Le Blogger

There's been a recent controversy in Taiwan over the scandalous writings of the government information officer, 郭冠英, stationed in Toronto. Here's an op-ed piece from Taipei Times. I agree with Mr. Cole that although freedom of speech is guaranteed and necessary in a democratic country, once you are employed in the government, there should be limitations to what can and cannot be said. The writings of Mr. Kuo, even though posted anonymously, breaks the trust that the public has in him as an official representative of Taiwan in Toronto, and is a breach of his responsibility to the citizens of the land of Taiwan. Frankly, I think Mr. Kuo's an idiot. ***** He said it'd be OK to kill my wife By J. Michael Cole 寇謐將 Thursday, Mar 26, 2009, Page 8 We met when I worked as an intelligence officer in Canada, part of an organization that at times risked making racism and hatred for the “other” — in that case, mostly Arabs and Muslims — a normal policy. After nearly three years in t

Here is one translation of the Bani A'dam poem quoted by Mr. Obama in celebration of Nowruz. I support Obama's gesture of good will, and do hope the Iranians also respond positively. This poem was written by the 13th century Persian poet, Saadi. “The children of Adam are all the same, since all from the same essence came. When by misfortune one limb is oppressed, the other limbs lose their wanted rest. If for others thou feelst no sympathy, A child of Adam is no name for thee.”