First - Do no harm?

Comments

# William said on October 4, 2005 12:51 PM:

Hey, I'm a Scientologist! I demand a public apology!

Just kidding.

# William said on October 5, 2005 12:45 AM:

Next time we have some beers Micheal, remind me to tell you about my run in with the Coral Gables Church of Scientology. I friggin hate Scientology!

# William said on October 11, 2005 7:39 AM:

Interesting, Bill. At my former employers up in Shenzen in the People's Republic of China, a marketing manager complained about a menu in which people selected their language based on clicking on a flag.

The Taiwan flag had to be replaced by a text block.

Under a pragmatic reading of international law, Taiwan is no longer a state since it is insufficiently recognized by major powers. Furthermore, the US government committed to Taiwan's return to China in 1972 by the Shanghai communique, an official committment signed by President Nixon and Chou En-Lai. We (the US) also committed to demilitarizing the situation, a promise which Bush in particular hasn't kept. In fact, this week, he is trying to force Taiwan itself to accept arms when the Kuomintang desires peaceful reunification on the successful Hong Kong model.

That's why I recommended that the screen just use the words "Taiwan" (or their equivalent in Chinese characters) and not the flag. This made the local Commies all happy for they do a lot of business with the Guomindang gangstas. They just don't recognize that Taiwan is or will ever be separate from China. As in over their dead body (more precisely, that of their draft-age kid).

The United States as Taiwan's sponsor need to sit down with China and negotiate a handover. I am living in Hong Kong and I don't want to get the crap bombed out of me by my own country in another useless war.

In software development, software developers need to be careful about using flags as icons for selection and display. The CIA World Factbook contains current information as to whether any particular state is recognized by major powers, and, sad as it may be, the developer is asking for trouble if he uses the flag of Lower Slobbovia when the Lower Slobbovian Liberation Front (falange de la liberdad Slobbovia) claims that the current regime is a bunch of genocidal thugs. You don't want them spamming your site.

Of course, MOST ruling elites in MOST countries are genocidal thugs. Henry Kissinger in particular has a long rap sheet in today's international law and as a result can't travel easily. But all the developer is concerned with is a plurality of recognition of the flags he uses.

# William said on October 11, 2005 9:14 AM:

Edward - first of all - good to hear from you my friend ;-). Second... as far as a war with the U.S. goes, if we get in it with China - that's probably the last war we're going to get into. We both have way too many nukes and neither country would consider surrendering before using one. Not that I'm an international relations expert, but I just don't see it happening. If we get in it - it's going to be VERY ugly.

My whole point is that stuff like this fuels the flames of dispute. I'm not arguing about Taiwan's status - it's just that at this time, both of the parties there have pretty strong disagreement on the status. This can easily be settled diplomatically. But each time one party starts talking, the other one has to posture back and google doing this had a predictable outcome in that it caused public discussion/posturing is probably a better word.

This is definitely a situation that should be handled diplomatically. If China invades Taiwan - it's going to be bad whereas if they can come to some agreement on how things should proceed, then it'd be exponentially better.

Don't get me started on Kissinger - I share your sentiments totally there. As far as most ruling elites, again - ditto 100%. An unfortunate reality but a reality nonetheless.