Across Taiwan, people are becomingly so spell-bound by the presidential race that they have lost all self-control. This phenomenon may be an inevitable result of democracy, but it is also the negative impact of a twisted election.
Ever since the presidential race began, it has led to arguments between lovers, made enemies out of fathers and sons, created rifts in many families and increased tensions between teachers and students.
In the past few days alone the following incidents took place: a Taipei couple is believed to have jumped off a cliff amid a heated argument about the election; several parents accused teachers of instilling political values in students; and a husband pushed his wife out of a car because of arguments over the candidates.
As election day approaches, many people are on the brink of hysteria. But the highly charged atmosphere, filled with suspicions and antagonism, began to develop quite some time ago.
It grew over time with speculations on such heated topics as whether Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) would run for the presidency after his defeat in the Taipei mayoral election; whether the KMT would run a Lien-Soong ticket or a Soong-Lien one; whether the KMT would break up; which candidate should be dumped to save another; and what really happened in the James Soong (宋楚瑜) scandal.
The presidential race started a wild fire which spread to all corners of Taiwan -- though mostly people are finally letting off steam about long-suppressed feelings.
However, if the passions generated by an election that has been characterized by mud-slinging and the manipulation of ethnic tensions continue to ferment, the price will be costly, irrespective of who wins the election.
How could short-sighted politicians, who have been seeking short-term returns from the election, possibly shoulder the tremendous responsibility of restructuring our society?
This presidential election may result in some long-lasting impacts, because it is critical to Taiwan's future -- but the quality of an election cannot and should not be sacrificed or compromised.
The greatest tragedy would be if the fundamental mutual trust between people is diminished amid the irrational passion of the campaign.
Ho Jung-hsing is the chief of the City Desk at the Liberty Times.
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