In search of a common dream

Looking at things from a broader perspective, in terms of societal rather than personal development, the same process seems to happen to the dreams of societies themselves. You could consider the developing nations of the world to be the global equivalent of elementary school students; as they work toward modernization some make rapid progress, while others creep forward slowly. Both groups, though, keep working toward their goals of modernization, hoping to one day reach the same level of prosperity as their developed brethren. Similarly, at every stage along that journey to modernization, the geography and cultural values of each society will influence that society's collective dream and goal.

To carry on the previous analogy, in her journey toward modernization Taiwan has already left childhood behind and is coming of age, heading for a period of greater prosperity. In the process, concepts such as multiculturalism, individual worth, and freedom as supreme have taken root throughout Taiwan. Dreams of democratization are the binding thread, bringing all these individualistic dreams together, while Taiwan's past dreams of power are refined into a collective goal of economic development.

Now, with Taiwan facing the pressures of globalization, this globalization has allowed the youth of today to dream of unlimited possibilities. At the same time, though, those dreams have taken on a more detached and hard-to-grasp nature. Knowledge has become the fundamental asset for youth entering the market, so they are always gathering knowledge and putting it to use, so that they have the chance to realize their dreams. The idea that people have to compete with one another in the job market has become the norm in Taiwan today, but the spirit of the so-called "Strawberry Generation," those children of the 80s who can't handle pressure, is still fairly pervasive. They live for freedom and leisure, all the while losing their sense of direction. The growing materialism of society may be in part because of that generation's weaknesses; however the lack of a new dream for a new generation could be the most important factor. I hope that in future Sinorama can continue to follow this issue, bringing it out into the open and stirring up discussion, so that this new generation can dream big and still be able to work toward those dreams without feeling hesitant.(tr. by Geof Aberhart)