140. The Founding Fathers and Chinese Civilization

Dr. Wang presented the Founding Fathers of the United States and Chinese Civilization at the Third World Conference on American Studies held in Lisbon, the capital of Portugalin 2007.
Firmly believing that the founding fathers of the United States were among the main architectures of the fiber of American civilization, Dr. Wang explores that the founding fathers with a great vision for this nation worked hard to draw nourishments from Chinese civilization during the formative age of the United States. Dr. Wang mainly examines Benjamin Franklin’s, George Washington’s and Thomas Jefferson’s efforts to use the positive elements from Chinese civilization to build a new nation in North America. The scope of their efforts to borrow from Chinese civilization is so wide, including almost every aspect of the civilization, from Chinese classics, economic plants to industrial technologies. Benjamin Franklin promoted Analects of Confucius to North America in his effort to enhance people’s virtue in North America. He also worked hard to introduce industrial technologies into American society. George Washington, who loved to use Chinese products, tried to grow Chinese flowers in his garden. Thomas Jefferson attempted to combine Chinese architectural style with the European style. The founding fathers’ efforts have produced great influence on the United States and become a valuable legacy. The examination of this legacy will enable us to further understand and grasp the whole picture of the formation of American civilization.

139. Chinese Civilization and the Early Development of the United States

Invited by Cleveland Public Library, one of the most prestigous public and research libraries in the United States, On December 6, 2008 Dr. Dave Wang deliverfed his speech on the influence of Chinese civilization on the United States in its formative age. You can find the event on line. In his speech, Dr. Wang talked about how US founders, such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, used positive elements from Chinese civilization in their efforts to build a new nation in North America. He introduced his audience the following quotation from former President Bill Clinton; "Long before the United States was even born, China was a stronghold of creativity, knowledge, and wealth. From the printing China invented to the poetry it produced, from medicine and mathematics to the magnetic compass and humanistic philosophies, many of China's earliest gifts still enrich our lives today."
Remarks at a state dinner honoring President Jiang, 11.03, 1997. The Organization of Chinese American of Greater Cleverland introduced Dr. Wang's speech on its website.

138. United States and China in this Economic Recession

Dr. Wang delivered his speech at the prestigious Coffee House Club in Manhattan on March 25, 2009.

In his speech Dr. Wang told his audience, "No one knows what will happen in the future, but the past can help guide us into the future. The lessons of the past are like a map into the future. By examining the founding fathers’ efforts to prevail over the first economic crisis of the New Nation, we learn how to move forward. However, by comparing the two events (the Empress of China sailed from Manhattan in 1784 and on the first Monday of 2009the ringing of the New York Stock Exchange’s opening bell was started by Stephen Orlins, the Chairperson of the National Committee on United States-China Relations.) we have found that both events happened in Manhattan and both in critical time for the United States. Clearly, we can derive at the conclusion that China is important to the United States. The cooperation between the United States and China is crucial to prevail over the economic crisis.

137. Benjam Franklin and the Great Wall of China

Dr. Wang presented Benjamin Franklin and the Great Wall of China in Benjamin Franklin House in London on April 9, 2009. More detailed information is available through this link.
According to Dr. Wang, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was arguably the most famous lover of the Great Wall of China in the United States. In 1756, when Franklin was entrusted to be the leader of defense in the French and Indian War (1754-1763), he organized the Pennsylvanian colonists to build a great wall between the Delaware River and the Susquehanna River in Northampton County as a means of protection against the French and their Indian allies. Later in 1760, Franklin recommended the English Parliament to build a great wall resembling that of China’s to safeguard the British Colonies in North America. Even later in 1776, Franklin recommended the colonists to build a great wall for shelter during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) against the English empire.