218. From Benjamin Franklin to President Obama

It seems too far jumping from Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), the great founder of this great nation, to President Obama, elected in 2008. However, the tradition started by Franklin has been well preserved and continuted by our president who has a great vision as great as the founder's.

I have been impressed by the news that First Lady Michelle Obama promoted recently at Howard University President Barack Obama's One-Hundred-Thousand Strong initiative, a national effort to increase dramatically the number and diversify the composition of American students studying in China.

We know that Franklin at his senior age once told one of his friends that he would go to China if he were young. Clearly, Franklin would be extremely happy if he had known that thousands of young Americans will study in China.

"That’s why it is so important for more of our young people to live and study in each other’s countries," Mrs. Obama said. "That’s how, student by student, we develop that habit of cooperation, by immersing yourself in someone else’s culture, by sharing your stories and letting them share theirs, by taking the time to get past the stereotypes and misperceptions that too often divide us. More available from this link.