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LETTERS: Localization still possible

It is misleading for Wu Jieh-min to argue that the setback for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the presidential election was a major blow to the Taiwanese consciousness (“Will localization take a back seat?” April 2, page 8) and demoralized the localization campaign. Localization is essential, but it should not be alienated from globalization.

Wu contends that Ma’s landslide victory with an unprecedented margin of more than 2.2 million votes could derail the goal of localization that Ma has advocated.

Whether there is truth to this prediction remains to be seen in his inauguration speech on May 20.

Wu’s argument that Ma’s victory could demoralize the localization movement is set forth based on three ideas: that the inscription referring to Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) will be returned to the main gate of Liberty Square; that localized textbooks will be revised and that economic relations with China will be deregulated.

The issue of the plaque at the memorial was handled improperly by the secretary-general of the Ministry of Education and it is imperative that a national consensus be secured on the matter.

As for revising localized textbooks for elementary and secondary school students, the government should be responsible for ensuring an up-to-date education that will prepare our youth to brace for the diverse challenges of the globalized world in the 21st century.

The reality, however, is that we have isolated our students by focusing on local languages and dialects and obsolete information. This is an undesirable educational policy incompatible with global trends.

A typical example of this misguided policy that is based on the ideals of political correctness is the ministry’s new guidelines for learning Hoklo (also known as Taiwanese). Instead of teaching our students modern languages like English for universal communication, the ministry made it mandatory for all elementary and secondary school students to learn archaic Chinese characters that are even unintelligible to college professors.

Regarding, economic relations with China, the visionary remarks of former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton in the Los Angeles Times should be heeded. Bolton said that Taiwan must be independent, must have a strong economy and must have ties with Beijing.

The nation is well on its way to becoming a mature, sovereign democracy and de facto state. The presidential poll marked a new milestone in the nation’s democracy.

It will serve the nation’s best interests in the long run if Ma improves the quality of education at all levels, fights corruption and focuses on global networking, thereby enhancing the nation’s international competitiveness.

In this way, the issues that concern Wu and many others will be resolved in the long run.

Li Chen-ching

Taipei
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