The philosopher Aristotle defined “justice” as each person getting what they deserve. Surely justice is something to which the great majority of people aspire, but what justice is, and whom it serves, are questions that have long been under debate. Since the 17th century, Locke’s notion of natural rights has set the foundation for modern democratic politics. The ideals of freedom and human rights have been core values for which people have struggled continually from one era into the next. Taiwan’s hard-won democracy is not only part of a global trend toward democratization, but also the concrete manifestation of the pursuit of justice, human rights, and freedom by the Taiwanese people.
People throughout Taiwan have never ceased to pursue justice and human rights. For example, the exhibition “I’m a Child! I Have Rights!” at the National Human Rights Museum in Taipei City’s Jingmei area is helping to promote human rights education. The Kaohsiung-based punk band Fire EX. expresses support for social justice through powerful lyrics and music. And the Shi Yi Restaurant, located in Taipei’s Minsheng Community, enables elderly retirees to put their culinary skills to use and so to reassert the value of their lives and break down prejudices against old people reentering the workforce.
This land of freedom and democracy has also nurtured bands like Youth Banana and Sheng-xiang & Band, who speak out for local communities, as well as singers like Sangpuy and Abao, who are taking Aboriginal music to the next level. Meanwhile the Hong-gah Museum in Taipei’s Beitou District uses various methods to draw the public’s attention to local communities. In addition, as part of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, Taiwanese medical centers are contributing their sophisticated medical skills and capabilities to countries in South and Southeast Asia.
The torrent of information available on the Internet today has perhaps narrowed the communication gap between people around the world. But until one has personally visited a place, its culture exists only in pictures, videos, text, and one’s own imagination. Only though personal contact with other cultures can we authentically make them part of our unique experiences and memories.
“This is my karmic connection with Taiwan,” says Professor Albert Litton Charles of National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, who comes from Dominica. In this month’s issue, Prof. Charles and Manoj Kriplani of India tell us in their own words their reasons for coming to Taiwan and the deep feelings they have developed for this place. We welcome friends from all over the world to visit Taiwan and experience its beauty and warmth for themselves.
