Posted on 02/23/2006 9:23:29 PM PST by pganini
President Chen Shui-bian (Â G) yesterday used the Oscar nominated movie Brokeback Mountain as an analogy to describe relations between the US and Taiwan, stressing the importance of both sides seeking ways to reconcile and cooperate with one another to reach the common pursuit of a "great new world." "Although challenges abound on this road ahead, as long as we believe in the value of this common mission and in ourselves, there is no obstacle too great or mountain too high," said Chen, who made the remarks last night at a banquet held by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (AmCham).
The banquet was attended by around 550 people, including Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (npã) and American Institute in Taipei deputy director David Keegan.
Although Brokeback Mountain revolved around the issue of same-sex relationships, its most profound lesson transcends the love affairs in the movie, Chen said.
"It motivates us to understand that all of us are bound to make a difficult decision in life; yet we must strive to dispel prejudice, create trust, uphold mutual respect, and seek ways to reconcile and cooperate with one another, because only by so doing can we together reach the frontier of a `great new world,'" he said.
During the speech, Chen also reiterated the importance of the government's new cross-strait economic policy of "active management, effective opening."
Pressed to comment on Chen's analogy, Ma said last night that for US-Taiwan relations to be like the characters in Brokeback Mountain, both parties needed to trust each other.
The two main characters in the movie knew what the other was thinking and doing at all times, and did not spring "surprises" on each other, Ma said.
When questioned about the president's ongoing plan to disband the National Unification Council (NUC), AmCham president Tom Johnson said that although national security is a basic need which Taiwan is entitled to pursue, a strong economy will also add to the nation's overall security.
Johnson said that the foreign business community's confidence in the nation's investment environment remains strong and unaffected by the government's plan to abolish the NUC.
"I think it's very positive to invest in Taiwan ... You can see a lot of companies putting [money] into their infrastructure to support these. I do think you'll continue to see investments. These are very exciting areas," Johnson said.
Johnson said that Chen's Brokeback Mountain analogy demonstrates the value of cooperation.
LOL... so which one bends over for the other one? This guy is becoming more nuts as time goes on.
Each of us is a pain in the butt to the other?
I just hope nobody drops any soap in the shower.
Note to President Bush: When meeting this guy, WATCH YOUR BACK.
The US is nuts (a lot of it).
Stupid overall, but for you communist guys to try and use this as you did doesn't fit the facts.
Actually, the news in Taiwan shows otherwise. Ma criticizes him for using the analogy (Taipei Times is a pro-Chen paper). Goto www.sina.com.tw and check it out.
LOL OMG WTF BBQ???
What an anal ogy!
President Bush will never meet him because the US supports the communists over free Taiwan and bans the actual elected officials from Taiwan from travel to the US except in certain instances and when allowed in our country they are banned from even going to Washington or talking to the press all at the behest of the Chinese communists.
LOL :)
anal-ogy.
BTW, Ma isn't going to be the ChiCom puppet you hope he will be.
Couldn't you just haev some fun and look at the news? Chen is the one that said it - he's been going nuttier and nuttier after his party lost a lot of power in the last election.
He is KMT, KMT is against Communists. But he won't go into the independence route either, and that will keep the peace. You for one, wants war between the two.
As long as the US is Ennis and Taiwan is Jack, okay.
...You mean you wish you knew how to quit us?
Who threatens war? Not Taiwan.
Your ChiCom team are the only ones who threaten war -- with Taiwan, with the US.
Not right.
I don't support one or the other, i just don't want war between the two. You and other conservatives just want war between them by supporting Taiwan independence. I support Taiwan but not Taiwan independence. Declaring independence would equate to war.
But that's a different topic. I think Taiwan has no clue how to conduct diplomacy and to use Brokeback mountain as an anal-ogy shows it :) The F.M. of Taiwan under Chen also called Singapore a "BOOGER" a few years ago after Singapore chastized Chen for his independence grandstanding.
Chen's strategy has always been to declare independence and thus leading to war and then drag the US into defending Taiwan. That's his strategy. Ma is against it, plain and clear. The last poll shows the majority of Taiwanese supports Ma and the KMT. You just can't accept defeat.
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