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The man in the photograph is reacting to yet another plunge on the Hong Kong stock exchange. His speechless dread also poignantly recalls a yea
r that unleashed on Asia one disaster after another - from the big-picture economic and political crises to those of a more individual and personal nature, like losing a job, fortune or loved one. The Crisis toppled titans, smashed the status quo, uproote
d the underclass. Even Mother Nature misbehaved - with plenty of help from humankind. Small wonder that for many people, 1998 was a year to forget, like a bad dream. Still, for those who believe in silver linings, the past 12 months were also a crash cour
se in reality, an experience from which to grow and prosper. As the year came to an end, there were signs of recovery from Seoul to Bangkok. But there was understandable reluctance to believe the good news. Predictions of a rebound seemed premature, wishf
ul even. The numbers didn't add up. In Hong Kong, for example, the stock market soared even as the fundamentals sank. The man in the picture may have smiled again - fleetingly.
Photograph by David Paul Morris |
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