228

I have written about the 228 event in previous blogs.


http://mikeess-trip.blogspot.tw/2011/04/taipei-228-museumnew.html

http://tainanchineseclass.blogspot.tw/2010/02/228-museum.html

This past week was the 228 National Holiday. The day is championed by the proindependence, proTaiwanese Democratic Progressive Party(DPP). The Holiday is downplayed by the party of the 1949 immigrants to Taiwan, the Chinese National Party(KMT). These two parties have little in common.

Even the Flag of Taiwan is point of controversy, shown here at the KMT party headquarters on Badu Road.

 The flag of Taiwan is actually the flag of the KMT, not so hard to understand given that the KMT was the party of the dictator of Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek from 1945-1976.

Since that period, Taiwan has moved to be a democracy. Free speech is common like this cartoon of Chiang Kai-shek and his son and successor, Chiang Ching-guo.

   
Taipei has two 228 Museums, one for the Taiwan Government and one for Taipei Government. Each city in Taiwan has a 228 Museum. This year we visited the 228 Museum in TaiZhong. It had an interesting timeline of Taiwanese history.

  The time of martial law 1949-1986 is outlined in black. 

Opposite the Presidential Palace in Taipei (which was built in Japanese time) is the 228 Memorial.

 It is a small memorial, but it is a site for protests to begin infront of the Presidential Palace.

 

 There is a good description of the "White Terror" on the Wikipedia, the period of the "White Terror" coincides with the years of martial law.