Two sides of a coin
Michael Fagan (Letters, July 27 and Aug. 3, page 8) said that Taiwan would make the World Games world famous, but denied that the World Games would raise the international profile of Taiwan. These two things are like two sides of the same coin.
If one side is genuine, it is impossible that the other side is counterfeit or a “lie.”
Fagan’s argument was based solely on the lack of coverage of the Games in Taiwan by the international media. If the international media were lacking, how could Taiwan make the Games world famous, as indicated by Fagan?
The athletes and the audience used cellphones, Twitter and the Internet to transmit information about the Games in Taiwan to their relatives and friends throughout the world. After the athletes went back to their home countries, they also talked and wrote about Taiwan. These grass-roots communications are powerful and undeniable.
Taiwan is a country that has been isolated diplomatically and politically for decades. Taiwan, under the twisted name of “Chinese Taipei,” is treated by the World Health Assembly like a second-class country by granting it an observer status subject to annual review.
The UN is nothing but a mirage for Taiwan, with the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) having given up applying for the UN membership. In this oppressive environment, Taiwanese feel proud of having an opportunity to host the World Games and to implement them successfully. Fagan, who lives in Taiwan, should at least share some of the inner feelings of the Taiwanese.
CHARLES HONG
Columbus, Ohio
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