Deep thoughts, May 11, 2009: Non-Chinese Taiwan

Are Taichung and Kaohsiung part of this so-called "Chinese Taipei"?

The word "although" is the least important part of this quote regarding the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [bold and highlighted emphasis mine]:

Although China succeeded in having Taiwan's membership status downgraded, the OIE agreed to change Taiwan's title from "Taipei China" to "Chinese Taipei" after the intervention of the US, Japan and the EU.

Rhetorical question
Why is it so goddamned hard to just call Taiwan "Taiwan"?

If you really don't know the answer, don't wait until death's at your door to figure it out.

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Rhethorical rhizomes: Taiwan, 台灣, deep thoughts, 深思, Chinese Taipei, 中華台北, World Organisation for Animal Health, 世界動物衛生組織, OIE, swine flu, 豬流感, A(H1N1), 新流感

Cross-posted at It's Not Democracy, It's A Conspiracy!

Deep thoughts, August 19, 2008

Look at the other hand

While many people are being misdirected by the madness surrounding former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), other stuff -- really big stuff -- is going on:

Although there is no historical evidence that it was invented by the Chinese, it may be appropriate to note that one of the oldest forms of coercion is known as "Chinese water torture." By continuously dripping water on a victim's head over an extended period of time, it is said that the technique can drive a victim insane.

Nowadays, it seems like those drops of water are being applied to Taiwan's forehead, with each droplet taxing the nation's identity a little more each time. What's worse is that -- like a real victim of torture -- Taiwanese appear to be strapped to a chair and fated to a long period of suffering. And the torturer is a tag team: the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).

Drip: "Chinese Taipei." Drop: "Chunghwa Post." Drip: No WHO or UN application under the name "Taiwan." Drop: Our elected president is but a "Mr." Drip: The possible renaming of National Democracy Memorial Hall, after the murderous dictator the monument was built for. And drop: In the Dominican Republic over the weekend, where President Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) delegation was referred to -- for all to see and without as much as a complaint -- as "China, Taiwan."

Is there anybody out there? Is anybody awake? Do you have any idea just how much is at stake?

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Alarming tones: Taiwan, 台灣, deep thoughts, 深思, Ma Ying-jeou, 馬英九, Chinese Nationalist Party, 中國國民黨, Kuomintang, KMT, 國民黨, Chinese Taipei, 中華台北, China, 中國, Taiwan Independence, 台灣獨立, Taidu, 台獨

Cross-posted at It's Not Democracy, It's A Conspiracy!

Deep thoughts, July 31, 2008

Identity theft edition

Take a look at this article from the Taipei Times:

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday he found it a consolation that the nation's title at the Olympic Games and arrangements for the opening ceremony procession have been resolved, voicing hope that there would be no controversies before the Beijing Games begin.

"Disputes over the designation of Taiwan's Olympic team ... and its order of appearance at the opening ceremony have been resolved," Ma said while visiting the National Sports Training Center in Zuoying (左營), Kaohsiung City, to present a national flag to the nation's Olympic delegation.

I recommend reading the whole thing. (And don't forget these flag flaps involving Mr. Ma.)

Now read these Paul Simon lyrics [corrections mine]:

Slip slidin' away
Slip slidin' away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you're slip slidin' away

I know a man
He came from my hometown
He wore his passion for his woman like a thorny crown
He said "Delores, I live in fear,
My love for you so overpowering I'm afraid that I will disappear."

4:39 YouTube video: "Slip sliding away"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

I live in fear that as we rapidly approach Ma's "eventual" destination, the more Taiwan's unique identity will disappear. Is everybody awake yet?

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Sliders: Taiwan, 台灣, deep thoughts, 深思, Ma Ying-jeou, 馬英九, Olympics, 奧運, Chinese Taipei, 中華台北

Cross-posted at It's Not Democracy, It's A Conspiracy!

The difference between China and Taipei

Compare and contrast

Two headlines about the same topic from two Taiwan-based newspapers last Friday show stark contrast when placed together:

* Taiwan's Olympic title fuels controversy

* Taiwan insists on 'Chinese Taipei'

The former is from the Taipei Times and it tells it like it is.

The latter is brought to you by the China Post, and gives a distorted take on who/what "Taiwan" is.

WTF do they mean?
You see, the ones who "insist on" the sovereignty-damaging "Chinese Taipei" are the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). During the previous administration, the fight was over calling Taiwan "Taiwan" instead, and while it didn't exactly succeed, no ground was lost.

With the KMT holding the office of the presidency (alternately, the office of "Mr." Ma Ying-jeou [馬英九]) and with them having a large majority in the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan is suffering immediate and possibly irreparable damage to its precious sovereignty.

Remember when the KMT adhered to 3 noes? They were: No contact, no negotiation, and no compromise. Now, they're openly selling out the people of Taiwan. Ma isn't even pretending anymore (not that he ever fooled me).

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Outer bounds: Taiwan, 台灣, Olympics, 奧運, Chinese Taipei, 中華台北

Cross-posted at It's Not Democracy, It's A Conspiracy!