This Blog strongly recommend Ms Lung Ying-tai's (龍應台) latest book "大江大海1949" (Big River, Big Sea — Untold Stories of 1949). She wrote a famous letter to Hu Jintao, not too long ago, urging him to "please pursuade me with civility" (请您以文明说服我)
This book is a story of the "losers" of the Civil War. It is a personal story of the writer and the generation who experienced it.
It is a collection of stories from those who made it to Taiwan following the defeat of the Natonalist. They were those who were forcefully enscripted. They were those whose spouse, chidlren and parents who were left behind and never got to see other again. There were places that disappeared from the map. All these were the story, a personal story of a generation of Chinese, many of whom are still alive, that required to be written and understood.
Ms Long wrote a very moving book judging by the first chapter I have just completed reading. Her prose is beautiful and her thoughts is always humane.
Her intention of writing the book is simple. Without understanding, there is no empathy across the Strait and there is no reconciliation and the peace, if any, will be fragile, and surely, I must add, there is no basis for reunification.
It is unsual for me to write a book recommendation before I finish reading it. It is just so good that I must make it known here to share with you.
By the way, this book is apparently banned in the mainland. I am hoping that the mainland censor can see the big picture.
It is time for INCLUSIVENESS especially after 60 years.
Please see www.cw.com/tw/book/1949 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5DqjiDdEic&feature=channel for more information.
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1 comment:
Thank you for the recommendation. I shall look for copy. I wonder when will both sides adopt the attitude you expressed, that without understanding, there is no empathy across the Strait and there is no reconciliation and the peace. Reunification needs to be seen in a light other than conquest. Leadership needs to be earned - if in the past by force of arms than in this day and age, by winning respect and creating/winning an atmosphere for understanding and conciliation. And that cannot happen unless the CCP relaxes its worst reflex to be fear, pride and self-righteousness.
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