Break free from shadow of historical humiliation

• Source: Global Times
• [02:24 January 15 2010]
• Comments

China's rising clout on the world stage calls for a more mature mentality among its people. Neither meekness nor arrogance will help. Though the world order is still tilted in favor of the West, the nation's new muscle provides Chinese more opportunities to equally cooperate with and compete against the Westerners.

In Hugo's letter regarding the burning of the Old Summer Palace, he expressed his hope that France would one day feel guilty and return what it had robbed from China.

While it may take time for Hugo's dream to become a reality, on the 150th anniversary of the historical ransacking, it is time for Chinese to put the memory of that humiliation behind them, move on and step into a bright future.