I bought a Chinese book at the bookstore which talks about FIFTY PEOPLE WHO MOST INFLUENCED THE HISTORY OF TAIWAN.
So . . . . . in this line of thought, I was wondering, with all the talk of “localization” here in Taiwan, is there any movement to select a “National Father of Taiwan”?
Who would be a good choice? Does anyone have any ideas? Perhaps you could list your rationale as well . . . . . . or if you have URLs for webpages which link to information about the person, that would be helpful too.
I think that most people consider Sun Yat-sen to be the National Father, however it seems to me that this idea was primarily promoted by Chiang Kai-shek and the KMT, and hence may not reflect local Taiwanese values . . . . . .
Just wondering, was the book a typical self-congratulatory thing with, basically a listing of the most successful (corrupt) politicians and business people on the island?
Because, really, with Taiwan’s status as the little non-nation that is also the world’s 15th biggest trade economy - a book like that could be quite interesting if it included Amercian politicians (where would Taiwan be if it weren’t for American support?), and Chinese politicians (would Taiwan need American support were it not for China?) and other figures not necessarily from Taiwan.
I don’t mean to say that there aren’t (many more than) 50 important Taiwanese people worth profiling, but honestly, in the context of Taiwan’s interenational status (and who is going to tell me that is not one of the biggest obsessions / interests on this rock?) any book about people who REALLY influence Taiwan has to include Americans and Chinese.
A little disclaimer: In case this is read as some sort of “Isn’t America wonderful!” post… that’s not my point. I just think that America has played a VERY big role in the creation and maintenance of this place.
I’m very interested in politics and in Taiwan’s history & present. adly though, most writing I find on Taiwan is either back-slapping aren’t we GREAT drivel or smells remarkably like a KMT made-to-order manufacture or events past.
I would say … if it was true and not just a trumped up allegation by three New Party fuckwits, two of whom were heavily fined when their shite was proven to be lies and one of whom was thrown in jail.
The list price is NT$ 190 each. Some discount might be available. At the bookstore where I bought them they were 20% off, but I seem to have gotten the last two copies . . . . . .
[quote=“commie_jing”]Chiang Kai-shek was a great man[/quote]This is really funny from you since (1) you’ve never visited Taiwan and probably never will. (2)CKS killed more Chinese soldiers and civilians than the Japanese Imperial Army.
(3)The ‘pan-greens’ that you dismiss so lightly is in fact the majority of Taiwan’s electorate…
Sure. Let’s just forget about his years as the head of Taiwan’s Gestapo etc etc. You have the balls to call posters like Maowang ‘revisionists’? :loco: :fume:
where did I say he was a great man, you really are an idiot hsiadogah. All I said was that he is the father of modern Taiwan (as in he is most responsible for what Taiwan is today). I already knew that most Taidu supporters were morons but the foreign ones really take the cake. Keep drinking the green kool-aid.
You could even say he’s responsible for what China is today, given that he caused the conditions that led to the communist revolution. Should you make him the National Father of China for that? You could argue that Stalin made Russia what it is, would you honor him with a title like National Father?
Let’s try and nominate someone who’s done more good than harm to Taiwan, except for you that is who have no right to comment on anything here.
I don’t know whom I would consider to be Taiwan’s “national father”, though it CERTAINLY IS NOT CKS.
I often refer to Lee TungHui as the father of Taiwan’s democracy. Of course, Pan-Blue stalwarts will disagree with that assessment, but I think it is clear to most people that he is in fact, Taiwan’s Democratic Father.
