We are indebted to DPP presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian
First, some background. For his cross-strait policy, Lien Chan
James Soong's
Lien has two sons, Lien Sheng-wen
Hsu Hsin-liang
And then there is Soong's running mate, Chang Chao-hsiung
As for Chen, his son will graduate from National Taiwan University Law School next year, after which he will have to do his military service. None of Chen's family has any other passports, which means his son might actually get into harm's way defending his country.
Unlike Chen, all the other candidates show a clear preference for making sure their families share as little of the danger inherent in being a citizen of Taiwan as is possible. Responsible parenthood, one might say, especially in a society that places a high Confucian value on sons. Yes, but isn't the president supposed to set a moral example to his people? Is he not supposed to be a patriarch to his extended family? If so, what is the moral example that Soong, Lien and Hsu have set? Shirk your duty, try to become a citizen of somewhere else, move your valuable assets abroad. Does anyone really want to be led by such men?
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