Locals mourn Chinese leader

While former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping may be most remembered for crushing a student revolt in Tianneman Square, he is also remembered for opening international doors for the people of his country.

Deng's actions are largely responsible for allowing a number of students and researchers to come to the University, said R. Thomas Berner, professor of journalism and American studies.

"He said, 'If you want to go study in the west, go ahead,' " Berner said. "Any Chinese student knows that if they have a hard time getting into the United States, it's because of the United States, not China. We're the ones not giving the students visas."

The death of the former leader has not gone unnoticed by Chinese students at the University.

Graduate student Jun Li posted his comments on the University Chinese Culture Club LISTSERV mailing list, available on the Internet.

"I felt so strongly (about Deng's death) because his policies touched my life and made it easier. Given the history and conditions, I don't think I would have been here at Penn State without him," Jun wrote.

Though Jun admires Deng, he said, he also realizes that some actions during his time in power were not so admirable. Deng was highly criticized for his crackdown on the Tianneman Square protests by university students in 1989, reportedly resulting in hundreds of deaths. The students were protesting in an effort to convince the government to become a democracy.

"It is legitimate and necessary to criticize his policies," Jun said. "His ultimate responsibility in the brutal crackdown of Tianneman Square movement is almost indefensible. However, I just wish that the criticism had been more graceful and dignified."

Jun compared Deng's actions to those of former president Richard Nixon.

"Look back how the Americans mourned President Nixon, who actually brought shame and disgrace to the office of presidency and forever changed the image of politicians," Jun said. "We really have a lot to learn."

With plans to return to his native China, Xing-Zhong Zhao, a postdoctoral scholar in the material research lab, also said he was saddened by Deng's death. He gives credit to Deng for his opportunity to study here in the United States.

"I respect him," Xing-Zhong said. "He's a great man in China's history. He gave me the opportunity to do research work in the United States."

But Xing-Zhong lamented that the media has not done well in conveying the feelings of the Chinese people about Deng and his death.

"I'm very disappointed about the media in the United States, especially in regard to everything in China. I just think the media says what they think about China, not what the Chinese think," he said. "I don't think they understand the feelings of the Chinese people."

Jun was reflective about Deng's death, and though he is upset, he said he is also happy.

"I was deeply saddened by the news that he passed away," Jun said. "However -- I felt happy. I was happy for him, for his long and colorful life, and for his final opportunity of resting in peace."

Deng, a Communist revolutionary, inherited the government after the death of Mao Tse-tung in 1978. Deng opened China to the economic world from which Mao had isolated it. After Deng retired from politics in 1992, he rarely made public appearances, although he did remain an important political figure in China.

"Deng Xiaoping, in effect, ended Mao's revolution and turned China in a pragmatic direction, actually sent China down the capitalist road, and in my opinion, altered not just the communist legacy, but the country's legacy," said Berner, who taught journalism in China in 1994. "China used to be an inward country, and the whole concept over there was that they didn't want outsiders and the like."

The transition of power to current president Jiang Zemin should be fairly smooth, Berner said, and will probably go unnoticed by the Chinese people because Deng chose Jiang to succeed him in 1989. Prior to that, Jiang was in a lower position in Deng's government.