Today's Taiwan was born as a new and free country during the world's third wave of democratization in the late 20th century, so why all the talk about forming a "second republic" in Taiwan?
This is yet another reality that doesn't revolve around pan-green or pan-blue politicians and their wishes. Some people don't want to add the word "Republic" to Taiwan's name, as if withholding it would withhold Taiwanese sovereignty.
People at the other extreme object to that idea, saying that adding the word will represent Taiwan independence and that Taiwan independence irreversibly means war. The ruckus has prompted warnings from China and no small amount of concerns from the US.
All over the world, countries have taken their names from the name of the land they are built on without adding a word to imply nationhood such as "republic."
After colonizers in Canada earned their independence, they called their country Canada. The name United States of America was originally intended to encompass the 13 states that had been established on the North American continent at the time.
Now the US has 50 states, but when was the last time anyone heard calls within the US to give it a name that more explicitly defines it as a nation or change its territorial definition?
Instead, it is communist countries that worry over national titles.
Obvious authoritarian dictatorships in China and North Korea have both incorporated words like "people's republic" and "democratic republic" into their official names. Ukraine was called the "Ukranian Soviet Socialist Republic" during the Soviet era, but actually got rid of the "Republic" to become just "Ukraine" after independence.
Therefore the debate over giving Taiwan a title that more clearly defines its nationhood is more hot air over a non-issue.
These tired and empty debates don't go away, but only emerge in different forms over time. When the old politicians, political parties, legislatures and media keep bringing them up over and over again, they are attempting to destroy this free young country.
If Taiwan wants to save itself from being sucked into this whirlpool, it needs to have a new voice.
But where is it? Some people have been searching among the same old politicians and parties, but looking there will turn up nothing. They've grown accustomed to their old song and can't find a new one.
Even the Democratic Progressive Party, just 20 years old, has aged before its time and fallen into step with the dinosaur-like Chinese Nationalist Party.
We can't count on politicians from the old establishment to create a new political party and remake the legislature. We need to let people who haven't stepped onto the stage before speak out and usher in a new era.
Let's make the 2007 legislative elections and the reformed legislature Taiwan's first step towards a new life. The people of Taiwan want to compose a new song and sing with a new voice.
Ruan Ming is a former national policy adviser to the president.
Translated by Marc Langer
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