I’m hoping that something can be done about the CKS Memorial Hall after the pan-greens secure a legislative majority at the end of the year. It probably shouldn’t be torn down or altered, as it’s one of Taipei’s most distinctive landmarks, but it certainly should have its name and function changed.
Let’s make this the subject of a separate thread. Should the biscuit barrel be kept or replaced? What new names and uses would be suitable for it?
How about renaming it the National Memorial Hall (to match the National Theater and National Concert Hall), and using it to memorialize all significant national figures from the whole of Taiwan’s history?
What shall we do with the drunken sailor ?
What shall we do with the drunken sailor ?
What shall we do with the drunken sailor ?
What shall we do with the drunken sailor
Earl-y in the ma’arnin’ ?
I vote for making it a public execution grounds for former white terrorists.
I have no trouble with keeping it as a monument to the man, but it should house artifacts and the true story of the man and his life, not some reverence to lies.
Then again, a giant pacinko parlor wouldn’t go amiss.
Or it could be turned into a special court where some kind of Truth Commission sits in judgment on those who were involved in the perpetration of human rights abuses during the martial law era.
The thing is the Taiwanese public in general doesn’t care. Some anti-CKS people call it Zhongzheng Miao (the Temple of Chiang Kaishek) and I go a step further by calling it Ducai Miao (the Temple of the Dictator). But I don’t think you’re going to find any significant portion of public opinion in favour of demolishing it. The nearest you’ve got was when some rioters splashed the steps with red paint 10 years ago.
What really should be changed is the exhibition inside, which absurdly whitewashes the massacre carried out by the KMT and triad gangs in Shanghai in 1927. Most ex-prisoners and dissidents I have talked to do not know what is inside the CKS memorial, because they have on principle never visited the place.
The bodies of CKS and his son are supposedly located somewhere at CKS Memorial Hall. Tonight’s Taiwanese news showed CKS funeral footage, and they said that his relatives are planning to bury his body. They are currently looking for a cemetery plot.
I mentioned “CKS Victims’ Memorial Hall” before, but on a whimsical note, how about a shrine to George Psalmanazar? That would be a bit more cheery and tourist-friendly.
Maybe they could change the soldiers’ dance routines to more poofy ones like the Greek army guys do in Athens.
I don’t see why they should change the name - he may’ve been an utter maniac, but he still ran the country for decades and holds a major place in its history. Just because his lot like(d) to pretend some things never happened doesn’t mean the current crop should do the same.
Oh no, don’t get me wrong. Peanut should be remembered, but accurately, and on a less valuable plot of land. Taiwan should have it’s own holocaust museum for the Chiangs’ victims.
Why not integrate a “holocaust museum” into an revised CKS Memorial Hall where it is now then? As has been mentioned, why not keep the name, keep the place, and revise the contents to make it more accurately match reality. And as for being in such a valuable spot, I can’t think of a better reason to keep it there if a “holocaust museum” was integrated into it.
[quote=“Tetsuo”]Why not integrate a “holocaust museum” into an revised CKS Memorial Hall where it is now then? As has been mentioned, why not keep the name, keep the place, and revise the contents to make it more accurately match reality. And as for being in such a valuable spot, I can’t think of a better reason to keep it there if a “holocaust museum” was integrated into it.[/quote]Nice one! War crimes, White Terror, 228 Massacre. Great idea!
There’s a great picture there of Chiang and his wife, If you read barbara tuchman’s book about joseph stillwell you will find the same shot… but in the CKS hall he has been chopped off
i agree, keep the memorial, after all, no Chiang, howdy comrade! can you say Hainan? but update the history.
How about turning it into the world’s biggest and most ornate public toilets? Then they wouldn’t have to set up all those unsightly portaloos whenever there’s a demo or other big event in the vicinity. And it wouldn’t be necessary to take away that huge statue of the Green Gang Gimo: just attach a row of urinals around it, and then we could all enjoy the greatest satisfaction from taking a piss there.
