New Westminster Apologizes for its past

Finally, New Westminster said sorry for mistreating the Chinese in the past. It is hard for the city to confront the ugly past. It is even harder to say sorry. It is so hard that it has taken over one hundred years before it apologized for its mistreating the Chinese.

The Chinese began to settle in New Westminster in mid-1980′s during the gold rush that spread from San Francisco to British Columbia. New Westminster was then BC’s capital. Today, few New Westminster residents including those of Chinese descent know the city’s past bleak history, especially when it comes to the Chinese. It is a history of discrimination and grave injustice. The city is getting ready to celebrate its 150th anniversary. Finally the city council has publicly apologized for its past wrong doings and restored some dignity to the deceased Chinese and their descendants.

Apologies are often worded very carefully. An apology is not always seen to be an admission of real guilt, but it is a positive step to its past injustice. Many other cities and communities like Vancouver, Victoria, and Kamloops have not sincerely confronted their ugly histories.

谷歌败得光荣

    中国当局一直敌视开放的互联网，一个不经过滤的网络。严格讲，中国大陆的互联网只是局域网。据专家说，大陆网友只能接触到大陆以外网络的十分之一的信息。大陆网民连台湾香港的网络都无法自由游览。除了防火墙，还有几十万的网警每天二十四小时监视网上活动。

    不想作恶的谷歌败给了中国当局，却赢得国际美誉。三月二十三日谷歌中国搬迁香港成了国际各大媒体的头条新闻，纷纷肯定谷哥的不作恶的做法。谷哥败走香港，其搜索引擎的结果很快便被中国当局过滤。谷歌这一步棋走得聪明，它把作恶（过滤或控制信息）的责任推给中国当局。

    在中国的外企，都是为了钱，谷歌也是一样。谷歌来中国，为了钱不得不放弃它的公司的Don’t be evil （不作恶）的誓言。然而，谷歌一直不情愿作恶，在其搜索引擎过滤器上时不时地有意漏掉中国当局要求必须过滤掉的信息。为此，谷哥与中共摩擦不断。为此，谷歌的冤家百度从中得利。据说，百度在技术上抄袭谷歌，却在大陆有更多使用者。国内的亲友，百分之七八十用的是百度搜索引擎。在赚钱上，百度聪明。百度老板是地道的中国人，知道在中国做生意只能跟当局狼狈为奸。

    谷歌败了，但败得光荣。