“Taiwan will not improve until the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] falls” was voiced repeatedly by those outside of the KMT until the presidential election earlier this year.
However, just because the party has fallen does not mean Taiwan will necessarily improve.
It is worrying that the development of Taiwan’s culture has been repeatedly set back by the successive colonization of Taiwan at the hands of foreign powers and regime changes. As a result, Taiwanese national identity is in a state of confusion, local culture has not been given a chance to develop and consolidate. Every candidate for political office is ritualistically required to lend vocal support to rapid economic development and the concreting over of the nation. Pushed by this election culture, Taiwan has become nothing more than a nation obsessed with politics and the economy.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) by no means lacks talented politicians. Nevertheless, many of them lack education and experience, or have lived a mediocre life. Such types worship at the altar of “realpolitik,” and are only interested in amassing fame and fortune, conducting political intrigue, or busying themselves by furthering their connections: They brim with self-confidence, believing they have a great deal of knowledge, yet they have forgotten what it means to learn.
Like most Taiwanese, they “do not have the time” to read books, or profess to having not the slightest interest in what they would describe as “useless” knowledge, because it does not arouse their curiosity. In a society that traditionally values adherence to old customs, many have become tied to a fast-food culture, drifting along like sheep, unable to contemplate change.
The most memorable words uttered by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) during her post-election victory speech were: “Humility, humility and more humility.”
However, if politicians cannot understand that they might lack knowledge and do not understand the necessity of learning, how can they practice humility?
After Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) took office, she said: “The Ministry of Culture is not just a ministry for arts and humanities, it is a ministry for all Taiwanese.”
Cheng has called for regular interdepartmental cultural policy meetings and cited France as an example where, Cheng said, there are 44 separate departments responsible for cultural policy and long-term interdepartmental cooperation.
This has helped break down the idea that culture is the sole preserve of arts and humanities, and has opened cultural policy, giving it a footing within each of the government’s ministries and departments, Cheng said.
Such a pragmatic broadening and deepening of knowledge and ideas throughout the government should be championed here as well.
Culture is an integral part of life. Tourism, local industry, education — even national defense and diplomacy — which of these fields would not be improved by culture?
Running a nation is complex. Since the Republic of China (ROC) arrived on Taiwan’s shores, the nation has suffered with ill-thought out, ill-defined policymaking, a lack of long-term planning and short-sighted politicians, interested only in serving the electorate that votes for them.
Former president Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration has left the nation in a shambles. There are simply too many problems that require the urgent attention of Tsai’s government.
Culture forms the backbone of a nation. Establishing a unified Taiwanese identity, improving the environment and education of the general public: All of these depend on the cultivation of a flourishing native culture, which itself is the bedrock of a robust national identity.
Wu Sheng is a poet.
Translated by Edward Jones
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