From: "(Junwei W. Hou)" <jwh3@PO.CWRU.EDU>
Subject:      Some thoughts on CCSA and IFCSS
Reply-To: "(Junwei W. Hou)" <jwh3@po.CWRU.Edu>
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 09:20:17 GMT
Comments: To: china-nt@uga.cc.uga.edu, ccnl@utarlvm1.uta.edu

(Sept. 26, 1992)  Some Thought on IFCSS and CCSA
************************************************
     It's a bit awkward for me to point fingers, as I believe many
out there are more qualified to address this problem.  And I bet it
must be a controversial one.

     But I am concerned, as some have expressed on this net, about
the apparent "co"-existence of two groups claiming as THE
representative of the CSS.  And, unfortunately, I haven't learned
how to keep my mouth shut when the matter is about someone who is
using the name I identify with.

     To some extent, such reality is an inevitable consequence of
the lobbying campaign.  One group, CCSA, allegedly under the name
of IFCSS, appears to be more experienced, thanks to its leader's
second-to-none expertise on the student protection issue, ever
since 1989.  Its leader, Dr. Zhao has unquestionably done a
fantastic job in bringing the protection bill to the current stage.
The other group, IFCSS(HQ), willingly or unwillingly, appears to
defer to CCSA's expertise.

     In many occasions, I was amazed by the enthusiastic
participation and effective coordination of the CSS.  The last one
occurred earlier this week when the CSS from tens of universities
around U.S. activated their phones, FAX machines and West-Union
hot-lines on a near perfect move to rally behind the bill.  As many
will agree, the magnitude of the CSS's participation wouldn't have
been possible had Dr. Zhao and his third term IFCSS cabinet members
not launched their nation-wide campaign trail earlier this year.

     Moreover, the support from lawmakers in Congress was
indispensable for the passage of the protection bill in Congress.
Again, Dr. Zhao's connections established through several years'
close working relationship with lawmakers have made such support
possible.  Hardly will anyone dispute with the fact that Dr. Zhao
have been playing a leadership role in this well planned, well
coordinate campaign.

     These are the facts.  Dr. Zhao's unambivalent commitment to
the CSS's welfare is well evidenced by his sacrifice of his
academic career as a successful biochemist and by his persistence
in working on the protection bill since 1989.  For this reason, Dr.
Zhao deserves not only our thanks and respect, but also our
understanding to, if not enthusiastic support for,  his position on
how to handle the lobbying campaign for the protection bill.

     However, there is another fact which, in my view, is the
ultimate strength of the CSS's successful campaign, and thus
deserves no less consideration.  That is the existence and the
integrity of the IFCSS, the first independent organization of the
CSS.

     IFCSS is the CSS's.  It is ours.

     We identify ourselves with IFCSS not because of certain
individuals, but because we once found the hope under her name.  We
first found our shaky hope in the word "Independent" embraced in
her name when we gathered in the student centers of universities
around the U.S., still being shocked by the deaths and the blood of
June 4, and trying to put to rest our feelings of helplessness and
hopelessness.  For many of us, that was the first time we were
standing up for the truth, crying for the truth and hoping for the
truth.

     We identify ourselves with IFCSS because we once found the
strength from our coming together, together in that rainy day when
we crowded in front of Lincoln Memorial, together when we marched
through the Constitution Avenue, carrying our Statue of Liberty.
We saw the line of our marching brigade---it was so long, felling
the strength we never felt before.  That was the moment which made
so many of us proud:  That was OUR IFCSS.

     We identify ourselves with IFCSS because we succeeded in
breaking the chain of "2-year" requirement.  Remember? It was hell
of celebration.  We were free for the time being.  And from there
we were able to begin our move of deciding our own future, for the
first time in the history of PRC.

     We identify ourselves with IFCSS because we need a voice, a
voice of our own, loud enough, strong enough, so that we know we
are capable of survival on a foreign land, that we are capable of
being morally conscious in protesting the bloody hand's deed, in
preserving the truth which has been lied about in our homeland.

     That is our IFCSS.

     But now, we are witnessing something unhealthy growing inside
our IFCSS.  That isn't just a matter of two accounts.

     I am concerned.

     How could we tear her apart for the sake of certain
individuals -- those refusing to learn how to preserve the
constitutional and structural integrity of our hopeful, but still
fragile institution?

     Can we afford our IFCSS becoming a nurture ground for those
who may well be on their way to taking the CSS as a hostage for
their egos?

     No doubt, we have a very hopeful organization of our own, run
by many brilliant CSS, with our name, on our behalf, very
successfully.  This organization will certainly play an even more
important role for years to come.  That is our IFCSS.  We are
learning the process of being more democratic.  Yet we ought to
learn how to deal with problems of our own, for such learning will
certainly produce better and more effective representation.

     It is approaching the end of the campaign, a very successful
one so far.  Understandably, many of us are so afraid of doing
something which may hurt certain VIP of the campaign.  But
remember, and please do remember, it is the CSS who empower those
individuals, not those individuals empower the CSS.

     I really believe that we can do better than being afraid of
such.

     Can we?




                         Junwei
Newsgroups: talk.politics.china