Representatives from the Greater Taoyuan Alliance for Happy Families yesterday called on the public to defend traditional family values and join a rally on Saturday to oppose same-sex marriage.
“We fully respect same-sex couples, but we are opposed to amending the law to make our society one without fathers and mothers or husbands and wives,” a spokesman for the alliance surnamed Tang (湯), who declined to give his full name, told a press conference in Taipei. “Are we Taiwanese giving up respect for our parents? Are we abandoning the traditional value of showing appreciation for our parents?”
“Let’s all stand up to defend our culture, which is based on filial piety. Let’s all stand up to defend the words ‘father’ and ‘mother’ in our law,” he said.
The group is opposing proposed amendments to the Civil Code that would change gender-specific terms in articles concerning marriage, such as “man and woman” or “father and mother” to neutral terms such as “the two parties” and “the parents.”
Tang said he felt fortunate to grow up in a family with a father and a mother.
“I feel lucky to live in Taiwan because I have my father and mother here with me,” he said. “They are both in their 80s and living in New Taipei City [新北市]. My brothers and sisters visit them every week, and last week, I won for the first time a game of Chinese checkers against my father. I just feel it’s such a joy to have a father and a mother.”
Wen Mu-tian (溫慕天), a Hakka and member of the alliance, said that Hakka consider family, morality and tradition as the most important elements of life.
“If people of the same sex can get married, how can we face our ancestors? How can we pass down our values to future generations? How do we record the names of same-sex couples in the pedigree of our family clan?” Wen asked.
An Atayal woman surnamed Yu (游), who did not give her full name, said that Atayal families traditionally consist of a man and a woman.
“I would not know how to teach my children about healthy relationships if same-sex marriage is legalized,” she said.
He said that it is important to give the title of xiankao (顯考, roughly translated as “honorable late Mr”) or xianbi (顯妣, “honorable late Mr.”) in the pedigree, but “what are we going to do with when the couple consists of two men or two women?”
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
Taiwan’s armed forces have established response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said today. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, concerns have been raised as to whether China would launch a similar “decapitation strike” on Taiwan. The armed forces regularly coordinate with relevant agencies and practice drills to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told reporters before a
EVA Airways on Saturday said that it had suspended a pilot and opened an investigation after he allegedly lost his temper and punched the first officer several times as their plane was taxiing before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a report published on Thursday by The Reporter, the incident occurred after the flight’s Malaysian first officer tried to warn the Taiwanese pilot, surnamed Wen (文), that he was taxiing faster than the speed limit of 30 knots (55.6kph). After alerting the pilot several times without response, the first officer manually applied the brakes in accordance with standard operating
NOT AN OPENING: Trump’s violation of international law does not affect China’s consideration in attacking Taiwan; Beijing lacks capability, not precedent, an official said Taiwanese officials see the US’ capture of the president of Venezuela as a powerful deterrent to Beijing’s aggression and a timely reminder of the US’ ability to defeat militaries equipped with Chinese-made weapons. The strikes that toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signaled to authoritarian leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), US President Donald Trump’s willingness to use military might for international affairs core to US interests, one senior official in Taipei’s security circle said. That reassured Taiwan, the person said. Taipei has also dismissed the idea that Trump’s apparent violation of international law could embolden Beijing, said the official, who was not
RSS