This Week's NATIONAL ETIQUETTE AWARD goes to.... Taiwan!

Taiwan- World Factbook

Government Information Office, Republic of China (Taiwan)

Taiwan Headlines

I hereby grant the National Etiquette Award to Taiwan, because it is the custom in that country to remove shoes when entering homes.

I read in the newspaper this week that criminals were being offered, as an alternative to fines, the punishment of having to play card games with elderly people. Apparently, the criminals learned respect this way. What a creative punishment!

You have to feel for the Taiwanese, having a powerful neighbor next door who refuses to acknowledge their right to determine their destiny. It is incredible to think of the high-minded arrogance of the Chinese government which threatens to go to war if Taiwan declares her independence. I almost hope that the Taiwanese do declare independence soon, so that the USA can take the Chinese government down a peg or two.