Rain Dance

Taiwan is normally a country blessed with so much rain that the people here detest it. The slightest drizzle results in an explosion of umbrellas and shaking raincoats that causes the air raid sirens, meant to warn of an impending Mainland attack, to sound. People scurry into houses, shops, schools, picnic baskets, anything that will offer some sort of dryness (they would rush to the bomb shelters if they only knew where they were).

Now, however, Taiwan is suffering under a bit of a drought. Taipei's water supply is nearly depleted and some of the outlying Taiwanese islands are completely dry. The somewhat ridiculous situation now exists of Mainland China shipping water to these Taiwanese islands, free of charge. There simply is not enough water on Taiwan itself to help out its citizens on these outlying islands. Which begs the question: when will Communist water eventually reach Taiwan's capital?

The image of red water replacing the murky green stuff that is called water here, does have a certain refreshing sense about it. For one, it could not possibly be less healthy. Secondly, there is absolutely no chance that it will taste worse. Third, it is a far better solution than that offered by Taipei's mayor, Ma Ing-Jo, who was criticized for his lack of foresight in dealing with this problem and in response suggested that everyone save their saliva.

What worries me most though, is that as the red water flows through Taiwan's water pipes, like life-giving blood through our veins, will this infect the air raid sirens? The specter of those ungodly howls waking me up every time someone turns on a tap is already causing me sleepless nights. And worse than this, if the Mainland chooses to use this humanitarian exercise as an excuse for invading the island, when will we know if the sirens' shrieks are because the Chinese army has landed, or because someone is thirsty?

Rain, rain, come to stay
Do not wait another day!

9 May 2002

Dion Marc Delport

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