The 19th century Meji Gvernment's annexation of Hokkaido and Ryukyu proved lasting. Unlike Penghu, Taiwan, Laiodong Penisunlar, Shakalin and Korea, these two territories remain firmly within the Japanese border despite the WW II's unconditional surrender.
Ryukyu Kingdom, once a small yet independent maritime nation, is now just Okinawa Prefecture. I had always been mystefied by this special island nation.
Her merchant ships had traded as far as Annam, Siam and Malacca. Her diplomats had successfully maneuvered between two empires paying tribute to both without irking either.
Her land saw the fiercest battle in the Pacific war theater with thousand of her civilians were herded to jump off the cliff seemingly for the dignity of her emperor who was but a foreign ruler just 70 years earlier.
Being a small nation sandwiched between two giants, they are destined to be swallowed by either one. I have this profound sympathy for her and her peoples.
My recent trip to Okinawa was predominantly a children-centric tour. We visited the Churaimi Ocean Expo and sampled the local diets that were commonly attributed as the reason of longetivity among the locals.
That gave me very little opportunities to have a deeper glimpse of Okinawa.
At the downtown fish market in Naha, a trader told me that the younger generation could probably understand bits of Ryukyuan language but could barely speak the tongue. They have largely been Japanized though are conscious of their difference from the mainland Yamato.
This is not surprising given that she had been annexed by Japan 130 years ago and first came under the Japanese Shogun's suzerainty 4 centuries earlier.
Further, genetically they are both Mongoloid and religiously there is no conflict. After such a long period of subjugation, it is actually surprising to see any surviving Ryukyu culture and language.
Another young and handsome trader at Okinawa World, a theme park built on top of a 900 meter underground cave with amazing columns of stalactites and stalagmites, selling dragon-fly souvenier told me that if at all any facial feature that distinguish them from the Yamato is their dark and thick eyebrow. I wondered how objectiev this could be?
It was also interesting that the same chap told me his name is 6 Chinese characters in length, 3 each made up his surname and first name, that is a wholesome 6 characters compared to the typical 4-5 characters in a Japanese name.
Another cultural relic that is prevailent all over the island is the shishi (read in Hokkien, you can perhaps figure out what it is). It is a Ryukyuan lion figurine that is commonly seen on top of the roof or stood in pair just outside the gate or the door. The function is to expel the evil spirits.
At the Shuri castle in Naha where the last Ryukyu Kings resided, we could still see plague gifted by the various Qing emperors as late as Tongzhi.
The modern Sino-Japanese conflict started with a Ryukyu ship wreckage off Taiwan in 1871 where scores of Ryukyuan subjects were killed by the Taiwanese aborigine. The Meiji smelt blood and claimed compensation against the Qing government. A small and unsuccessful expedition was launched in 1874.
It is unimaginable that the millions of dead that followed in the ensuing 70 years had direct link to this Pacific Island. A monument commenmorating the deads stood elegantly silent just below the principla Shinto temple in Naha. I was able to stand before the monument to reflect for a few minutes the historical significant of a marine mishap.
The island is slow-paced ( the speed limit on the highway is 80 km/ph and around 40-50 km/ph off the highway) and the peoples like the Japanese are courteous and well-mannered. English, suprizingly is not widely spoken despite a huge American military presence in the island taking up almost 20% of land mass in Okinawa island.
Okinawa is a beautiful island with sandy beaches and scenic coastal line. The seafood is abundant and there is a type of seaweed that taste like fish roe. It is called the green cavier. I don't remember the name but it is surely one of the dedicacy my younger boy and I remember.
The weather in December is mild with 15-20 celcius but it is the low season for tourist to this Japanese's Hawaii.
There are reasons to come back for this island that is riched in history.
Showing posts with label Taiwan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taiwan. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
馬英九向錢穆遺孀致歉
Qian Mu is my favorite Chinese History scholar cum writer. I had read most of his publications and developed an immense liking of his writing and analysis when I was in my 20s.
This apology is long overdued and I am very happy to see the leaders across the Strait like Wen and Ma who embody many fine aspects of the best Confucianist values - the respect for the scholars.
2010-08-31
(綜合報道)(星島日報報道)國學大師錢穆六十年代離開香港後，定居台北素書樓。一九九○年，錢穆病榻中，因被指控侵佔市府土地，被逼搬離故居，旋即病逝。馬英九(相關)昨日在錢穆逝世二十周年追思會上，以總統身分向錢穆遺孀胡美琦致歉，強調當局重視文人故居，不再做出「不公不義」的事。
一九六七年，錢穆夫婦應蔣介石邀請從香港遷往台北，在翠林幽谷的外雙溪建房，親手繪製圖樣，由當局代為施工。次年入住時，錢穆因紀念母親命名此樓為「素書樓」，在此長居二十三年。
一九九○年，當時的台北市議員周伯倫，指稱素書樓佔用市府土地，而時任立委的陳水扁(相關)也強烈要求台北市政府收回。當時錢穆雖高齡九十六歲，眼盲體衰，但不甘受辱，決定搬走，三個月後辭世。
馬英九昨日表示，他以飲水思源、追念大師的心情參加追思會，對事件一直耿耿於懷，一九九八年當上台北市長之後，開始整修名人故居。○二年素書樓整修完成，重開大門時，他即以台北市長身分，向錢穆遺孀胡美琦鞠躬，代表市政府致歉。
他昨日再次向錢夫人表達歉意，強調賓四先生（錢穆）沒有霸佔公產，那塊地是賓館用地，在錢穆返台前原作招待外賓之用，絕無侵佔公有財產之事。
「君子疾沒世而名不稱焉」，馬英九又引《論語‧衞靈公篇》來說明錢穆的委屈。他表示，台灣社會除自由民主外，也講求公平正義；對於不公不義的二二八事件、白色恐怖及錢穆故居風波等，他保證不再發生。
八十二歲的錢穆遺孀胡美琦昨日坐着輪椅致詞表示，四十三年前由於兩位蔣總統禮賢下士，讓他們夫妻住進素書樓，卻因政客的污衊而搬離。她說，世事無常，如同錢穆生前所寫「塵世無常，性命終將老去；天道好還，人文幸得綿延。」
錢夫人因長年住院，已很少回故居，昨日睹物思人，難掩傷感，不時拭淚。台北市文化局長謝小韞在追思會中，向錢夫人深情地說：「這裏永遠是您的家」。
為紀念錢穆學術貢獻，目前「素書樓」已改為紀念圖書館，委託東吳大學管理，並定名「錢穆故居」，定期舉辦書畫展、學術座談會等。
This apology is long overdued and I am very happy to see the leaders across the Strait like Wen and Ma who embody many fine aspects of the best Confucianist values - the respect for the scholars.
2010-08-31
(綜合報道)(星島日報報道)國學大師錢穆六十年代離開香港後，定居台北素書樓。一九九○年，錢穆病榻中，因被指控侵佔市府土地，被逼搬離故居，旋即病逝。馬英九(相關)昨日在錢穆逝世二十周年追思會上，以總統身分向錢穆遺孀胡美琦致歉，強調當局重視文人故居，不再做出「不公不義」的事。
一九六七年，錢穆夫婦應蔣介石邀請從香港遷往台北，在翠林幽谷的外雙溪建房，親手繪製圖樣，由當局代為施工。次年入住時，錢穆因紀念母親命名此樓為「素書樓」，在此長居二十三年。
一九九○年，當時的台北市議員周伯倫，指稱素書樓佔用市府土地，而時任立委的陳水扁(相關)也強烈要求台北市政府收回。當時錢穆雖高齡九十六歲，眼盲體衰，但不甘受辱，決定搬走，三個月後辭世。
馬英九昨日表示，他以飲水思源、追念大師的心情參加追思會，對事件一直耿耿於懷，一九九八年當上台北市長之後，開始整修名人故居。○二年素書樓整修完成，重開大門時，他即以台北市長身分，向錢穆遺孀胡美琦鞠躬，代表市政府致歉。
他昨日再次向錢夫人表達歉意，強調賓四先生（錢穆）沒有霸佔公產，那塊地是賓館用地，在錢穆返台前原作招待外賓之用，絕無侵佔公有財產之事。
「君子疾沒世而名不稱焉」，馬英九又引《論語‧衞靈公篇》來說明錢穆的委屈。他表示，台灣社會除自由民主外，也講求公平正義；對於不公不義的二二八事件、白色恐怖及錢穆故居風波等，他保證不再發生。
八十二歲的錢穆遺孀胡美琦昨日坐着輪椅致詞表示，四十三年前由於兩位蔣總統禮賢下士，讓他們夫妻住進素書樓，卻因政客的污衊而搬離。她說，世事無常，如同錢穆生前所寫「塵世無常，性命終將老去；天道好還，人文幸得綿延。」
錢夫人因長年住院，已很少回故居，昨日睹物思人，難掩傷感，不時拭淚。台北市文化局長謝小韞在追思會中，向錢夫人深情地說：「這裏永遠是您的家」。
為紀念錢穆學術貢獻，目前「素書樓」已改為紀念圖書館，委託東吳大學管理，並定名「錢穆故居」，定期舉辦書畫展、學術座談會等。
Monday, August 23, 2010
Mandarin and Cantonization - 500 words Reply to David Tang
As an overseas Chinese, I treasure the importance to preserve one’s identity and one’s language in a minority environment. I thus have great empathy for Sir David. (David Tang Wing-cheung’s Cantonese is a rich and subtle language that must be preserved”, August 23)
I want to relate the adoption of Mandarin in South East Asia. My parents, like the overwhelming majority of their generation, received Chinese education in Mandarin at about the turn of 1960s, still converse to each other in Mandarin, never mind that they are both Fujianese.
Many Indonesian Chinese who migrated to Hong Kong, most of whom left Indonesia between 1950s-1960s, still proudly speak Mandarin among them.
These show how readily the South East Asian Chinese accept Mandarin as their own common language despite their different vernacular.
After the Second World War, the South East Asian Chinese educationist and the community had the foresight to install Mandarin as the unifying language.
The major resistance to Mandarin is among the Cantonese peoples in pockets of area where they form the majority. The often cited evidence of Cantonese sophistication is that the Tang Dynasty's poem is best read out in Cantonese.
What is ironic is that there is very sizable number of non-Cantonese in Hong Kong and their second generations are all converted into Cantonese speaking. Isn't Cantonese imposed on these non-Cantonese?
Understandably, this was a deliberate British colonial “divide and rule” policy to promote Cantonese primacy in the school.
It didn’t help that, the former Chief Executive, Mr. C.W Tung introduced the disastrous mother tongue policy by assuming that the mother tongue was Cantonese and worst by promoting Cantonese in post-handover as keeping the "2 systems" in the "one country".
What I find most amusing is that even the recent arrivals from the Mainland are rushing to be Cantonized. When applying for their identity card, they happily swap their name from Pinyin to Cantonese spelling. Abandoning Pinyin spelling supposedly makes them Hong Kongers. Maybe they are not aware that the local are adopting English names such as David as their own.Many locals, with memory of constant turmoil and persecution in the Mainland, have their own skepticism of anything Mainland and these include Mandarin that is seen as imposed top-down.
However, it is still either very clannish or very colonial for Sir David to claim that Hong Kong would fare better politically if we continue to use a language which the northerners did not understand.
The word "northerner" is very segregationist last heard in the era of American Confederacy but I could find myself amused with the word as yet another Sir David's demonstration of caricature with great sense of humor.
Our children started to learn Mandarin half-heartedly only after the handover; and our shopkeepers half-competently only after the SARs.
We should promote Mandarin as the main medium of instruction whilst teaching Chinese in school. This is a historical decision Hong Kong cannot wait.
Cantonese as a vernacular, like the Taiwanese, will always be around, alive and kicking.
I want to relate the adoption of Mandarin in South East Asia. My parents, like the overwhelming majority of their generation, received Chinese education in Mandarin at about the turn of 1960s, still converse to each other in Mandarin, never mind that they are both Fujianese.
Many Indonesian Chinese who migrated to Hong Kong, most of whom left Indonesia between 1950s-1960s, still proudly speak Mandarin among them.
These show how readily the South East Asian Chinese accept Mandarin as their own common language despite their different vernacular.
After the Second World War, the South East Asian Chinese educationist and the community had the foresight to install Mandarin as the unifying language.
The major resistance to Mandarin is among the Cantonese peoples in pockets of area where they form the majority. The often cited evidence of Cantonese sophistication is that the Tang Dynasty's poem is best read out in Cantonese.
What is ironic is that there is very sizable number of non-Cantonese in Hong Kong and their second generations are all converted into Cantonese speaking. Isn't Cantonese imposed on these non-Cantonese?
Understandably, this was a deliberate British colonial “divide and rule” policy to promote Cantonese primacy in the school.
It didn’t help that, the former Chief Executive, Mr. C.W Tung introduced the disastrous mother tongue policy by assuming that the mother tongue was Cantonese and worst by promoting Cantonese in post-handover as keeping the "2 systems" in the "one country".
What I find most amusing is that even the recent arrivals from the Mainland are rushing to be Cantonized. When applying for their identity card, they happily swap their name from Pinyin to Cantonese spelling. Abandoning Pinyin spelling supposedly makes them Hong Kongers. Maybe they are not aware that the local are adopting English names such as David as their own.Many locals, with memory of constant turmoil and persecution in the Mainland, have their own skepticism of anything Mainland and these include Mandarin that is seen as imposed top-down.
However, it is still either very clannish or very colonial for Sir David to claim that Hong Kong would fare better politically if we continue to use a language which the northerners did not understand.
The word "northerner" is very segregationist last heard in the era of American Confederacy but I could find myself amused with the word as yet another Sir David's demonstration of caricature with great sense of humor.
Our children started to learn Mandarin half-heartedly only after the handover; and our shopkeepers half-competently only after the SARs.
We should promote Mandarin as the main medium of instruction whilst teaching Chinese in school. This is a historical decision Hong Kong cannot wait.
Cantonese as a vernacular, like the Taiwanese, will always be around, alive and kicking.
Mandarin and Cantonization - Unedited Reply to David Tang
Being a member of Overseas Chinese Diaspora, I treasure how important to preserve one’s identity and one’s mother tongue in a minority environment. I thus have great empathy for Sir David. (David Tang Wing-cheung’s Cantonese is a rich and subtle language that must be preserved”, August 23)
Let me be clear, I am not in favor of suppressing Cantonese but I do take the stance to promote the use of Mandarin for the Chinese anywhere anytime.
I want to discuss about the spread of Mandarin usage outside the Mainland China by relating my family experience in the South East Asia. My parents received Chinese education in Mandarin at about the turn of 1960s, they still converse to each other in Mandarin, never mind that they are both Fukienise (Fujianese in Pinyin) by descent.
As a young child growing up in repressive environment in the 1980s, my generation was constantly reminded to speak more Mandarin and less vernacular when we went to school. This was true for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, the three former British colony in South east Asia.
Even the Indonesian Chinese who migrated to Hong Kong, most of whom left Indonesia between 1950s-1960s, Mandarin is still proudly spoken among them perhaps with an accent Sir David would perhaps regard as insufficiently good.
These show how readily the South East Asian Chinese accept Mandarin as their own common language. A big credit to all the pioneers and successive generation of Chinese educationist who have the foresight to install Mandarin as the unifying spoken language for the Chinese Diaspora. It was done without any political pressure from Beijing at all and with the consensus of all the major tribes of Chinese.The major resistance to Mandarin are perhaps among the Cantonese peoples. I am increasingly affirmed of my view that there is a sort of Cantonese-centrism in pocket where the Cantonese descent forms the majority. It is also very ironic that many prominent Cantonese would rather speak English than Mandarin.
I know this may be controversial. My own experience has been that the Cantonese speaking peoples tend to impose their own as the "lingua franca". This is true from Vancouver to Kuala Lumpur, not to mention Hong Kong.Cantonese speaking peoples instinctively regard Cantonese as more sophisticated than Mandarin or other vernacular which may be true. The often cited evidence is that the Tang Dynasty's poem is best read out in Cantonese than in Mandarin. The Cantonization phenomena in Kuala Lumpur, I believe, is largely attributed to the rise of Hong Kong pop music and TVB popular dramas from the late 1970s. The reasons are rooted in the perceived Cantonese superiority and the popularity of its pop culture.
Many of the Chinese who lived in Hong Kong today are not originally Cantonese. According to the local Fukien (Fujian in Pinyin) organization, there is more than a million Fujianese in Hong Kong. If we add up the more frequently encountered waves of immigrants or refugees from Chiu-chow (Chaozhou in Pinyin), Shanghainese and Hakka (many of whom are actually native in the New Territory), the non-Cantonese number is definitely very substantial in Hong Kong.However, their second generation are all converted into Cantonese speaking. This in large part is due to the British colonial policy in teaching the Chinese in Cantonese. There is only one school that teaches Mandarin uninterrupted from the 1950s until today. Such is the miserable state of Mandarin in Hong Kong.Upon the handover, the former Chief Executive, Mr. C.W Tung advocated and implemented the mother tongue language policy which was right but he got it wrong in that the mother tongue was presumed to be Cantonese. Mr Tung hails from Zhejiang.That's ironic and unfortunate for Hong Kong.
There were indeed many great scholars such as Professor Qian Mu (钱穆) who came to Hong Kong and set up the predecessor of what is now the Chinese University during those difficult years in 1950s . Yet Mandarin didn't stay as the mainstream.What I find most amusing is that even the latest arrivals from the Mainland are rushing to be Cantonized, at least in their name. When applying for their identity card, they happily swap their name from Pinyin to Cantonese spelling. Abandoning Pinyin spelling supposedly make them Hong Kongers. Maybe they are not aware that the local Hong Konger are adopting English names such as David as their own.Of course the social political backdrop between Hong Kong and Overseas Chinese Diaspora are very different. Retaining Cantonese in post-handover is seen as keeping the "2 systems" in the "one country". Prior to the handover, the local Hong Kongers with memory of constant turmoil and persecution in the Mainland from the Great Leap Forward to the Cultural Revolution and Tiananmen Incident, have their own reservation of anything Mainland and these surely include Mandarin that is seen as imposed top-down.
What is the state of Mandarin today?
Only after the handover that the children are beginning to learn Mandarin; and only after the SARs that the shopkeepers are beginning to speak Mandarin of an acceptable standard to the Mainland visitors.
I think it is either very clannish or very colonial for Sir David to claim that Hong Kong would fare better politically if we continue to use a language which the northerners did not understand. The word "northerner" is very segregationist last heard in the era of American Confederacy but I could find myself amused with the word as yet another Sir David's demonstration of caricature with great sense of humor.
The promotion of Mandarin in Hong Kong at least in the school as the main medium of instruction whilst teaching Chinese doesn’t deprive the cultural value of Cantonese. Cantonese as a vernacular like the Taiwanese will always be around, alive and kicking.
Let me be clear, I am not in favor of suppressing Cantonese but I do take the stance to promote the use of Mandarin for the Chinese anywhere anytime.
I want to discuss about the spread of Mandarin usage outside the Mainland China by relating my family experience in the South East Asia. My parents received Chinese education in Mandarin at about the turn of 1960s, they still converse to each other in Mandarin, never mind that they are both Fukienise (Fujianese in Pinyin) by descent.
As a young child growing up in repressive environment in the 1980s, my generation was constantly reminded to speak more Mandarin and less vernacular when we went to school. This was true for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, the three former British colony in South east Asia.
Even the Indonesian Chinese who migrated to Hong Kong, most of whom left Indonesia between 1950s-1960s, Mandarin is still proudly spoken among them perhaps with an accent Sir David would perhaps regard as insufficiently good.
These show how readily the South East Asian Chinese accept Mandarin as their own common language. A big credit to all the pioneers and successive generation of Chinese educationist who have the foresight to install Mandarin as the unifying spoken language for the Chinese Diaspora. It was done without any political pressure from Beijing at all and with the consensus of all the major tribes of Chinese.The major resistance to Mandarin are perhaps among the Cantonese peoples. I am increasingly affirmed of my view that there is a sort of Cantonese-centrism in pocket where the Cantonese descent forms the majority. It is also very ironic that many prominent Cantonese would rather speak English than Mandarin.
I know this may be controversial. My own experience has been that the Cantonese speaking peoples tend to impose their own as the "lingua franca". This is true from Vancouver to Kuala Lumpur, not to mention Hong Kong.Cantonese speaking peoples instinctively regard Cantonese as more sophisticated than Mandarin or other vernacular which may be true. The often cited evidence is that the Tang Dynasty's poem is best read out in Cantonese than in Mandarin. The Cantonization phenomena in Kuala Lumpur, I believe, is largely attributed to the rise of Hong Kong pop music and TVB popular dramas from the late 1970s. The reasons are rooted in the perceived Cantonese superiority and the popularity of its pop culture.
Many of the Chinese who lived in Hong Kong today are not originally Cantonese. According to the local Fukien (Fujian in Pinyin) organization, there is more than a million Fujianese in Hong Kong. If we add up the more frequently encountered waves of immigrants or refugees from Chiu-chow (Chaozhou in Pinyin), Shanghainese and Hakka (many of whom are actually native in the New Territory), the non-Cantonese number is definitely very substantial in Hong Kong.However, their second generation are all converted into Cantonese speaking. This in large part is due to the British colonial policy in teaching the Chinese in Cantonese. There is only one school that teaches Mandarin uninterrupted from the 1950s until today. Such is the miserable state of Mandarin in Hong Kong.Upon the handover, the former Chief Executive, Mr. C.W Tung advocated and implemented the mother tongue language policy which was right but he got it wrong in that the mother tongue was presumed to be Cantonese. Mr Tung hails from Zhejiang.That's ironic and unfortunate for Hong Kong.
There were indeed many great scholars such as Professor Qian Mu (钱穆) who came to Hong Kong and set up the predecessor of what is now the Chinese University during those difficult years in 1950s . Yet Mandarin didn't stay as the mainstream.What I find most amusing is that even the latest arrivals from the Mainland are rushing to be Cantonized, at least in their name. When applying for their identity card, they happily swap their name from Pinyin to Cantonese spelling. Abandoning Pinyin spelling supposedly make them Hong Kongers. Maybe they are not aware that the local Hong Konger are adopting English names such as David as their own.Of course the social political backdrop between Hong Kong and Overseas Chinese Diaspora are very different. Retaining Cantonese in post-handover is seen as keeping the "2 systems" in the "one country". Prior to the handover, the local Hong Kongers with memory of constant turmoil and persecution in the Mainland from the Great Leap Forward to the Cultural Revolution and Tiananmen Incident, have their own reservation of anything Mainland and these surely include Mandarin that is seen as imposed top-down.
What is the state of Mandarin today?
Only after the handover that the children are beginning to learn Mandarin; and only after the SARs that the shopkeepers are beginning to speak Mandarin of an acceptable standard to the Mainland visitors.
I think it is either very clannish or very colonial for Sir David to claim that Hong Kong would fare better politically if we continue to use a language which the northerners did not understand. The word "northerner" is very segregationist last heard in the era of American Confederacy but I could find myself amused with the word as yet another Sir David's demonstration of caricature with great sense of humor.
The promotion of Mandarin in Hong Kong at least in the school as the main medium of instruction whilst teaching Chinese doesn’t deprive the cultural value of Cantonese. Cantonese as a vernacular like the Taiwanese will always be around, alive and kicking.
Monday, October 5, 2009
大江大海1949 - A Book Recommendation
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.
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.
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Ma's Taiwan is Still Green
The Ma's Taiwan I saw last week is still rather Green.
All the peoples whom I spoke to last week in Taiwan were lamenting about the economic rues and against the Ma's administration.
One was telling me that the flour price has gone up so much and it led to the closure of more than thousand of bakeries. The mother of this evil is none other than the gasoline price. Ma was singled out for not stemming the price hike on gasoline that led to the price hike on every sundry items.
The lamenting continued that following the drop of gasoline price, there ought to be a corresponding fall of food prices. Yet, the prices were quick to rise but slow to fall. Apparently, the accusation is that many of the food commodity companies are related to KMT.
I have no time to do investigation if this is true. What I can tell is that there are many peoples on the ground who are yet to be won over by Ma and many more remain sympathethic of Chen Sui-bian.
One taxi driver who fethed me to the airport believed that the Chen's prosecution is politically motivated. His logic was simple - why Ah-Bian when the KMT peoples accused of "black gold" are not prosecuted.
There is a perceived unfairness by the pan green even though they are not convinced of Ah-bian's innoncence.
Further, there were concerns that Ma's pro-mainland policy is leading to the erosion of a separate Taiwanese identify forged over the years under the Lee and Chen's administrations. It is a proud identity they are not willing to let go.
I have always believed that with China becoming democratic and liberal one day, the case for reunification would be irresistable. The truth is more likely to be otherwise.
At this juncture, I would like to borrow some examples from the American's context to explain the cross strait relationship.
The cross-strait relationship since 1949 is a little similar to that of Cuban-American relationship, hostile and confrontational.
What the mainland hope for is more of American-Hawaii, all united in one country.
What the pan-green can accept is an independent country with perhaps a special relationship with her former master sharing a common heritage like the US and UK.
What the Ma's administration is working for, I speculate, is perhaps that of Puerto Rico vis-a-vis the USA, with the option for Taiwan to be reunited with China. We all know how the Puerto Rican voted for its separate identity in spite of USA's strength, power and democracy.
It therefore follows that the democratization of mainland China is just a pre-condition of but not the condition for, the peaceful reunification. There are the wishes of the peoples in Taiwan that cannot be ignored.
The task for reunification is thus enormous as it is not about China becoming democratic but also that Taiwan accepting being part of China. No doubt the onus is on the mainland to take the lead. However the Ma's adminstration has a challenging task to undo all the damage done by the Lee and Chen's administations in de-sinifying the Taiwanese in the last 20 years.
What's more, a democratic China, like the democratic America with Puerto Rico, will most likely no longer compell but rather leave it to Taiwan to choose whether to be part of her. In which case, the reunification will cease to be a key issue of the cross strait relationship.
All the peoples whom I spoke to last week in Taiwan were lamenting about the economic rues and against the Ma's administration.
One was telling me that the flour price has gone up so much and it led to the closure of more than thousand of bakeries. The mother of this evil is none other than the gasoline price. Ma was singled out for not stemming the price hike on gasoline that led to the price hike on every sundry items.
The lamenting continued that following the drop of gasoline price, there ought to be a corresponding fall of food prices. Yet, the prices were quick to rise but slow to fall. Apparently, the accusation is that many of the food commodity companies are related to KMT.
I have no time to do investigation if this is true. What I can tell is that there are many peoples on the ground who are yet to be won over by Ma and many more remain sympathethic of Chen Sui-bian.
One taxi driver who fethed me to the airport believed that the Chen's prosecution is politically motivated. His logic was simple - why Ah-Bian when the KMT peoples accused of "black gold" are not prosecuted.
There is a perceived unfairness by the pan green even though they are not convinced of Ah-bian's innoncence.
Further, there were concerns that Ma's pro-mainland policy is leading to the erosion of a separate Taiwanese identify forged over the years under the Lee and Chen's administrations. It is a proud identity they are not willing to let go.
I have always believed that with China becoming democratic and liberal one day, the case for reunification would be irresistable. The truth is more likely to be otherwise.
At this juncture, I would like to borrow some examples from the American's context to explain the cross strait relationship.
The cross-strait relationship since 1949 is a little similar to that of Cuban-American relationship, hostile and confrontational.
What the mainland hope for is more of American-Hawaii, all united in one country.
What the pan-green can accept is an independent country with perhaps a special relationship with her former master sharing a common heritage like the US and UK.
What the Ma's administration is working for, I speculate, is perhaps that of Puerto Rico vis-a-vis the USA, with the option for Taiwan to be reunited with China. We all know how the Puerto Rican voted for its separate identity in spite of USA's strength, power and democracy.
It therefore follows that the democratization of mainland China is just a pre-condition of but not the condition for, the peaceful reunification. There are the wishes of the peoples in Taiwan that cannot be ignored.
The task for reunification is thus enormous as it is not about China becoming democratic but also that Taiwan accepting being part of China. No doubt the onus is on the mainland to take the lead. However the Ma's adminstration has a challenging task to undo all the damage done by the Lee and Chen's administations in de-sinifying the Taiwanese in the last 20 years.
What's more, a democratic China, like the democratic America with Puerto Rico, will most likely no longer compell but rather leave it to Taiwan to choose whether to be part of her. In which case, the reunification will cease to be a key issue of the cross strait relationship.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
High Speed Rail
It has been more than two years since my last visit to Taiwan.
After checking through the immigration, I found the Koahsiung airport deserted and emptied of peoples. The airport that I know was bustling with peoples.
I have missed something. Yes. I wasn't here to witness the death of the domestic aviation industry.
The following day, I boarded the High Speed Rail from Zuoying (Kaohsiung) to Taipei. The ticketing counter was efficient and helpful. The boarding was fast without any security check required elsewhere including that of the mainland.
The train is new and the service is, in my view, more user friendly than the KCR (Kowloon-Canton Railway plying between Guangzhou and Hong Kong). There were useful leaflet in the seat pocket giving traveller information. The food on offer appears to be more palatable (I didn't sample). The washroom is cleaner and there is also several installation of vending machines for snack and drinks.
The speed was fast and took me just 43 minutes reaching Taichung. Travelling all the way to Taipei takes under 2 hours. In the past, it took more than 2 hours by road from Kaohsiung to Taichung and a total of between 5 to 6 hour to reach Taipei. What a speedy progress!
The only complaint is that the seat is a little too narrow but it is entirely my fault. My waist line has expanded.
The overall experience with the High Speed Rail is very comfortable and convenient. This is one single most impressive transformation I see in Taiwan since my very first visit in 2000.
On the aviation industry, it is truly an account of the rise and fall of an industry. The death of domestic aviation sees the birth of a high speed rail. Rather, it should be said the other way around, the birth of high speed rail kills the aviation.
It is also noticed that there is also corresponding decline of road transports using the highway easing the burden of the highway that was frequently congested in the past.
The question of whether or not the airport and aviation industry in Taiwan could revive, it will now all depend on the successful implementation of the big three links that becomes official just weeks ago. At the moment, there are still not too many visitors from the mainland.
As for me, it's good to be back to Taiwan to feel her pulse and seeing her in a faster and greener mode.
The next post will give an account of political sentiment on the Ma's Administration.
After checking through the immigration, I found the Koahsiung airport deserted and emptied of peoples. The airport that I know was bustling with peoples.
I have missed something. Yes. I wasn't here to witness the death of the domestic aviation industry.
The following day, I boarded the High Speed Rail from Zuoying (Kaohsiung) to Taipei. The ticketing counter was efficient and helpful. The boarding was fast without any security check required elsewhere including that of the mainland.
The train is new and the service is, in my view, more user friendly than the KCR (Kowloon-Canton Railway plying between Guangzhou and Hong Kong). There were useful leaflet in the seat pocket giving traveller information. The food on offer appears to be more palatable (I didn't sample). The washroom is cleaner and there is also several installation of vending machines for snack and drinks.
The speed was fast and took me just 43 minutes reaching Taichung. Travelling all the way to Taipei takes under 2 hours. In the past, it took more than 2 hours by road from Kaohsiung to Taichung and a total of between 5 to 6 hour to reach Taipei. What a speedy progress!
The only complaint is that the seat is a little too narrow but it is entirely my fault. My waist line has expanded.
The overall experience with the High Speed Rail is very comfortable and convenient. This is one single most impressive transformation I see in Taiwan since my very first visit in 2000.
On the aviation industry, it is truly an account of the rise and fall of an industry. The death of domestic aviation sees the birth of a high speed rail. Rather, it should be said the other way around, the birth of high speed rail kills the aviation.
It is also noticed that there is also corresponding decline of road transports using the highway easing the burden of the highway that was frequently congested in the past.
The question of whether or not the airport and aviation industry in Taiwan could revive, it will now all depend on the successful implementation of the big three links that becomes official just weeks ago. At the moment, there are still not too many visitors from the mainland.
As for me, it's good to be back to Taiwan to feel her pulse and seeing her in a faster and greener mode.
The next post will give an account of political sentiment on the Ma's Administration.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Cape No.7 - Apolitical Film
Cape No.7 (海角七号) is a love-music film, and a really good one.
Watching this love film with certain political perspective, in my opinion, is hurting one's very soul for peace and love.
There are lines and a few scenes, just like in every other film, that is open to different interpretation. Yet, taking a radical interpretation to suggest this love film has a certain political innuendo is taking it too far.
The very first line "fuck you Taipei" by the main actor who left Taipei for his hometown after a disappointing career is seen by some quarters as poking the eye of the KMT.
The few scenes wherein an elderly supporting cast is singing and speaking Japanese is taken as glorifying Japanization is an outright failure to understand the historical setting in which that particular generation is subject to.
The last scene of a Taiwanese girl waiting at the dock hoping in vain for her timid and subsequently remorseful Japanese teacher cum lover to take her along with the ship departing for Japan following the surrender is interpreted as embracing Japanese Imperialism is also too arbitrary without most natural human sentiment for love.
Alas, all these misgiving and misunderstanding are stretched and twisted out of proportion. It is particularly sad that it has been politicized and it is also really unnecessary for many compatriots to make hurtful comment unhelpful to cross-strait relationship and that between Chinese and Japanese. This relationship I spoke about is not that between a polity and a polity. It is one that exist at the most basic level between peoples.
It is reported that the film is banned in the mainland because of its positive portray of Japanization in Taiwan. I hope this is not true.
Speaking for myself, I have been and will continue to be, highly critical against the right wing Japanese and also the Japanese royal house for failing to apologize unconditionally for the World War II aggression.
However, nothing in the film I find any attempt at glorifying the Imperial Japan. It is a plain portray of two love stories connected via the seven undelivered letters written on board by the then remorseful lover.
The separation between the Japanese teacher and his young Taiwanese lover in the film, is no different from, any lovers separated by the force of war and conflict. Their longing to be together and their love for each other is as human and natural as anyone of us would have desired.
It is terribly sad that many of critics have been possessed by an increasingly violence-prone nationalism to ruthlessly dismiss the bond of love between that of a man and a woman.
No way, shall we forget the history of pain and no way shall we deny the future of love and peace.
The past lesson of war and conflict make it even more imperative that love and friendship across the strait and across the East Sea shall ever be denied to us and the future generation.
********************************************************
The plot is centered at the seven undelivered love letters written 60 years ago to the title of the film, Cape No. 7, which is an old address during the Japanese rule in a very scenic seaside town, Hengchun, in the southern tip of Taiwan.
According to Wei Te-sheng, the film director, the choice of Hengchun is to amplify the various contrast in the story and the characters to deliver a message of inclusiveness of love for lovers, family and friends. This, I think, the film had succeeded.
The script delivered in Mandarin, Japanese and Min Nan (Taiwanese), particularly the latter maybe difficult for non-Min Nan speakers to understand the film well. This is a reason I believe why I like this film. Each time the Min Nan is spoken, I find resonance to my root, never mind it is slightly different Min Nan from what I speak.
My guess is that the film can strike a chord with very few overseas Chinese. There are simply not too many who speak Min Nan these day or have had an understanding of Taiwan.
No wonder, the film was recording breaking in Taiwan and yet it didn't have a strong showing in Hong Kong.
What is amazing in retrospect is that the casting is actually rather weak. The leading actor, Van Fan (an aborigine himself, this again show the inclusiness of this film) is actually a singer and had no silver screen experience prior to the shooting.
The actress is a Japanese who speak decent Mandarin who had little success in her earlier debut. Other supporting casts are mainly unknown. The film director himself had limited experience in a full-length motion and had to spend his own money to finish the production.
To live up as a successful blockbuster, Cape No 7 succeeded in connecting with everyone's longing for love, an universal value. Adding icing to the cake, the music, from sentimental to rock songs, sung mostly in Mandarin and few in Japanese, against a combination of modern and traditional musical instrument is so good to the extent that I keep replaying them from the Youtube.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Three Links towards Peace
Taiwan and the mainland signed agreements on Nov 4 to pave ways for completing the outstanding two out of the so-called three links - trade, transport and postal - that was banned by the KMT government after losing the civil war.
Under the agreements, both sides across the Strait agree to full direct flight, direct cargo flight, direct shipping, direct postal and also to establish cross-strait cooperation on the latest concern on the food safety.
Bravo to both sides for making this happen.
The next thing is to call for an official truce and followed by the grand slam political settlement.
My fear is that some Pan-Green supporters may turn extremist and resort to terrorism to destabilize the cross-strait relationship. The security forces and intelligence agencies of both sides got to be cautious.
In Hong Kong, some newspapers are lamenting about the losses to Hong Kong following the historic deal. Currently, most of the flights and postal link are via Hong Kong. These papers are just microscopic.
Under the agreements, both sides across the Strait agree to full direct flight, direct cargo flight, direct shipping, direct postal and also to establish cross-strait cooperation on the latest concern on the food safety.
Bravo to both sides for making this happen.
The next thing is to call for an official truce and followed by the grand slam political settlement.
My fear is that some Pan-Green supporters may turn extremist and resort to terrorism to destabilize the cross-strait relationship. The security forces and intelligence agencies of both sides got to be cautious.
In Hong Kong, some newspapers are lamenting about the losses to Hong Kong following the historic deal. Currently, most of the flights and postal link are via Hong Kong. These papers are just microscopic.
Monday, November 3, 2008
ROC's Hereditary Office Holder dies
Kung Teh-cheng, the Confucius's 77th direct lineal descendant passed away at 88 years old on Oct 28, 2008.
Kung held a hereditary office with a mouthful of a title in Chinese, 「大成至聖先師奉祀官」, or simply the Sacrificial Official to Confucius, leading the annual official ceremony honoring the sage on his birthday in the Republic of China.
This is the only public office inheritable in the ROC created in 1935 to replace the imperial peerage of Duke Yansheng, 「衍聖公」, first created by the Sung's Dynasty in 1055.
The imperial peerage was bestowed to the eldest male of Confucius's direct lineage. The tradition is honored ever since the Sung Dynasty and continue into the modern form by the ROC.
Though the office is more symbolical than substantial, more ritual than actual, being an advocate of meritocracy and also a proponent for the separation of state and religion (Confucianism is sometimes mistaken for a religion), I would humbly suggest that this office should cease without a single dint of disrespect to Confucius and his descendants.
As I am gradually developing my identify as a liberal Confucianist, I am nevertheles of the view that China should remain secular and meritocratic.
The rationale of the imperial peerage is very much centered at the ruling class' patronage of Confucianism as an imperial doctrine justifying and ordering the state and the society. There was, I suppose, as much similar consideration when this hereditary office was created by the KMT government under Generalismo Chiang in 1935.
The role of this office is more appropriately belonged to the Kung's family, clan and/or his followers in the form of an NGO outside the government domain. It is inappropriate to sanction this office in the republican era into a hereditary public office.
In my opinion, it is legitimate and I am in support for the government to promote the teaching of Confucius including creating Confucius Academy everywhere like the PRC or honoring Confucius by declaring a public holiday as the Confucius Day.
前考試院長、孔子77代嫡孫 孔德成病逝
(2008/10/29 00:03)
生活中心／台北報導
前考試院長、大成至聖先師奉祀官孔德成，28日上午10點50分，因為心臟衰竭，安詳辭世台北新店慈濟醫院，享年89歲。靈堂暫設慈濟醫院地下二樓助念堂。
中國宋代獨尊儒術，自宋仁宗至和二年起，孔子家族嫡長孫世襲「衍聖公」爵位，以彰顯孔子德教，弘揚儒家精神；國民政府時期，民國24年1月18日將「衍聖公」改為「大成至聖先師奉祀官」，明令孔德成擔任奉祀官並宣誓就職，迄今已73年。
這也是我國目前僅存的世襲特任官。 內政部表示，奉祀官的設立具有傳承孔孟道統，發揚儒家思想之重要意義，主要任務為出席祭孔釋奠典禮，擔任奉祀官職務。
孔德成民國9年生，曾任教台大、輔大和東吳等校研究所，擔任考試院長9年，畢生致力於儒學之倡導與傳承，3年前，因為行動不便，未再出席祭孔大典。2008年台北孔廟祭孔大典，由他的秘書鄭毅明出席代為上香。
另由其長孫、孔子第79代嫡孫孔垂長擔任孔廟「崇聖祠」主祭官。
Kung held a hereditary office with a mouthful of a title in Chinese, 「大成至聖先師奉祀官」, or simply the Sacrificial Official to Confucius, leading the annual official ceremony honoring the sage on his birthday in the Republic of China.
This is the only public office inheritable in the ROC created in 1935 to replace the imperial peerage of Duke Yansheng, 「衍聖公」, first created by the Sung's Dynasty in 1055.
The imperial peerage was bestowed to the eldest male of Confucius's direct lineage. The tradition is honored ever since the Sung Dynasty and continue into the modern form by the ROC.
Though the office is more symbolical than substantial, more ritual than actual, being an advocate of meritocracy and also a proponent for the separation of state and religion (Confucianism is sometimes mistaken for a religion), I would humbly suggest that this office should cease without a single dint of disrespect to Confucius and his descendants.
As I am gradually developing my identify as a liberal Confucianist, I am nevertheles of the view that China should remain secular and meritocratic.
The rationale of the imperial peerage is very much centered at the ruling class' patronage of Confucianism as an imperial doctrine justifying and ordering the state and the society. There was, I suppose, as much similar consideration when this hereditary office was created by the KMT government under Generalismo Chiang in 1935.
The role of this office is more appropriately belonged to the Kung's family, clan and/or his followers in the form of an NGO outside the government domain. It is inappropriate to sanction this office in the republican era into a hereditary public office.
In my opinion, it is legitimate and I am in support for the government to promote the teaching of Confucius including creating Confucius Academy everywhere like the PRC or honoring Confucius by declaring a public holiday as the Confucius Day.
前考試院長、孔子77代嫡孫 孔德成病逝
(2008/10/29 00:03)
生活中心／台北報導
前考試院長、大成至聖先師奉祀官孔德成，28日上午10點50分，因為心臟衰竭，安詳辭世台北新店慈濟醫院，享年89歲。靈堂暫設慈濟醫院地下二樓助念堂。
中國宋代獨尊儒術，自宋仁宗至和二年起，孔子家族嫡長孫世襲「衍聖公」爵位，以彰顯孔子德教，弘揚儒家精神；國民政府時期，民國24年1月18日將「衍聖公」改為「大成至聖先師奉祀官」，明令孔德成擔任奉祀官並宣誓就職，迄今已73年。
這也是我國目前僅存的世襲特任官。 內政部表示，奉祀官的設立具有傳承孔孟道統，發揚儒家思想之重要意義，主要任務為出席祭孔釋奠典禮，擔任奉祀官職務。
孔德成民國9年生，曾任教台大、輔大和東吳等校研究所，擔任考試院長9年，畢生致力於儒學之倡導與傳承，3年前，因為行動不便，未再出席祭孔大典。2008年台北孔廟祭孔大典，由他的秘書鄭毅明出席代為上香。
另由其長孫、孔子第79代嫡孫孔垂長擔任孔廟「崇聖祠」主祭官。
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Snippets on International Politics
Anwar and his allies shoud look at how to form a sort of northern peninsular quasi federal mechanism covering the 5 states to provide a more coordinated governance promoting openness, efficiency and also participatory democrarcy. That would provide a a glimpse to the rest of malaysia to see what kind of governance Barisan Rakyat (People's Front) can provide if they are mandated to form the federal government.
On American Democratic primary, it has been said that Hillary runs the last 20th century campaign and Obama the first 21st century campaign.
Without a doubt internet is really a powerful tools in almost every aspect of our life. Even the so-called Malaysia's political Tsunami in large part is attrivuted to bloggers and on-line activists. DAP's Jeff Ooi, is probably the first blogger elected to parliament.
Speaking about political volunteers, this is an ultra mature sign of partipatory democracy. I too admire the American democratic culture. Politics has a lot of similary across the globe. Former MCA health minister resgined after a video secretly filning his extra-marital affairs went public. Today we have Spitzer resigned for hiring a hooker. Even in China, a lot of political bigwigs were brought down over sex scandals. Publis life really means the only form of legitimate sex is really matrimonial sex.
On LKY, I would suggest Guan Eng to take some pages out of LKY's volumous biographies to devise ala-Singaporean style governance in Penang. I have hell lot of respect for him but his way of disabling his opponents by all legal means, if copied, will definitely be disgusted and held in contempt. Those kinds of techniques were perhaps acceptable during his era but has no place now.
With the 6 weeks break until the next primary, we can shift our attention to Taiwan presidential election, about 10 days from now. Ma has an upperhand based on the opinion polls. However, I also believe that there is a similar phenomena to that - was it Bradly theory - that many of the ben sheng ren (my hokkien clans) who remains uncommitted or says would support Ma in opinion polls, would actually show up to vote for Hsieh. Let's hope that there is no repeat shooting incident this time. If it does, the bullet is likely to strike Ma rather than Hsieh. This remind me of the similar fact evidence we studied in the law school.
On American Democratic primary, it has been said that Hillary runs the last 20th century campaign and Obama the first 21st century campaign.
Without a doubt internet is really a powerful tools in almost every aspect of our life. Even the so-called Malaysia's political Tsunami in large part is attrivuted to bloggers and on-line activists. DAP's Jeff Ooi, is probably the first blogger elected to parliament.
Speaking about political volunteers, this is an ultra mature sign of partipatory democracy. I too admire the American democratic culture. Politics has a lot of similary across the globe. Former MCA health minister resgined after a video secretly filning his extra-marital affairs went public. Today we have Spitzer resigned for hiring a hooker. Even in China, a lot of political bigwigs were brought down over sex scandals. Publis life really means the only form of legitimate sex is really matrimonial sex.
On LKY, I would suggest Guan Eng to take some pages out of LKY's volumous biographies to devise ala-Singaporean style governance in Penang. I have hell lot of respect for him but his way of disabling his opponents by all legal means, if copied, will definitely be disgusted and held in contempt. Those kinds of techniques were perhaps acceptable during his era but has no place now.
With the 6 weeks break until the next primary, we can shift our attention to Taiwan presidential election, about 10 days from now. Ma has an upperhand based on the opinion polls. However, I also believe that there is a similar phenomena to that - was it Bradly theory - that many of the ben sheng ren (my hokkien clans) who remains uncommitted or says would support Ma in opinion polls, would actually show up to vote for Hsieh. Let's hope that there is no repeat shooting incident this time. If it does, the bullet is likely to strike Ma rather than Hsieh. This remind me of the similar fact evidence we studied in the law school.
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