Editorial: Working toward a multi-cultural, flourishing society

      Taiwan Church News

      3048 Edition

      July 26~August 1, 2010

                                   

       

      Editorial: Working toward a multi-cultural, flourishing society

       

      Translated by Lydia Ma

       

       

      On October 12 of every year, a time when people living in the American 
continent celebrate 

      Columbus Day, Aborigines on that same continent critical of Columbus’ 
exploits have chosen 

      instead to remember that day as “Indian Resistance Day”. Similarly, as 
Aussies celebrate 

      “Australia Day” every January 26, Aborigines in Australia have chosen 
instead to coin that day “Invasion Day”.

       



      It wasn’t until 2008 that Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued a 
formal apology in 

      parliament to Aborigines for the injustices perpetrated against them by 
European colonialists 

      over the past century. All over the world, Aborigines have waited for 
centuries and suffered 

      much to win some respect and rights that every human being should enjoy. 

       



      A look at the history and experiences of Aborigines in Taiwan tells a 
similar story. From the 

      Qing dynasty to the KMT rule in Taiwan, the ruling class’ treatment of 
Aborigines in Taiwan 

      was marked by discrimination. Aborigines were called by different names 
ranging from 

      “savages” to “mountain people” during those periods, all of which alluded 
to their need to be 

      “civilized” by their colonizers before they could become “fully human”.

       



      Similar to other countries, the past 400 years of what we call “Taiwanese 
history” is peppered 

      with colonialism and records of how colonizers attempted to “educate” 
what they deemed as 

      closed-minded, ignorant natives. Colonialist policies destroyed again and 
again the land, 

      economy, culture, history, and social fabric of Aborigines.

       



      It wasn’t until recent decades that ideas such as basic human rights and 
human dignity 

      entered Taiwanese Aborigines’ consciousness. This awakening allowed 
Aborigine 

      movements to finally take flight after a lot of protests, media reports, 
networking among 

      organizations, public hearings, and support from concerned international 
and Taiwanese organizations.

       



      On August 1, 1994, an amendment in the ROC constitution finally got rid 
of the term “mountain 

      people”, which had been used for more than 40 years, to make way for the 
proper term known 

      as “Aborigines”. 

       



      The Executive Yuan finally declared in 2005 that August 1 of every year 
would be remembered 

      as “Indigenous People’s Day”. This announcement came long after the UN 
had set aside 

      August 9 as “International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples” in 1994 
to encourage 

      countries to remember the plight of Aborigines.

       



      On the surface, it seems as though the creation of “Indigenous People’s 
Day” in more and 

      more countries, apologies by heads of state, and the UN’s passing of 
“International Day of the 

      World’s Indigenous People’s Day” have helped Aborigines secure respect. 

       



      However, these feats are meaningless unless governments implement 
policies that further 

      justice, mercy, and charity. Aborigines can only enjoy equal rights and 
fair treatment when 

      policies pertaining to their right to work, education, and basic human 
rights are implemented. 

       



      Without actual implementation, setting aside a special day or even 
passing regulations to 

      further Aborigine people’s rights are merely empty promises. They would 
be akin to fragile 

      vases fit only for exhibits, or merely empty electoral promises that come 
in handy during campaign season.

       



      Here’s a word of caution: If governments persist in using Aborigine 
people and their human 

      rights simply as electoral tools instead of standing up for the least of 
these, they should be 

      prepared for God’s righteous judgment and wrath. God will boot them out 
of office to make 

      way for someone else that actually cares about marginalized people.

       



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