Campaign brochures distributed by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate Sean Lien (連勝文) yesterday telling the story of the Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha received negative reviews from netizens, who called the leaflets a failed attempt by Lien to shed his “princeling” image.
Titled “Spreading the Seed of Hope,” the pink brochures listed Lien’s policies along with photographs and messages from the mayoral hopeful to Taipei residents.
It starts off with Lien asking the reader if they remember the song The Sky of Taipei (台北的天空), before he goes on to describe his two brushes with death — once when he was shot and the other when he was diagnosed with cancer — and thanks the residents of Taipei for giving him the courage to give something back and help create the Taipei of tomorrow.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
The brochure’s content continues with the story of Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha, who was a prince and later became a Buddha to help mankind, and then tells story of Jesus Christ, describing how he was a carpenter before he began preaching what later became the Christian religion. It ends with the quote: “A man’s worth is not in his background, but in his mannerisms and acceptance of responsibility.”
A comment from netizen “sdg235” on the Professional Technology Temple — the nation’s largest academic online bulletin board — said that Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha had spent many years meditating, but Lien was “seeking to be mayor after he is done chilling at home,” while another netizen using the handle DASHOCK said that the Buddha had not worn brand-name clothes or driven expensive cars.
Another netizen, Kondyu, said the Buddha “Did not live in [Taipei luxury residential complex] The Palace (帝寶) and ask for alms.”
Lien yesterday said he was a mortal man and could not hope to compare with any great deities, adding that the brochure aimed to tell Taipei residents that he sought to emulate the spirit of what these great men did. As for the criticism, Lien said he paid it no mind as it had been going on for 10 months.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented