Pride
Over the past week as people have dropped by this site to leave a comment, several have questioned my commitment to Taiwan. I have also heard through friends that those with different political views than mine have gone online saying that I should renounce my American citizenship (not Green Card) if I really mean what I say. To those doubters and haters I ask, since when do you have to be born and raised in Taiwan to care and fight for it? Taiwanese people live all across the globe. Many of these Taiwanese have never even set foot on this island, yet know more about this island's history and current situation than many living on this island. Does this make them any less Taiwanese? I was born in the United States and proud of it. I am also Taiwanese and even more proud of that. Is my Taiwanese (Hoklo) perfectly fluent? Not even close. Can I speak Chinese? Not any better than a three-year old, okay two-year old. Do I know everything about Taiwanese history? I only wish I did. Despite all this, I will always hold my head high when I call myself Taiwanese.
For those of you out there that think being Taiwanese means holding a Taiwanese passport or a Taiwanese identification card, you are sadly mistaken. If you believe in the right to self-determination, in the ideals of an open, democratic society, and are willing to fight and speak out for Taiwan that makes you more Taiwanese than any piece of identification. I may have been born in the US, but at least I consider myself Taiwanese, which is more than I can say for many of the Taiwanese people on this island that consider themselves Chinese. To those people, I suggest you renounce your Taiwanese citizenship and emigrate to China, where you will not be able to vote, protest, have the right to free speech, or practice religious freedom. But, you will have all an endless supply of melamine to ingest.
In closing, I just want to say to all those people that have questioned my heart and courage, that if you're going to say I lack the balls to stay in Taiwan, at least have enough guts to leave your real name when you come at me. Don't leave your comments signed "anonymous." It takes absolutely no courage whatsoever to make personal attacks and then hide your identity. I welcome you to step up to the plate.
For those of you out there that think being Taiwanese means holding a Taiwanese passport or a Taiwanese identification card, you are sadly mistaken. If you believe in the right to self-determination, in the ideals of an open, democratic society, and are willing to fight and speak out for Taiwan that makes you more Taiwanese than any piece of identification. I may have been born in the US, but at least I consider myself Taiwanese, which is more than I can say for many of the Taiwanese people on this island that consider themselves Chinese. To those people, I suggest you renounce your Taiwanese citizenship and emigrate to China, where you will not be able to vote, protest, have the right to free speech, or practice religious freedom. But, you will have all an endless supply of melamine to ingest.
In closing, I just want to say to all those people that have questioned my heart and courage, that if you're going to say I lack the balls to stay in Taiwan, at least have enough guts to leave your real name when you come at me. Don't leave your comments signed "anonymous." It takes absolutely no courage whatsoever to make personal attacks and then hide your identity. I welcome you to step up to the plate.
posted by Eric @ 12:03 PM
102 Comments
