I am very disappointed, as a second-generation Mainlander in Taiwan, at the recent comments by the Coalition for Equal Opportunity (族群平等行動聯盟). I think the coalition's opinion on Taiwan's ethnicity problem only spotlights superficial harmony and lacks a deep reflection on history. From their perspective, it seems that anyone who proposes to examine ethnic inequality in Taiwan's history is guilty of accumulating ethnic hatred and escalating antagonism. I strongly oppose such thinking.
I think the key to easing ethnic tension lies in the Mainlanders' attitude. Politically and economically privileged in the past, Mainlanders should engage in public and continuous reflection and discussion of the inequalities of their past rule over other ethnic groups like Hoklo (more commonly known as Taiwanese), Hakka and Aboriginals. Also, politicians of Mainlander ancestry should educate and guide their Mainlander supporters to reflect on the privileged status they have enjoyed for a long time and not haggle over whether they are treated equally or misunderstood by other ethnic groups.
As my age and learning increase, I gradually realize how my status as a child of a serviceman led to my being treated better by the government than other ethnic groups because the government did not fairly distribute social welfare resources. At the same time, I have also recognized that, under the hegemonic Chinese culture at the center of which is the Mainlander group, Mainlanders often involuntarily reveal a superiority complex while Hoklo, Hakka and indigenous cultures are distorted and marginalized.
Admittedly, not all Mainlanders have enjoyed vested interests and a privileged status. There are also quite a few Mainlanders opposing "cultural hegemonism." However, to wash off the historical sediment of past ethnic injustice requires more energy and effort from the Mainlanders. Which politician of Mainlander ancestry is willing to stand up to oppose the preferential interest rate, a policy that distorts an equal distribution of social welfare, and the proposal to rebuild the veterans' communities?
What disheartens me more is that quite a few Mainlanders (and among them are many of my father's friends) still misunderstand and hold a grudge against Taiwan's democratic movement.
More than 10 years ago, I participated in a student demonstration and my kind father was suddenly beleaguered with blame from his friends. They claimed my father had not fulfilled his duty to educate his son and urged my father to repent for this piece of negligence. Amid this storm of criticism, my father, with tears running down his cheeks, warned me not to support the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) anymore, saying that someday the DPP would kick him and his friends back to China.
Surely, we Mainlanders did not choose to put ourselves in such an embarrassing position in history. We did not ask for privileges or deliberately antagonize others. Instead, we were made flag-waving and slogan-chanting puppets of the former authoritarian regime.This is a tragedy.
However, if Mainlanders can look closely at their situation, willingly shoulder the burden of historical mistakes and redress collective ethnic injustice, we will be able to transcend the destiny wrought by history and blood-ties. Then, we will taste the sweet fruit of true freedom.
Only by opening the scar and re-cleansing the wound can the festering sore be healed. Inward-looking reflection, I believe, is a better way to promote ethnic equality than the "alliance through blood donation" praised by the Coalition for Equal Opportunity.
Wong Ping-yun is a lawyer.
Translated by Wang Hsiao-wen
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