As usually happens in elections here, a group of "unselfish intellectuals" has come forward to make a political statement. Worried that politicians will pit ethnic groups against one another, these intellectuals have formed the Coalition for Equal Opportunity (族群平等行動聯盟), calling on the nation to "oppose the manipulation and tearing apart of and discrimination against [ethnic groups]."
I admire the intellectuals' spirit, but disagree with their negative ideology. After all, ethnic issues have been repeatedly stir-red up in our elections but our democracy continues to progress. Nor did any bloody incidents occur during the peaceful transition of power from the KMT to the DPP, which was one of the miracles of modern democratic politics.
But behind this miracle lies endless helplessness, sadness and hatred. That is why the ethnic issue always is an election issue. On the surface, opposition to the manipulation and tearing apart of and discrimination against ethnic groups may appear to be solemn and moral, but how can mere opposition achieve the goal of resolving ethnic confrontation?
Perhaps the intellectuals do not understand that in the eyes of those who have been oppressed in the past, their position is another kind of oppression.
Not long ago, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) said in a speech entitled "I Have A Dream" that "In the past, some people may have experienced unequal ethnic treatment in this land, but Taiwan still has to move towards reconciliation. We cannot have an ethnic group oppress other ethnic groups just because that ethnic group itself was oppressed by another ethnic group during the previous generation."
In response to Lien's words, a White Terror victim said he was persecuted in the past but was unable to ask for redress under the military dictatorship. Now, in the democratic era, he must remain silent in order not to "tear ethnic groups apart." He said the past was painful but that the present is even more so because people do not even have the most basic freedom of expression.
How can there be true ethnic integration in a society lacking freedom of expression?
It is not very difficult to imagine the kind of person who would oppose the tearing apart of ethnic groups. A political party or a politician who in the past has persecuted others might offer a cursory apology and ask victims not to publicize their experiences for the sake of ethnic integration. The Coalition for Equal Opportunity has voiced its opposition out of goodwill but unfortunately they have fallen into the trap of hypocrisy.
Opposition is therefore not what is needed to resolve ethnic conflict. What we need is to honestly and bravely face ethnic conflict. In order to accomplish genuine and long-lasting ethnic integration, we must draw upon all useful opinions and study how this country can withstand tension without being torn apart.
For example, the group of intellectuals should tell us all how a victim of the White Terror, during an election campaign, should go about revealing his or her misfortunes without being said to be pitting ethnic groups against each other. How can others understand this persecution, lend a helping hand and embrace the victims? How should voters go about interpreting malicious rumors instead of being confused by them? How should they implement their civic rights and overcome the media that specialize in pitting ethnic groups against each other?
The intellectuals should not delay answering these questions until after the election because no matter who is elected, politicians will forget the victims and rush to compromise with the media. The media will abandon the intellectuals and continue to encourage division.
Democratic politics is not perfect, nor is credibility, which is only examined at election time. The important issue of ethnic integration has been ignited. We should not let it die out due to hypocrisy. Opposition is inferior to promotion -- the intellectuals should give ethnic integration a different kind of opportunity.
Bob Kuo is a professor in the department of information management at National Sun Yat-sen University.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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