The 921 earthquake, which will undoubtedly enter the collective memory of the Taiwanese, changing the values of an entire generation, will also give rise to a new way of looking at the world.
Soon after the earthquake, military, police, firefighters and medical personnel rushed to quake-stricken areas. The heroic actions of our soldiers demonstrated that Taiwan is a society of law and order.
It was moving to see volunteers working hard in disaster relief operations -- large teams, small teams, even individual efforts. The well-organized and efficient performance of the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzuchi Foundation (
The outstanding contributions of Tzuchi and the military demonstrate an important truth: justice, compassion, law and order are the four pillars on which Taiwan will be rebuilt.
After indulging in the pursuit of wealth for 50 years, we as a people must now make a new start. We must all reflect on the meaning and value of life and turn this "new thinking" into a driving force for action.
A "volunteerist Taiwan" (
Now we must pay attention to the management of volunteer groups and community organizations. We must also learn how to raise and use funds efficiently. Over the past 100 years, the Salvation Army has become a popular volunteer group in the US, sharing responsibility for part of the government's social welfare costs and subcontracting social welfare projects from the government. The Salvation Army stresses professional training, commitment, diligence, self-respect and social concern. It is a group we can learn a lot from.
US presidential hopeful George W. Bush has noted that a trend toward volunteerism is becoming an important part of the fabric of US society. When he announced his candidacy in July, he pledged to wage a new war against poverty using volunteers as a key part of the fight.
Bush's campaign platform integrates religious belief, volunteerism and community action. Such ideas also deserve the attention of Taiwan's presidential candidates, as we move toward the March 2000 election in the wake of the 921 earthquake.
Lawrence Hu is an editorial writer at the Liberty Times.
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