It is unfortunate and perhaps downright shameful that on the same day Pope Benedict XVI risked escalating tensions with China by excommunicating four Chinese bishops (who were forced by the Beijing-controlled "official church" to participate in "illegitimate" ordinations that go against their conscience), US President George W. Bush chose not to allow anything but a brief refueling stop in the US by the freely elected Taiwanese president on his way to state visits in Costa Rica and Paraguay.
The contrast could not be clearer: While the Vatican, without fear of offending China, upheld the human rights of Chinese, the White House snubbed the elected president of Taiwan, a courageous free country with a democratic system which many Chinese would like to seize in the future for themselves if given a chance.
Not allowing Chen even an unofficial visit to the US is not only an insult to the free people he represents but also a letdown for freedom-yearning people everywhere.
James Young
Delaware
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