (it is not natural,  to
        always  speak with one voice.) We don't need to accuse some-
        body. Just think it over, and make your own decision to  the
        best  of  your knowledge. Believe me, we are smart enough to
        judge.

             If the bill  doesn't  go  through,  it  probably  isn't
        anybody's  fault.  Not  every  fight brings a win; not every
        loss is due to someone's wrong doing. Sometimes it  is  just
        because we are not powerful enough.


        IV. THERE IS NO SAVIOR


             I don't agree with one attitude--- "hey, we  hired  you
        to  do  this."  No, buddy, no. If you hired people to do all
        these, working day and night,  you  gotta  pay  a  lot  more
        money.  The  HQ  people, and all the IFCSS activists are not
        working for the pay (a big difference from  company  employ-
        ees). Keep in mind that these are all very successful people
        in their own major fields, they could  have  pursued  a  job
        paid  40k  or something easily. But they care about us, they
        work so hard, but are paid very poorly. Don't  take  it  for
        granted.

             On the other hand, I  don't  recognize  any  "God",  or
        "savior" in IFCSS. Just as Mr. Hou said, "it is the CSS that
        empowered the leaders, not the other  way."  NO  matter  how
        articulate  a  person  is, he wouldn't even have a chance to
        interview the congressmen if he is on his own,  rather  than
        representing   IFCSS.  In  other  words,  the  success,  the
        achievement, are due to the endorsement of the  common  peo-
        ple, students. As a democratically operated organization, no
        one should play God. No matter how capable he is, he  should
        not  break the constitution, not to say blackmail the IFCSS.
        To some extent, the democracy is to  prevent  this  kind  of
        things. When some one violates this, it is intolerable. Play
        by the rules, always.

             Further more, I disagree on the attitude  of  "She  who
        has  milk,  is  my  mother (you3 nai3 bian4 shi4 niang2)." A
        person holding this attitude is bound  to  be  defeated,  an
        organization with this philosophy is bound to break apart.


        V. CORRECTLY POSITION OURSELVES


             We are good--smart, hardworking, pretty tough. But  we,
        and our IFCSS are not yet in the main stream of the American
        politics and society. WE have  to  keep  ourselves  a  clear
        mind--things  like  lobby, what we can influence is limited.
        Those experienced politicians and executives are not  stupid
        at  all. That is why the IFCSS needs help from all students,
        to make it a more powerful group.

             And a final note I want to address now:  let's  us  not
        forget people coming here after 90/4. They need our help and
        support, a lot. They are a part of IFCSS, a big part.



        Chenjian Li
        Purdue University.
Newsgroups: talk.politics.china