Social justice and beneficial love of Taiwan can be further ensured by national leaders who have deep religious beliefs, former president Lee Teng-hui (
Delivering a sermon in Taipei yesterday morning, Lee said that many people say one thing but do another in the name of "loving Taiwan."
"Some people say they are Taiwanese who truly love Taiwan. But what they've done damages the democratic and economic development of Taiwan," he said.
Citing the saying, "knowledge is power," Lee said that having knowledge is not enough because "wisdom" is more important.
"We know how to do things if we have knowledge. But the wisdom makes us do things appropriately," he said.
Lee said that by pursuing God one would reach the highest realm of life, a journey full of not only successes but also failures.
Based on his experience of being a national leader, the most importance thing for a such a leader is to be deeply religious, he said.
Lee said being president is like standing on the summit of Kuanyinshan (
"You still feel the existence of God even if you are on the peak. When you are with God, you will eventually learn how to walk out of the shadow of difficulties," he said.
Lee said that people who are religious also know how to love appropriately.
"In Taiwanese society, due to a lack of the spirit of justice and fairness, most people forget to feel for others. That's why we've observed so many quarrels and arguments," he said.
When asked by reporters if his comments were a response to the recent unrest between President Chen Shui-bian (
Rumors that the president is not happy with Lu have been circulating since Dec 7, when Lu was elected acting chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party.
Both Chen and Lu have issued press releases and their trading comments through the media has been criticized by many people as conduct unbecoming the nation's leaders.
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