Don't trivialize tragedy
I would like to respond to John Yang's comments (Letters, Sept. 23, page 8).
Yang's use of the recent tragedy in the US to comment on Taiwan's lack of national unity is absolutely deplorable. Not only does it trivialize the nature of patriotism in the US by comparing it with military and economic might, he is at the same time lambasting the people of Taiwan.
Overt signs of nationalism say little if anything about a country. It is what people do inside their hearts and the way they manifest these feelings of love toward their fellow citizens not only during times of need, but in terms of how they conduct themselves every day, that counts.
The hoisting of flags represents only the symbolic form of national unity. One cannot compare such a tragic event in the US with the aftermath of elections in Taiwan -- this is a cheap ploy at snubbing the opposition parties and the people associated with them, and also mocks Taiwan's fledgling democracy.
Yang's appreciation for solidarity, unity and "no squabbling among politicians, no babbling from the media and no complaints from the citizens" is disturbing. These qualities befit a country that needs to rebuild and unite under extreme circumstances. Is Taiwan currently mired in such dire circumstances that the opinions of opposition parties require repeated snubbing? Should we begin to quiet down the pesky media? The reason why Taiwan is a democracy today is because people can speak freely, the media can "babble" and politicians can complain out loud.
To measure the unity and patriotism of the people of Taiwan based on the availability of flags in local stores is utterly contemptible. This is not to say that there are no problems with our political system today, but comparing the unity of Americans after the Sept. 11 attacks with Chen Shui-bian's (
Our nation is more than a symbol on a piece of cloth. Is Yang really writing from the US? If so, he needs to re-evaluate the true principles behind democracy and appreciate that the ongoing interaction of different ideas is what people are most proud of in a free society.
The people of Taiwan will unite for their freedom. They will, Mr. Yang.
Chiao Yuan-Ming
Walla Walla, Washington
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