"Among today's young students... there are those who have embraced treachery, using big exaggerations like so-called ethnic self-determination, Taiwan self-rule, or Taiwan independence. And there's also a group of inner territory people like members of the Diet who fan [their anger]. These think it's a good thing and run around making noise. The hot-blooded youth go along with the crowd. The problem gets bigger. Won't it be the case that before too long phrases like 'establish a Taiwan parliament' just like phrases like 'independence for Korea' penetrate the minds of elementary school children? That's what I worry about.
I'm convinced that probably nothing will happen with the current generation of islanders. But what about the second generation? It seems as if they're heading in the direction of absolutely opposing the Governor General's policy of assimilation, and inviting the result of that opposition. This is the thing I can't stop being afraid of."
-- Hamade Tsunenosuke, former chief of the Bureau of Colonial Affairs, in his 1928 report on travel to Taiwan. cited in Kate McDonald's excellent Placing Empire: Travel and the Social Imagination in Imperial Japan (free at that link!)_______________________
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Great quote!
ReplyDeleteMarty: Whoa, wait a minute, Doc. What are you talking about? What happens to us in the future? What, do we become assholes or something?
ReplyDeleteDoc Brown: No, no, no, no, no, Marty. Both you and Jennifer turn out fine. It's your kids, Marty. Something gotta be done about your kids!
Ha awesome quote! It's interesting to live through the Ma yingjeou era and there's zero reversal of trend. More things stay the same indeed.
ReplyDeleteDeclassified UK cable on Tiananmen Square events:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/tianmen-revelations-12212017131357.html
"On arrival at Tiananmen troops from [the northeastern city of Shenyang] had separated students and residents," then British ambassador Alan Donald wrote in a diplomatic cable dated June 1989 detailing how the Shenyang troops had been sent in unarmed to disperse the crowd, followed up by a fully armed 27th Army that rampaged through the city killing civilians and other soldiers alike.
"Students understood they were given one hour to leave square but after five minutes [armored personnel carriers] APCs attacked," the cable said. "Students linked arms but were mown down, including soldiers."
"APCs then ran over bodies time and time again to make "pie" and remains collected by bulldozer. Remains incinerated and then hosed down drains," it said.
"APCs ran over troops and civilians at 65 kilometers/hour in same manner," it said. "One APC crashed and driver (a captain) got out and was taken by crowd to hospital. He is now deranged and demands death for his atrocities."
It said the 27th Army was ordered to spare no-one, and "shot wounded Shenyang soldiers."
In Liubukou, "four wounded girl students begged for their lives but were bayoneted," it said.
"A three-year-old girl was injured but her mother was shot as she went to her aid as were six others who tried," the cable said.