Who is Homer Lea?
“Homer Lea, he was a rebel that spoke truth to America but was ignored. Unknown to many Americans today, Lea understood the world that was evolving at the turn of the 20th century and much of what he discussed still has validity today.”
Tom Donelson, Political Commentator, January, 2006.
Homer Lea is unknown to many Americans and many Chinese as well. Hopefully, this website and the other media will bring Lea’s life and accomplishments to public light. Homer loved Chinese because he viewed them as the most peace loving people since the classical era. Today there is a difficult agenda between China, American, and Taiwan. Whichever side the American choose, they will evoke the anger of the other.
“ Our survey shows only five percent of Americans came to see China. We wish more Americans would come to visit us. We welcome them! China is changing. Let these two countries become one community! ” the Chinese Director General of Foreign Affair, Mr. Feng Shusen said to a group of ninety-six Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputies, their friends and families, in Diaoyutai (a large compound for foreign dignity visitors) in Beijing, China on November 12, 2005. They were invited there for a Cultural Exchange visit and gift exchange ceremony. Later that evening, the Director said to some deputies: “ Next time when you come, stay here with us! Yes.... stay here! “ We know how much the Chinese love Americans. I am sure the Chinese people on the other side will be the same. Only when the Chinese on both side get back together, there will be a peaceful harmony among the Chinese people. (see pictures at the bottom of the Photos page)
A proposal for a movie and a nonfiction novel
It was reported on August 26, 1955 in The New York times: “Hollywood, California, August 25 - Plans for a motion picture based on the life of Homer Lea, who forecast Japan’s invasion of the Philippines before his death on 1912, were disclosed today by William Schorr.” Perhaps due to the uncertainty and lack of information surrounding his life, the project was eventually canceled. Today, there are historical documents that remain (many of which, have been donated to state libraries, and state universities, both in English and Chinese - these remain in their personal collections and are a testament to Lea’s historical and political legacy). In other words, we can now put his life back together.
A film about Homer Lea’s fascinating and colorful personal history is well worth the cost and effort. It is a great story, and with the Los Angeles-China connection, you know public appeal would be present. This story is a prequel to the most acclaimed Academy awards film in history, The Last Emperor, and many who saw that movie will be attracted to this one. Today, people are talking about war: Homer Lea discerns the different between war and peace. This film also has an international appeal. The audience would not only American, but Chinese, British, Japanese, and German as well. There would be a substantial cost of the production, but the return ratio would potentially be enormous.
The author of this website has completed a screenplay about Homer Lea. The title of this screenplay is “General Lea” www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt800036wj/, because of Homer’s love of military tactics. If you are a producer, agent, director, or studio executive and would like to read or learn more about General Lea, please contact the author through the email address which is located at the bottom of the “Contacts” web page. A nonfiction novel of Lea’s story is also delightful!
Hollywood, a proposal for a movie based on Homer Lea’s life.
An united U.S. Chinatowns organization to follow Lea’s vision.
Homer Lea was the person who had organized and joined the Chinese people of the major cities in the U.S. He recognized the need to train Chinese soldiers and get support from the Chinese communities to save China. He felt strongly that if only the American-Chinese people were united and spoke with one voice, they would play an important role in leading the reform or revolution. The location of its organization’s headquarters was between Olympic and Figueroa Street in Los Angeles. Consider their transportation and communication methods in the old days -- it was a tremendous task. Today we have jet-plans and the Internet, which make life so much easier.
Homer always wished that America would recognize China, help China, and make a strong relationship with her in order to keep the world at peace. War is inevitable, unless there is a balance of power that halts aggression. Homer had tried to awaken Pacifists and Isolationists to the reality of war. There were many lessons we have learned from the Cold war, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, and now the Iraq war. In the Cold war, the Soviet Empire replaced Germany as a threat to the freedom of the Eurasian continent. Homer had warned that Russia’s involvement with China would be a threat to the United States.
Today, there are still problems between China and America. I know the Chinese-Americans can rise up together and be united once again like what Homer Lea envisioned and follow his vision to bring China, Taiwan and America together. Then, there may be a solution to the world peace.
I propose the first step is to invite representatives from U.S. Chinatowns to come to Los Angeles for a meeting. The main goal is to follow Lea’s vision and the other issues to contemplate the welfare of the Chinese-Americans. Although it would be a Chinese organization, its leadership would not be exclusive to the Chinese. Like Homer Lea, for those who have the heart and soul, and passion for the Chinese people, they are most welcome.
Celebration of the successful 1911 Chinese revolution in San Francisco Chinatown
“ No state is ever destroyed except through those avertible conditions that mankind dreads to contemplate. Yet nations prefer to perish rather than to master the single lesson taught by the washing away of those that have gone before them. “ - Homer Lea
