Letters:

Missing the point

The media's coverage of the possible paroling and admission to National Taiwan Univer-sity's (NTU) sociology department of a serial rapist is especially interesting in that it highlights certain attitudes.

The issue seems not to be whether there should be any prospect of freedom for a man just six years after he was jailed for raping at least 30 women, but whether he should be allowed to study at NTU -- as if college campuses are the only places where women exist!

Every year violent criminals are released from Taiwan's jails. But it's unusual for the media to ask whether these people are going to find themselves in situations that make recidivism more likely.

The media's concern in this case probably stems from the fact that many influential people have daughters at NTU. Either that, or university students are seen as needing more care and protection than the rest of us.

I have the feeling that if the inmate was expected to live in a blue-collar part of town -- and perhaps work in a factory -- then few would be showing much interest in his case.

Steven Crook

Taipei

A brute, but not Brutus

Your comparison of James Soong (宋楚瑜) to Brutus is inappropriate ("Seeing the handwriting on the wall, Aug 9, page 8).

In Julius Caesar, Shakes-peare portrays Brutus' tragic character through his permission to Antony, his obvious enemy, to give a public speech.

Brutus is a just and generous man, but one who misunderstands Roman politics. Soong's ambition is to become president of Taiwan. He is politically astute and cunning.

If Soong had toppled Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), he would not have let Lee's assistant lecture the public as the naive Brutus allows Antony to do. Brutus' fairness towards his enemy foretells his doom.

An appropriate comparison to Soong might be Tsao Chao (曹操) (around 200 BC), a man who attempted to become emperor of China through a series of betrayals. He was also a literati who wrote poems. James Soong, with his doctoral degree, is driven by the same desire as Tsao. Brutus' motive is worthy of our sympathy, as is Soong's. Will he succeed? If he can get rid of Lee's continuing influence, his chances are good.

Ni Kuo-jung

Hsinchu City