EAST MEETS WEST in the VILLAGE of OAK PARK
When I was a preschooler, digging holes in our backyard sand box in Michigan, my dad used to tell me that if I dug deep enough I could dig all the way to the other side of the world and come out in China. I knew of the mysterious land called China before I knew of Canada, only 15 miles away from our sandbox.
Last week we enjoyed a good laugh over TGIF beverages when we learned from our visitors from Beijing, that Chinese parents have similarly challenged their children by telling them that “if you dig deep enough you will come out on the other side of the world in America”.
Visitors from Beijing attend our Tuesday morning Staff Meeting
Chinese and Americans live on opposite sides of the world in more than just geogrpahic terms. For many decades, by distance and politics, our peoples were isolated from each other. Of course their ancient history is much longer than our fairly short history, hence our cultures and perspectives are also much different. The Chinese strive for collective harmony. Our society continues to emphasize individual freedoms. Each country’s approach to governance is different. Yet our economies and the world’s are converging at an ever increasing speed. We have much to learn from each other.
Police and Fire
With its world leading 1.4 billion people, and with with our population at 311 million people (third behind India’s 1.1 billion) our country’s have major populations to manage in an increasingly complex world. We at the city level focus on the vital basics like public safety, traffic, EMS response, housing, water/sewer, forestry, education, public health, as energy and jobs are increasingly a challenge for everyone!
Wednesday Journal Editorial Board Meeting
And with the first and second largest economies on earth, for good or evil, our two country’s will likely have a greater influence on our planets environment, than any two other counties, throughout the 21st century.
Although they didn’t have to dig through the earth to visit us, it was a true pleasure last week for Oak Park to host these wonderful visitors from the City Of Beijing, population 24 million:
Mr. Yin Li (Frank), Director General at Fengtai branch of Beijing Administration for Industry & Commerce
Mr. Jianhua Yu (James), Division Chief at Monitoring Division of Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau
Mr. Qingzhi Zhang (Allen), Deputy Director-General at Beijing Municipal Social Development Office
Mr. Guo Wei (Victor), Executive Vice Chairman at Beijing Municipal Financial Industry Trade Unions
Mr. Jianxin Wu (Alex), Director at Biochemistry Lab of Capital Institute of Pediatrics
Ms. Tong Wu (Jean), Director at Workshop of Beijing People’s Art Theater
Their visit was a follow up to my visit to Beijing last May. Both visits were facilitated by the Oak Brook based 21st Century Institute.
We learned a lot from each other but the main thing I believe we all learned is that we who serve our local communities at the grass roots level simply want to serve our citizens the best we can. We are looking to each other to learn new ideas and best practices as we continue to evolve.
Fire Command Vehicle
Like many, I also hope that with all of the travel, communication, and citizen to citizen relationships that are increasingly underway throughout the world these days, that the common people’s dream, to live in a sustainable and just world, free from the costs and violence of war, is within our grasp. It’s cliché, but so true, we are all much more alike, than we are different.
Let’s dig in the sandbox of peace, goodwill and quality of life for awhile and many good things will happen. Best wishes to our colleagues in Beijing.
Press Conference
PS. - A special thanks to Deputy Village Manager Lisa Shelly, Administrative Assistant, Sue Kornatowski, and Secretary, Jackie Durr for organizing our sessions, and all the staff who shared their experiences with our good new friends from Beijing.
From: wu jianxin
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 10:39 AM
To: Barwin, Thomas
Subject: Letter of Thanks
Dear Mr. Barwin:
On behalf our Beijing Group, I am writing this letter to thank you for you warm hospitality accorded to me and my delegation during our visit to your beautiful village. I would also like to thank you for your kindness and excellent arrangement which I have found very useful for us to future understanding the community management in America.
During the entire visit, my delegation and I were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm introductions and explanations by your management team. We learned a lot and certainly will help us for future work greatly. I sincerely hope we could have more exchanges like this one when we would be able to continue build our cooperation and bring our people together.
I am looking forward to your and your team visit to China when we will be able to pay back some of the hospitality I received during my memorable stay in your very unique village.
Thank you and your team. Please give our special thanks to Ms. Shelley for her great help .
Sincerely.
Jianxin Wu
Member of Beijing Delegation
Professor and Director of Biochemistry Department
Capital Institute of Pediatrics,Beijing,P.R.China
