Over the Great Wall – Rotary Service storms the barricade of racial antipathy by Arthur Melville

The Great Wall of China, long a physical barrier, symbolizes the deeper invisible divisions of racial antipathy that Rotary International has worked to overcome in China. Founded in 1919 in Shanghai by Roger D. Pinneo, former president of the Seattle Rotary Club, the Shanghai Rotary Club began with thirty-seven mostly American and British members. It gradually evolved into a diverse, cosmopolitan organization with a strong Chinese membership. The club promoted intercultural friendship and cooperation, notably collaborating with the Shanghai American School and supporting the Institution for Chinese Blind. These efforts embodied Rotary’s mission to bridge cultural divides and foster unity between East and West, challenging long-standing racial and social barriers in the region.

A Grande Muralha da China, tradicional barreira física, simboliza as divisões invisíveis de antipatia racial que o Rotary International buscou superar na China. Fundado em 1919 em Xangai por Roger D. Pinneo, ex-presidente do Rotary Club de Seattle, o Rotary Club de Xangai iniciou com trinta e sete membros, principalmente americanos e britânicos. Evoluiu gradualmente para uma organização cosmopolita e diversificada, com forte participação chinesa. O clube promoveu a amizade intercultural e a cooperação, colaborando com a Shanghai American School e apoiando a Institution for Chinese Blind. Esses esforços representam a missão do Rotary de superar divisões culturais e fomentar a unidade entre o Oriente e o Ocidente, desafiando barreiras raciais e sociais históricas na região.

中国的长城作为长期的物理屏障，象征着旋转社国际努力克服的更深层次的种族敌意和怀疑的无形障碍。上海旋转社成立于1919年，由前西雅图旋转社社长罗杰·D·平尼欧创办，最初由37名主要是美国和英国成员组成。该俱乐部逐渐发展为一个多元化的国际组织，拥有大量中国成员。俱乐部推动跨文化友谊与合作，特别是与上海美国学校合作，并为中国盲人机构提供服务。这些努力体现了旋转社超越文化差异、促进东西方团结的使命，挑战了该地区长期存在的种族和社会障碍。