English as a disorder?
Sharon Lai's emphasis on the dangers of "English Language-induced anxiety disorder" conveniently ignores the fact that many people in Taiwan do not speak Mandarin as a first language ("Language is about communication," Oct. 8, page 8). Taiwanese, Hakka and other languages are spoken in many homes across the nation. How is it that there is no mention of "Mandarin induced-anxiety disorder". Is this a language-specific psychological disorder? As Lai readily admits, people in Taiwan have needed to speak more than one language for centuries now, why is it that English is so dangerous? Is there perhaps an element of xenophobic paranoia behind these "academic" studies? Your article is unclear whether you agree with "immersion-English" or "bi-lingual" kindergartens, your argument seems only intent on spreading the irrational fear that the youth of Taiwan will all grow up to become rude legislators. Bizarre!
Mike Aylin
Yung Ho
A three-party dispute
It is a great opportunity for the Taiwanese to figure out their own identity in this dispute of the ownership of the Senkaku (Diaoyutai) islands.
If one believes that these islands do not belong to Taiwan, then he/she, as a Taiwanese, should stay out of this dispute, since it would be between Japan and China to figure it out. If one believes that these islands do belong to Taiwan, then, as a Taiwanese, he/she, should claim the ownership for Taiwan and state it clearly that these islands do not belong to China or Japan.
Unless one believes that Taiwan is part of China, Taiwanese should not join force with Chinese, either Chinese of the ROC or those of the PRC, in a conflict with Japan. The whole movement of "Protecting the Diaoyutai" alliances is a movement to fan the Chinese nationalism, both in Taiwan and in China. This is why Chinese from both the ROC and the PRC join forces in this dispute.
Taiwanese should recognize that this dispute is not just between the two countries, Japan and China. Instead, there are three different countries claiming the ownership of Senkaku islands -- Taiwan, China and Japan.
Sebo Koh
US
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