In many religions and ancient myths, God makes man in his own image. What is the image of God? Simply put, it is perfection and flawlessness, the angel in our imaginations. But angels can fall from grace, and humans may be transformed by various innate or acquired characteristics or habits. Selfishness, greed, competitiveness, jealousy, hatred, and eventually war and destruction. . . . Fallen angels, wrapped up in their desires, can be extremely cruel.

Take for example the most recent "big news" in Taiwan. A VCD has been circulating purporting to show Chu Mei-feng, a former legislator, making love with a married man. People are engrossed in voyeurism, gossip, criticism, and excitement in expectation of the next titillation, to the point of obsession. How many people can claim to be able to escape from the prevailing mood, remove themselves from the transitory scandal of the moment, and return to normal?

There is a well-known Bible story which, though not wholly fitting the current situation, suggests that people haven't changed much over time, and is therefore worth noting. In ancient Jewish society, it is said, adultery was an unforgivable crime, punishable by stoning to death. One day, a couple is caught in the act. At that time, Jesus was already well-known for curing the sick and spreading the word of redemption. A crowd, excited about the possibility of a spectacle, brings the woman before Jesus, asking him to declare the infliction of the punishment.

In his wisdom Jesus says nothing, but simply squats on the ground and draws circles in the dirt. After a while, the self-righteous crowd gradually quiets down, curious as to what Jesus is up to.

Jesus finally says: "Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone." Having spoken, he continues to draw circles on the ground, without lifting his head or looking at anyone. The crowd melts away, from the oldest to the youngest.

After some time, Jesus lifts his head and the only person before him is the accused woman. He asks: "Has no one punished your sin?" The woman responds, "No one, sir." Jesus then says: "Then I will not either. Go now and do not sin again."

"Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone." Today we can ask ourselves the same question. As we allow ourselves to be led around by the nose, where do we stand? Have we lost our basic compassion in dealing with people and situations? Assuming that there is anything positive about this affair at all, it is that it might give us an opportunity to reflect that we should not cast the first stone.

It is time for us to wake up. There are too many issues of real importance in this world-economic development, world order in the wake of the Afghanistan war, globalization, the shock of rapid change, the growing disparity between the wealthy and the poor. These are the things that most affect the Taiwan society that we care about.

In this issue of Sinorama, first we take you to Shanghai and Beijing, to see the commercial opportunities that have been created for Taiwan culture figures over the past decade of constant exchanges between the two sides. How have these cultural figures, highly sensitive to the way the wind blows, transplanted to the mainland the creativity and success that has been generated by the free competition of society in Taiwan? In their efforts to set roots in the local soil, what seeds have they planted in a mainland China that is stepping up in the world but remains hobbled by political and ideological frameworks? What new possibilities have they created for cross-strait interactions?

After that, it's back to Taiwan to look at the effects of formal WTO entry in 2002. In particular, what will be the impact on agriculture, the mother of modernization in Taiwan? What kinds of preparations have been made to help farmers and agriculture to cope? Can agriculture transform itself to turn crisis into opportunity and inject new life into the flagging economy? Because this crisis for agriculture is inextricably connected to the land, its successful resolution would bring us back to our most basic foundations, to plant roots anew in this land that has nurtured us.

In this issue we also look at how Kao Cheng-sheng, a leader of the Tsou Aboriginal people and a winner of the first Yushan Prize (awarded to cultural figures by the president) has miraculously rescued Dainaku, a place held sacred in the legends of his ancestors. In only a decade, Kao's tiny home village of Shanmei, in the mountains of Chiayi County, has gone from being a fading settlement facing cultural and economic dissolution to a vital community to which young people are returning and elders are contributing.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the cities of Taiwan there are interesting and important things happening everywhere. Taipei is being transformed into a shoppers' paradise by the opening of several enormous malls. Foreign daughters-in-law are learning how to adjust in special classes. The bookstores are filled with wisdom and experience waiting for us to explore. Just look! When we can step away from all the noise and nonsense of the stone-throwing crowd, doesn't life appear to have limitless possibilities?