Cogressman Mr. Ted Deutch expressed his support for Taiwan's democracy and freedom - used with permission

"I write to express my support for the people of Taiwan and their right to self determination and my strong support for ensuring a free and fair democratic election in January.

In 1979, the U.S. Congress affirmed its commitment to sustaining freedom, security, and economic opportunity in Taiwan through the passage of the Taiwan Relations Act. Over the last three decades, Taiwan has developed into a strong democracy that serves as a beacon of hope for those seeking freedom in the region.

In November 2011, the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed the Taiwan Policy Act which reaffirmed our support for Taiwan, its democracy, and the human rights of its people. Additionally, I, along with 180 of my colleagues signed a letter supporting the sale of F-16 C/D's to Taiwan.

It is my hope that January's presidential elections will be free from outside influence and reflect the will of the people of Taiwan and their strong commitment to upholding democracy.

As a Member of Congress, I will work to ensure that our nation is committed to fulfilling the Six Assurances and to continuing a strong economic and strategic relationship with Taiwan and her people.

Sincerely

Ted Deutch
Member of Congress"

Apply Now for the Formosa Foundation's 2012 Ambassador's Program in D.C.

APPLY TODAY!
2012 Ambassador Program

The Formosa Foundation is accepting applications for the 2012 Ambassador Program from now through March 15, 2012. The 2012 Program will take place in Washington, D.C. from June 18 through 29. Up to 30 college/graduate students and young professionals will be selected from the United States and Taiwan to participate in this highly competitive “congressional boot camp.”

Application forms are now available. The U.S. applicants please complete the 2012 U.S. Application Form; Applicants who are currently in Taiwan and/or are Taiwanese national please use the 2012 TW Form.

The Ambassador Program, in its 10th year, has over 250 future leaders graduate and held over a thousand meetings with individual members of Congress and their staff. With each passing year the program has grown stronger, attracting not only some of the foremost authorities on Taiwan and Asia-Pacific issues from across America, but also garnering the attention of powerful lawmakers as well. The Ambassador Program teaches skills to help change the hearts and minds of our elected leaders and policymakers in Washington on the most critical issues concerning Taiwan. Formosa Foundation ambassadors have received praises as being Capitol Hill's most articulate and effective advocates for the U.S.-Taiwan bilateral relations.

Detailed program description and previous program reports are available on our website.

Sincerely,


Formosa Foundation
www.formosafoundation.org
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Tel: 213.625.1991

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About the Ambassador Program

The Formosa Foundation offers three factors critical to social movements: political opportunity, organizational capacity and framing ability. Through its Ambassador Program the Foundation offers the best hands-on training for students to develop grassroots and campaign skills and to become leaders.

The Ambassador Program combines in-house training with on-the-ground activist work. Participants in the Program develop the expertise, analytical framework, and network they need to effectively promote Taiwan. Up-and-coming activists can learn about the issues affecting Taiwan first-hand.

The 2012 Ambassador Program will take place in Washington D.C. June 18- 29. The Formosa Foundation will provide for participants' training, workshops and lodging for the duration of the Program. Participants are responsible for their own meals and travel expenses. See the 2011 Program report and former ambassadors in action here.

BECOME EFFECTIVE ORGANIZERS FOR JUSTICE

The Formosa Foundation seeks to preserve the American values of democracy and human rights through broadened involvement of future leaders in the making of U.S. policy. The Ambassador Program uses U.S. foreign policies on Taiwan and China as case studies to provide participants with opportunities to:

Understand the intricacies of U.S. foreign policy making and its impact;
Gain insight from experienced professionals on the art of advocacy;
Acquire skills to effectively present views to policy makers, media and the public.

MEET FACE TO FACE WITH U.S. LAW MAKERS

The Ambassador Program is a unique training program of its kind. We recruit students from the United States and Taiwan, who will work together to help develop a closer relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan. The Program provides opportunities to meet with United States Congressmen and Senators to discuss U.S. policies toward Taiwan.

DEVELOP GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN SKILLS AND NETWORKS

The Ambassador Program has demonstrated results from participants that extends beyond the two-week program. The Program prepares tomorrow's leaders towards building a pro-Taiwan community on and beyond the college campus. These congressional visits put Taiwan on the forefront of America's political agenda, and change the hearts and minds of American policy makers about Taiwan.


QUALIFICATION AND SELECTION

The Program is designed primarily for recent college graduate or current college and/or graduate students who support the advancement of human rights, democracy and the right of self-determination for the people of Taiwan. Selection criteria include academic excellence, extracurricular activities, participation in community affairs, and interest in promoting U.S.-Taiwan relations.

Up to 30 applicants will be selected for the 2012 Program, including up to 7 to be recruited from Taiwan. Applicant can be US citizens, permanent residents, or Taiwanese national.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Program application package includes the following requirements. See page 4 of application form for mailing instructions.

1. 2012 Application Form (Applicants who are currently studying/residing in Taiwan, use the 2012 TW Form.)
2. 500-word Personal Statement
3. Copy of most recent Transcript
4. Two Letters of Recommendation

Winston Churchill -- Never Surrender Speech -- modified for our times

Taiwan will defend to the death her native soil. Even though large tracts of Asia and many old and famous States have fallen in history to China's rapacious expansionist imperialism or may in the future fall into the grip of the People's Liberation Army and all the odious apparatus of CCP rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight on land, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our peoples beyond the seas, armed and guarded by Taiwan's Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

台灣永不投降——改寫自邱吉爾「永不投降」演說文

台灣將捍衛祖國至死。亞洲大部分地區和許多古老有名的國家，在歷史上都曾因中國強取豪奪的帝國擴張主義而淪陷，它們將來仍有可能落入人民解放軍和中共政權醜惡組織的箝制中。即使如此，我們絕不退縮棄守。我們要奮戰到底，在陸上和海上奮戰，帶著與日俱增的信心和力量進行空戰，不計代價捍衛我們的島國。我們要在海岸上奮戰，在登陸地點奮戰，在田野間和街道上奮戰，在山丘間奮戰。我們永不投降。雖然我從不相信我們的島國或大片國土會被征服且遭斷糧，但即使真的走到這個地步，台灣艦隊所裝備和保衛的海外台灣人，仍會繼續爭戰不懈，直到新天新地帶著大能大力，在上帝所定的美好日子邁步向前，來拯救並解放這個舊世界。





Winston Churchill -- Never Surrender Speech -- modified for our times

When we consider how much greater would be our advantage in defending the air above this Island against an overseas attack, I must say that I find in these facts a sure basis upon which practical and reassuring thoughts may rest. I will pay my tribute to these young airmen... May it not also be that the cause of civilization itself will be defended by the skill and devotion of a few thousand airmen? There never has been, I suppose, in all the world, in all the history of war, such an opportunity for youth. The Knights of the Round Table, the Crusaders, [the Seediq Warriors], all fall back into the past-not only distant but prosaic; these young men, going forth every morn to guard their native land and all that we stand for, holding in their hands these instruments of colossal and shattering power, of whom it may be said that

Every morn brought forth a noble chance
And every chance brought forth a noble knight,

deserve our gratitude, as do all the brave men who, in so many ways and on so many occasions, are ready, and continue ready to give life and all for their native land.

Against this loss of [our soldiers], we can set a far heavier loss certainly inflicted upon the enemy ... Capital and Labor have cast aside their interests, rights, and customs and put them into the common stock. Already the flow of munitions has leaped forward. There is no reason why we should not in a few months overtake the sudden and serious loss that has come upon us, without retarding the development of our general program.

[The Manchu empire, foreign invaders of China, complained about Taiwan that there was a rebellion every few years.] We are told that [name of Chinese premier] has a plan for invading the [Taiwan]. This has often been thought of before. [They will not have their way.]

The whole question of home defense against invasion is, of course, powerfully affected by the fact that we have for the time being in this Island incomparably more powerful military forces than we have ever had at any moment in this war or the last. But this will not continue. We shall not be content with a defensive war. [We have to be able to hit the enemy on their soil, develop missiles and aircraft that can project power from afar.] All this is in train; but in the interval we must put our defenses in this Island into such a high state of organization that the fewest possible numbers will be required to give effective security and that the largest possible potential of offensive effort may be realized. On this we are now engaged. It will be very convenient, if it be the desire of the House, to enter upon this subject in a secret Session. Not that the government would necessarily be able to reveal in very great detail military secrets, but we like to have our discussions free, without the restraint imposed by the fact that they will be read the next day by the enemy; and the Government would benefit by views freely expressed in all parts of the House by Members with their knowledge of so many different parts of the country. I understand that some request is to be made upon this subject, which will be readily acceded to by [the native Government of Taiwan's people].

We have found it necessary to take measures of increasing stringency, not only against enemy aliens and suspicious characters of other nationalities, but also against [Taiwanese citizens who are servants of China and traitors to Taiwan] who may become a danger or a nuisance should the war be transported to [Taiwan]. I know there are a great many people affected by the orders which we have made who are the passionate enemies of [China]. I am very sorry for them, but we cannot, at the present time and under the present stress, draw all the distinctions which we should like to do. If parachute landings were attempted and fierce fighting attendant upon them followed, these unfortunate people would be far better out of the way, for their own sakes as well as for ours. There is, however, another class, for which I feel not the slightest sympathy. Parliament has given us the powers to put down Fifth Column activities with a strong hand, and we shall use those powers subject to the supervision and correction of the House, without the slightest hesitation until we are satisfied, and more than satisfied, that this malignancy in our midst has been effectively stamped out.

Turning once again, and this time more generally, to the question of invasion, I would observe that there has never been a period in all these long centuries of which we boast when an absolute guarantee against invasion, still less against serious raids, could have been given to our people. In the days of [Qing emperors] the same wind which would have carried [their] transports across the [Strait] might have driven away the blockading fleet. There was always the chance, and it is that chance which has excited and befooled the imaginations of many Continental tyrants. Many are the tales that are told. We are assured that novel methods will be adopted, and when we see the originality of malice, the ingenuity of aggression, which our enemy displays, we may certainly prepare ourselves for every kind of novel stratagem and every kind of brutal and treacherous maneuver. I think that no idea is so outlandish that it should not be considered and viewed with a searching, but at the same time, I hope, with a steady eye. We must never forget the solid assurances of sea power and those which belong to air power if it can be locally exercised.

I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of [Taiwan's] Government-every man of them. That is the will of [the Legislature] and the nation. [Taiwan] will defend to the death [her] native soil. Even though large tracts of Asia and many old and famous States have fallen [in history to China's rapacious expansionist imperialism] or may [in the future] fall into the grip of the [People's Liberation Army] and all the odious apparatus of [CCP] rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight [on land], we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our [peoples] beyond the seas, armed and guarded by [Taiwan's] Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

China is a Rogue Nation

Whether human rights abuses, fomenting unrest in other countries, pillaging Africa, or causing the proliferation of dangerous weapons to rogue states, CHINA IS A ROGUE STATE.

Taiwan should withdraw from their entanglements with such an evil empire.

Tīⁿ Jyi-giokk writes a rhyme about Ma Ying-jeou's failures

Tīⁿ Jyi-giokk ê Ah-ūn

N^g-kim 10-nî Má 633 hou,
黃金十年馬633呼，
Lāu-lông tin-thiap 316-khou..
老農津貼316箍。

Travails of the Austronesian people in Taiwan under the foreign rule of the Republic of China regime in exile of president Ma Ying-Jeou

The Ma government's way of thinking illustrated by this bullying member of the police

Call for Missile Defense in Taiwan

It is time for those in Taiwan's government who are loyal to Taiwan as well as the DPP presidential candidate to request from Israel to supply and help deploy its Iron Dome defense system in Taiwan.

It will be good for stories to circulate on the wire services about Taiwan attempting to acquire Iron Dome defense. Such reports will focus much more on China's threat than the more general attempts of Taiwan to purchase fighter planes.

The mere calling for the system will concisely highlight to the international media and foreign nations the ongoing threat of China's missiles against Taiwan.

Here's a recent Washington Times article on Israel using the system: Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ missile defense system hits 85% of targets

The absurdity of the KMT / Ma position regarding the ROC

Ma keeps throwing around the fictional "1992 consensus." The word "consensus" always excites the foreign press corps. But the following video shows the absurdity of the KMT and the R.O.C. constitution of their government in exile.

Using online animation tools to make the point.

Make at goanimate.com
Post on youtube.com
Link on facebook.com
Embed on blogger.com, wordpress.com, tw.myblog.yahoo.com, etc.

China's communist government policies becoming a stench in the nostrils of at least some

The continued imperialist and dictatorial policies of China's regime have consequences, even on a small scale. Recently in one small college town in Alabama, a Chinese company's bid on city-owned property was thwarted expressly because of city council members' distaste over China's regime and policies.

"In a whirlwind of emails since last week's City Council meeting, an offer from a Chinese company that wanted to buy the 155 acre former golf and country club was withdrawn after two members of the council made highly negative comments about China and its communist government..."

Meanwhile, president William Cale of the local university which has a large number of international students from China has embraced a more kowtowing attitude, calling the anti-China views "prejudicial" and not consistent with the "pluralistic" philosophy of the university.


Read more: Times Daily

==============

DEMO! thinks that local governments of other nations should be very careful about allowing China's companies getting a foothold because if the recent experience in Africa is any evidence, China's companies are imperialistic in nature. The Chinese regime has fanned an extreme ultra-nationalism in China on the level of Naziism or the Japanese imperialism of World War II. Unlike America's good experience with Japanese car companies opening plants in the U.S., when the Chinese companies set up businesses and factories in other countries, it is often not for the benefit of the local countries. All for mother China.

That local governments are desperate to attract Chinese companies shows already the predatory practices of China that have caused a loss of manufacturing and jobs in the U.S.

Note how in this particular case, the Chinese company wanted to create a training facility that would expand its market in the U.S. rather than cause an increase in local manufacturing. They wanted to expand sale of their products made in China, not produce anything locally in America.

"Taiwan" National Party (TNP, 台灣民族黨)

Taipei Times reports the announcement of the formation of a new political party, the Taiwanese National Party (TNP, 台灣民族黨), on July 8, 2011. Forming new parties may or may not be effective. One wonders about the reach of some of the smaller parties. Should the pro-Taiwan folks be united, or divided into separate parties? United we stand; divided we fall?

Since the DPP is pro-Taiwan but also tends to the left, Taiwan could ultimately use a pro-Taiwan party on the right. It is not yet clear what the TNP will become. The name has its good points. Changing the English translation of 台灣民族黨 to "Taiwan National Party" instead of "Taiwanese ..." will help point journalists towards focus on a country rather than them assuming this party is an organization of a supposed "separatist" ethnic group.

It is good that this party seems to be looking outwardly to learn from the experience of other nations, such as Estonia. If the party can form itself into an effective organization, it can be a good influence internationally. Imagine a reporter in Europe sitting down to talk with a representative of the "Taiwan National Party" versus a chat with the "Democratic Progressive Party." The former's name is unequivocal in its clear declaration of Taiwan as a nation. The official name of the latter could be more easily ignored by those with a one-China habit. They would just relegate it to a democratizing party in China.

One other thing to note: what are the demographics of the party? Can the TNP reach out to the younger generation?

Perhaps the best outcome of Taiwan having small parties could be if they can engage and mobilize a segment of the population that had been feeling marginalized. Taiwan needs more active and organized pro-Taiwan groups.

We need them to not just focus on the political process of getting candidates elected, but, at this crucial juncture in Taiwan's history, focus on reaching and educating the younger generation. Do not leave them to the propaganda of the KMT-derived education system, on the whole as of yet untouched by the democratic ideological transformation in Taiwan.

============================================
See Taipei Times Article below:

A group of pro-Taiwan independence supporters yesterday announced the formation of a new political party, the Taiwanese National Party (TNP, 台灣民族黨).

The party, to be officially established tomorrow, will seek independence for Taiwan through a national referendum.
A group of TNP members made the announcement on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei with the Presidential Office in the background, chanting the slogans “Long live the Taiwanese nation” and “Liberate the Taiwanese nation.”

“We are determined to resort to every possible method to achieve the eventual goal of independence for Taiwan,” said the unofficial leader of the party, Huang Hua (黃華), who used to be an adviser to former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

Huang, 72, then led TNP members to the nearby 228 Peace Memorial Park and took an oath in front of the Memorial Monument that commemorates the tens of thousands of people killed during the 228 Massacre in 1947.

Huang said the party, which currently has about 100 members, mostly senior citizens, will be a grassroots movement and plans to hold open public speeches nationwide to promote Taiwanese identity and garner support for independence.

Citing the example of Estonia, a former Soviet Republic which declared independence in 1991, Huang said the party aims to enlist Taiwanese who favor the establishment of a new country, before holding a national referendum and convening a constitutional convention.

Taiwanese have the right to determine their own future, Huang said, given that the ratification of the UN Charter in 1945 after World War II placed the right of self--determination into the framework of international law and diplomacy.

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government illegally occupied Taiwan and never gave Taiwanese an option in terms of their nationality, Huang said, adding that “legally speaking, Taiwanese still hold Japanese citizenship because Japan did not renounce its sovereignty over Taiwan until the Treaty of San Francisco in 1951.”

“After that, we became stateless people,” said Huang, who served four jail terms for a total of 23 years for participating in Taiwan’s independence movement.

The group of senior citizens felt that there was a need to advocate independence, which is still included in the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) platform, but it “is doing nothing about it,” said Huang, who left the DPP in 2005.

Despite the party’s endorsement of the DPP’s presidential candidate, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), in the presidential election in January, the TNP said it plans to nominate candidates for the legislative elections.

“Building a nation will help more people than building a hospital,” said Tom Yang (楊東傑), a physician who practiced in the US and organized independence groups in the 1950s.

U.S. Senator speaks out on China, Taiwan

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (Republican, Texas) on security and economic threats of China

"During his speech, the Senator also made a major point of supporting Taiwan's bid for F-16C/D's and encouraged the administration to move on it."

Why presbyterianism and democracy go hand in hand

Many are aware that the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan has been a strong advocate for Taiwan's independence and also constitutional representative government. This stance of civil polity is not unexpected to anyone who knows church history.

You see, the word "presbyterian" refers to a form of church government. The word derives from the Greek word for elder/official. There is a separate cognate for the word for older person/ elderly. We would recognize the Latin-derived words much more readily: senator vs. senior.

In essence, presbyterian churches are governed by a body of elected "senators." This church government has local, regional, and national bodies. And various powers and responsibilities for each representative body are carefully defined by laws in a constitution -- often called the "Book of Church Order." Rules for deliberation secondary to the book of church order are literally Robert's Rules of Order -- the manual of parliamentary procedure.

Presbyterianism developed in Scotland under the leadership of John Knox and others. Having been exiled from Scotland for a time by the Scottish monarch, John Knox studied with John Calvin in Geneva, Switzerland. Calvin tried to apply principles derived from the Bible to every area of life including government. You can find a model for election of church leaders in the New Testament.

Absolute monarchs in Europe who claimed divine right abhorred the idea of a church that had a representative government. They often persecuted presbyterians, for that reason. At one point in Scotland, the king demanded to be acknowledged as head of the church. The presbyterians refused and were so intensely persecuted, the era of history is called "The Killing Times."

Presbyterian church government gave many clergy as well as ordained lay elders experience in parliamentary procedure and constitutional government. Over the centuries many of them have greatly influence public civil life and government. Presbyterian pastor, John Witherspoon, delegate from New Jersey, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. (read more)

An American presbyterian pastor, David Hall, has summarized some of the principles that influenced the United States Constitution and form of government:

Hall's Five Points of Political Calvinism are arranged into the slightly awkward acronym DARCL:

Depravity of man as a perennial variable
Accountability of leaders to a larger body
Republicanism as the preferred form of government
Constitutionalism to restrain both leader and people
Limited government beginning with the individual and the family

---------------------------

You'll note the contrast: Karl Marx and atheistic communism. This path was followed by China. It did actually in many ways historically match the absolute centralized power of Chinese imperialism.

Man is basically good.
Religion is basically evil, like opium.
Environmental and historical factors (rather than innate nature) have caused a disfunctional society.
There must be dictatorship of the people to transition to a communist utopia.
Centralized power tells people what to do.
Rights are derived as a point of privilege from the collective.
Evolution shows some more fit than others. The path to utopia will be lined with the corpses of any who get in the way.

And the result:
Over 20 million dead under Stalin
Millions dead under Mao's great leap forward and the cultural revolution
The Killing fields of Cambodia under Pol Pot

What to do about Taiwan -- Article in Weekly Standard

"To prevent another Asian war by miscalculation, Washington must state clearly, decisively, and publicly that it will defend Taiwan against Chinese aggression or coercion." - Joseph A. Bosco

Read the whole article: here.

-- Joseph A. Bosco served in the office of the secretary of defense as China country desk officer from 2005 to 2006 and previously taught graduate seminars on China-U.S. relations at Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is now a national security consultant

On Abuse of Power by the Elitists in Power

The following is an essay by a pastor regarding power structures and the abuse of power in the human institution of the church. It is equally applicable to Taiwan's civil government and in particular the R.O.C. regime in power. The article assumes the majority abusing the minority, but in the case of Taiwan, a minority have been able to seize power and oppress a majority population.

The entire article can be found here

Below are some good excerpts helpful especially for those raised in the KMT privilege class. Note also the paragraph on those in the oppressed group who actually try to curry favor and follow those in power. It explains a lot of those who are Taiwanese yet support the Ma regime.

"And, of course, there will be those in the minority who are anxious to curry favor or receive protection from the majority. They envy the power of the powerful and try to emulate them while still being what they are. They are willing to give lip service to the status quo, and validate the perpetuation of power by the majority in exchange for tokens of acceptance by the majority.

They are seen by the majority as the “Good (fill in the blank.)” They know what side their bread is buttered on, and they are enormously useful to the majority to deflect criticism about their treatment of the minority... "

===============================================

A theologically liberal critique of the theological liberals
Written by Brian Carpenter, The Layman
Saturday, 25 June 2011 09:59

... When I was a student at Louisville Seminary I was presented with the critiques of power which are offered by both liberation theology and feminist theology. Those who are in power tend to sinfully use that power to perpetuate the status quo and keep themselves in power. They build power structures which are fundamentally unjust and oppressive....

... One of the key insights of this stream of thought is that those who are the beneficiaries of the unjust power structures seldom recognize the fact that they are the beneficiaries of injustice. They point to the rules to justify their behavior, but of course their group set up those rules in the first place. They claim to be wiser or more fitted for power than those they are oppressing. ...

Sometimes they will claim a special divine warrant for their behavior...

And, of course, there will be those in the minority who are anxious to curry favor or receive protection from the majority. They envy the power of the powerful and try to emulate them while still being what they are. They are willing to give lip service to the status quo, and validate the perpetuation of power by the majority in exchange for tokens of acceptance by the majority.

They are seen by the majority as the “Good (fill in the blank.)” They know what side their bread is buttered on, and they are enormously useful to the majority to deflect criticism about their treatment of the minority. They are also usually hated by those members of their own group who are not willing to compromise their identity. This phenomenon rears its ugly head wherever there is longstanding conflict between groups of unequal power.

...And an ecclesiastical structure has a dominant culture, just as a nation or a corporation does. It sets up rules which tend to benefit those who are members of the dominant culture and which tend to perpetuate their tenure of power.

It also has its benighted minorities, those who are “different” or “other.” Those who, for whatever reason, are at odds with the dominant culture and power structure.

... You have systematically ratcheted up the pressure on the minority for a long time, until now it is to the point of causing even those traditionalists who have been quiescent and compliant for years to consider leaving. But they do not want to leave in dribs and drabs, like those of us who have left before. They want to leave as a cohesive group, with mutual support and care for the hazards of the journey. They want to envision a new future for themselves and build it.

And they want to take the property and resources they paid for with their own blood, sweat and tears with them. And you extort them and take them to court to prevent it. You point to the rules you wrote to perpetuate your tenure in power and say “See, it’s the right thing to do.”...

...You betray your very deep loathing and hatred of the other in your midst by what you do to them. You say what every abuser says to the one he abuses, “You are mine to do with what I wish, and if you try to leave me I will hurt you.” ...

Now that I confront you with this, will you shrug your shoulders and say what those members of the majority who have been complicit by their silence often say, “It’s just the way things are and I can’t do anything about it.” Where is your passion for justice then?

...Have done with this sickening behavior. Please, for the sake of some kind of integrity with your own principles, let my people go.


Brian Carpenter is a Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. He serves as pastor of the Foothills Community Church (PCA), Sturgis, S.D. This article was written for and first appeared at The Layman online and is used with the author’s permission.

No privacy or freedom from gov't intrusion where China holds sway

Annexation of Taiwan would result in ever increasing loss of freedom caused by the brutal, repressive Chinese communist dictatorship. Witness what is happening in Hong Kong.

Standing Against China's Territorial Bullying

Vietnam is standing up to China's maritime bullying. If you have ever seen maps where China (whether the communists or the Chinese nationalists) claims jurisdiction, you will note that China claims the South China Sea all the way up almost to the very shores of Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It is as if Taiwan were to claim as its sovereign territory the Taiwan Strait all the way to the shores of Fujian Province, China. Will China claim the Yellow Sea up to the shores of Korea?



It is time all of the nations of the world stand up to China's territorial aggression.

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U.S. Senator Jim Webb also took a stand on the issue, criticizing the "weak" Obama administration's lack of action.

Walter Lohman of the Heritage Foundation writes on priorities for the U.S.A.

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For further reading, take a look at Michael Turton's South China Sea roundup
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Take a look a China's land grabs and attempted land grabs:

The Most Pro-Taiwan Speech by a major Washington politician in a Decade

US Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Freddy Lim on Hoklo Taiwanese Language

我反對把台語(Holo話)稱為閩南語

Freddy. 2011/05/27

語言是一直不斷發展、變化的，台語(另一種在地的稱呼是holo話)雖然源自福建南部(閩南語)，但在台灣在地化、多元發展，融合平埔族與日語，早已不等於閩南語。要表現在地語言的獨特性，本來就該以在地稱呼來定名，用這個語言源自哪裡來定名，根本就是要消滅該語言的歷史脈絡與在地特性。



若因為台語源自福建南部就稱呼台語為閩南語，難道要稱呼英語為西日耳曼語？稱呼丹麥語、瑞典語、挪威語為北日耳曼語？或統稱為斯堪地那維亞語，而忽略這三種語言的在地個性與特色？



當然，如果因為台灣有廿幾種語言，慣稱holo話為台語恐打壓其他語言，這我同意，且稱呼其為holo語，本來就是自然發展出來的台灣在地稱呼，存在已久。只是與其爭辯holo語應寫作河洛語、鶴佬語還是福佬語，莫衷一是，我選擇直接寫為holo語。當然，這些討論都跟「閩南語」無關。



提醒抱持這個思維而不願把holo話稱為台語的朋友，也應該相同標準，避免稱呼Mandarin(北京官話)為中國話、中國語或中文(Chinese)，因為在中國(中華人民共和國)有千百種語言，獨稱Mandarin為中文也有打壓其他語言之嫌，請不要再稱Mandarin為中文或Chinese。



同樣的，也不該稱呼Mandarin(北京官話)為國語，因為不管在中國、台灣或新加坡，這些常用Mandarin的國家，也都還有很多種語言，稱呼Mandarin為國語，一樣是打壓其他語言。

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Email: info@FreddyLim.com
Blog: www.FreddyLim.com

Tsai Ing-Wen with Jerome Keating

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXQV2T372Ok

Here's her website that you can examine:
http://www.twimi.net/

Is America Meeting Taiwan's Self-Defense Needs? check out the meeting Wednesday in Washington D.C.

OUR QUESTION FOR THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: Please aim for more balance in your symposiums: do not only get the Ma Administration folks, but instead seek some pro-Taiwan representatives to partake discussions?

OUR POINT: Taiwan needs to be strong to cause others to think it not worth invading.

===================

HERITAGE FOUNDATION HOSTS:

Is America Meeting
Taiwan's Self-Defense Needs?


==============================
Speakers:
Keynote Remarks by
Andrew Nien-Dzu Yang --- Vice Minister for Policy, Ministry of National Defense, Republic of China (Taiwan)

And a Panel Discussion with -- Randall Schriver -- President and CEO, Project 2049 Institute

Gary J. Schmitt
Resident Scholar and Director of Advanced Strategic Studies, American Enterprise Institute


Host:
Walter Lohman
Director, Asian Studies Center, The Heritage Foundation


Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium



or call (202) 675-1752

News media inquiries, please call (202) 675-1761

All events can be viewed live at heritage.org.

Guests are subject to Terms and Conditions of Attendance,
which can be read at heritage.org/Events/Terms-and-Conditions-of-Attendance.



Congress is bracing for a fight over Taiwan policy. The number of academics and former officials calling for a reconsideration of America's commitment to Taiwan's defense are growing bolder. Meanwhile, continued delay on delivery of a full DIA assessment of Taiwan's airpower and five years of inaction on Taiwan's repeated requests for F-16s raise fundamental questions about whether that commitment is currently being met. Taiwan's Vice Minister for National Defense Andrew Yang will speak to Taiwan's defense policy and the threats it seeks to address, and a distinguished panel of experts will assess what must be done to fulfill America's legal obligations to (in the words of the Taiwan Relations Act) "enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability."


214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002-4999
ph 202 546 4400 | fax 202 546 8328
heritage.org

World Taiwanese Congress - March 19, 2011

The World Taiwanese Congress (WTC) will hold its 10th annual convention in Taipei on March 19, 2011.
Location -- 台灣台北市徐州路2號301室（台大醫院國際會議中心）; Room 301, 2 Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, Taiwan. (National Taiwan University Hospital International Convention Center) http://www.thcc.net.tw/

This year's theme is "Insisting on Taiwan Nation Building, Expanding International Space" 堅持台灣健國，擴展國際空間. The subtitle is "National Affair Conference III" 國是會議 III.

The first half of the morning will be the opening ceremony with DPP chairwoman Tsai and Taiwan Solidality Union Chairman Huang's speeches. You mayo hear their strategy or campaign theme of 2012.

There will be two keynote speakers, one is Don Rodgers and the other will be the most famous political commentator/thinktanker of Japan, Sakurai Yoshiko. There will also be two panel discussions.

The conference is free and a lunch box will be provided.

Please contact 劉小姐 Ms. Liu 02-2321-7398 to pre-register.