[Marxism] Re: Milestones in Taiwanese History

[l.willms@xxxxxxxxxxx (Lueko Willms)]

.    On  09.03.05
  wrote  L.Willms@xxxxxxxxxxx (Lueko Willms)
     on  marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     in  9SYHebeeflB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  about  Re: Milestones in Taiwanese History


LW>   They also refer to two articles of a certain Li Thian-hok written
LW> in 1958 in the USA, when this person was a student in Minnesota. The
LW> article was published in "Foreign Affairs" in its April 1958 issue,
LW> "together with essays by such luminaries as Dean Acheson, Henry
LW> Kissinger and Walt Rostow.". See http://www.taiwandc.org/hst-jloo.htm

   Here comes the concluding part of the second article, published in  
November 1958 in "New Republic", titled " Formosans know what they  
want".


   PDF File again linked from the same URL as above.


--------- schnipp -----------------------------------------

Were they given a chance to express their true feelings without danger
to life or liberty, a great majority of Formosans would favor
independence under a genuinely democratic government of their own.
There is no doubt that the idea of independence appeals to all of
them, though many want a transitional UN trusteeship as a preliminary
step toward independence. Nor is this desire for independence simply a
reaction to Nationalist policies and practices.

The significance of the February revolution of 1947 lies in the
selfdiscovery of the Formosan nationality, the development of which
goes back to the 17th Century.[1]

Half a century of Japanese rule contributed further to the shaping of
this sense of national identity by inculcating in Formosans respect
for the rule of law and appreciation of scientific methods and
efficiency, sanitation and the value of education. After more than
three centuries of geographic isolation and common historical
experiences, it is not strange that we find a distinct Formosan
culture and a strong, if repressed, sense of national consciousness.

The undercurrent of discontent is highly unsettling in view of the
growing power potential of Formosans in business, government, and the
armed forces. This is especially true now that Chiang's renunciation
of the use of force to reconquer the mainland has sown the seeds of
doubt as to the very raison d'etre of his regimeùdoubts which may well
mark the beginning of the end for the Nationalists. Since there is no
legitimate channel for the expression of political dissent, no outlet
for frustrated aggression, violent internal convulsion appears
inevitable. The question is when and how it will erupt.

The aspiration for self-determination on the part of the nine million
Formosans offers the best chance for not just a non-Communist but a
democratic, Formosa. The energy and will to defend the island against
Communist aggression and subversion, the desire to build up a free
society, are there. But will there be sufficient wisdom in the US and
the free world to channel this aspiration to a constructive purpose
before it is too late?

------------------ schnapp --------------------------------
[1] this refers to the role of dutch colonialism (L.W.)

"The island's modern history goes back to around 1590, when the first  
Western ship passed by the island, and Jan Huygen van Linschoten, a  
Dutch navigator on a Portugese ship, exclaimed "Ilha Formosa" (meaning  
"Beautiful island"), which became its name for the next four  
centuries." (from http://www.taiwandc.org/hst-1624.htm )

The "1624" in the URL refers to the begin of Dutsch occupation in that  
year.



Yours,
Lüko Willms                                     http://www.mlwerke.de
/--------- L.WILLMS@xxxxxxxxxxx -- Alle Rechte vorbehalten --

"Regierung aus dem Volke, durch das Volk und für das Volk"
   - Abraham Lincoln, Ansprache in Gettysburg, 19.11.1863
"... was in die revolutionäre Sprache von heute übersetzt heißt:
eine Regierung von Arbeitern, durch Arbeiter und für Arbeiter"
                                  - Fidel Castro, November 1994

_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism