Young supporters of former Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) were detained for posting the names and photographs of judges and prosecutors believed to be overseeing the Core Pacific City redevelopment corruption case. The supporters should be held responsible for their actions. As for Ko’s successor, TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), he should reflect on whether his own comments are provocative and whether his statements might be misunderstood.
Huang needs to apologize to the public and the judiciary. In the article, “Why does sorry seem to be the hardest word?” the late political commentator Nan Fang Shuo (南方朔) wrote that a true apology is more like Lian Po’s (廉頗) humble apology. The Qin Dynasty general “strapped thorny branches to his bare back when issuing an apology.”
Admitting fault is risky to a government or leader. On the one hand, the person to whom the apology is addressed might use it to attack them. On the other hand, people within their own camp might try to rake up old grievances. The consequences could get out of hand, shaking the legitimacy of the apology.
Nevertheless, Nan Fang Shuo recognized the power of apology. He said that in Western theology, a leader’s mistake is like an offense to God, and only by confessing and repenting can they be redeemed and reconciled with their people.
He cited as examples the late South African president Nelson Mandela and the late Czech president Vaclav Havel, who regarded offenders’ apologies as a farewell ceremony to the past. Because of this, the two heads of state were able to lead their countries toward a new future.
Huang is likely to run for New Taipei City mayor or even president. Since Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) has praised him as the fierce — albeit disloyal — ancient warrior Lu Bu (呂布) of the Three Kingdoms era, Huang should display his potential for becoming a world-class warrior like Lu. How hard can an apology be?
Jane Ywe-hwan is an associate professor at National Pingtung University.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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