Learning Political Wisdom from Literature II - J. R. R. Tolkien

To those who would clasp their mouths, stopper their ears and shut their eyes to a rising threat of war from a foreign agressor because they just want to be comfortable in their little small life, here is some Tolkien to read.

The first comes from the story of Aldarion and Erendis published in a collection called Unfinished Tales.

At one point in the story, a king of an island nation currently in relative prosperity considers reports that have reached him of a gradually increasing threat from an expanding and aggressive evil empire on the continent. In the message that calls for his aid, he reads "Behold! The darkness that is to come is filled with hatred for us, but it hates you no less. The Great Sea will not be too wide for its wings, if it is suffered to come to full growth."

He debates with himself -- should he get involved now before it is too late, or just seek the easy road of peace now, overlooking or appeasing the enemy, and leaving the suffering and enslavement to future generations of his people.

Following is his reasoning (emphasis added):

"Yet if the world grows again dark, [God] must know; and [He] has sent me no sign... What then? Our fathers were rewarded for the aid they gave in the defeat of the Great Shadow. Shall their sons stand aloof, if evil finds a new head?

I am in too great doubt to rule. To prepare or to let be? To prepare for war, which is yet only guessed : train craftsmen and tillers in the midst of peace for bloodspilling and battle : put iron in the hands of greedy captains who will love only conquest, and count the slain as their glory? Will they say to [God]: At least your enemies were amonst them... Or to fold hands, while friends die unjustly : let men live in blind peace, until the ravisher is at the gate? What then will they do, match naked hands against iron and die in vain, or flee leaving the cries of women behind. Will they say to [God], At least I spilled no blood?

When either way may lead to evil, of what worth is choice?

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These are the issues facing Taiwan. Yes, fighting for their freedom may lead to some hardship and evil. War has terrible effects. But if they do not, hardship and evil will certainly come with annexation by an evil empire which respects neither law nor life nor human right, but only power.

Ways of Teaching the Next Generation: Political Wisdom in Literature

This December will mark the third movie in the series based on Oxford scholar C.S. Lewis' fiction books, the Chronicles of Narnia. Writing for children, Lewis included many comments to teach wisdom regarding the adult world that children would have to navigate. We need these kinds of books for children in Taiwan.

Take for example this quote from The Horse and His Boy which chronicles the escape of a slave boy from a tyrannical empire into a small but free kingdom.

This nation's king discusses relations with their big neighbor:

"Alas... we are a little land. And little lands on the borders of a great empire were always hateful to the lords of the great empire. He longed to blot them out, gobble them up."

Although Lewis modeled this fictional empire after the Ottoman empire, his statement is completely appropriate to China and its relations with Tibet, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, etc. I'm curious to see how this statement was translated into Mandarin for the Taiwan book market.

Applause to good representation of Taiwan as Taiwan

Kudos to the AFP for reporting Taiwan without any kind of formula connecting it to China. It could have used "island nation" but simply saying "island" still leaves the interpretation to the reader instead of funneling Chinese propaganda.

Taiwanese Organizations Reaching out to Poland after the tragedy

With the tragedy of the airplane crash and death of Poland's president and government leaders it would be quite timely for Taiwanese organizations to reach out and express their sympathies. Calling all pro-Taiwan NGO's! Send flowers and sympathy cards to Poland's embassies around the world.

Write: "Our condolences to your nation and people and their democratically elected representatives. With deepest empathy to a fellow nation breaking free from the oppression of foreign empires."

We have our 228. They have their Katyn.

Name changer.

We note a refreshing turn of events: a Taiwanese organization in the U.S., Formosan Association for Public Affairs, has succeeded in getting a U.S. government entity, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, into calling Taiwan, "Taiwan."

Let this little event encourage our perseverance in making a difference person by person, organization by organization.

228 Poem - "In Memory of the Massacred"

In memory of the massacred

Still no justice

Murderers and thieves

Walking free under the sun

Money and power still holding

For glutted offspring

Mortgaging Taiwan to buy their China lie

Corrupting the future


But might makes no right

Come, come, their day of reckoning

Mighty? brutal tyrants

They possess but the void

[- Name withheld]

Lunar

Happy Lunar New Year!

Remember to use the words "Lunar" New Year in your greeting instead of "Chinese" New Year -- since this lunar new year is celebrated in many nations outside of China including Korea, Japan and Taiwan.