Auschwitz NOT Polish
I read Jenny W. Hsu’s article (“Auschwitz survivor speaks against hazards of hatred,” Nov. 11, page 4). It was an interview with Holocaust survivor Noemi Ban from Hungary who endured the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp in Auschwitz during World War II. I want to emphasize that details of the interview are historically correct. The fate of the prisoners of all concentration camps, especially in Auschwitz — the largest — was tragic, terrible and inhuman. More that 3 million Jews perished there. The entire world knows about it.
Reading the article, I found a terrible mistake in the caption under the photo of Noemi Ban: “Holocaust survivor Noemi Ban, 97, shares stories about her experience in a Polish concentration camp in an interview in Taipei last month.”
From September 1939 until 1944, Poland was occupied either partly or entirely by Nazi Germany and its armed forces. Poland has never built any concentration camps on its territory or others. Moreover, Poland suffered heavily from Nazi brutality and cruelty. Six million Polish citizens perished during Nazi rule in my country. All concentration camps, where people from many nations were imprisoned, were built and organized by the Nazi occupiers on Polish land. Never by Poland. That’s why I want to express my strong protest at the false expression “Polish concentration camps” in your newspaper — I believe by simple mistake. The real “founders” of Auschwitz and other concentration camps were the Nazis.
W. STRAZEWSKI
Director-General
Warsaw (Poland) Trade Office In Taipei
Game-fixing unthinkable
I was much dismayed to learn that the esteemed Brother Elephants baseball player, Tsao Chin-hui (曹錦輝), has been accused of impropriety in a game-fixing scandal. As a long time fan of the Colorado Rockies baseball team in the US, for which Tsao played, it is inconceivable to me that there is any fire behind the media smoke regarding the character of this truly decent and much respected young man.
On three separate occasions, he faced devastating injuries that could have ended his dreams. Each time he battled back from these injuries to regain his remarkable pitching form. His dedication to rehabilitation exercises each and every day, and the respect he earned from everyone in the Colorado Rockies’ organization, teammates and front office alike, speaks to the genuine and enduring qualities of his character.
Character cannot be developed in a vacuum. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved. This describes Tsao perfectly — a young man of character.
To think that he could abandon his true nature as an honest and caring person to become what he is not is unthinkable.
We were proud of him during his years with the Colorado Rockies. We are still proud of him.
BRIAN FAHEY
West Lafayette, Indiana
Going nowhere fast
It’s been four months since the Taipei MRT’s Wen-Hu line began operations on June 4. I still remember the day I took the MRT from Neihu to SOGO Department Store downtown. Most passengers were excited and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. They were amazed at the view from the line and took pictures when the train went through Taipei Songshan Airport. But soon after the Wen-Hu line began operations, taking it became a nightmare.
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