Posted on 01/31/2006 2:18:03 PM PST by NapkinUser
Congressman Calls Inclusion of Cuba, Dissing of Taiwan a Double Play
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO), a member of the House International Relations Committee, wrote Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig today asking him to give fair treatment to Taiwan’s baseball team in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. In the tournament, which is being played in lieu of the sport’s inclusion in the Olympics, Taiwan will be referred to as ‘Chinese Taipei’ and the team will be forbidden from displaying its national flag. The letter is reprinted below:
Dear Commissioner Selig,
I was disappointed to learn that Major League Baseball will require the Taiwanese team to compete in the upcoming World Baseball Classic under the moniker “Chinese Taipei.” I was also saddened to see that Taiwan is the only participant whose flag is not posted on the World Baseball Classic Website. Instead, the island republic is represented by its Olympic Committee banner rather than its national flag.
For more than 20 years, because of pressure from the People’s Republic of China, athletes from the Republic of China (Taiwan) have been forced to compete under the name “Chinese Taipei” in the Olympic Games even though Taiwan is not subject to the control of the unelected government in Beijing. The playing of the ROC National Anthem and the display of the ROC national flag when Taiwan’s athletes win medals is also not permitted. I understand this prohibition has even been extended to spectators in some cases. Why? Such restrictions seem particularly ridiculous when one contrasts the treatment of Taiwan with the treatment of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico’s status as a U.S. territory is not in dispute – yet their athletes have never been forced to use the name “American San Juan” or compete under an alternative flag. So why is independent Taiwan subjected to these arbitrary requirements?
Major League Baseball and the World Baseball Classic should not follow the example of the International Olympic Committee by acting as an accomplice in Communist China’s illogical and obsessive effort to restrict the freedom and insult the dignity of the 23 million people who live in Taiwan. It is unfair and inappropriate to treat Taiwan citizens this way and it is an indignity to ROC athletes who work just as hard as Cuban athletes, for example – athletes whose full participation you worked quite diligently to ensure. Instead, MLB should promote fair play – which, in the end, is truly what our National Pastime is all about.
I hope that you and the other organizers will take another look at this issue and afford the Taiwan team the same dignity and respect afforded to other participants of the World Baseball Classic.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Tom Tancredo
Member of Congress
Member of the House International Relations Cmte.
Damn straight!
This pandering to China permeates all levels of our (declining) civilization.
Thank you for the post, I agree.
So, the PRC will pull out if they don't get what they want?
That's a problem?
Maybe Wang Chien-Ming could make a point of saying something ....
It does.
Anyone have contact info for the MLB commish office?
It's too bad Taiwan doesn't have the ability to re-take the mainland.
Ping!
In case you don't know, and want to send your respects, Tom's mother passed away last week.
The traditional saying among Italians for such an occasion is:
"I was sorry to hear of your loss."
WHY HASN'T MLB GOTTEN RID OF SELIG A LONG TIME AGO ?
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