Letter: Bush a disappointment

By James Young

May 09, 2006

TAIPEI TIMES

It is unfortunate and perhaps downright shameful that on the same day Pope Benedict XVI risked escalating tensions with China by excommunicating four Chinese bishops (who were forced by the Beijing-controlled "official church" to participate in "illegitimate" ordinations that go against their conscience), US President George W. Bush chose not to allow anything but a brief refueling stop in the US by the freely elected Taiwanese president on his way to state visits in Costa Rica and Paraguay.

The contrast could not be clearer: While the Vatican, without fear of offending China, upheld the human rights of Chinese, the White House snubbed the elected president of Taiwan, a courageous free country with a democratic system which many Chinese would like to seize in the future for themselves if given a chance.

Not allowing Chen even an unofficial visit to the US is not only an insult to the free people he represents but also a letdown for freedom-yearning people everywhere.

James Young

Delaware