tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post7037155277394360913..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: This Restaurant Doesn't Serve Chinese Tourists and Taiwanese TraitorsMichael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-23021711034162076412009-06-06T20:44:19.018+08:002009-06-06T20:44:19.018+08:00Comments are closedComments are closedMichael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-84354854968087995942009-06-02T09:47:16.847+08:002009-06-02T09:47:16.847+08:00It just doesn't seem like a very good strategy...It just doesn't seem like a very good strategy to address a country's population as if it was in line with it's unelected government. This will just drive people to defend their government - it's basic human nature, we are social animals and will instinctively defend our group.<br /><br />Much better to separate them from their government - find common ground and argue from that: "You and me - we are friendly people, we want to be good neighbors. But the way your government is denying you your political rights, allowing corruption to result in poison being put into your food, and stockpiling missiles to attack Taiwan - that's really bad."<br /><br />After all, both the people living in Taiwan and the people in China suffer from the aggression and corruption of the PRC government.StefanMuchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13041616398172997165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-20188235210954825882009-06-01T22:17:04.975+08:002009-06-01T22:17:04.975+08:00The restaurant owner welcomes Chinese citizens who...<B>The restaurant owner welcomes Chinese citizens who agree that Taiwan is a country. Racist? I think a lot of people are reading the whole thing wrong. Watch the video posted by SY. It doesn't have the gloomy deadpan seriousness of a racist. It's meant to be funny, dudes.</B><BR><BR>Thanks. There sure are a lot of people who can't tell the difference between racism and political action, though I suspect it is simply a trollish attempt to engage in smears.<br /><br />Anyway, thanks everyone who commented.<br /><br />MichaelMichael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-15849332217128382262009-06-01T11:45:59.560+08:002009-06-01T11:45:59.560+08:00Some news: Hotels, especially better ones, are get...Some news: Hotels, especially better ones, are getting more and more enquiries from Taiwanese travelers about whether Chinese are staying in the hotel – and the travelers are staying elsewhere if Chinese are present. It has nothing to do with discrimination or politics; people simply don’t want to be around the hocking and spitting, the belching, the over-loud talking, and the arrogance. But I guess the Chinese government will get wise to this soon and will require pre-travel primers for its citizens on how to behave while here.<br /><br />Which leads to a question: Why in the heck does the DPP not want Chinese students to come here? Chinese students might or might not embarrass Taiwanese students scholastically, but they’ll certainly politicize Taiwanese students – and not in any way China would like. The DPP would benefit big from that – unless Ma started asserting R.O.C. identity to China, spoke out more for and actually defended democracy, etc. (Then he would get the political benefits from Taiwanese shock at the initial attitudes and behavior of Chinese students.) I still hold out faint hopes he’ll do this – very faint hopes – once he gets the party chairmanship. In any case, nothing that I can see would better help Taiwan retain genuine self-determination than bringing PRC students here would. Nothing undermines the Han-chauvinist cause more than having more people meet Han chauvinists in person. Wouldn’t the Red Roofing Tile House be forgotten in the welter of conflicts that would ensue? <br /><br />And most Chinese students, I bet, once Taiwanese, through human-to-human interaction, give them reasons to re-think things, will see and feel the inanity of ever imaging that China’s taking Taiwan entails a sacred principle.vinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-83730474122999672682009-06-01T11:39:49.942+08:002009-06-01T11:39:49.942+08:00The year 1676, and the Zaporozhian Cossacks have j...The year 1676, and the Zaporozhian Cossacks have just beaten back an attack by the Ottoman army… The Sultan writes a letter to the Cossacks, which glosses over the military defeat:<br /><br />As the Sultan; son of Muhammad; brother of the Sun and Moon; grandson and viceroy of God; ruler of the kingdoms of Macedonia, Babylon, Jerusalem, Upper and Lower Egypt; emperor of emperors; sovereign of sovereigns; extraordinary knight, never defeated; steadfast guardian of the tomb of Jesus Christ; trustee chosen by God himself; the hope and comfort of Muslims; confounder and great defender of Christians—I command you, the Zaporozhian Cossacks, to submit to me voluntarily and without any resistance, and to desist from troubling me with your attacks.<br />—Turkish Sultan Mehmed IV<br /><br />Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to the Turkish Sultan:<br />You, turkish devil and damned devil's brother and friend, secretary to Lucifer himself. What the devil kind of knight are you, that can't slay a hedgehog with your naked arse? The devil shits, and your army eats. You will not, you son of a bitch, make subjects of Christian sons; we've no fear of your army, by land and by sea we will battle with thee, fuck your mother.<br />You Babylonian scullion, Macedonian wheelwright, brewer of Jerusalem, goat-fucker of Alexandria, swineherd of Greater and Lesser Egypt, Armenian pig, Podolian villain, catamite of Tartary, hangman of Kamyanets, and fool of all the world and underworld, an idiot before God, grandson of the Serpent, and the crick in our dick. Pig's snout, mare's arse, slaughterhouse cur, unchristened brow, screw your own mother!<br />So the Zaporozhians declare, you lowlife. You won't even be herding Christian pigs. Now we'll conclude, for we don't know the date and don't own a calendar; the moon is in the sky, the year in the book, the day's the same over here as it is over there; for this kiss our arse!<br />-- Koshovyi Otaman Ivan Sirko, with the whole Zaporozhian Host<br /><br />The story o this letter exchange is probably apocryphal, but it seemed appropriate here. For a famous painting based on the story, see here:<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reply_of_the_Zaporozhian_Cossacksvinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-82304846617910113672009-06-01T09:48:10.601+08:002009-06-01T09:48:10.601+08:00The restaurant owner welcomes Chinese citizens who...The restaurant owner welcomes Chinese citizens who agree that Taiwan is a country. Racist? I think a lot of people are reading the whole thing wrong. Watch the video posted by SY. It doesn't have the gloomy deadpan seriousness of a racist. It's meant to be funny, dudes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-41549716939631169872009-06-01T09:30:43.269+08:002009-06-01T09:30:43.269+08:00Guys, I gotta take leave of this debate until toni...Guys, I gotta take leave of this debate until tonight, about 12 hours from now.<br /><br />Very sorry for the inconvenience. I'll be putting up comments at that time, and responding.<br /><br />MichaelMichael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-6296573155025788762009-06-01T09:18:21.243+08:002009-06-01T09:18:21.243+08:00I can see how this might help out Taiwan's tou...I can see how this might help out Taiwan's tourism industry...<br /><br />Wang Yang returns to China:<br /><br />"Hey Wang Yang, how was your trip to Taiwan?"<br /><br />"It was incredible! I was refused service at a restaurant just because I am Chinese."<br /><br />"Oh no! Why would they do such a thing?"<br /><br />"They think we support an authoritarian regime, yada yada yada. Wanna see pictures?"<br /><br />"Yea! Oh man this is cool. Now I want to go to Taiwan and be refused service as well!"<br /><br />"Great! All you need to do is pretend that you enjoy the fact that your government is an undemocratic authoritarian regime."<br /><br />"No problem!"Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-57906451474497667502009-06-01T08:35:28.434+08:002009-06-01T08:35:28.434+08:00Michael, I'm aware it's from March last ye...Michael, I'm aware it's from March last year, however it's in the news now. Actions like this will serve more to turn the light blues and center swing voters away than they will to make a valid point.cfimageshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17311764476271044148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-40857946195769555402009-06-01T06:54:16.042+08:002009-06-01T06:54:16.042+08:00i totally agree that wu should be condemned and th...i totally agree that wu should be condemned and the entire kmt for that matter for their lack of backbone but i dun agree with the sign...it just 'lowers' ones position to those of those nationalistic chinese govt/chinese people whom are just as irrational as this restaurant owner..i think its better he put up another sign which is more conciliatory but just as eye catching and allow chinese tourists in..the best way to change minds is to have a policy of engagement with the other side and not a policy of antagonism..from what i know, mainland chinese often demonize the taiwanese independence supporters and ppl from the south, all this is just gonna reinforce their stereotypes when being extra nice to them, explaining one's position would shock their existing values system and even if they continue to believe that taiwan is part of china, at least they cannot demonise taiwanese supporters anymore as they'll come to see them as humanbeings too...hcpenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04873196049058280832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-78203859066422767052009-06-01T06:34:39.993+08:002009-06-01T06:34:39.993+08:00Taiwan Today is publishing 10 to 12 translated art...Taiwan Today is publishing 10 to 12 translated articles per day of which one or possibly two will come from Liberty Times. These pieces will not be overly critical of the government and are there simply to try and make the "service" appear balanced. If you want decent news in comprehensible English on Taiwan, then steer clear of TT.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-51388792808507540562009-06-01T06:34:23.672+08:002009-06-01T06:34:23.672+08:00Oh, sorry, just thought it would be well to remind...Oh, sorry, just thought it would be well to reminds people about 228 in this case. Not to promote hate etc but I think it offers a good food for thought in this argument.<br /><br />Before 228, when KMT took over Taiwan, there is no war, and there is no invasion. Everyone supports it, but look what happens next? A total disaster for Taiwan. And what can the international community do? Absolutely nothing. And it's not like they don't know about it (check out all those books and news reports from around the world back then). But yea...I guess after 228 massacre, it is peaceful. No big protests and no big revolutions.<br /><br />Again, remember what B. Franklin once said "Even peace may be purchased at too high a price." Annexing Taiwan peacefully means peace, perhaps, but it does not mean good fortune for Taiwan...Dixteelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05689510846926854542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-81571398560603916912009-06-01T05:57:50.261+08:002009-06-01T05:57:50.261+08:003) Since mainland tourists include Tibetans, Mongo...3) Since mainland tourists include Tibetans, Mongolians, Manchurians, Uighurs and other minorities, a blanket ban on all mainland tourists on grounds of 'opposing colonialism' is absurd.<br /><br />First of all, note the wording is Chinese, not mainlanders.<br /><br />And come on, if those Tibetans and Mongolians etc think themselves as Chinese then they are Chinese, and why should they be treated differently from other Chinese people?<br /><br />On the other hand, if they don't think they are Chinese, but Tibetans and Mongolian, then they are not Chinese, thus would not be inside the ban category. They would be welcomed into the restaurant I imagine.<br /><br />And who says annexing Taiwan necessary means wars or direct military action? Especially in the current situation, if pan Green doesn't get their act together, Taiwan could be annexed or subjugated even more in the next few years. Let's say China annex Taiwan without firing a single bullet, do you think that is a good thing or a bad thing? To some Taiwanese that is still pretty bad. And afterward, Taiwanese will have even less say on their own fate. And isn't that colonialism?<br /><br />For example, I can say I am a non-violent person. I don't want to fight. But, I can bribe the house keepers of this mansion to let me into the house and steal everything because I think those things belong to me for some reasons. Hey, I am Pacifist, but am I a good guy or a bad guy?<br /><br />Also note that there are already some Tibetan in exile in Taiwan...I wonder how they feel if Taiwan become part of China...maybe a bit scary.<br /><br />Richard is right though, maybe we are all taking this too seriously. But still I just want to go and pay a visit sometimes, hehehe...Dixteelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05689510846926854542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-55526017364308787812009-06-01T05:47:21.918+08:002009-06-01T05:47:21.918+08:00@Peter - The 'dogs and Chinese' sign is, as far as...<B>@Peter - The 'dogs and Chinese' sign is, as far as anyone can tell, a myth. No eye-witness, photograph, newspaper account etc. substantiates it - and you would think there would be at least one. This is not to say that there wasn't discrimination in colonial-era Shanghai, just that this particular example is almost certainly an invention.</B>Thanks, FOARP, I knew that but didn't want to get sidetracked into a debate about it.<br /><br /><B>Whilst he has the right to freedom of speech, this does not grant the right to discriminate on racial grounds - and the sign most definitely does do that.</B>Bullshit, for he selects people from a particular nation, not all people of that ethnicity. Please offer evidence that ethnic Chinese from other nations have been refused service. His position is clearly political. <br /><br />Refusing to serve people who want to kill you and take your land is not discrimination. <br /><br />Yes, I know the Chinese are the first and greatest victims of their government. So what? Over there, they are victims. Over here, they are perps. If they don't want political action aimed at them, they should stop invading other people's countries.<br /><br />Refusing to serve people who want to kill you is legitimate political action -- in this case, dramatic and effective (look how many people have taken notice). The use of emotive and empty terms like "childish" is simply a pathetic attempt to win by rhetoric what cannot be won by logic.<br /><br /><B>....Even the ones who do support military action usually make it conditional on a declaration of independence,</B>Thanks for making my point, FOARP. In other words, all the ones you know support annexing Taiwan, and some "peacefully." Neither you nor anyone else on this thread can say "I know lots of Chinese who support an independent, democratic Taiwan." And if you don't support that, you support a policy of violence against Taiwanese one way or another -- you simply don't want to face the consequences of a policy you advocate. Moral cowardice doth not an advocate of peace make.<br /><br /><B>4)'Political action' would be hanging a Tibetan or TSU flag in the restaurant. Measures like this are sheer childishness. </B>ROFL. If we were arguing about PRC tourists complaining about a Tibetan flag, you'd be here crying that such a flag was "sheer childishness." You're just a concern troll.<br /><br />Note that I never argued Chinese are "brainwashed robots." My position is quite different.<br /><br /><B>You’re being fair when you say that there’s nothing wrong with refusing service to Americans, but you know what Ralph Waldo Emerson said about consistency ;) </B>No, actually I'm expressing a wish. If only there had been widespread sanctions on Americans because of Iraq....<br /><br /><B>Simply put, I think that there are much better ways of protesting than picking on people who may or may not be responsible for their government’s policy.</B>Simply put, Chinese in Taiwan need to see the whole range of responses to them, from militant rejection to earnest engagement. Without the former, the latter will have no strength. Each part of the response legitimates the others.<br /><br />Perhaps now they will go home and spread the word and make it possible for the government to change its hateful policy without upsetting the populace too much. <br /><br /><B>This whole thing is ridiculous. After 5/17, the pan-green's looked like they might finally be regrouping and making some inroads, and then idiots like Mr Liu come along, and 2 steps back we all go</B>Waaaayyy overreacting. This restaurant has been here since March of last year, Craig. It has had zero effect on Taiwan politics. <br /><br />MichaelMichael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-36058678171353977192009-06-01T02:45:19.926+08:002009-06-01T02:45:19.926+08:00I think a lot of you are taking this way to seriou...I think a lot of you are taking this way to seriously. Regardless of if you think this is overboard on behalf of some "hardcore-TIers" or reasonable, whatever. From a purely business stand-point- it is a great move by the owner. I'm sure he's getting a lot more business than before he started doing this. After all, aren't Taiwanese known for thinking about money first? <br /><br />In regards to whether he should be supported or celebrated or what not, maybe yes, maybe no- but his decision should be respected.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13864496921909619980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-67800434655978701022009-06-01T00:01:27.833+08:002009-06-01T00:01:27.833+08:00Bold! I love it. The next time I'm in Taiwan, I'...Bold! I love it. The next time I'm in Taiwan, I'll be sure to eat there.Islanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027760124467699924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-24530785058325289922009-05-31T22:20:56.436+08:002009-05-31T22:20:56.436+08:00@Peter - The 'dogs and Chinese' sign is, as far as...@Peter - The 'dogs and Chinese' sign is, as far as anyone can tell, a myth. No eye-witness, photograph, newspaper account etc. substantiates it - and you would think there would be at least one. This is not to say that there wasn't discrimination in colonial-era Shanghai, just that this particular example is almost certainly an invention.<br /><br />Likewise, whilst prejudice and discrimination (particularly in employment) against Irish people was widespread especially in the mid and latter part of the 19th century both in the US and the UK there simply never was a wide-spread overt ban on Irishmen in hotels/restaurants etc. in the UK. Can you imagine George Bernard Shaw being turned away by a London restaurant? What there was was a colour bar, which was successfully challenged during the 60s and 70s.<br /><br />@Michael Turton -<br /><br />1) I have met plenty of mainlanders who do not support military action against Taiwan. Some on grounds of pacifism, other on grounds of opposing nationalism, others still because they think it would be a war of aggression. Despite what you seem to think, not all mainlanders are brainwashed robots. <br /><br />Even the ones who do support military action usually make it conditional on a declaration of independence, and do so on grounds which an entire life's worth of indoctrination through propaganda has told them are valid. In fact, I have only met one person who actually supported an immediate invasion of Taiwan was a particularly annoying and childish university student. The fact that the internet is populated by such people is not surprising.<br /><br />2)The Chinese people are the first and greatest victims of their government. Discriminating against them simply because of what their government (which many will have no say in the running of) has done is insane.<br /><br />3) Since mainland tourists include Tibetans, Mongolians, Manchurians, Uighurs and other minorities, a blanket ban on all mainland tourists on grounds of 'opposing colonialism' is absurd.<br /><br />4)'Political action' would be hanging a Tibetan or TSU flag in the restaurant. Measures like this are sheer childishness. No, the actions of the CCP and the KMT do not matter in this, the fact that other people act like childish dictatorial jackasses is no excuse. <br /><br />Whilst he has the right to freedom of speech, this does not grant the right to discriminate on racial grounds - and the sign most definitely does do that. If I put up a sign here in the UK saying 'no French or EU traitors', or if in Scotland I put up a sign saying 'no English or Scottish traitors', this would not be a political statement, as it explicitly excludes all French/English people whatever their political views.<br /><br />5) I have to second the first commenter, the Hakkanese in Miaoli were solidly KMT, people there often talked about the role they had played in crushing a particular rebellion against the emperor as an example of their perfidiousness - but I cannot remember the exact details.Gilman Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06607416440240634159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-77308389432408561692009-05-31T20:57:19.775+08:002009-05-31T20:57:19.775+08:00"How many of them supported the outcome of a free,..."How many of them supported the outcome of a free, independent, and democratic Taiwan? That would be zero, I'll bet." <br /><br />Michael,<br /><br />My suitemate from last year is a PRC citizen. On the outset, he gives off the appearance of a hardcore Chinese nationalist. Yet, upon asking 'the right questions,' I found out that he actually doesn't care all that much about Taidu. He told me that he absolutely prefers reunification, but if Taiwanese voted for independence, [u]he'd accept that.[/u] In other words, he is willing to accept “the outcome of a free, independent, and democratic Taiwan.” Why? Because he just doesn’t care enough about the issue. His words.<br /><br />You said that “for all intents and purposes,” there is no difference between the Chinese people and their government because [b]you’ve[/b] never met anyone “who didn’t think that Taiwanese...” As you know, it only takes one counterexample to disprove a claim. Well, my ex-suitemate is my counterexample. And, quite frankly, from what I know about today’s Chinese, I highly doubt he’s “the only one” who feels that way.<br /><br />You’re being fair when you say that there’s nothing wrong with refusing service to Americans, but you know what Ralph Waldo Emerson said about consistency ;) Simply put, I think that there are much better ways of protesting than picking on people who may or may not be responsible for their government’s policy. To give an example, I also doubt that all Japanese supported their country’s actions in World War II. Yet, according to you, if a Chinese “never met” any Japanese who didn’t toe the government line, then he’d be justified in hating all Japanese (“protest”). I can’t agree.Alessio Pioppihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856605028370940607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-19317641383748056382009-05-31T20:44:37.279+08:002009-05-31T20:44:37.279+08:00This whole thing is ridiculous. After 5/17, the pa...This whole thing is ridiculous. After 5/17, the pan-green's looked like they might finally be regrouping and making some inroads, and then idiots like Mr Liu come along, and 2 steps back we all go. The moderate, center swing voters and light blues (who the DPP need to win over in 2012) will just have their opinions of the greens as being uneducated country hicks reinforced and the pan-greens will have once again shot themselves in the foot.<br /><br />Blaming the Chinese tourists for the actions of the Chinese govt, a govt that wasn't voted for by its citizens is simply a case of blame the victim (or innocent). Equating their beliefs with those of the CCP is pointless. Until and unless the citizens of China get to vote and overwhelmingly elect leaders who want to invade Taiwan and kill Taiwanese, it's a spurious argument. Further, until education in China is both sufficiently widespread and adequate, and is open to wider influences than just the CCP's brainwashing, any political belief that is held by someone from China is coming more from brainwashing than free, critical thought. <br /><br />If Mr Liu really wanted to make a difference, he could quietly encourage the tourists and educate them while they're there.cfimageshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17311764476271044148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-34325541867110612762009-05-31T19:14:41.956+08:002009-05-31T19:14:41.956+08:00I think a lot of people here are missing a very im...I think a lot of people here are missing a very important point. Whether or not you agree with this restaurant owner's tactics, you must be able to see the fact that political pressure by the Chinese government is having very negative effects on the psychology of many Taiwanese. Such effects are durable.<br /><br />True, many blues in the north and center of the country are not completely against the idea of more engagement with China, but much of the South still seems resolutely suspicious. These suspicions will only grow unless the Ma administration and the KMT learn to act with transparency. <br /><br />Ma was supposed to usher in a new era of cooperation. At least that is what he said. It seems that he is actually causing quite a bit of division. And such division can last generations.Tommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13552370490869601403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-49891420764429428532009-05-31T18:09:31.773+08:002009-05-31T18:09:31.773+08:00I can confirm that not one person I have ever spok...<B>I can confirm that not one person I have ever spoke to believed that anyone from Taiwan should be killed if they proposed that Taiwan was not part of China.</B><BR><BR>I can't help it if the people you talk to won't face the consequences of their political beliefs. The consequence of believing that Taiwan should submit to authoritarian rule is that they should be killed if they do not. That the people you have talked to refuse to speak of that elephant in the room doesn't <br />make it go away. I suspect you simply failed to ask the right questions.<br /><br />How many of them supported the outcome of a free, independent, and democratic Taiwan? That would be zero, I'll bet. <br /><br /><B>,Perhaps you would do well to actually speak to some mainland Chinese instead of making facile claims such as that above.</B>I've spoken to many Chinese, Peter. <br /><br /><B>Seriously, such pointless actions are given the status of "political action"?!! You are either joking or delusional, or you are simply a "petty" person even with something as difficult as TI.</B>Yes, you're right. Maybe Mr Liu ought to do something serious, like execute his political enemies like the CCP does, instead of engaging in peaceful, non-threatening protest.<br /><br />MichaelMichael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-80323833502033213562009-05-31T17:45:55.222+08:002009-05-31T17:45:55.222+08:00It reminds me of the restaurant in Taipei that sub...It reminds me of the restaurant in Taipei that subversively intended to keep Waishengren out by posting a sign that welcomed all Japanese tourists.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-3887820744576454042009-05-31T17:42:11.892+08:002009-05-31T17:42:11.892+08:00Mainland Chinese restaurants should retaliate: "No...Mainland Chinese restaurants should retaliate: "No Taidu allowed". Anyway, I think it is very funny. If that is the best they can do, then the Chinese people do not have to worry at all. I'd say reunification will be achieved within 20 years peacefully.JZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10212825239568291402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-82056041118981063622009-05-31T17:04:44.238+08:002009-05-31T17:04:44.238+08:00Michael writes that he has 'never met a Chinese wh...Michael writes that he has 'never met a Chinese who doesn't think that Taiwanese ought to be killed unless they agree to submit.' This is an incredibly ignorant claim. My fiancé is Chinese, I have many Chinese friends, and I have been lucky enough to study in China. This has given me the opportunity to discuss the Taiwan issue with a wide range of people. I can confirm that not one person I have ever spoke to believed that anyone from Taiwan should be killed if they proposed that Taiwan was not part of China. <br />Michael perhaps you have become too caught up in the pressure cooker that is Taiwanese politics and susceptible to all claims that are made on the island about their mainland cousins. On almost every issue (perhaps with the exception of Japanese war crimes) the Chinese population taken as a whole has a broad spectrum of opinions. Perhaps you would do well to actually speak to some mainland Chinese instead of making facile claims such as that above.Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-17360257992260402202009-05-31T16:23:43.785+08:002009-05-31T16:23:43.785+08:00Michael,
This is old news. The restaurent has bee...Michael,<br /><br />This is old news. The restaurent has been "refusing to receive Chinese" and has been serving the "special menu" since March last year, right after the presidential election.<br /><br />Below (link) is a video report of July 8, 2008 by YuFu, the CEO of the Taiwan Yushan Internet TV Site and also a well known caricaturist.<br /><br />In the video YuFu interviewed the restaurent owner Mr. Liu, who explained why he does what he does:<br /><br />http://taiwanyes.ning.com/video/1970702:Video:39369<br /><br />This video was accompanied with a slide show:<br /><br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/yufujamar/sets/72157605251299490/show/<br /><br />Note that Mr. Liu does this with a sense of humour. The comments left at your blog so far all seem to take this too seriously. I see his "menu design" as a post-modern activist artwork and I understand what he is trying to express. <br /><br />E.g. last yesr, when Ma Ying-Jeou claimed that Chinese tourists were coming to save Taiwan's economy, his restaurent displayed a huge placard with one sentence: "Dear President Chiang [Kai-Shek], the Communist Bandits have landed [in Taiwan]". The play here is his use of Chiang's vocabulary ("communist bandits") to express his view of the situation.<br /><br />The placard changed to "Dear President Chiang [Kai-Shek], the [Taiwan] Area Administrator Ma [Ying-Jeou] finally is overthrowing [the 'ROC' goverment]" a day after the police quashed all displays of the "ROC" flag and mistreated the demonstrators who protested against the visit of the Chinese envoy Chen Yinlin last November.<br /><br />The second play of Chiang's vocabulary "overthrow" highlighted the irony that Chiang used to live in the fear of Taiwanese overthrowing his "ROC" ruling machine, but it is in fact Chiang's young turk Ma who is doing just that. <br /><br />See:<br /><br />The photo posted at 2008/11/15 13:28 and the one posted at 2008/11/15 13:09 in the following link (the poster didn't post the photos in chronicle order):<br /><br />http://www.socialforce.net/phpBB/topic_21850.html<br /><br />Mr. Liu is using his restaurent to make his points. It is a mild form of dissent as compared with Red Army Faction's actions, don't you think?SYnoreply@blogger.com