The identity question
I am very happy that a public discussion about Taiwanese identity has emerged in the Taipei Times over the last two months. I am also very grateful for the Times editorial which pointed out that only a consensus on national "Taiwanese" identity can guarantee economic and political stability ("National identity the best defense," June 13, page 8). I am convinced that Taiwan's democracy, with its liberal rights and transparent laws, represents in itself a very good argument to convince those in military service not to leak national secrets to China and convince businessmen to keep their roots in Taiwan.
Nevertheless, I wonder if the revival of former president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) "special state-to-state" model of cross-strait relations would be useful in creating a common identity, as your editorial suggested. I fear that such a clear step to-ward independence would stir animosities between the different groups instead of erasing such hostilities.
When I flew to Germany a few weeks ago, a very young and smart airline steward of "mainlander" origin told me he would prefer immediate unification to the actual situation in Taiwan. I don't know exactly what he means by this. It can't be Tai-wan's democratic achievements, nor its performance in economic terms during the last decades which really are unique in the world and represent miracles. I suspect that the steward is just feeling a strong menace from the pro-independence camp that questions his Chinese identity.
No reasonable person in Taiwan wants unification now and under the conditions dictated by China, but many people -- I am afraid -- fear that their roots in China may be cut once and for all by a hasty push for independence.
I would really like to know how young people of mainland origin are feeling today and if they can agree to a national consensus on identity that is based on mutual tolerance, the acceptance of Taiwan's very heterogeneous cultural roots and universal democratic values and that do not exclude unification with a democratic and transparent China one day. I would be very happy to read their comments about this issue.
Jens Kleindienst
Taipei
Regarding your editorial, I will go one step further -- the most important aspect of the identity crisis is that it is elected officials who appear the most confused about identity -- especially legislators. Many officials apparently don't know who they should be loyal to and need to be reminded that the only people they need to be loyal to are the voters who elected them and the taxpayers who pay their salaries. If they can't respect the people, they will so hear about it at the ballot box.
Chen Ming-chung
Chicago
Leaders the real problem
Pat Su wrote "it is not that we don't have a clue about how to solve the problems, but rather, it all boils down to one thing -- whether the wealthy and powerful nations are serious about making some real change, even though that might mean some `concessions' and `sacrifices' on their part" (Letters, June 13, page 8.)
Excuse me, but the problem does not boil down to just one thing. This limited opinion offers no insight into the true nature of the worldwide problem we call hunger. Every country has its hungry and homeless, but Africa seems to be teeming with countries whose populations are hungry. The problem may be more acute there, but other countries making concessions and sacrifices is not the issue.
What is at issue is what corrupt government bodies do with the contributions that are currently being made. While their people suffer, leaders of starving countries seem to have no problem extending their own waistlines. Just check the facts and speak with the representatives from the Red Cross and other groups who get into these countries and you'll see that less than 40 percent of food and financial aid ever gets into the hands of the people who need it. If all the aid was used as intended, there simply would not be a hunger problem.
I'm sorry there are hungry people in this world of plenty and there is nothing I'd like more than to help. However, instead of pointing the finger at the "wealthy and powerful" we should be delving into the back pockets of the corrupt leadership of developing countries. Actually, however callous it may seem, I'm for each country taking care of its own problems instead of handicapping every other nation by begging.
Wang Wei
Chengdu, China
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