Saturday, September 12, 2009

這個決定對我而言就像是一場賭局

Saturday, March 22, 2008

The irony of the referendum issue is a pipe dream

Trouble with China

Chen Shui-bian's drive to remodel Taiwan has
proved divisive among voters [EPA]

But it is Chen's stormy relationship with China that appears to have most weakened support for the DPP.

Beijing suspects that Chen's campaign of promoting Taiwan's cultural identity represents a drive for independence through stealth. Cross-strait ties have remained in deep freeze during his presidency.

Chen has turned down Beijing's offer of a cross-Taiwan Strait peace accord under the "one-China" framework, dismissing the idea as part of a scheme by China to downgrade and annex Taiwan.

Hsieh, carrying the DPP's hopes in Saturday's election, had made a marked departure from Chen's antagonistic stance towards China.

On Friday, the former human rights lawyer said if elected he would resume dialogue with Beijing, arguing that the time has come for cross-strait compromise.

He has promised to negotiate direct air links with China and open up Taiwan to mainland tourists, following negligible progress in these areas during Chen’s term.

His move echoes frontrunner Ma's strong campaign calling for improved economic ties with the mainland.

The KMT candidate, a Harvard-trained lawyer and former mayor of Taipei, has proposed forging an unprecedented European Union-style common market between Taiwan and China.

Ma insists that improved cross-strait ties are necessary for Taiwan to ramp up its slugglish economy.

During the past few years, Taiwan's economic performance has lagged in comparison with a number of its "little dragon" peers, including Singapore and Hong Kong.

If elected president, Ma has promised annual growth rates of six percent, similar to annual figures during the decade before the DPP took power, and up from the currently estimated rate of 4.5 percent.

Calls by both candidates for improved cross-strait ties follow signs that many inside and outside of Taiwan are tired of Chen's abrasive politics.

'Sovreign states'

A referendum backed by Chen that would authorise seeking UN membership as "Taiwan" rather than under the island's legal name, Republic of China, has irked both China and the US, Taiwan's most powerful ally.

Chen has called on the electorate to vote on two referendums supporting Taiwan's entry into the United Nations.

He says the poll is is necessary to show the world that Taiwanese object to China's suppression of Taiwan's right to participate in the international community.

"We should speak out loud and tell the international community that Taiwan and the People's Republic of China are two sovereign states independent of each other," he said recently, arguing that "Taiwan's future should be determined by Taiwan's 23 million people."

Chen's remarks were made in an apparent attempt to prevent a possible failure of the referendums, which require the participation of at least 50 per cent, or 8.7 million, of the electorate and the support of more than 50 per cent of participating voters in order to be passed.

The referendums were initiated respectively by the DPP and the KMT.

The DPP's version advocates joining the UN under the name Taiwan, while the KMT's initiative calls for regaining UN membership under the country's official title, the Republic of China, or any other "pragmatic" name.

Unlike the DPP, which is urging the electorate to support both referendums, the KMT is calling for a boycott of the DPP-backed referendum, a move seen likely to increase the chances of failure of both.

The irony of the referendum issue is that whichever way the vote goes, China's veto-wielding power at the UN means Taiwan's entry into the global body is little more than a pipe dream.


http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/ADB07334-4612-4E9C-92AC-FD4E909CD883.htm

The irony of the referendum issue is a pipe dream

Taiwan votes in identity crisis

By Simon Pollock


KMT candidate and frontrunner Ma Ying-jeou is campaingning for closer ties with China [AFP]

As Taiwan heads to the polls in only its fourth ever democratic presidential election, the vote will will not only pick the island’s next leader but help settle an identity crisis splitting the vibrant Asian democracy.

For many among the island's estimated 17 million eligible voters the central question is whether they are Taiwanese or Chinese.





In the run up to voting, Taiwan's notoriously inaccurate polls have given Ma Ying-jeou, the opposition Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) candidate, leads of six to 32 percentage points.








There is a chance, however, that unrest in Tibet may nudge voters towards Frank Hsieh.

Hsieh, the candidate from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has used the final days of campaigning to ram home the message that Taiwan could suffer the same fate as Tibet if the KMT wins power.

Crackdown

Taiwan candidates

Frank Hsieh


Candidate for ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)

Propelled into politics after working as a defence lawyer for political dissidents in 1980

Focused campaign on environmental issues, the poor and Taiwan's identity

Has backed cautious opening of Taiwan-China economic links and hopes eventually to accelerate moves to make Taiwan a country distinct from China

Ma Ying-jeou


Candidate for nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) party

Unseated Chen Shui-bian, the current president, as mayor of Taipei in 1998

Focused campaign on reviving Taiwan's economy by introducing common market with mainland China

Has advocated improving relations with China, signing a peace treaty and halting Taiwan's push for independence

Nervous of the enduring cross-strait threat from the mainland, many Taiwanese sympathise with the plight of Tibetan protestors and their opposition to rule by Beijing.

As a result, while pushing for enhanced ties with China, Ma has been careful not to be seen as too pro-Beijing on China's Tibet crackdown.

"Tibet reminded us of what happened in 1989 in Tiananmen Square. So I think that what they did, I think is not only unwise, but actually stupid," he told a recent rally.

The issue of mainland China looms large in Taiwan's elections, as it does in all aspects of Taiwanese people's lives.

China's growing deployment of missiles along its coastline facing Taiwan - presently thought to number more than 1,000 - means the identity issue is far more serious than mere Taiwanese introspection.

Beijing has claimed Taiwan as its territory since nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) forces fled to the island from in 1949 following the communist victory in the civil war.

Although sharing a common culture, the open and democratic nature of Taiwan's society means its people are feeling increasingly less affinity with the mainland.

The DPP's Hsieh has warned of the dangers
of getting too close to Beijing [GALLO/GETTY]

Capitalising on this, Chen Shui-bian, the outgoing president, has been pushing residents to see themselves first and foremost as Taiwanese.

Since coming to power in 2000, Chen has led a divisive hearts and minds campaign to encourage people to feel more proud of things Taiwanese.

His government has introduced an education policy that teaches history, geography, and culture from a Taiwanese perspective and has promoted the use of Fujianese and Hakka, Chinese language dialects commonly used in Taiwan.

Chen's campaign has been tapping into a vein of growing pride among Taiwanese people.

A recent survey found 44 per cent of Taiwan's voters identified themselves as Taiwanese rather than Chinese.

His moves to reshape Taiwan, however, has also stirred up domestic debate, signified by the uproar in some quarters over the renaming of Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

Earlier this year the prominent monument to Chiang Kai-shek was remodelled to become the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, icluding memorials to social ills during the legendary KMT general's dictatorial rule.

While Chiang's harsh and often bloody policies marred his early rule in Taiwan, many still revere him as a founding father who saved Taiwan from a communist takeover.

Trouble with China

Chen Shui-bian's drive to remodel Taiwan has
proved divisive among voters [EPA]

But it is Chen's stormy relationship with China that appears to have most weakened support for the DPP.

Beijing suspects that Chen's campaign of promoting Taiwan's cultural identity represents a drive for independence through stealth. Cross-strait ties have remained in deep freeze during his presidency.

Chen has turned down Beijing's offer of a cross-Taiwan Strait peace accord under the "one-China" framework, dismissing the idea as part of a scheme by China to downgrade and annex Taiwan.

Hsieh, carrying the DPP's hopes in Saturday's election, had made a marked departure from Chen's antagonistic stance towards China.

On Friday, the former human rights lawyer said if elected he would resume dialogue with Beijing, arguing that the time has come for cross-strait compromise.

He has promised to negotiate direct air links with China and open up Taiwan to mainland tourists, following negligible progress in these areas during Chen’s term.

His move echoes frontrunner Ma's strong campaign calling for improved economic ties with the mainland.

The KMT candidate, a Harvard-trained lawyer and former mayor of Taipei, has proposed forging an unprecedented European Union-style common market between Taiwan and China.

Ma insists that improved cross-strait ties are necessary for Taiwan to ramp up its slugglish economy.

During the past few years, Taiwan's economic performance has lagged in comparison with a number of its "little dragon" peers, including Singapore and Hong Kong.

If elected president, Ma has promised annual growth rates of six percent, similar to annual figures during the decade before the DPP took power, and up from the currently estimated rate of 4.5 percent.

Calls by both candidates for improved cross-strait ties follow signs that many inside and outside of Taiwan are tired of Chen's abrasive politics.

'Sovreign states'

A referendum backed by Chen that would authorise seeking UN membership as "Taiwan" rather than under the island's legal name, Republic of China, has irked both China and the US, Taiwan's most powerful ally.

Chen has called on the electorate to vote on two referendums supporting Taiwan's entry into the United Nations.

He says the poll is is necessary to show the world that Taiwanese object to China's suppression of Taiwan's right to participate in the international community.

"We should speak out loud and tell the international community that Taiwan and the People's Republic of China are two sovereign states independent of each other," he said recently, arguing that "Taiwan's future should be determined by Taiwan's 23 million people."

Chen's remarks were made in an apparent attempt to prevent a possible failure of the referendums, which require the participation of at least 50 per cent, or 8.7 million, of the electorate and the support of more than 50 per cent of participating voters in order to be passed.

The referendums were initiated respectively by the DPP and the KMT.

The DPP's version advocates joining the UN under the name Taiwan, while the KMT's initiative calls for regaining UN membership under the country's official title, the Republic of China, or any other "pragmatic" name.

Unlike the DPP, which is urging the electorate to support both referendums, the KMT is calling for a boycott of the DPP-backed referendum, a move seen likely to increase the chances of failure of both.

The irony of the referendum issue is that whichever way the vote goes, China's veto-wielding power at the UN means Taiwan's entry into the global body is little more than a pipe dream.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

stop

Currently, I am so depressed. Everything cannot work well. Until last night when I was correcting my paper with Mat, My mother called me from Taipei. I could not control my emotion any more.
Now I am typing and crying, and I do not know what I really can do for my life and future. I keep doing what I believe since I had touched with critical theory. I do sacrifice what I really want, but I just cannot get a good environment to do my research. Suddenly, I notice that when I am struggling with this powerful system, my mother is waiting for me at somewhere. However, every time I just only let her feel disappointed. She does not ask me do anything for her, and I never do anything for my family and society. Now, I don’t even have any courage and ability to continue my studying.
Until now I still cannot stop my tears coming out. I try to finding something that might help me feel better. So I got this. However, it does not work.

Shit

Monday, March 17, 2008

Once

When I walked home, it was five thirty something. Landscape is different from this morning. All the snow is gone, but not melting. Somehow I would like my bad mood can go as fast as the weather of Colorado. In my life, I met some professors who always encourage me to walk farer than what I had expected. I never know I am on the up class of our society; on the contrary, all my students are struggling with their lives in the bottom of this society. I do not give up any chance to try revolving this unbalance society. However, I could not accomplish what I want.
I might to go back the ordinary status; actually, I am thinking I should do something. Even through I can escape from the structure oppressing, my family cannot. I always remember, “Life will find the road”, and I told that to my friends and students. Additionally, I often use the sentence “ Do what you should do while you are seventeen. You just have seventeen once”.

I forgot that I also just have once.

Friday, March 14, 2008

I hope I can stop struggle

I have noticed that the systems kill people and limited people; however, I still try to get into the system. For entering the systems, people need to take any possible to pass the gap. It is not just only an intelligent examining; acutely, it is an apparatus to abstract the essential from your brain, mind, and hart. Then, you got a completely new one but not originated from where you are from.
Even in the Taiwan or USA, all institutes follow same engagement to translate an alien brain to you. Because you need to get a potion in this extraordinary system, you need to follow it.
Can I just stop it? Obviously, I cannot. Therefore, all I can do is try to quit. I am sorry and I do not have time to play with you again. Bye…………………………….

I need to go, and I hope one day I will shine on

If the environment is dirty. No matter how hard you try to keep yourself clean.
you are as dirty as them.



Please don't cry
You know I'm leaving here tonight
Before I go I want you to know
That there will always be a light

And if the moon had to runaway
And all the stars didn't wanna play
Don't waste the sun on a rainy day
The wind will soon blow it all away, ya

So many times I planned
To be much more than who I am
And if I let you down
I will follow you 'round until you understand

That if the moon had to runaway
And all the stars didn't wanna play
Don't waste the sun on a rainy day
The wind will soon blow it all away, ya, oh ya

When the days all feel the same
Don't feel the cold or wind or rain
Everything will be okay
We will meet again one day
And I will shine on, for everyone

So please don't cry
Although I leave you here this night
Where I go how far I don't know
But I will always be your light

That if the moon had to runaway
And all the stars didn't wanna play
Don't waste the sun on a rainy day
The wind will soon blow it all away, ya, oh ya

When the days all seem the same
Don't feel the cold or wind or rain
Everything will be okay
We will meet again one day
I will shine on, for everyone
Shine on, for everyone
When the stars all look the same
Don't feel the cold or wind or rain
Everything will be okay
We will meet again one day
I will shine on, for everyone
Shine on, for everyone

Finding your true color

Robert told me, "I really see your true color!"

Andrew told me, “just because Robert is Robert, and he can claim what he want to do. such as....I fuck , I fish, I do what I wish."

I might to think about what is my real aim to get my Ph D. for some reason, I give up my normal life. I do not have any entertainments. I do not make money and do what I wish. So, in Robert and Andrew's definitions, I lose my true color already.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Bureaucracies

...Ask yourself, " what do you do for this institute?"...
According to my opinion, that is a term without any responsibility and try to escape their duty.
It is obviously that we need institute do something for us, and that the meaning for the existent of these bureaucracies.

I am so angry about that.

Friday, February 29, 2008

What am I doing?

Do I really know what I am doing? Now, I am trying to prepare my comprehension exam in Taiwan; however, I am in Taiwan. Yes, it is so strange, and I totally understand. Does anyone know I am really a loser? Even I want to cry, I have no tear. For me, studying abroad is a great aim to practice and to know who I am? It is obviously a connection to build myself stronger than before. Then I might gain some resource and ability to help whom really need to help. Now, I just can hang out with my roommate while I almost finish my readings or papers. And I need to calculate every dollar that I spend, because I do not have any income. I have tried to quit smoke to save money, but I do not even care my health condition. All I want to do is for a dream to help people, but I now even cannot help my family or anyone. I promise myself if I will not gat any chance to enter the Ph D program in UK or US. I will state store my dream in a deep place. Because while I am doing something waste my time, I am waste my family their time, their resource as well.
Thank you giving me chance to know how disgusting the academic is, and how tiny I am? Tomorrow, even I never wake up again. The world will still work, and why I need to present as I am the One, the Neo?