On April 24, 1970, a Taiwanese named Peter Huang
In May 2000, a retired elderly man named Shih Li-hsing
Neither Chiang nor Lee sustained any injury. Both Huang and Shih were quickly subdued and wrestled to the ground by security personnel. The Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office has launched an investigation into Shih's criminal act and intent.
In contrast, Huang's assassination attempt was the beginning of his 26 years in exile and oblivion, the end of his personal career and future.
Even though both targets were old men in their twilight years, the two acts are significant for different reasons. Shih hoped to force Lee to accept responsibility for an election defeat that had already happened -- and, arguably, was not his fault in any case.
In contrast, Huang's intent was not to vent his anger with a thing of the past, but rather to prevent an unwanted future. Looking back now, Huang's action did somewhat alter Chiang's behavior after he took over power from his father. It served at least as a serious warning: localization must be carried out to legitimize political power.
Irrespective of the rights and wrongs of such behavior, we should view with solemnity and sorrow these minor personalities who, in an era of chaotic values, put aside their lives and loved ones to protest against the enormous state machinery.
Ping Lu is a social critic and columnist.
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