Englam.Net

After more than 10 days of  terror by the  “Middle Typhoon Marakot”, the cabinet and  legislative officials in Taiwan said that everything needed to deal with the disaster are already covered in the Disaster prevention and Protection Act!  Many rivers are still running angry muddy water and villages lost  in mud and gravels, live stocks no longer alive but rotting in piles, Many people are still uncounted and feared already lost.  Pockets of survivors await to be rescued and needing things to fill their bellies, yet those KMT (Chinese Nationalist Party) officials of the Republic of China in Taiwan agree and say that there is “no state of emergency” !  Actually, this is an excuse for their less than halfhearted way of dealing with the emergent situation this time even the disaster has not yet ceased.

At 921 (September 21th) Earthquake a decade ago, a State of Emergency was declared and the military threw all its strengths into rescue and rehabilitation with out any excuse.  This time, the President who is the Supreme Commander of the Military Forces, was calmly enjoying himself at a wedding feast on the 88 Day.  Yesterday the Minister of Defense and his staffs say that some “necessary procedures must be followed”  before they can move the Forces.

Last year, when there was disastrous earthquake in the far away western region of China, Ma quickly acted and his wife sat many days at phone-side and lead in aid fund raising.  But so far no one sees her doing any thing.  Taiwan gave a total of 58 billion to China then, but this time, China after talk with the KMT agreed to give Taiwan ,6 billion for relief work via Red Cross which president in Taiwan is the First-Lady,  it is reported today.

A few days ago, the USA and Japan offered relief aids for the emergent needs after Marakot struck, Mr. Ma reclined by saying that there is “No Emergency”!  People are at lost  fathoming  Ma’s mind.  An angry Vice-Chancellor of a National University in Tainan said that the Presidential Office Building must sank in water before a state of emergency could be declared!

August 8th, shortened as 8-8, rhymes with Pa-Pa (Ba-Ba), is Father’s Day in Taiwan.  Many restaurants all over were booked  full weeks ago before the date, but were not able to entertain their guests’  fathers because of a typhoon named Morakot is  pounding,  flooding, and devastating  Taiwan, much like the one named Ellen did on August 7th 50 years ago that destroyed vast areas of the Southern region.  In fact Morakot is still hovering in the air.  Although it’s center(eye) has left the island nation, it still down poring heavy rain all over. The southwest wind current is heavily laden with moist and no doubt it will rain  hard for 2 or 3 more days.

It was fortunate that the cyclone did not come while the International World Games were taking place in the southern port city of Kaohsiung.  Scarcely a week after the World Games, Typhoon Morakot arose in the Southeast Pacific and moves very slowly northwest ward, heading straight for Taiwan.  It behaves like a fat bull, moves slowly and stubbornly close to Taiwan.  After it’s landfall on day before yesterday till today, it poured some 1000 mm water on the north and more than 2000 mm cumulative rain on the south.  At the middle distance from Tainan to Taichung in the Chiayi mountain area, so far it has over 2500 mm rain today  and it is estimated to reach over 2900 mm.  It seems that more than a half of Taiwan is flooded and under water right now.  Bridges down,  roads damaged and  landslides, power is  lost and people flee their homes.

In the time of former administaration of Chen Shui-ben, a thorough plan for flood-controll was submitted to the Legislator Yuen, aimed at prevention of a replay of the 8-7 Flood many years ago. But it was blocked by KMT (The Nationalist Party) members who were the great majority.  Now, history has reenacted worse than before.  The present KMT government is busy trying, but at lost what to do with the situation.  After KMT’s  Republic of China fled to Taiwan in 1949, its atitude has been called by some, “a toothbrush-ism”, meaning “can move away  any time”, without thought of laying fundamental building-ups for Taiwan.  Everything they did and still do is “political” in the worst sense of the word. They take, but would not give back much, meanwhile people suffer continually.

The 2009 World games closed in  a spectacular style on July 26th as it was scheduled. On the evening of the day, it was reported that some 40,000 people attended  the Closing Ceremony. Every one had a small LED light in their hands, waving in tune to the movements of music, and orchestrating with the magnificent fireworks  displaying above.  It  was like the Silver River of Stars (Milk Way) above came down at the site when the 1500 athletes from 105 nations entered the Stadium led by Taiwan’s United  Armed Forces Orchestra playing marching tunes. China’s athletes failed to show at the Closing  Ceremony, as with the Opening time. What a pitiful occasion for the different parties of Chinese athletes who arrived just before and left for home right after their games ended without given a chance to see Taiwan, Formosa, an island beautiful!

After the main floor show with ten colorful themed dance and visual performances designed to showcase the history of the host city, then more than 100 traditional hot-air Sky Lanterns were released into the air to wish good fortune and health of the athletes before Ron Froelich, the President of the International World Games Association and Chen Chu, Mayor of Kaohsiung City addressed the packed crowd.  Mr. Froehlich called the Kaohsiung Games the “Best ever” and hard to be surpassed. Mayor Chen, speaking in Mandarin and Taiwanese, said the Games is the pride of people all over Taiwan, and will be engraved into the hearts of Kaohsiung residents. The Mayor especially paid tribute to the more than 6,000 vilunteers who sat in the VIP section for their contribution in making the World Games such a success. before calling for her fellow Taiwanese to “fight in unity for the dignity of our country”.  She concluded with asking everyone to help the upcoming September’s Deaflympics in Taipei a success and to “polish the brilliance of Taiwan in the international arena”.

After the addesses, the flags of the World games were lowered and carried over to the President of the Association and the Mayor by Taiwan’s triple-gold-medal-winning speed roller skater and the flag was handover to a representative of  Cali, Columbia, where the  next World games will take place  in four years time.

At this World Games, Taiwan had a total of 24 medals, 8 gold, 9 silver, and 7 copper and ranked number 7 after Russia, Italy, China, USA, Ukraine, and France. But the significance of the event was the spirit of the people of Taiwan who united  and worked hard for the Games’ success, while showing their pride and dignity in making contribution to an international event as a host country.

Ron Froehlich, the President of the International World Games, was reported to have negative view of Taiwan and Kaohsiung’s hosting the Games. But as he worked with the City and the people in preparation of the event, his attitude gradually changed to better. The unceasing pressure and nagging from China during the preparatory period also irked him and led to his formal introduction of Ma Ing-jhiou as the “President of the Republic of China” at the Opening Ceremony.

As it was on news, Mr. Ma Ying-Jiou was introduced and inaugurated the 8th International World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan,  as President of the Republic of China on Thursday night, July 16th. China, though is participating in the Games, but snub the opening ceremony because  Mr. Ma inaugurated the event as the head of state.  It is reported that The officials of the Games did have consent of China to so introduce Mr. Ma.  The allowance is a small token to show some recognition of Mr. Ma’s policy of ” gradual unification” with China.  There is a report that originally China would participate in 18 games, but cut down to only 8 now.

When Kaohsiung, Taiwan bid and chosen to host the international games some years ago, China threaten to boycott and blockade. But the 8th World Games has successfully opened with more than expected numbers of countries (105) participating, all people in Taiwan should be glad and bless it’s success. Snubbing of the event by an irrational China is understandable, but behavior of those officials in Ma’’s Government and of KMT dignitaries is very questionable. They flocked to the last year’s Olympic Games in Beijing, but so far, there is no showing up of them, except Mr. Ma.

Yesterday, there was an article submitted to Liberty Times, the best selling paper here, by  a former Ambassador of Taiwan to South Africa, Lu I-Chen, who  belittling the Kaohsiung World Games as a  “fake”.  He described Kaohsiung Games  by using a saying, “Hanging goat head up when selling dog meat”. In his terms, the 31 games contested at the event are rejects of the Olympics picked up by the World Games, and that the World Games is like a child of a concubine in old China, never able to lift his up high!  In his view, the whole exercise in Kaohsiung is “a waste of people’s money”, and the magnificently built Stadium with solar power generators will soon become a habitat of mosquitoes.

When Kaohsiung successfully bid to host the Games, it was during the DPP Administration.  China threaten to blockade it, KMT legistlors attempted to pull Kaohsiung’s legs.  Even after Mr. Ma assumed the office of presidency last May, his government has not been cooperative.  But Kao-hsiung City worked hard and did  the best.  Now, it is successfully taking place, but those officials and dignitaries  are shy to attend.  How  insane to belittle the wonderful event, and what a  pity to have missed it.

Today, after the World Games was declared it’s opening by President Ma last night, a team from China finally registered with the Games’ Administration this morning. President Ma, when declaring the “opening”, did not say his official title and so is much criticized in media. Actually he was introduced by the Chairman of the World Games Association as the President of the Republic of China. (Last May when he met with the US Secretary of State,  Hillary Clinton,  on his State Visit to Latin America, Ma introduced himself as the President of Taiwan to her.)

The Opening Ceremony cost the City of Kaohsiung  NT$170 million last night, as it is reported.  But the Opening Ceremony was shunned by China, even a Chinese athletic party was near by. The s main stadium, which architect is Toyo Ito from Japan, alone costs  more than NT$5 billion,  has 55,000 seats, and is equipped with solar power system ( the world’s first) and shaped like a spirally ascending dragon ( very Chinese, unfortunately).   The solar generators can supply lighting and air-conditioning for the stadium, and surpass electricity can be sold to  Taiwan Power Company. The artistic surrounding is given much humanistic and environmental consideration and invites much favorable reportage.

The World Games takes after the manner of the Olympics, even though Taiwan is  the Host Country, only a substitute flag for Taiwan (as Chinese Taipei) is allowed to be placed among 105 national flags from all over the world.  But the Mayor of Kaohsiung City invited openly that she welcomes all kinds of  non-official flags that abide the size restriction. There are seen flags in many colours and sizes, of small national flag of the Republic of China (ROC), of Taiwan Independent Movement, of the DPP, those with picture in the  shape of Taiwan, or just written “Taiwan”, both in Chinese characters  and in English. This is a technical break-through of the ban forced upon Taiwan by China when attending international events. In the past years when there were similar events in Taipei, no  flag was allowed to be present other than the substitute flag.  In the City of Kaohsiung this time, people are venting their ire and hurt, but also their pride in participation of a world game hosted by the great city, Kaohsiubg, in the Southern Taiwan.

The World Games at Kaohsiung City in Southern Taiwan opens today.  President Ma Ying-jiou will attend the Opening Ceremony. It will be the  first time in history that the Games’ Opening is declared by a Head of State. Despite of Ma’s policy of a gradual unification of Taiwan with China against the will of many people in Taiwan, China, according to reportage, will keep their athletes from attending the Opening Ceremony, so to avoid giving impression of recognizing Ma as a Head of a “State”, neither of Taiwan, nor of The Republic of China.

No doubt, the Games, which has been in preparation for the last 3 and more years, will draw the world’s attention to Taiwan and adds great light on the faces of the people, and should be supported by all people in Taiwan.  But Ma’s Government which comes to power last year in May, has been cool to it.  It’s reason probably stemmed from the fact that Kaohsiung ’s and those of municipal heads in the South Taiwan are all from non KMT background and/or belong to position, the DPP.  There is an International Deaf/Mute’s Game pending in Taipei, where the Mayer of the City is a KMT  member, the Athletic Commission of Ma’s Government  subsidized it with a huge grant of  NT$470 million.  Then for the Games in Kaohsiung, the City asked for a NT$350 million subsidy for the opening expenditures, only a fraction of NT$65 million was given by the Commission which says that they support it, but the responsibility falls on the City of Kaohsiung!

The fact shows a sad social/political division in Taiwan.  Ma’s Government wants unification with China however gradually, but it will not work for Taiwan as a nation unified.

It is about one year since I posted last.  Some how this blog has been inaccessible to me. What I heard was that it was closed by the former server because of  bad attacks. Fortunately my son has it restored for me by switching to  new server as a Father’s Day gift to me.

Since the Forth of July last year, Taiwan under KMT’s Ma Government  has witnessed a fast capitulation to it’s once arch enemy, China , without caring for the sentiment of the majority people of the Island Nation. I do not know whether it was unfortunate or fortunate because of the shut down of my blog by it’s former server and therefor made me unable to vent my feeling through months passed.  Now, this blog  has come alive again , there will be no excuse not to post in time ahead.

On this Forth of July, a happier note for me was going to Taipei Fine Arts Museum to enjoy viewing Arcadie – Dans les Collections du Centre Pompidou exhibition. The works included those of  Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Gorges Braque, Pierre Bonnard, marc Chagall, Jean Dubuffet, Paul Klee and Luis Bunuel. Among the exhibition are many rarely lent important contemporary artworks of the Ponpidou collection.  As the exhibition will be close by July 12th, viewers flocked in from all over Taiwan.

Unhappier news of the day was that Yankee’s Wang Chen-min suffered shoulder injury while pitting hard to get his second win after his return to the mound. He was confident, saying that his new born son, Justin, would be his guardian angel.  What a disappointment to him and to so many fans in Taiwan.  On a happier side, there is a new ball player from Taiwan on the US Major Leagues, a left-handed pitcher, Ni Fu-Te, who done his successful rescue pitching briefly on this Fourth of July. Ni, a new comer to the Major League, loos like to have a good future ahead there.

Unhappy news of the day, among many, was that President Ma suffered snubs on his State Visit to the Central Americas.  This is his second visit with in a month. Otega, the Nicaraguan President,  failed to meet him at Ma’s arrival and did not turn up at the State Dinner hosted by Ma at the Nicaraguan Capital. News reporters have counted that as the sixth snubs on this visit in Nicaragua alone.  After threat of recalling the ambassadors and cancellation of US$ Two Million aids by Taiwan to Nicaragua, the Nicaraguan President showed up with some excuses.  Analyzers say that all this is stemmed from Ma’s Policy of  Gradual Unification with China and his call of halting diplomatic activity by his government in hope of gaining approval by China.  He is selling Taiwan out fast, and the snubs are only very little price to pay for getting approval from the other side of the Strait. But, there is no glory on the faces of Taiwanese people!

I will stop here less to conpound more unhappiness for the day.

On this 4th of July, much TV coverages in Taiwan were about the first direct flights across the narrow Strait that lies between Taiwan and China in sixty years. The hostile stance taken by China against Taiwan all these years made it necessary to close that kind of direct flights. There are over 1,000 and increasing numbers of missiles aiming at cities and installations on the island state now and upgrading still. Travelling between the two countries needed to go to a third country or location first and then proceed to one’s destination. This measure was introduced about 20 years ago. Earlier, no visit was allowed the peoples by the KMT (“Nationalist Party of China” or, “Chinese Nationalist Party” now} which fled to Taiwan after defeated by the Chinese Communists in 1947) Government.

But having had to go to a third location first and change planes means longer travel time, expenses, and exhaustion. Especially on holidays like at the lunar or Chinese New Year, the great number of Taiwanese marchants who have their business establishments in China would plead for direct charter flights so they can come back home in shorter time. The DPP (The Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan) Government which replaced the KMT Government 8 years ago allowed charter flights called “the three small direct-flights” but still had to stop-over at a third location (e.g., Hongkong) first for security reason.

This year in May, the DPP Government is replaced by the KMT’s Ma Ying-Chou Government. During the election campaigns, Mr. Ma calls himself a “New Taiwanese” and promissed to put Taiwan’s interests at his top priorities. He was elected in March having 57% votes (it is said that 2/3 were women votes who admire his beautiful legs showing on his daily jogging). After his victory, he set this 4th of July as target date for the direct flight across the Strait, no stop-over at a third location and somewhat circumvented paths. His negotiators opened 8 airports on Taiwan for such flights, while China allowed only 4 in that vast country! Mr. Ma said that such direct flights, though still chartered flights, will bring 3000 Chinese tourists daily to Taiwan and thus boost Taiwan’s economy! (The first flight from Quangchou, China was truly a “circumvented” one, as it took almost a straight path from the other shore in order to beat others in reaching Taipei). But the 8 airports opened to China are on every corners of this island country, and would greatly compromise Taiwan’s security! Ironically, on the same day, 4th of July, Chinese Army onducted a similation military venture utilizing commercial flights to carry their commandoes to liberate Taiwan!

Fourth of July is the Indipendant Day of the USA. Yet, in Taiwan, sacrifising the national integrity, the new President opened her gates to the hostile enemy without reservation! Mr. Ma insists emphatically that the name of the Country is not Taiwan, but, the Republic of China! His government’s policy is a gradual (but, rapid!) bend toward (re)unification with China.

After 60 days in office, for various reasons, Mr. Ma’s popularity dropped from earlier 72% to less than a half of 35% at the latest survey. His daily 3000 visitors from China did not show up. On yesterday, it was reported that about 300 visitors came over. while the week’s total was less than 1000 persons. Store keepers are very much disappointed as the visitors from across the Strait do not buy much but bargain hard. Tourists from other countries, especially from Japan, dwendled.

To me, this Fourth of July was a sad day. While Mr.Ma insists that the Open Strait Policy is his great achivement that will contribute to peace of the Southeast corner of the World, but, it is at the expenses of the island country Taiwan! Mr. Ma was born in the former British colony of Koulung, and so, named Ying(English) – Chou(nine of Koulung – Nine dragons). Normally a foreign-born cannot be elected as head of a state for reason of loyalty question. Previously I said that numeral 9 is believed as a dog gone bad omen. Will that numeral in Mr. Ma’s name be a bad omen for Taiwan?

By this Forth of July, it would be about a year since last I posted. I had been miserable, mentally or spititaully, more than physically. The only exception was during the short visit with my family in New England states, USA. Physically speaking, it was mainly from the advancing age of being 79, counting both ways in the regular way and the Oriental way which counts in the numbers of years involved. A person with a age of 79 is belived superstitiously to be a year of bad luck, because there is a number 9 which is pronounced like “dog” in Taiwanese and other Southeast dialects. For older people, when you hit that “dog gone” year, you need to be carefull, lest your life came to its end!

Physically, my problem was with hearing. I lost my left side 12 years ago by an acoustic neuroma and since minding myself to cherish the remaing side. In order to have the pleasure of hearing that remains, I picked up cello lesson when I was 75. An very atractive young lady was my first and only teacher who is an excellent musician. After a year of basic lessons, she said “Sorry and Good-bye” because Taipei American School invited her to teach there and could not find time to spare. I tried others, but no go because their comments after lesson were univocally “Hen-hao” (Very good), but no help to me! So, I just practice by myself since.

My cello was a choiced pick for me by a musical couple (a former First Violinist of Taiwan National Orchestra and his wife, a Cellist). Altough a Chinese made, it has a rich, warm, and beautiful tone. To my horror, it produced extremely warped sounds on every string! I took it to my luthir earlier, insisted that cure be found. Sound post, briidge, tailpiece, even the end-stick were renewed, and it inproved greatly. But one morning in March, this year, it suffered again the illness and I suspected that there must be cracks inside and my luthier relucktantly open the top plate on my insistance, and done further improvement. Now, you should hear it and congratulate for the wonderful results!

To my surprise, the moring after my birthday in May, I found my cello, though covered with a piece of cloth, standing in the passage of cold air conditioner blow. When I played it, the warped noises came back again!. “Oh, my cello must have cought a cold!” I thought and move it away to gradually acclimate it, and afterward, to my relief, it returned to normal. I was very happy! But, the similer thing happen again several times and I was greatly saddened by the occurances.

Realization that it is not the problem with the cello but my own hearing came last week. I lost hearing of my right ear almost completely! I waited for a few days but there was no improvement. The cello sounded very faint. TV only hissed. So, I then went to a ear specialist at a Christain Hospital in nearby city. Hearing tests were conducted, after a week of medication my hearing has restored much, but the cause of the hearing problem is still not certain. A series of treatments will be had next weeks and I praying for good results.

I said earlier that lowness has been in spirit rather than physical. The part above is an account for the body side. My next segment will come back to the main track.

Today, August 16, is 30 Years anniversary of the publishing of “A Declaration Of Human Rights” by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. Last Sunday, August 12, there was a march of 50 thousand peopple in the southern port city Kaohsiung. The march was organized by the PCT. Rains brought by Typhoon Hutih let up four hours during the march miraculously. One week earlier on August 5, in an Evening of Commemoration in the Capital City, Taipei, for the Human Right Declaration, I was invited to attend as a guest of honor with a few others.

In 1977, then President, Jimmy Carter, who wanted to formalize diplomatic relation with China was about to send his Secretary of State there and people on Taiwan experienced great anxiety over the possibility of becoming victim of the trade. It was precisely at this juncture of time, The PCT spoke out and publicized that “declaration”.

It first commended President Carter for upholding “human rights” as the corner stone of his foreign policy and reminded him not to forget them for then 1300 million people of Taiwan when engaging in the normalization, it also appealed to all nations concerned and Churches all over the globe for supporting rightful “human rights” for the people of Taiwan. Then the declaration went one step further, addressing to the ROC government, urging it ” to face reality and take effective measures thereby Taiwan may become a new and indipendent country.”

The drafting of the declaration was a very difficult and fearful event, as Taiwan then was under the Marshal Law which lasted for 38 years since 1949. Threat of death was overhanging over ones’ head. After a whole day of laboring, no satisfactory draft was had, so a special task force was appointed to continue drafting. In the next morning, an “Human Rights Appeal” was presented to the drafting committee. Obviously it would not do and a heated discussion entailed, but could not reach one that was acceptable. Finally, that section, “In order to achieve the goal of independence and freedom for the people of Taiwan in this critical international situation, we urge our government to face reality and to take effective measures whereby Taiwan may become a new and independent country” was presented by one who went back to Taiwan in the previous year after almost 20 years stay in the US. After a long period of silence, it was unanimously accepted by all, and thus the fraft was completeed with a quotation from Pslam 85, verses 10 -11 attached to the end.

On the train going back to Taipei, translatiing the draft from Chinese into English with a British missionary, the one who presented the section with “a new and independent country” was told by he, that some of the participants in drafting had prepared their “last wills”. He was so taken aback but then also realized that he was like a blind bull in a china shop, and began to understand why it was so difficult drafting the declaration.

“The Declaration of Human Rights by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan” issued on August 16, 1977 was formally presented to the President of ROC, besides, to the US President Carter, Us Congress, US State Department, the Vatican and other churches all over. It was said that the “Taiwan Relation Act” by the Congress of the USA was a response to the Human Right Declaration. The ROC Government was furious, but as it was formally presented to it, it could not resort to oviously unlawful measures in attempting to suppress the declaration.

It is 30 years by now. But Taiwan has not yet achieved the hope of becoing “a new and independent country”. China forbid it and the US suppress any move by the government of Taiwan toward that goal presently as the US denies that Taiwan enjoy any sovereignty! But the people of Taiwan will press on and work toward the day when they can hold their heads high above the sky.