By Noel Holston

From The Washington Post’s August 3 editorial page:

“However much the 82-year-old Ms. Pelosi might want a capstone event for her time as speaker — before a likely GOP victory in November ends it— going to Taiwan now, as President Xi Jinping of China is orchestrating his third term, was unwise.”

I don’t ordinarily disagree with the WaPo’s editorials. Like MAGAs  who turn to Fox News’ Tucker Carlson or Sean Hannity to get their daily marching orders, I depend on the left-center Post to tell me who to vote for and what issues to support — or to at least ratify what I’m already thinking. Not only do I read the Post with my morning coffee, I drank java the Post recommended.

But I part company with its editorial board on Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. Let Xi be pissed. We need to show support for this most Western of Eastern democracies every which way we can.

President Biden, instead of doing “damage control,” should’ve hopped on Air Force One and been in Taiwan to fist bump Pelosi as she departed.

Secretary of State Anthony “Winkin’” Blinken should have been there on Joe’s heels if not his plane.

And then. . . and then, the wave. We should steady stream of American politicos and icons, both singles and groups, including:

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

Stephanie “Flo” Courtney

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Snoop Dogg

George Takei.

The Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus

Tom Hanks

Beyonce

The Boston Red Sox

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Dolly Parton

Kelly Clarkson

The Texas Southern Ocean of Soul Marching Band

Spongebob

The Congressional Shellfish Caucus

Tool

Dwayne Johnson

Elmo

The Beach Boys

The Congressional Rice Caucus

Ted Danson

George Clooney

George Clinton

Lizzo

The Log Cabin Republicans

The Squirrel Nut Zippers

Oprah

Clint Eastwood

And if “President” Xi starts World War III over all this tourism, so be it. We either do the right thing or we don’t.

Which reminds me:

Spike Lee!

Note: Noel Holston is a freelance writer who lives in Athens, Georgia. He regularly shares his insights and wit at Wry Wing Politics. He’s also a contributing essayist to Medium.com, TVWorthWatching.com, and other websites. He previously wrote about television and radio at Newsday (200-2005) and, as a crosstown counterpart to the Pioneer Press’s Brian Lambert, at the Star Tribune  (1986-2000).  He’s the author of “Life After Deaf: My Misadventures in Hearing Loss and Recovery,” by Skyhorse.