For me one the of most incredible things imaginable is setting yourself on fire in order to protest something. And I'm happy to say that Taiwan is finally a place where this will no longer happens. However as recently as the 1990s Taiwan was a place where people were setting themselves on fire, and the young children of the government's opposition were being murdered to send them a message to be quiet. Martial law didn't end until 1987, and the first presidential election didn't occur until 1996. You could say the first "real" election didn't happen until 2000.
With such a young democracy and so much suffering that people had to go through to get it, it's kind of a shame that today's political system is "a two party system which focus on bickering between each other rather than trying to improve the country." As said by one of the biggest members of the fight for freedom (a gentleman who also had his mother and twin seven year old daughters killed).
Granted this is what all democracies in the world seem to be. But that doesn't make it any less a shame. What's even worse is that in Taiwan most people don't even know the events and sacrifices made to get political freedom here. Then again this is also because most grew up under the system where it was complete government control and no dissenting opinions were allowed and definitely not taught in school. I'd like to believe that if most people knew what was really going on in Taiwan when they were growing up, and the struggles people made to give them a better future, that Taiwanese citizens would demand more of their elected officials.
But of course apathetic voters is also a sign of the times everywhere now. So I know I seem to be holding Taiwan to a higher standard. But it's because over my time living here I've come to care so much about Taiwan and it's people and I hope that it can improve and I do what small things I can do help. Because of their collective history and culture and traditions, and small population, I really think they have the chance to do something special here.
Putting aside my rant. This is a picture of the current 228 memorial museum. As I've already written so much, I'll talk about this building and the museum tomorrow.
