Sun, Jun 01, 2003 page8

• Blue-camp leaders have an odd way of thinking

  • By Li Hsiao-feng 李筱峰
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  One can never find the so-called "blue thinking methodology" in any books on thinking methodology, because it's a unique product of Taiwan's media, certain political groups and their supporters. What is "blue thinking methodology?" We can get a clear picture from the following examples.

  One, President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) son, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中) -- who is now doing his military service -- took a day's leave after the Ministry of National Defense officially suspended leave for most military personnel. He was severely attacked by politicians who never questioned why KMT Chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) and PFP Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) sons didn't have to do military service for health reasons.

  Two, when Chen asked for business leaders' advice about government personnel, he was immediately criticized as ruling the nation through conglomerates. Some even compared him with the late president Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石), saying that business groups would never interfere with politics during Chiang's rule. This is laughable, because no one dared interfere with politics under the dictator's rule.

  Three, Beijing has constantly claimed that it's taking good care of the health of the Taiwanese while obstructing the nation's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA). After the president retorted that Beijing's claim was a lie, he was surprisingly criticized by Clara Chou (周玉蔻), a blue-camp TV talk show hostess, who attacked Chen for politicizing the issue in the face of the SARS outbreak. This beautiful hostess failed to note that China has politicized the matter the most.

  Four, pan-blue politicians criticized former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) for purchasing a mansion at the Hong Si Villa. But they have forgotten that Chiang had many residences across the nation. They never questioned the acquisition or ownership of these presidential residences. Nor did they intend to investigate why Soong's son, Allen Soong (宋鎮遠) -- a US-based computer engineer -- was able to buy five houses in the US.

  Five, after Lee left his post, he was criticized as interfering in politics when he commented on Taiwan's political situation. But Chiang held his post for five terms in violation of the Constitution before he passed away in 1975. Not only was his son, Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), later elected president in 1978, but the younger Chiang told Taiwanese to follow his father's line.

  Six, since these politicians hate Lee so much, they clamored for a cut in his annual security budget. Isn't it bizarre that they didn't know that the maintenance costs of the two Chiangs' cemeteries are much higher than the cost for Lee's bodyguards?

  Seven, they made up the rumor that Lee's wife, Tseng Wen-hui (曾文惠), fled to the US with suitcases stuffed with money after the 2000 presidential election. But they were not interested in the suitcases carried to the US by Madame Chiang Kai-shek (蔣宋美齡) in the past.

  Eight, whenever the 228 Incident is mentioned, they tell us not to live in the past.

  Nine, they like to criticize Chen and Lee as autocratic and arbitrary. Are the incumbent and former presidents really worse than the two Chiangs?

  Ten, they lashed out at the president for his poor handling of the Pachang Creek tragedy. But they were silent on Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) handling of the flooding caused by Typhoon Nari in 2001.

  There are many more examples. In conclusion, the principle of the "blue thinking methodology" is that pan-blue politicians are always right.

  Li Hsiao-feng is a professor of political history at Shih Hsin University.

  TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG
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