Reason and Integrity Prevails in Ma's Victory

As much as I wish to consider Ma's (often described as) landslide victory as one in which reason and integrity prevails over passion and political gimmick, the 5 million plus votes garnered by Frank Hsieh is an approximately accurate reflection of DPP's unwawering political base.

It didn't matter to these DPP supporters that Chen Sui-Bian's 8 years of misgovernance is tainted by scandal, corruption and nepotism. What concern them foremost remains the Green Card issue (patriotism issue) questioning Ma's loyalty to Taiwan. To the Pan-green supportes, Ma carries this original sin because he was born outside Taiwan to parents who are regarded as outsiders who came to Taiwan with KMT having lost the civil war to CCP in mainland China.

The ensuing history saw KMT's autocratic and oppressive rule from 1945 to mid 1980s. The breakthrough was the democratization process begun by the late Chiang Ching Kuo which ought to have started a new chapter for Taiwan. As the history unfolded, all the subsequent administration whether Lee Teng Hui or DPP perpetuated the history of communal polarization instead of unity, the history of political patronage aka corruption and scandal instead of clean and efficient government focusing on peoples welfare and livelihood.

It is with this backdrop that Ma's victory is very impressive especially by capturing some of DPP's stronghold in Southern Taiwan. For a start, Ma has said what is expected out of him, widely regarded as a junzhi (loosely translated as gentleman) politician. In his victories speech, Ma expressed his gratitude to the peoples for giving him the mandate (more of western democratic value) and also his pledge to service with humility (more of confucianist value). More is expected out of him.

Right ahead, besides delivering a clean and good governance for peoples livelihood and managing the intricate issue of cross strait relationship underlining the issue of peoples freedom and liberty, he has an uphill task in the next four years to undo the negative paradigm of communal politics created by DPP and Lee Teng Hui in the course of the last 20 years where values are ignored, reason are undermined, facts are skewed and peace is compromised, all done for the purpose to grab power and power only. This will be the historical mission he is called upon to rebuild after years of oppression and polarization, corruption and scandal.

On individual level, Ma's victory is potentially more meaningful to individuals and every household. Besides his apparent very handsome look, there is other reason why women support him. On post election TV interview, one mother whilst cuddling her little girl was asked why did she voted for Ma and the answer she gave, I found so profound - was that Ma would be a better role model to her child. Everything starts at individual level, and on this score, Ma, with his values and clean image, received the endorsement that his set of values is what this mother is hoping that her daugther will embody. Let's wish Ma well and live up to the hope he inspires.