My parents and I were on holiday in Taiwan last week, and during our two days in Taipei, I was excited to visit the 24-hour Eslite Bookstore, named in TIME as the best bookstore in Asia
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That's what flags of the boxing kangaroo is for. :)
I don't know, maybe it's a hangover from the Cronulla period or something-- the image of white males draped in flags saying, "If you're not one of us, you're not Australian-- this is our country." Gaaaaah.
I live about 40 minutes from Cronulla, and calculare lives even closer, so I think we're definitely sensitive to that point where pride turns into aggression.
Ah, a truly good bookstore is an ever-renewing delight. It makes me think of writing a story with heaven very literally as a bookstore; I wonder if there already is one?
And I'll agree with the above comment that your description of Taiwan fits a little uncomfortably with some of the things happening in America. Our nationalism, our insistence that belief trumps, well, anything. Plus this year the mad holiday shopping season has reminded me increasingly of fiddling while somebody somewhere burns.
It took me a long time to work out what the emotion was that I was sensing all the time that I was there: desperation. We drove all over Taiwan in those 10 days, stayed overnight in 8 hotels, and all across the island, it felt like people were putting on a brave face but secretly sliding over the red.
There are more cheerful photos to come, thankfully, as soon as I've sorted through them. :) Although it doesn't look like I'll have time to post them before I leave for Yunnan this Sunday.
I don't understand patriotism. It seems so abitrary to be so attached to, and proud of, a place. And it seems so strange to let that inform so much of your life and values. But then, I wonder if it is different when you grow up in the country where your family is from, and have strong cultural traditions to identify with and continue. Would I be more attached to my country if, say, I were born and raised and still lived in Switzerland? As one of only two people from our entire family, as far back as our written records indicate, to be born in a country other than Switzerland it is something I wonder about.
EDIT: Re tevere's comment: It's as though they take ownership of the flag and that gives them the right to completely dictate what it means and stands for. They forget that if there is such a thing as "belonging" to a country, then the flag, too, belongs to every citizen, regardless of values.
That's what also drives me wild about the citizenship tests. I can understand the language test, but I cannot understand a "values" test.
I can understand it - patriotism, nationalism, etc. - and if you're committed to starting wars or fighting in them then they are certainly useful delusions to foster. :)
I try to think about it, and I just run into this blank. I really don't get it. At all. I think that's also part of what annoys me about overt patriotism; it's a mystery to me and it's driving me to distraction whenever I stop to think about it.
Ha! Of course. I can't recall what I was just watching on TV (a few days/weeks/months ago; you know how I am with time), but it was about the Japanese-Americans going to war to prove that they were as "American" as their caucasian counterparts. Your comment just reminded me of how determined they were to prove where they belonged.
I shall forever remember that bookstore as the one that allowed me to find and read Wilde AND Fitzgerald for the first time on two separate occasions (or possibly one) almost a dozen years ago. For some reason, it just had a really attractive Penguin Classics wall.
It's been a long time since I've been to Taiwan. I remember being sick, mostly, other than that bookstore and fruits. I hope what you have summarized is not true because that is a sad picture for any nation which once had so much potential. I'm curious, however, what does your parents think "Cannot last"?
At least, I believe Apple still has many of its parts made in Taiwan.
I'm curious, however, what does your parents think "Cannot last"?
They think that reunification with the Mainland is just a matter of time. My father, though, thinks that Taiwan's environmental/energy policies are very forward-thinking, and it could have a future in green jobs.
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I don't know, maybe it's a hangover from the Cronulla period or something-- the image of white males draped in flags saying, "If you're not one of us, you're not Australian-- this is our country." Gaaaaah.
I live about 40 minutes from Cronulla, and calculare lives even closer, so I think we're definitely sensitive to that point where pride turns into aggression.
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And I'll agree with the above comment that your description of Taiwan fits a little uncomfortably with some of the things happening in America. Our nationalism, our insistence that belief trumps, well, anything. Plus this year the mad holiday shopping season has reminded me increasingly of fiddling while somebody somewhere burns.
I can only hope for better days everywhere.
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(The comment has been removed)
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EDIT: Re tevere's comment: It's as though they take ownership of the flag and that gives them the right to completely dictate what it means and stands for. They forget that if there is such a thing as "belonging" to a country, then the flag, too, belongs to every citizen, regardless of values.
That's what also drives me wild about the citizenship tests. I can understand the language test, but I cannot understand a "values" test.
Reply
Reply
Ha! Of course. I can't recall what I was just watching on TV (a few days/weeks/months ago; you know how I am with time), but it was about the Japanese-Americans going to war to prove that they were as "American" as their caucasian counterparts. Your comment just reminded me of how determined they were to prove where they belonged.
Reply
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It's been a long time since I've been to Taiwan. I remember being sick, mostly, other than that bookstore and fruits. I hope what you have summarized is not true because that is a sad picture for any nation which once had so much potential. I'm curious, however, what does your parents think "Cannot last"?
At least, I believe Apple still has many of its parts made in Taiwan.
Reply
I'm curious, however, what does your parents think "Cannot last"?
They think that reunification with the Mainland is just a matter of time. My father, though, thinks that Taiwan's environmental/energy policies are very forward-thinking, and it could have a future in green jobs.
Reply
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