Well, I got caught up in some things like school, which has kept me running all day for a while now. I was hoping to make a BIG START to make up for my extended absence, but this just ended up putting undue pressure on me to make it good. Instead, I will make it absolutely banal and go from there.
While nearly every week involves a conversation about the state of Taiwan/China (and I would reiterate here that I have yet to meet any Taiwanese person who believes in reunification), this week we learn of China's anger at the consideration of Taiwan to disband our utterly anachronistic reunification council. And considering these two recent articles, who would realistically want to reunify???:
Article 1: People upset by heavy-handed Chinese authorities. They respond by organizing a hunger strike. The governement responds by kidnapping/arresting them. They have disappeared, likely never to be seen from again.
Article 2: A widely-read student newspaper publishes an article critical of Chinese history textbooks. The government responds by replacing the editors of the paper, while keeping the paper publishing. The new government stooge editors' first job? Criticizing the earlier article. "Sorry, we were grossly in error to say such things. Long live the valiant defenders of the People."
And of course, the saddest thing about all this is that the majority of people in China will never the full story. Although maybe the word is slowly getting out.... let's hope.
There are more and more Taiwanese people who have forgotten the importance of freedom.I study at a university in Taichung. Some of my classmates even claime that Taiwan is a part of China. I always feel sad about this. In the future 2008, I think Mr.Ma may win the president election. At that time, we will again to fear China which will force Taiwan to return to.
This is my first time to leave a comment on your site. I hope you can keep suporting Taiwan.
Posted by: Max | 2006/3/6 at 下午 10:44
I'm really upset reading your post. Suppose you have a brother, who is a criminal. You can denounce his crime, but you can't deny your relationship. Whatever you think you are, other ppl see you as his brother. Face the fact is the first step towards a better life.
Posted by: Andy | 2006/3/9 at 上午 3:39
It's just sad to see comment like Max's. There is no need for Taiwan to be a part of China just because we have a common ancestry. We have a kinder, gentler, fairer, freer, all around better society than China, and we like to keep it that way. Way of life, man, is what separates us apart. Who cares that we are related hundreds of years ago. In China, people treat each other like shit and officials are corrupted. Why does anyone want to be a aprt of that?
Posted by: Michael C | 2006/3/10 at 下午 5:54
Sorry Max, I mean Andy's comment is sad to see. I misread the line.
Posted by: Michael C | 2006/3/10 at 下午 5:56
Max- That is interesting about your classmates. Most polls show that there is somewhere between 10-20% of people who support unification, but I haven't had a conversation with anyone who has expressed that opinion. I am wondering where they all are.
Andy- Your fatalist attitude is rather strange, I think. Face the fact that Taiwan must be part of a system such as China's? With no self-determination? I think you need to consider the order of the world as actually being determined by people's will.
Posted by: taiwantiger | 2006/3/26 at 下午 12:44
This is the first time I've been to your blog and I think its great!
Andy: That is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard. All the European countries have common ancestry but do they view it as such? If you, for example, told a French person that he or she was in fact from England, he or she would definitely not be happy nor would an American you called English. "Deny your relationship... brother"??? Pffft
Posted by: Victor | 2006/4/29 at 上午 11:22