The recent presidential election has clearly exposed the incompatibility of Chinese culture and democracy. It is saddening to witness the unrestrained lawlessness of the opposition parties during the election process. They have openly accused the legitimately elected President Chen Shui-bian (
These opposition party members and followers take great pride in their higher educations and inheritance of the great Chinese culture. Such egos reject Taiwanese contributions, which are blemished by foreign influences. They consider the Taiwanese democracy advocates as traitors to the Chinese nation. Despite their love of Taiwan and democracy, the same Chinese opposition parties prefer to unite Taiwan with a totalitarian communist China, which does not understand democracy and has a long list of human rights violations.
Chinese civilization does have a very rich culture and all Chinese take pride in being Chinese. The great teaching of Confucius, which advocates societal harmony through moral conduct in all relations, has been accepted by most Chinese for centuries. Then why is it that China has en-dured endless cycles of tyrannic rulers, rampant corruption and violent mass upheavals?
The main culprit, we believe, is the tradition of the Chinese educational system. Since ancient times, Chinese intellectuals have educated themselves primarily to gain positions in a feudal system. Other professions have not been considered prestigious. Such a mentality has influenced intellectuals to become grati-fied by just being members of the ruling parties. They are incapable of understanding self-governance or democracy. The remaining civilians have been indoctrinated or terror-ized by violence to blindly follow the rulers, regardless of their legitimacy.
Even now, almost all Chinese also believe in a ruler's right to rewrite history to his own liking, and all opposition members are subject to liquidation. Therefore it is no coincidence that the Chinese Nationalist Party in Taiwan and the communists in China, regardless of their ideological differences, both seized power with violence, and with the cooperation of intellectuals who were interested in personal prestige and fortune. The same groups continue to practice violence and illegitimate tactics in the 21st century, though such tactics are now despised by civilized nations.
Taiwan's democracy should survive, despite the missile threat and political persecution by China, and despite sabotage from within by the opposition Chinese parties. Moreover, for the sake of regional stability, Taiwan should become the Switzerland of Asia. Taiwanese have shown their genuine love of democracy and their capacity for tolerance even of the people who tormented them for decades. They are capable of becoming the force of peace in the region.
Let democracy blossom, and let Taiwan safeguard the regional peace. Then one day all Chinese will eventually understand the blessing of life under democracy. When such a day comes, all Chinese will enjoy the peaceful world of brotherhood. The United States and the other nations will never be dragged into the cycles of Chinese violence again.
Samuel Yang, Ming T. Chang, Chi T. Su, Thomas Tsai
United States
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