Symphony – Page 13 – Pacific Daily Times Editorials

Encore of Revival: America, May 31, 2021

SymphonyMay 31, 2021

The US government faces legal battles on several sides. New York is pursuing criminal prosecution against a former Republican president, but not against a former Democratic Secretary of State and New York Senator. In a lawful society, criminal prosecution against former politicians wouldn’t be tolerated. But, we live in vindictive times. And, whatever vindication goes around comes back around.

Courts are looking at standing issues for whether police were wrong to clear a path for the president to walk to church. Reports continue to spread about police abuse. But, speaking of vindication, the biggest issue today comes from the Count of Monte Cristo, Jesus of The Passion, Jim Caviezel. He’s on a mission to expose human trafficking of children—to harvest their fear chemicals before killing them. Reports and exposure are the basis of a movie, Sound of Freedom. Elites supposedly use the chemicals to get high. An article mocking Caviezel can’t use enough adjectives of opinion. Excess use of adjectives seems to be the new standard in news writing.

If true, elites, including Hollywood, wouldn’t want any movie to be made about this. Instead of appearing innocent and supporting the movie, Hollywood and friends appear guilty as sin while the Caviezel’s movie sees one delay after another. Nothing could be more convincing that the movie is credible than the endless delays, which Hollywood could stop, not even overuse of adjectives from dissidents.

In Cadence

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, May 24, 2021

SymphonyMay 24, 2021

A democratic Pacific alliance is on the rise. Many nations in the Far East may host US troops, but a bond is forming between them that runs deeper than any US influence. At the center: Taiwan; across the battlefield: China, the great enemy of the Pacific peoples. That’s how this rising alliance sees it.

Taiwan has breakthroughs in micro-tech. The Philippines steps up rhetoric against China—which may not mean anything as words are mere words, but it is a very different direction than bowing down. Japan and Southern Korea tell China to knock it off. And, the British set sail for the Far East with the brand new, shiny HMS Queen Elizabeth and her entourage. This new Pacific family has friends on both sides of the Atlantic.

In Cadence

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, May 17, 2021

SymphonyMay 17, 2021

Asia produced two shining lamps on two hills this week. One is Ming Yang, CFO of the Daqo solar manufacturer in Xinjiang. The other is Taiwan.

Yang, who has a Taiwanese heritage, leads a company in China that is completely controlled by foreign investment. He insists that the company does not employ any Uighurs, thus arguing that using Uighurs as forced labor wouldn’t be possible. He also insists on full transparency with outside groups that would seek to confirm the situation in his company—he wants the truth to convince them through transparency. He also insists that he is not aware of Uighur abuse in Xinjiang, but that if it were true, it would be a very bad thing.

Taiwan shines its light of hope from the season of darkness it now enters. An outbreak of COVID in the greater Taipei area has put the entire island on near lockdown. Customers must list name, phone number, and time when entering many stores. Many avoid public places, wear masks among friends, and carry spray bottles of sanitizer. The calm solidarity in Taiwan is almost unnerving, but it is very encouraging. And, we need encouragement in these times.

Both shining lights cast a pleasant light upon the Taiwanese people. While many will be encouraged throughout the world, there will always be someone who finds a way to be jealous.

In Encore

Encore of Revival: America, May 17, 2021

SymphonyMay 17, 2021

The establishment is all out against Trump. They’d have you believe that Republicans were Liberals from the beginning—that Republicans actually thought like Democrats from the beginning—that the Republican Party is the party of getting along with people who will never accept friendship, but only your defeat—that original, true Republicans stand only for getting along at the expense of competence and survival. Somewhere along the line, the Republican Party was commandeered. Now, this minority acts as if they represent everyone; and their marketing seems very convincing.

In truth, we can get along. We should find peace within disagreement. We can keep quality and competence while also being respectful and gaining respect. But, these are not the main drive of this self-appointed group of uninvited spokesmen for the Republican establishment. They tout these universal values as their pass to develop a party that is Republican in-name-only while promoting closet Democratic Party values.

Now that their grand enemy, Trump, seems to be fading in the establishment’s narrative, the COVID virus also seems to be less and less relevant. The only thing that remains constant is the power of the Court, now headed toward a showdown with abortion.

In Cadence

Cadence of Conflict: Asia, May 10, 2021

SymphonyMay 10, 2021

China’s rocket disintegrated as it returned to the atmosphere. It was almost metaphoric. Many objected to China’s plan to let this rocket make re-entry where it did, and China didn’t care. It worked out, but didn’t help China listen to others any. And, it didn’t help other nations gain any respect for China. In a sense, China’s international reputation is disintegrating just like its rocket did.

A handful of nations are holding a summit about Xinjiang. China responded to the planned meeting as expected. The meeting is going forward as expected.

Now, Chinese companies are running out of semiconductors. They can’t get the good tech they need and they don’t know how to create it themselves. Perhaps China could benefit from some freedom, respect for rights, and a few other Western values from the countries whose free, happy people were free and happy enough to develop that tech China needs. But, far be it for anyone to offer any suggestion to China.