The US-Iraq war has been escalating quickly since the ground war began. Casualties are also rising rapidly, as is the wave of anti-war protests around the world. Almost every country has seen anti-war protests, and some demonstrators have died during clashes with police. The loss of precious human lives is a tragedy, whether in war or in anti-war protests.
Peace has been one of the goals that humanity has constantly sought, but war has always managed to raise its head out of the conflict between insatiable human desires. While opposing war is necessary, no anti-war movement has ever stopped a war. Such movements did pressure the US to pull out of Vietnam, but they did not stop the war there. That conflict did not end until the Vietcong occupied South Vietnam and unified the country under their communist banner.
In China, a great thinker called Mozi (
Taiwan only has a peripheral role in the US-Iraq war. It does not intend to participate in the military action, and the war will not have any direct impact on Taiwan. Taiwan's only link to the war is through its long-standing alliance with the US. The opposition camp's criticism that the DPP government is acting like a US lackey does not really represent an anti-war voice. Nor does it represent the opinion of most Taiwanese. Rather, it is simply part of their political wrangling aimed at opposing whatever the government does, and an attempt to attract media attention amid the flames of war.
The majority of Taiwanese understand the situation facing their country as well as their government's position. The fact that the anti-war voice has not been strong in Taiwan does not mean the people of Taiwan do not appreciate peace. On the contrary, various religious organizations are gathering and praying for peace in Iraq. Meanwhile, many non-governmental organizations are taking a more active approach. The Tzu Chi Foundation, famous for its disaster rescue work both in and outside Taiwan, has set up a rescue team to provide medical and other humanitarian aid in Iraq. The Eden Social Welfare Foundation is also raising funds to provide basic necessities to the people of Iraq. The government has also promised to help rebuild Iraq after the war is over.
Taiwan is not a participant in the military action, nor does it have the power to stop the war. But Taiwan can still do something to help, instead of simply shouting anti-war slogans and cursing against the evils of war. Although we can put manpower and resources into anti-war confrontations, it might be better to actively provide humanitarian aid and try to minimize the damage done to the people of Iraq. For Taiwan, this is perhaps the best approach to standing for peace during the war.
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