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Updated Thursday, September 3, 2009 10:02 am TWN, By David Ting, Special to The China Post How Teddy Kennedy inspired meIn many aspects, Sen. Kennedy's beliefs and philosophy sounded strikingly Chinese. He admired perseverance, telling his son that they could climb the hill “even it takes us all day.” The Chinese are even more so in their belief. The old Chinese tale about a man trying to move a mountain in front of his house contains the same moral. If you wonder why mainland China won more gold medals than the United States in last year's Olympics, it was because Chinese athletes worked harder. If you wonder why Taiwan's little leaguers from Taoyuan lost the championship to a California team in the World Series Sunday, it was because American kids worked harder. Yes, the Chinese believe in redemption — a Confucian virtue. The Chinese sage once said, “who else except the saint does not err? To right the wrong is an enormous virtue.” Unfortunately, examples of born-again politicians like Sen. Kennedy are hard to come by in Taiwan's politics. We just have too many unrepentant sinners in politics who always blame others for their own sins. But there is a difference, glaring difference in Kennedy's political beliefs and those held by Taiwan's politicians. “Republicans love this country as much as I do” sounds something of a heresy here. On this island, to “love Taiwan” is a monopoly, politically. How could people on the other side of the political aisle “love this island as much as we do?” It's preposterous! I must admit that not every politician in America possesses such a big heart as Ted Kennedy did, as evidenced in the divisive, polarized U.S. presidential election in 2008. Perhaps that's precisely what made Sen. Kennedy great, despite, or perhaps because of, his failure to win the presidency. Comments October 9, 2009 davidting2006@ An Irish American@ wrote: Teddy Kennedy inspired me because of his work ethic: 'we'll beat them (who are smarter than we are) because we work harder." I believe this is in line with the now-forgotten Chinese culture. I cited two examples to support my point: the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 little league World Series. No politics were intended when I wrote about how and why the mainland Chinese won more gold medals than the U.S., nor why Taiwan’s little leaguers lost this year in williamsports. As a young reporter, I covered Taiwan’s little league, junior league and big league in the 70s, I was impressed how hard they worked. Also just read the New York Times, or the WSJ's pre-Olympics report on Chinese preparations. Yes, I am not a 'taiwan ren,' but I love Taiwan no less, and I want Taiwan to work harder and not forget the old work ethic as espoused by Teddy Kennedy, a feisty Irish as you are.I just returned to America from Taiwan recently and I was disappointed and angry about this article. You started about Teddy Kennedy very positive but you used it as a platform to brag about Chinese culture. It was very crafty. You mentioned Teddy Kennedy's philosophy sounded strikingly Chinese. However you then said the Chinese are more so. As an Irish American that was offensive to me. You did not have to compare the two. But by saying the Chinese are even more so was out of line. It seems the Chinese love to brag and say their culture is better than others. And then very unprofessional you mentioned that China won more Gold Metals in the Olympics because they worked harder. Well the Americans won more overall Metals so does that mean the Americans overall worked harder? You then sounded like a Mainland Chinese living in Taiwan by putting Taiwan little league baseball team down by indicating that they were beaten by the USA Team because the US Team worked harder. As a former Basketball coach and baseball manager I could tell that you did not know much about sports. Because sometimes the team or player that works harder does not always win. Sometime it is the team or person who gets some lucky breaks. You need to move to Mainland/Communist China because your true heart is not in Taiwan and you are not a true Taiwan person (Taiwan Ren). An Irish American October 10, 2009 chineseamerican@ An Irish American@ wrote: The commentary did not offend you or anybody in any kind of writing in his article. Even I was inspired by reading his article. *When you fail you must stand up again*. Just like as a coach. *If you lost the game, try again to win another game*.I just returned to America from Taiwan recently and I was disappointed and angry about this article. You started about Teddy Kennedy very positive but you used it as a platform to brag about Chinese culture. It was very crafty. You mentioned Teddy Kennedy's philosophy sounded strikingly Chinese. However you then said the Chinese are more so. As an Irish American that was offensive to me. You did not have to compare the two. But by saying the Chinese are even more so was out of line. It seems the Chinese love to brag and say their culture is better than others. And then very unprofessional you mentioned that China won more Gold Metals in the Olympics because they worked harder. Well the Americans won more overall Metals so does that mean the Americans overall worked harder? You then sounded like a Mainland Chinese living in Taiwan by putting Taiwan little league baseball team down by indicating that they were beaten by the USA Team because the US Team worked harder. As a former Basketball coach and baseball manager I could tell that you did not know much about sports. Because sometimes the team or player that works harder does not always win. Sometime it is the team or person who gets some lucky breaks. You need to move to Mainland/Communist China because your true heart is not in Taiwan and you are not a true Taiwan person (Taiwan Ren). An Irish American |
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