Taipei, Jan 13 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian encouraged visually impaired people Tuesday to "see the world by heart," claiming that in this way they will see it more clearly than sighted people.
Chen made the remarks while receiving John Lan, a visually impaired and otherwise physically challenged artist, at the Presidential Office. It was their ninth meeting since 1998, when Chen suffered a setback in his re-election bid for the Taipei mayorship.
Lan, 41, has overcome his disability to organize a band and has become a successful jazz drummer.
During the meeting, Lan presented a book titled "John Lan," which he dictated to Sung Fang-chi, while Chen repaid him with five words -- "a successful fighter for life."
Lan told the president that he will donate the royalties from 200 copies of his book to help three brothers from Kaohsiung who are suffering from a rare disorder called adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).
Chen noted that the public have already donated NT$72 million (US$2.25 million) to the family in just a few days to help pay for the eldest son's medical treatment in the United States, showing the great love of the people of Taiwan.
In addition, the public and private sectors in Taiwan have also shown their great love to the victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami in the Indian Ocean by raising millions of dollars to help them, Chen went on.
The president also invited Lan's band to perform during a state banquet he will host in honor of a friendly nation's president in the near future.