Chinese puzzle boxes
Chinese puzzle boxes, almost always made from wood, contain many concealed panels. They are intriguing, challenging and, yes, puzzling.
St. Louis' quest to become a major hub for Chinese air cargo brings an entire community together to solve the puzzle the United States faces if it is to develop a true trade partnership with China.
The notion that a community without many natural assets in terms of air cargo could catapult itself to a front-row seat at the competition for China's nod is incredible. And, very unlike St. Louis.
It is our humbling nature to defer to others rather than to prance ahead, putting our best runway forward.
It is our balkanized nature to fight among ourselves, pitting Democrats against Republicans, business against labor, county versus city, rather than to present a united front of support.
It is our Midwestern, shy nature to stay at home and have a beer with high school buddies rather than to fly across the ocean to embrace a culture very different from our own.
This Big Idea may or may not be THE Big Idea for St. Louis or for the Chinese either, for that matter.
As our story on Page One illustrates, there are other communities that believe they are well-suited to welcome Chinese cargo and ship it throughout the United States.
It would be amazing if St. Louis becomes the Midwest-China Hub, but, in fact, the Big Idea already has borne fruit for this region. Leaders have come together to demonstrate solidarity, sincerity and vision.
Maybe we are closer than we think to solving our own Chinese puzzle.
