China's influence over Frankfurt Book Fair symposium vexes readers

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Frankfurt Book Fair revokes invitations to dissident Chinese writers

Herr Boos' capitulation to Beijing is absolutely disgusting. He should be replaced immediately with someone who has the respect for human rights befitting the position of director of an international venue for writers and thinkers. How he got his job in the first place, I can't fathom. Such temporizing with evil, in order "to talk to our partners" is just the kind of spineless cop-out that makes me wonder if my beloved Germany has really learned anything at all from history. Beijing is playing you and your "compromising" friends for dupes, Herr Boos. -- Vargold vonWerther, US

The organizers of the Frankfurt Book Fair should have resisted the Chinese government's pressure; to show complacency and weakness is pure indignity. What about basic human rights? What about freedom of expression? Are literature and poetry condemned to only be commercial and political tools? The organizers of such an important event as The Frankfurt Book Fair should stand for genuine respect for freedom of expression, artistic creativity and human dignity. To miss that opportunity would only bring them shame and greatly affect their future credibility. -- Cristella Walzer, Switzerland

It is ironic that China is now promoting its soft power and international images while simultaneously banning Chinese dissidents from speaking out. I attended the Frankfurt Book Fair ten years ago and it was a great experience. I hope that the Book Fair organizers will not bow to the Chinese authorities, who are now using their resources to control the country more tightly. The fear strategy will not work for long. -- Black Cat, China

Furor over Chinese dissidents at Frankfurt Book Fair symposium

What the book fair organizers did to the Chinese dissidents was shameful. And how was the author's plane ticket cancelled? An investigation is in order. Absolutely shameful. -- Francis Huang, Japan

German parties try to learn from US campaign, but fail to excite voters

For Heaven's sake, be pleased with what you have! Germany does not need and should not want US-style campaigns and campaigning. The result, in the US, has been that huge amounts of money are required to be elected; and those huge amounts of money must come from those who have that much money, and who think that buying an elected official is a good investment. We have the best Congress money can buy. Is that what Germany wants? -- Frederick Horne, US

Angela Merkel: From shy physicist to stateswoman

Your Bundeskanzlerin is simply great. I wish we had more women like her in the US! Keep rockin'! -- Annie, US

Your Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier is the smartest German I have ever seen. I hope he wins the election! -- Mohammad Masumanwar, Bangladesh

The Left party trumps with anti-war card in election campaign

They will continue to make gains. People are fed up with whining businesses and big bonuses going to people who have caused havoc with millions of customers and taxpayers. These should be stopped and the ones who pay them exposed publicly! Don't forget it is the consumer who pays for it all, how much less would products cost if these were not allowed! -- Fred, Canada