Dear Editor:
I was born and raised in Taiwan and attended university there. It was only after moving to Korea in 1985 that I began to read Sinorama. Every time I read it cover to cover, and I still can't get enough; Sinorama has been the thing I most look forward to every month. The magazine is rich in content, covering a wide variety of subjects from ancient to modern, and it really opens one's eyes. In particular, the series on Chinoiserie, showing Chinese influence on the royal palaces around the world, made one really proud to be Chinese.
When Sinorama decided to discontinue its Spanish edition, some friends of mine mistakenly told me that the English version was being cut, which really made me depressed. Fortunately I discovered that this information was incorrect.
But since May of 2002, Sinorama's uncertain status has clearly been affecting content. For example, in May Sinorama reported on the community movement in Japan, and I wondered about this a lot. Sinorama should report on Chinese things, and no matter how worthwhile it may for us to reflect on the Japanese experience, this is something for travel magazines or newspapers, and should not take up space in Sinorama. Fortunately, no similar error was found in the June issue. Nonetheless, the reports undeniably showed a more limited vision.
In passing, I want to comment on the series of illustrated Taiwanese idioms that has been appearing on the last page. I am Hakka, and Hakka is one of the main dialects on Taiwan; Hakka were among the earliest emigrants to Taiwan. Will your magazine have Hakka idioms? Or the idioms of minority peoples like the Tao aborigines?
I suggest your publication change its name to Taiwan, and do this in concert with the termination of the Spanish edition.
Editor's reply:
(1) Community action concepts in Taiwan derive from the successful Japanese experience. Our special report was aimed at helping Taiwan community work advance to a higher stage.
(2) Many people have suggested that we change our name, and we have discussed the possibility in-house. But seeing as Sinorama is in its 27th year and has an established reputation as a source of information on Taiwan and Chinese culture, and for its concern for overseas communities, we have decided to continue using the name Sinorama.
(3) We welcome creative ideas for the expression of the idioms and slang expressions of all Taiwan's ethnic groups, and interested persons are welcome to submit work on these subjects.
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