colloquial Chinese

Yesterday the mayor of Taipei came to participate in the opening
ceremonies of the conference. He was in the paper yesterday. He is
a candidate for higher office and his father said in an interview
that if his son is actually elected to this office, he (the father)
will commit suicide. The paper did not explain how we were to read
this statement. Was this just some sort of colloquial Chinese
expression that doesn't translate well? Is this just what fathers do
when their sons are elected to higher office? My trip has been full
of questions like this for which no answers will ever be produced.

Love,

Dad

(excerpt in an email from tim koschmann)

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