Dear High School Classmates: A few years before the American Independence, there was a confrontation between British troops and militant farmers in Massachusetts. Some historians still ask today who fired the first shot. But they all agree that that shot was heard loud and clear by the entire world. The shot a few days ago in Tainan was also heard loud and clear. No matter what the purpose is just for gamble money or presidential competition, the deep implication of the shot has created a series of chemical reaction to surface the true issue ΓΏ Can Taiwan continue to sustain the past 50-year path of prosperity and stability? Which would be the better choice: independence or unification or maintaining the status quo can sustain prosperity and stability? Or stability can ever be maintained? USA has been longing for as the model by Chinese, including Taiwanese over the last 150 years. The civil war president Lincoln was introduced to the entire world as a great man. One famous speech he made but was not introduced to Chinese often is the divided house can not last long. A country can not be maintained long with half institution with slavery and another half against it. Taiwan is a divided house. To maintain the status quo probably is the better or the best solution to sustain prosperity and stability, neither side in Taiwan would compromise to maintain the divided house not to fall apart. Also there is a question: how to compromise between independence and unification? Disturbance caused by the loud and clear shot is going to prevail, at least for a while at this 50-50 situation. Most of our classmates are the 2nd generation of Chinese immigrants to Taiwan, and are good, quiet and ordinary people. Most likely, the only thing can do during the period of changes is observing the changes. I suggest we constantly keep in touch. Through the getting together, we can say hi to each other and care for each other. Through the observation of changes on each individual we also observe the associated changes in groups. Yesterday, after many weeks not checking Jin Ganlin's web, I saw Chen Wonpin's letter. I have not seen him since college. In high school we sat close. I want to echo his letter, although somewhat politically. I live and work in Irvine, Ca with 1 wife and 3 kids. I expect to get a higher degree of freedom in 5 years once the youngest graduates from college. Then I have the choice to do other things. I hope Chen Wonpin and all of you can stop in Southern California for getting together. Other classmates in Southern California include Chu Annin, Yang Jishiang, Loh Shiaomin and Huang Kunjen, to my knowledge. I believe in that Taiwan one day will unite with Mainland China. I'm trying to write a book to tell the history of Taiwan and compile the points of pro-independence versus pro-unification for soul search. I personally think many pro-unification opinions at this point are not convincing while many pro-independence opinions are misleading. If you have good books or whatever, please tell me where to buy or acquire. I thank you very much. I don't know how much I can accomplish. I just want to make a try. I believe the entire Chinese is making a new cycle and moving up since the last peak of early Chin Dynasty through the bottom in the late Chin and the 1st half of 1900's. The issue we have now is we are still searching for the way up. My e-mail is fplee at fplandassociates.com. (0) 949-252-1688. (H) 949-261-9258. I thank Gin Ganlin for his efforts that we can meet on the web. Huang Kunjen said last year 'We knew each other since 15 and now we are 51! So why we do not keep in touch? Lee Fong-Ping, 03/27/04