The Connection between Dictatorship, Corruption, and Humanitarian Disasters

Here is an article about how the corruption in China led to an increased death toll in the recent earthquake in Sichuan Province.

It seems an axiom of human experience: Whenever there is dictatorship and lack of freedom, there will be corruption. Whenever there is corruption, there will be an intensifying of human suffering.

Taiwan needs to hold on to its independence and democracy as much as the people of China need to be freed from the oppressive rule of the Communist Party regime.

Throwing off the slave mentality

The Chinese Communist Party's basic argument to the people of the nation of China is -- give us power and we will make sure you can regain face in the international community.  We are guardians of the Chinese people's national feelings!

The Chinese Nationalist Party's basic argument to the people of the nation of Taiwan is -- give us power and we will make sure to take care of you.  The past eight years of the other Democratic Progressive Party have been too insecure.

Both of these fundamentally are the same perspective of an emperor with his slave subjects.  Only, in its modern form, the position of emperor is held by party elites instead of a single man.  You will notice the party elites acting like dynasties.  They assume to themselves privilege and pomp.  They get fawning media to portray their glories.  And the children run for office as if being the son of a rich elite party member somehow qualifies you.  Witness the prominence in the campaign of Lien Sheng-wen, the son of former KMT chairman and presidential candidate Lien Chan.  He joins scions including the current mayor of Taipei, Hau Long-bing, son of a prominent KMT general from the dictatorship era.

Taiwanese -- whether Hoklo, Hakka, Austronesian or recent immigrant Chinese -- should not embrace this kind of slavery. (Neither should Chinese in China).  

In truth, freedom with more insecurity is better than slavery where you know exactly how much food someone else will give you each day.  

The Israelites at one time in their history were slaves to the Egyptian empire as much as Africans had been enslaved in the Americas.  When God's prophet Moses led them to freedom out of Egypt, they wandered many years in the deserts of Arabia before finally finding a homeland and place to settle in Canaan.  During those years of uncertainty, many of the Israelites expressed a longing to go back into slavery in Egypt.  "We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost --  also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic." (Numbers 11:5) They forgot the horror of the oppression where they were made to work for no pay for long hours, arbitrary beatings and imprisonments and executions.  They forgot they were subject to forced infanticide (not unlike the one-child policy and forced abortion in China). 

This longing to cast off the responsibility of a freed man and run back to the master is the slave mentality of a people that have been under oppression for hundreds of years.

While Taiwanese have been freed, have their own sovereignty and are now under full democracy, many Taiwanese still are not freed in their hearts and minds from the slave mentality.  In their thinking they are still enslaved by their past, having been under the absolute rule of the Japanese empire and then the usurped rule of the Chinese Nationalist Party dictatorship for a total of almost 100 years. This came after being (periodically) under the thumb of the absolute rule of the Manchu empire for 200 years.  

In the movie, The Shawshank Redemption, many prisoners had somehow become so used to the bars and the ruthless regimen of a prison that when they were release finally after years, they could not face the seeming insecurity of freedom.  They committed suicide but a few days after leaving the prison walls.  They had forgotten the evil of being subject to abuse of power by the warden and the guards of Shawshank prison, and they forgot the evil perpetrated by their fellow inmates of rape and forced sodomy.  The main character in the movie was the only one who throughout kept his mind and heart free on the inside and so one day embraced a chance to escape to freedom.  Many years later, when his friend in the prison was let go, that friend almost committed suicide, but instead because of the main character's example, he embraced the responsibility of freedom and chose to live as a free man.

The Taiwanese people need to work through this issue in their hearts.  They are still being subject to the slave-mentality brainwashing of the education system's curriculum that portrays a prestige culture of imperial China.  Feeling like second-class citizens, many try to become more Chinese than the Chinese and teach not a word of their own cultures to their children.  They are still being subject to an alien prestige language of Mandarin, while their own languages of Hakka and Taiwanese and the Austronesian languages are far more ancient and culturally rich that the modern simplified muddied language of the Mandarin of Beijing.

Their souls need to be strengthened by the voices of freedom and truth such as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas who wrote about the struggle for freedom of blacks in the 20th Century, "I don't think it is a good idea to make poor blacks, or anyone else, more dependent on government.  That would amount to a new kind of enslavement, one which ultimately relied on the generosity -- and the ever-changing self-interests -- of politicians and activists.  It seemed to me that the dependency fostered might ultimately prove as diabolical as segregation, permanently condemning poor people to the lowest rungs of the socioeconomic ladder by cannibalizing the values without which they had no long-term hope in improving their lot." (My Grandfather's Son - pp. 56-57)

Is that dependency not what the Chinese Communist Party in China and the Chinese Nationalist Party in Taiwan are trying to create with citizens of the respective nations of China and Taiwan?

What to do when you feel injustice is winning.

Read Psalm 73.

The world is no stranger to the experience of injustice.

We keep working and doing what is right, but leave vengeance to the Ultimate Judge.

給支持馬英九的朋友們﹍

給支持馬英九的朋友們﹍

２８年前的世界人權日當天，台灣發生了震驚全世界的「美麗島事件」，我家也因此24小時都在警方的監視之下。在228那天，國民黨派了位兇手，奪走了我親愛的阿嬤和兩位雙胞胎妹妹的生命。這麼多年來，我還是多麼的想念她們。

看到無數的人，都用跑的去近靠有錢有力的國民黨。我實在是不清楚，為什麼有這麼多人會支持這麼邪惡的國民黨。難道他們真的不知道國民黨是如何造成無數台灣人民的悲劇嗎？

今天的國民黨跟２８年前的國民黨有不一樣嗎？

今日的國民黨利用媒體和廣告，說服台灣人民要自願放棄公投的權利，自願放棄台灣的國際地位。更奇怪的是，台灣人民不只放棄自己應有的權利，還學媒體批評公投和加入聯合國的作為，說這都是「無聊，跟我的日常生活沒關」而繼續的批評經濟。這世界歷史上不知有多少人犧牲了自己的生命為同胞爭取公投的權利。台灣的人口雖然有瑞士的三倍，可是在國際上沒有聲音，其實這都會影響我們的日常生活，這都會影響經濟的。其他的國家都把這幾項權利當作寶，而只有國民黨沒有。

國民黨並不愛台灣人。國民黨並不疼惜這塊土地。

還記得「真善美」這電影嗎？。它是一部關於崔普(Von Trapp)家庭真實故事的電影。崔普(Von Trapp)艦長是一位非常有權勢，非常有錢的海軍將領。只要他願意變節投靠納粹，他將可以繼續保有他的財富與權勢。但是他卻堅持自由和正義的理念，拋棄了既有的權勢與財富，離開他的故鄉Austria，逃亡到美國去。他寧肯失去他所有的地位和財富，就是不肯變成邪惡納粹的一份子。而因此，崔普(Von Trapp)艦長成為了一位真正的英雄。

真期盼台灣有多多的人能成為這樣子的英雄。

以下是我表哥寫給我雙胞胎妹妹的信。我表哥的回憶，讓我流淚不停。我表哥的回憶，也大大的安慰我，讓我知道，還有剩下一些人，沒有忘記親愛的阿嬤，亮均、亭均。

林奐均

[English translation with a few additional comments:]

Dear Ma Supporters,

28 years ago, when Taiwan was still under martial law, my father Lin I-Hsiung was arrested for alleged involvement in the Kaohsiung Incident. With my father's arrest, my house was placed under 24 hours police surveillance. It was under such police watch, on the significant date of February 28, that the Chinese Nationalist Party KuoMingTang (KMT) sent an assassin to my home. In an attempt to annihilate my father's family, my paternal grandmother and my two sisters who were twins were cruelly murdered. I was sent to the hospital with six stab wounds. And by the grace of God, I survived.

Though it has already been 28 years, I still deeply miss my grandmother and sisters.

Everywhere I look, countless Taiwanese are trying to associate themselves with the KMT. It is baffling to me why so many still support the KMT though they are responsible for so many lost lives and tragedies in Taiwan.

The main question is this:

Is the KMT of today any different from the KMT of 28 years ago who murdered my family members?

1. I was the sole surviving eyewitness of the murders that took place in my home. I alone saw the assassin. Yet in an effort to divert attention away from the KMT, the KMT controlled media of that time began to circulate a description of a 'man with a bushy beard.' Though I never once mentioned the assassin as having any beard, every media reporting repeated over and over again this image of a heavily bearded man. Eventually, a bearded foreigner was exiled from Taiwan. The assassin in my home did not have a beard and was not a foreigner.

Fast forward to the year 2003. Just four years ago, 24 years since the murders of my family members, I accepted an interview with TVBS Magazine. I appeared on the cover of the magazine and was their main story for that issue. In large captions, the headline of the article stated: Judy Lin says, " I have forgiven the bearded murderer." Though I never once used the word 'bearded', 24 years later, some one from the KMT still wants to make sure that the murderer is not associated with the KMT.

Several months after that interview, the reporter who penned the article saw me on the street and came running up to me. She wished to ask for my forgiveness. She said it was the decision of her superiors to put words in my mouth, but she still felt responsible. All I could do was smile, expressed my forgiveness, and pray to God for ultimate justice.

2. In the last 28 years, the KMT could no longer resort to such scare tactics as reigned under the era of White Terror. They have had to resort to other means. Instead of oppressing human rights, the KMT has used their unlimited wealth to buy media and advertisements to persuade the common Taiwanese to give up their rights. Just a few months ago, the KMT used media and countless ads to confuse and encourage the people of Taiwan to NOT vote in the referendum. Amazingly, they told the people that referendums were a ploy of the DPP to create chaos in the election process. The pan-KMT media told the people that the referendums have nothing to do with our daily lives and we should regard them as useless trash. And many people believed the KMT propaganda and gave up their right to referendum.

If the KMT loved the Taiwanese people, they would encourage the people to hold on to their democratic rights of referendum, and not urge them to give them up.

3. In the last 28 years, Taiwan has had no voice on the international stage. Instead of striving to preserve the Taiwanese identity and striving to win Taiwan's seat in the UN, the KMT has continued to tell the Taiwanese that joining the UN is a worthless aspiration. Even in light of the Tibetan crisis, the KMT still refuses to protect Taiwan, yet continually invites closer relations with China. Although China continually lays claim to Taiwan and continues to threaten violence on Taiwan, the KMT still leads Taiwan closer to the menace of China.

If the KMT loved Taiwan, they would protect Taiwan from the sure and constant oppression of China.

I do not personally hold any hatred towards the KMT. And if the KMT had indeed changed to be loyal towards the people of Taiwan, then there are many of us who would be willing to let bygones be bygones. However, we have seen over and over that the KMT has not changed in the last 28 years. They continue to lie to the people of Taiwan to give up their human rights, to give up their international status. Over and over again, we see that the KMT's loyalty lies with oppressive China, and not with Taiwan.

All the money in the world cannot buy freedom or justice.

When I think of how wealthy and powerful the KMT still is, I think of Captain Von Trapp whose real life story the movie "The Sound of Music" is based on. Being a navy officer, Captain Von Trapp had status and wealth. Yet instead of changing allegiance to the Nazis, he forfeited all his wealth and status and fled penniless to America, all because he would not associate himself with the evil Nazis. Captain Von Trapp is a real hero in my eyes.

Wishing for more heroes in Taiwan,

Judy Lin Linton

(Lin Huan-Chun)


＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
給離開台灣 28年的 228 雙胞胎姊妹
(林奐均的表哥所寫的信）

亮均、亭均：

時間過得真快！轉眼之間已經過了 28 年了，這28年來你們雙胞胎姊妹在天上的國度是否安好？

讓時間回溯到 1980年的2月27日，還記得這一天晚上，你們雙胞胎姊妹到我們家玩，已經記不得是誰的提議了，居然玩起了扮演「醫生與病人」的遊戲。依稀還記得姊姊亮均扮演護士的角色，妹妹亭均扮演被壞人追殺的病人，我扮演醫生。當亭均被壞人追殺之後，送到醫院來急救，「護士」亮均還很疼惜的說：「乖不痛，貼一下 OK 繃就好了」… 。真不知道這是「巧合」還是「預兆」，想不到這一場「生死遊戲」居然在現實的生活當中實際上演了。

那一年國中二年級的我，在隔天學校上完課之後，一如往常的匆匆的吃完晚餐就趕著去補習了，當下並未察覺家中有任何不尋常的氣氛。當我拖著一身的疲憊回到家中的時候，突然獲知這突如其來的噩耗，真的把我嚇壞了！「這…，怎麼可能?」，明明昨天還到家裡來一起玩遊戲的，怎麼 ….，該不會是作夢吧！但是此時看到所有的電視新聞都在報導這一則震驚當時整個台灣社會的「滅門血案」，我不得不面對現實，這一夜我真的是徹夜難眠 …。原本你們的大舅媽要留你們姊妹兩在家裡過夜的，但是因為隔天還必須到幼稚園上課，所以最後還是由阿媽親自來將你們姊妹兩帶回，但是卻是萬萬想不到這是最後一次見到阿媽以及你們姊妹兩個最後的身影了….。如果當時有把你們姊妹兩留下來過夜或許就可以逃過一劫了…，但是再多的如果卻也挽回不了你們的生命。

隔天一到學校，所有的人都在談論這一個震驚整個當時台灣社會的事件，這其中有很多以訛傳訛或是惡意謾罵批評的言論，雖然我心裡明白，但是卻也不方便辯白或是澄清些什麼，只能靜靜的聽，心理默默的流淚。

接下來的幾天，整個台灣籠罩在「陰謀論」的不安與恐懼當中，每一天聽到不同的市集耳語與跨大不實的媒體報導，心裡實在很難過。在這個「白色恐怖」時代，人人對於美麗島事件的「惡徒」避之唯恐不及了，一個國中生那有能力替自己的親人做辯白呢？

還記得小時候，每一回到你們家去作客時，慈祥親切的阿媽都會煮他拿手的瓜子肉湯(外面一圈黃瓜，裡面包碎肉)給我們吃。你們家三姊妹還會一起彈琴、唱歌、跳舞 …，如今這一些都只能成為兒時的記憶了 …。每一年的 228 這一天，我都會去參加在義光教會的追思禮拜，望著教會內那架泛黃的鋼琴，聽著你們小時候最愛唱的「我的邦妮」，兒時的記憶一幕又一幕的呈現在眼前，此時往往會不由自主的潸然淚下。

28 年過去了，算算日子今年也應該有35歲了吧！哇！35歲？對於我們大家來說也只能停留在你們孩童時候的印象。如果你們也可以平安順利長大的話，現在應該也會跟你們姊姊奐均一樣的成熟嫵媚，或許也早就為人母了吧！不知道你們在天國上面是否還是一樣的彼此相親相愛呢？還記得小時候你們雙胞胎姊妹，只要其中一個被人欺負，另外一個絕對會挺身而出維護彼此的權益，令我印象非常深刻。

雖然，來不及看到你們長大的模樣，希望你們還是能夠保有孩童時代的天真無邪!無憂無慮的在天國生活，我們會永遠的祝福你們！

泊汾哥 於 2008/02/28

碧玉Bjork的「宣布獨立Declare independence」歌詞如下：

Taiwan: you need to be proud of your country.

==================
碧玉Bjork的「宣布獨立Declare independence」歌詞如下：

Declare independence!宣布獨立!
Don't let them do that to you!不要讓他們這樣對待你!
Declare independence!宣布獨立!
Don't let them do that to you!不要讓他們這樣對待你!
(Justice)(正義)

Declare independence!宣布獨立!
Don't let them do that to you!不要讓他們這樣對待你!
Declare independence!宣布獨立!
Don't let them do that to you!不要讓他們這樣對待你!
(Justice)(正義)

Start your own currency!開始自己的貨幣!
Make your own stamp 做出自己的郵票
Protect your language 保護你的語言

Declare independence 宣布獨立
Don't let them do that to you! 不要讓他們這樣對待你!
Declare independence 宣布獨立
Don't let them do that to you! 不要讓他們這樣對待你!
Make your own flag! 製作你自己的旗子!
Raise your flag! 升起你的旗幟! (Higher, higher!)(高一點…!!)

Declare independence!宣布獨立!
Don't let them do that to you!不要讓他們這樣對待你!
Declare independence!宣布獨立!
Don't let them do that to you!不要讓他們這樣對待你!

Damn colonists 可惡的殖民主義者
Ignore their patronizing 不甩他們略施小惠
Tear off their blindfolds 撕下他們的眼罩
Open their eyes 打開他們的眼睛

Declare independence!宣布獨立!
Don't let them do that to you!不要讓他們這樣對待你!
Declare independence!宣布獨立!
Don't let them do that to you!不要讓他們這樣對待你!

With a flag and a trumpet 帶著旗幟和號角
Go to the top of your highest mountain!登上最高的山峰!
And raise your flag! 升起您的旗子! (Higher, higher!)(高點…,!!)

Declare independence! 宣布獨立!
Don't let them do that to you! 不要讓他們這樣對待你!
Declare independence! 宣布獨立!
Don't let them do that to you! 不要讓他們這樣對待你!

Raise the flag!升旗!

Putting the Internet to Use for a Social Transformation Movement

The Internet is one key tool for expanding a social transformation movement among the youth of this generation.

Here is an article by the designer of Fred Thompson's website, used during the 2008 campaign. Fred eventually withdrew from the race, but his website was a success and functioned well.

It was used to "build a robust community that would become an integral part of the ground game," and "enabling volunteer action online". It "developed the community that could interact, inspire, and spur each other into action."

Basically it really empowers individuals to create their local grassroots support of the movement.

Taiwan's democracy movement needs to put to use all the tools it can because of the anti-democratic nature of the Chinese Nationalist Party which currently has billions of dollars in assets as well as control over most of the major television, newspaper and magazine media, which also has resulted in its strangle-hold on the legislature. Add one more factor -- the fifty years of propaganda in the still-unreformed education system that perpetuates the problems.

The only way to tranform such an in entrenched group is to create a movement to bring the values of democracy to individuals, including those who currently support and uphold the KMT. The KMT's national figureheads have not shown the ability or stomach to reform their own party.