Give it a hearty
laugh?! Isn’t it ridiculous?
I
know it’s not wise to talk about politics and you might despise the thought of
bringing up this issue. But, I desperately want to share this with you.
You
might consider this is not a unique drama that occurs in Taiwan, but
everywhere; what differences from others you also question, won’t you?
But,
things may really be more dramatic than you could imagine. REALLY? YES!
In
Taiwan, the national identity is twisted completely without mercy! It’s beyond
dispute that a public speech could evoke disagreements between the
so-called patriots or populists belonged to different political parties, right
after that discount among them would be boiling. Isn’t it similar to the
outcome of “butterfly effect?”
It
is acceptable that family members have different religions and live in harmony
with each other, but it is truly ironic that different political views of one
family member might make others rage if they favor other parties. Don’t you
think it’s funny and unbelievable? Sometimes it gets worse that the relationships
between parents and children or between a couple are kind of affected to this
special political fanaticism. It’s not bendable when things come to politics.
What
and who have made this happen and stopped Taiwan making more efforts on its
future if it does gain one?
What has been
going through in Taiwan?
It seemed difficult to
believe Taiwan was with limited resources to make a silk purse out of a sow’s
ear – having its miracle success in many ways after World War II. Once it was
proud of being one of “the four little dragons in Asia -- Taiwan,
South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore.
With
a matter-of-factly political hostility toward China and urgency to build up Taiwan,
the KMT ( Kuo Min Tang, Chinese National Party) leaders did make efforts with plentiful manpower supply, soldiers mostly, and professionals
in different fields from China after World War II. Taiwan, therefore, gained its promising future in
agriculture and industries. It is very sad the pride exists no more!
There
was a way to make Taiwan famous for its agriculture accomplishment. In 1953, the marvelous farmland
policy was conducted and the farmers were entitled to the lands. That was why
agriculture has been thriving since then. What about
now? Because the farmland
policy was not functioning soundly anymore, some farmlands have been sold out
to the construction companies for the purpose of making money instead of planting.
The farmers have become the new rich, and the crops decrease in the end.
Dictatorship
It
was a fact that before 1986 people in Taiwan hadn’t had freedom of speech
and gathering even though the Constitution promises the right to people.
The
Kaohsiung Incident, also known as the Formosa Incident was the result of
pro-democracy demonstrations that occurred in Kaohsiung on 10 December 1979. On
28 September in 1986, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was officially and
legally registered as a political party, the opposition party to KMT. Taiwan
finally became a real democratic country not only under the one-party rule of
the KMT. DPP has recruited its members since then and has 335,643 members now.
Is
it only a wish to have the dream come true – giving people knowledgeable and
open-minded leaders to devote to the public affairs and bring people a bright
future to Taiwan?
Is
it only a mirage no matter which party rules Taiwan, which can’t make any
progress at all?
Corruption
Almost
all politicians are liars in Taiwan like those in countries, democratic or
dictatorial ones. Why are they lying, were lying, or will be lying? Is there a
simple answer to this? Of course, after they taste the juicy of POWER and MONEY followed by CORRUPTION, they
certainly lose the ability of resisting the temptations out of them, but what
about their ideals they claim on before they successfully approach and finally
access to the high positions? GONE completely!
They
form habits gradually after they get into the center of power, who are making
lies if needed without reluctance. It’s nothing about conscience or ethics at
all. Last year there were violent protestations against the policies on the
way, and the ones who occupied the Conference Room of Legislator Yuan and some
offices of Executive Yuan also damaged public possessions.
It is beyond question that they did so much horrible mischief to Taiwan, isn't it? Could they justify what they had done? I
don’t think so because the police officers lost their authority to do their
duties and were criticized too. Some of them were hurt.
Don’t be surprised if you read this -- that he was once a communist (Taiwan e News, 20th June, 2013), the chairman of KMT, vice President of KMT, and an elected President presented KMT. After retirement he was the chairman of Taiwan Solidarity Union, a political party.
Now
you know what I meant and would you agree with what the statements delivered to you?
Nationality
Can
you believe some people are proud of the period of time colonized by the
so-called “DAI-NIPON,” and they consider that they are sort of Japanese. You are laughing at this,
aren’t you? You are absolutely right about it that people in Taiwan conduct
Chinese to speak to write and the ancestors of most people came from China, no matter how
long back it was, except aboriginal people and immigrants.
It
couldn’t be denied that Taiwan would have been one part of China if the KMT did
not retreat to Taiwan and took over Taiwan from Japan's colonial rule and
aggression.
The
former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama 1995 offered an apology for other
nations' torments brought by Japan before and during World War II. In addition to that, Japanese Emperor Akihito expressed sorrows more than once for Japan's aggressive attacks on some countries in the first half of the 20th century. Again, he felt sorry for Japan's treatment to the Chinese when he first visited China in 1992.
However,
the way how the Japanese governed Taiwan for fifty years hasn’t been mentioned
at all. Was Japanese colonization in Taiwan civilized and fair or cruel and unjust?
Isn’t it easy to figure out, by imagination probably?
If
the fact is what it was, why are there people who deny their nationality and are pleased to be part of Japan? Obviously, I’m not a racist or
skeptical because I totally respect it if people want to migrate to Japan and
adopt a Japanese name replaced their Chinese one. It is one’s life and
choice, happily getting it if Japan appreciates the loyalty and dedication to
working on this.
Could
I give an example of those extremists? Yes, what about our popular former
President Lee Ten-hui. He was born and
educated in Taiwan most of the time, except three years spent in Tokyo
University in Japan from 1943-1946, under the rule of Japan. With his
brother, he was a Japanese solider of higher rank to fight for Japan
voluntarily.
Don’t be surprised if you read this -- that he was once a communist (Taiwan e News, 20th June, 2013), the chairman of KMT, vice President of KMT, and an elected President presented KMT. After retirement he was the chairman of Taiwan Solidarity Union, a political party.
As
a retired President of the Republic of Taiwan, Mr Lee has enjoyed his longevity
and luxury, monthly paid by the Taiwan Government. His academic knowledge is
marvelous in an agricultural field and gained his PhD in America. There won’t
be a one to question his competence of judging the right from the wrong since
he ran his Presidency for two terms in a row-- eight years.
It’s
interesting why he’s faced the dilemma consciously or unconsciously about his national identity.
Not long ago, he claimed that “Japan is his mother country” (Liberty Times Net, 7th
September, 2015). I am quite sure that you haven’t happened to hear Indian
people said “Britain is their mother country,” have you?
He must have that special feeling toward Japan even though he was once President of
Taiwan with wisdom, knowledge and experiences of making decisions quick and
accurately. He certainly is not the only one who wonders if he is Chinese,
Taiwanese or Japanese? Or did he just get lost at his age, 93? If he does so, no wonder some of his
loyal followers are trapped in the same wonder.
A crisis of the whole nation it is, isn't it? Otherwise, it is good to have more than one option to choose your nationality. True?
A crisis of the whole nation it is, isn't it? Otherwise, it is good to have more than one option to choose your nationality. True?
It should be made simple to define “Taiwanese." What about a definition like this – people who are Taiwan ID
or passport holders are Taiwanese? Who cares where were you born? Where did you
come from? Where do you want to go or stay?
You
are Taiwanese and you have absolutely rights to speak what you want to say in
your mind, and no one can stop you from that. BTW, you are definitely free from
fear of losing your mother country!
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