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 
ÿ 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