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The X and Z files

Yesterday I saw the protests of the Taipei City Government against the Ministry of Educa-tion's decision to use Tongyong Pinyin Romanization. If one allows us foreign residents a tiny bit of say in the matter, we would point out that Hanyu Pinyin is as familiar as the numbers 1 to 10 to us, whilst the Tongyong Pinyin inventor doesn't have even have to publish one dictionary before magic acceptance by the committee of which he's a member.

One can't blame the Taipei authorities for being mad. For example, last year Tongyong's inventor along with accompanying legislators called a press conference to declare his opposition to China's "X" letter. The Xu Chang Street (許昌街) sign that he previously hung is still there today.

When we say we want to use the international (Hanyu) pinyin, we are accused of wanting to "reunite" China ... funny, I thought I was an independence supporter. The new government has increased efficiency now that all operations are behind closed doors. I just see a lack of experience.

Dan Jacobson

Tungshih, Taichung County

"Roam an uh ZAY shun" is back in the news. Don't these people have a clue? Here in Taichung, 文心路 has at least 4 different spellings. Were these variations all provided by the government? If so, why?

Pinyin is not for the locals. They don't need it. With the system of Mandarin Phonetic Symbols (注音符號) already in place, Pinyin is not necessary for Taiwanese who want to look up words in a dictionary. Pinyin is a way for FOREIGNERS to get a grasp on a language which is, well, very FOREIGN to them.

Without a set of standards in place, no progress will be made with regard to this subject. Making up a new system (Tong-yong Pinyin) wasn't necessary. Hanyu Pinyin already does the job sufficiently. As for Taiwan-ese names, use a different system -- not one designed for romanizing Mandarin words.

What Taiwan could do with Hanyu Pinyin is something that is lacking in China and other places that use the system -- include the tone markings on street signs and maps. That way, Taiwan would be a leader, not a follower.

Andrew Hokanson

Taichung

Taiwan must keep its pride

Has the US taken Taiwan for granted for too long? "I am not a trouble maker," lamented Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) in responding to the humiliating treatment she was given by the US during her stopover in San Francisco following her visit to Central America.

This sad experience is not new. In the past, then president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) received similar treatment during restricted visits and stop-overs in the US.

This is unfair and unjust. And it is incomprehensible that the US, which champions freedom, democracy and human rights would stoop this far to appease the bully in Beijing and oppress its former ally and an important trade partner.

Make no mistake. Taiwan needs the US' support in many ways. Taiwan does not, however, need to live under the mercy of the US or any other hege-monic countries.

When a retired Taiwanese president cannot get a visa to visit Japan, that tells enough of the story. Taiwan has a long way to go in fighting the injustice and bias in the interna-tional arena.

Ironically, even the dictator of Cuba, which does not have normal relations with the US, received better treatment at a recent UN meeting. The treatment that Taiwan's dignitaries received is a humiliation to the people of Taiwan.

Obviously, continuing to yield without dignity, Taiwan might as well surrender its security and sovereignty. Perhaps next time the vice president should stand up, refuse this kind of treatment, and reroute her tour.

John Yang

Columbus, Ohio
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