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Another poll to worry about
Taiwan took a further step towards democracy and freedom with the re-election of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). He now has the mandate of the people to progress these, but how effectively this can be achieved may be dependant on another election -- in the US in November. The re-election of President George W. Bush may leave Taiwan in a precarious position.
Bush and his administration have claimed to support freedom and equality in the world, but these admirable principles have at best been applied inconsistently. Pulling out of the Kyoto agreement, supporting unilateral action by Israel but opposing such an approach by Taiwan and the war in Iraq have left much of the world deeply suspicious of American foreign policy.
Chen would be in a difficult position should Bush be re-elected. With China trying to drive a wedge between America and Europe, it is unclear where support for his dream of Taiwan being given a fair chance of true democracy that these countries enjoy would come from.
The one thing that is clear though is that Bush is not a man to be trusted, and here is one who is desperately hoping Senator John Kerry is also given a chance -- a chance to really practice what the Bush administration have preached.
Philip Wallbridge
Taipei

Ethics needed
A recount of ballots cast in the presidential election has begun. It is the largest vote recount in Taiwan's political history. Given the way some people, groups and members of the media abusing their freedom of speech to spread rumors and unconfirmed information, the endless aggressive interaction between the pan-blue and green camps seemed inevitable.
People tend to suspect everything and began to distrust everyone, suffering from the ever increasing rumor or political "reasons" being offered. As long as the "truth" is not found or revealed in public, people might still get involved in this endless aggressive behavior.
The ethics and profession of politics need to be revamped. The professionalism and ethical issues should be a core value of any society in the modern world. We should respect them by way of implementing them.
I believe that President Chen would acknowledge the essentials of ethics and professionalism, as well as the value of politics.
Honesty is the best policy. The "truth" must always be revealed, otherwise people will not believe or trust their government. That may be quite a large tragedy in this democratic country -- Taiwan.
Liu Ching-ming
Taipei

UN's cowardice apparent
Once again, the UN has shown that it is nothing more than a political club, despite its charter and high-minded opinions of itself. Secretary General Kofi Annan has always acted as a Communist Chinese parrot, and many member nations have behaved like dung beetles, devouring the remnants of whatever putrid lies are spewed forth by the Communist Chinese administration, particularly about Taiwan.
In its latest inhumane act of appeasement (and complacency and conspiracy), the World Health Organization (WHO) denied the Taiwanese press, en masse, the right to cover the agency's new proceedings. Did I hear right? The UN has denied a nation of 23 million people freedom of the press? Yes, exactly. How shameful.
The supposed international organ of freedom and dignity for all peoples is now nothing more than the lackey of China. Woe to the Tibetans, woe to the Taiwanese, woe to the Mongolians and Hong Kong's democrats, and woe to the hundreds of millions of Chinese citizens who aren't even allowed to know how truly awful and cowardly their leaders are.
Woe to the scores of coward nations who have betrayed Taiwan, democracy and freedom. All of their statements and protestations to the contrary, they are cowards of principle.
Lee Long-hwa
United States
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