Editorial too simplistic
Monday's editorial ("Turning Culture into a Weapon," Feb. 25, page 8) denying the "Chinese-ness" of the people of Taiwan must have come as a surprise to the millions of people who have just celebrated the Lunar New Year, or who regularly worship at temples to Matsu and other Chinese deities, or who speak the dialect of the Min-Nan region of Fujian Province.
Equally misleading and inaccurate was the editorial's equating of "Chinese" with Chinese communism. Many who love and respect Chinese culture are sickened by what the communists have done to their heritage.
It is irresponsible to smear Master Hsing Yun (星雲大師) as an "ultra-unificationist" or imply that the majority of believers at last weekend's religious event are dupes of the communists.
Involvement with China and the question of loyalty is a very complex issue. Most Taiwanese businessmen in China are, for example, like the believers this past weekend, "native Taiwan-ese" and not "mainlanders."
Neal Grasdalen
Taipei
Refresher course needed
Wang Chien-chuang's article ("Vetoing legislation is perfectly normal," Feb. 25, page 8) is a good one and one that should be read by all government officials in Taiwan.
Members of the Legislative Yuan and members of the opposition parties should also read it so that unnecessary confrontations with the president and the Executive Yuan can be avoided.
I hope that the new legislature will change its image from that of the "source of chaos" to one of the "source of harmony."
I would urge KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
It is also perfectly reasonable to require that a presidential candidate be a citizen who was born in Taiwan -- including Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.
Charles Hong
Columbus, Ohio
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