By Noel Holston
From The Washington Post’s August 3 editorial page:
“However much the 82-year-old Ms. Pelosi might want a capstone event for her time as speaker — before a likely GOP victory in November ends it— going to Taiwan now, as President Xi Jinping of China is orchestrating his third term, was unwise.”
I don’t ordinarily disagree with the WaPo’s editorials. Like MAGAs who turn to Fox News’ Tucker Carlson or Sean Hannity to get their daily marching orders, I depend on the left-center Post to tell me who to vote for and what issues to support — or to at least ratify what I’m already thinking. Not only do I read the Post with my morning coffee, I drank java the Post recommended.
But I part company with its editorial board on Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. Let Xi be pissed. We need to show support for this most Western of Eastern democracies every which way we can.
President Biden, instead of doing “damage control,” should’ve hopped on Air Force One and been in Taiwan to fist bump Pelosi as she departed.
Secretary of State Anthony “Winkin’” Blinken should have been there on Joe’s heels if not his plane.
And then. . . and then, the wave. We should steady stream of American politicos and icons, both singles and groups, including:
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Stephanie “Flo” Courtney
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Snoop Dogg
George Takei.
The Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus
Tom Hanks
Beyonce
The Boston Red Sox
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Dolly Parton
Kelly Clarkson
The Texas Southern Ocean of Soul Marching Band
Spongebob
The Congressional Shellfish Caucus
Tool
Dwayne Johnson
Elmo
The Beach Boys
The Congressional Rice Caucus
Ted Danson
George Clooney
George Clinton
Lizzo
The Log Cabin Republicans
The Squirrel Nut Zippers
Oprah
Clint Eastwood
And if “President” Xi starts World War III over all this tourism, so be it. We either do the right thing or we don’t.
Which reminds me:
Spike Lee!
Note: Noel Holston is a freelance writer who lives in Athens, Georgia. He regularly shares his insights and wit at Wry Wing Politics. He’s also a contributing essayist to Medium.com, TVWorthWatching.com, and other websites. He previously wrote about television and radio at Newsday (200-2005) and, as a crosstown counterpart to the Pioneer Press’s Brian Lambert, at the Star Tribune (1986-2000). He’s the author of “Life After Deaf: My Misadventures in Hearing Loss and Recovery,” by Skyhorse.
