Suspending belief
To follow up the letter written by Peter Cook on the merits of a new religion (Letters, May 3, page 8): The author, in his not-so-subtle diatribe, rejects Christianity and Islam in favor of a “more successful religious culture,” though he fails to specify what religious culture would replace them.
The author further discounts the beliefs of the two young Mormons he encountered. He asserts that they are religious zombies who cannot think for themselves. He backs up his “disciplined thought” by citing that “90 percent of Mormons have Mormon parents.”
He proceeds to infer that Western-type religions have removed the “gift of choice” and states that belief is akin to an “arranged marriage of the mind.”
I had no idea that I, and other people of faith, had actually lost the ability to choose and that I have been brainwashed not only by Christianity, but by my poor deceased parents as well.
I am sure the author is aware, if we follow his argument, that parents who have no spiritual life would “brainwash” their children into having no spiritual life almost 100 percent of the time. These “sad” individuals must spend their time searching for the “truth” which they will never find. They will never find it, because it is found in the choice to believe, a choice which they have rejected.
Indeed, a person of no faith or belief should not begrudge an individual who does believe. Do not be sad for the Mormons, it is not they who need your pity.
Peter Ryan Brady
Taipei
Not-so-long arm of the law
Every time I visit the Taichung High Speed Railway Station, I notice some changes.
Today I dropped my sister-in-law off at the station and what I saw near exit 1B on the second floor surprised and disappointed me: There were three policemen busily stopping cars from parking in front of the exit.
The only car actually parked there was a taxi with the driver sat inside and the police did not ask the driver to move. I thought that perhaps someone had arrived in the taxi and was due to return. As my wife and I were helping my sister-in-law to get her luggage out of our car, I saw two men approaching the taxi, but only one got in, while the other person turned to look back around the station.
The taxi was not only parked in the no-parking zone, but was also located near a sign that stated this was a no-pickup zone for taxis.
At this point I had to move my car and I drove around to the quick drop-off point where you have to drive in a loop, as you are not permitted to park here either.
During this maneuver I notice the same man from the taxi still standing outside the exit with another man, both of whom were looking into the station for exiting passengers. Periodically they would chat with one or more of the policemen near the exit. The policemen appeared to be acquainted with both of them.
That is what surprised me: If I could see that these two taxi drivers were avoiding the taxi queue on the first floor — which arriving passengers are supposed to use — I could not imagine that the police did not know what was going on. Surely this means the police were turning a blind eye, or perhaps even being paid off in some way.
This was disappointing. I know this is Taichung, and most people have come to expect the police in Taichung to ignore the rules, but they were so obvious. It seems Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) has some more work to do with local law enforcement agents.
Tom Carroll
Nantou County
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