Soong is deluded
Lee Chang-kuei's article ("Lien, Soong proffer a bleak future," Feb. 26, page 8) is a good reference for voters. The Lien-Soong ticket is a mismatch for themselves and for Taiwan.
KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) were KMT comrades for decades, became political enemies during the 2000 presidential election and are now collaborating as running mates for next year's presidential election. They split and unite at will all because of a presidential election.
Soong has announced that he will listen to whatever Lien says. Soong even knelt and begged for votes to re-elect the KMT's Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九). Soong's lack of dignity, together with his corrupt image and his role in the 1979 Kaohsiung Incident, might cost him another election.
Ma's re-election has misled Lien to believe that his popularity has increased. Lien seems to forget that citizens in Taipei voted for Ma -- not Lien. To be a stronger candidate, Lien has to change his image of a good-for-nothing.
KMT's nativism is not convincing since its name (中國國 民黨) is still preceded by "China." The people in the PFP must refer to the people in China since Soong uses "Taiwan's general public" and "hometown rela-tives" in his political addresses.
Both Lien and Soong despise Lee Teng-hui, Mr. Democracy, and worship Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), Mr. Dictatorship. Are they trying to reverse the democratization process in Taiwan?
Charles Hong
Columbus, Ohio
Skaters unite
Several years ago one of Tai-wan's English-language news-papers ran a photo of a small girl in rollerblades being escorted from Tianamen Square by a police officer with the caption explaining that it is illegal to skate at the square. It was run to show the contrast between our two cities as the sport was on the rise in Taiwan and skaters could be seen enjoying themselves daily at memorials and parks across Taipei City.
However these freedoms have been slowly eroded of late to the point where police officers are chasing people out of the CKS Memorial, although there aren't any laws in place to prevent them skating there. And then this weekend I was appalled to see that the authorities at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall have installed more "speed bumps" for skaters -- sets of six with each set 2m apart making the surface practically unskateable.
This memorial has been a huge draw for skaters over the years with hundreds of people using it, more importantly however is that of these hundreds of skaters 90 percent of them are children around 10 years of age and under, the majority of whom live within walking distance of the memorial.
As any parent in Taipei will tell you, there aren't many outdoor activities for children of this age to enjoy in Taipei and within a 2km radius of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall there aren't any other skating facilities.
This skating area is only one of the many open expanses at the memorial. That the other areas are not suitable for skating ensures skaters would be confined to one area. There is also a wide footpath along the side ensuring safety for passersby.
So to the authorities I ask: Have you no shame for your selfish ways that spoil the fun for innocent children? If you act in the name of the "Father of the Nation," Sun Yat-sen, whose consideration for children's welfare is well known, then should you not be promoting the outdoor activities available for children at the memorial and encouraging them to come and enjoy the facilities available? Or are you trying to create an austere and somber environment to rival that of Tianamen Square?
Geoff Le Cren
Taipei
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