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Anita Schnee's avatar

Michelle, Albert, this is the most cogent writing on the wrenching problem of free speech I have ever read. You are a north star. I myself still can't decide where I land, back and forth and back again through your piece. Other than to admire how you lay out the problem, it is, to me, just unresolvable. Good thing I'm not a judge or policymaker.

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Michelle Kuo's avatar

I saw your post on FB, Anita, and it was so moving. Thanks so much for reading. I feel so lucky to have you in book club!

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Anita Schnee's avatar

Dear Michelle. I love Marshall Rosenberg's phrase: can't tell the giver from the given-to. Me too lucky!! the feeling goes both ways. In mind, I constantly thank Padma Viswanathan for connecting us. My life is so much fuller and richer for the privilege.

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Maiya Peterson's avatar

What a thought-provoking and well-researched piece. I really admire y'all's ability to write about both sides of this matter, and include both legal precedence and emotional bias in describing ways you've been swayed towards your current opinion. I appreciate the comparing and contrasting to the current political moment as well, and the accurate predictions of other 意外 consequences from this deportation. Thanks for the post, and would love to hear as your thoughts continue to develop on this case. xx Maiya

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Michelle Kuo's avatar

thanks so much for reading, Maiya! It means a lot to us. I hope all is going well in Penghu and I love all your missives. This is a tough case, and there's so much more to write about. We're collecting a round of reader responses right now, too, and will be publishing that this weekend.

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Andrew J's avatar

I could almost hear your discussion in my head. Article flows so well.

Every version of free speech comes with some restraints and rules. Can't defend her there. But if there's argument here, the country is just maturing on what it believes is free speech vs not.

There's somewhat of an acknowledgement from people that there's an unwritten contract between a person and the country they're in. Different rules for folks, visitors and citizens, and different expectations of respect. You don't travel to China expecting the same "free speech" treatment the USA gives. It's so often acknowledged when people say they're "moving to Canada".

I'm totally along the lines that this is some successful psyops program being run by China. The elevation of consciousness about differences between people and draw lines and circles around different identities doesn't lead to any good places. It's undermining the "new taiwanese" image being worked on as the true wai shen ren get ages out of the population. There needs to be some real careful intelligence management going on here. The next step would be for pro Taiwan influencers to start claiming these women are taking taiwanese jobs or husbands or something. Doesn't have to be true, just needs to once again, point out how these women are different .

I really dunno what to say about the kids thing. But I think she's intentional leaving them behind for the story.

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Michelle Kuo's avatar

Thanks so much for reading, Andrew. I always love hearing from you. Well, given how much the country has become ugly divided about this issue, the psyops theory might as well be true.

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