Chen Guangcheng Is Just Happy to Go Outside

AP
Adam Martin 245 Views May 24, 2012

Anderson Cooper scored the first in-depth interview with Chen Guangcheng since the blind Chinese activist arrived in the United States last weekend, and the first thing in CNN's teaser for tonight's show is Chen's absolute relief at just being able to go outside.

Imagine finally getting to breath fresh air after seven years of various forms of detention. "I haven't been able to feel [nature] for a long time," Chen told Cooper. "I had some time to soak in the sun and feel the breeze. I just felt I hadn't been able to do that in so long. I have missed out for too long." That puts our complaining about the weather into perspective.

Another bit of perspective Chen offered was the risk his allies back in China took to help him get out: "When a group of people come together and accomplish something, they often fight for credit. In my case, all those people who went to Shandong to pick me up, when the news broke, they were fighting for risk instead of credit. They were all trying to claim responsibility to make others safer."

Tonight's interview, which begins at 8 p.m EST should be worth watching.

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at amartin at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.

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