14. "Two Twenty Eight, How Do We Remember?"

(2021.3.2)

＊"Foreword":

Every year on February 28, does everyone know the special significance of the holiday on February 28? I believe everyone has a rough understanding of February 28: the Kuomintang at that time launched an anti-smuggling cigarette on February 28, 1947. , violence against citizens. In fact, 228 represents the indelible memory of fear people endured during the White Terror period under the Kuomintang rule. 228 is just a "symbol". Just like what V said in the classic philosophy movie "V Weird": "Under this mask is not just the body, but under this mask is a thought, and thought is not afraid of bullets." And the mask here can be Applied to the "Remembrance Form for 228".

＊“In the era of lifting the martial law: How do you feel about 228?”

In the era of freedom of martial law, we often cannot feel the "horrific memories" of February 28, but we must "remember this history." The "228 Incident" often appears in history textbooks, but we, born in the democratic era, inevitably cannot truly appreciate the profound feelings this history brought to the people of that period. 228 has consecutive holidays. In fact, the author does not exclude the matter of "holiday" on February 28. Taiwan did not designate February 28 as a national anniversary until 1997, and before 1997, there was very little discussion about the February 28 incident. Due to the silence of the Kuomintang at that time. After the February 28 event was designated as a national anniversary in 1997, the Kuomintang slowly let go: the February 28 incident can be discussed, but not too much. Many countries also often set anniversaries for such transitional justice events, such as the 321 Human Rights Day in South Africa and the 616 Youth Day. They also have information on activities such as discounts during such holidays, but those activities are often related to the anniversary. Its purpose is related to the original intention, and it is not as ironic as the "228 Travel Discount" published everywhere in Taiwan.

The author believes that the February 28 holiday is an important holiday for Taiwanese people to think about the past. The holiday is "the DPP's consumption history". The author believes that these are all inappropriate remarks that have not been thought through. First of all, the February 28 incident itself is a day worthy of eternal commemoration, and this incident has prompted the emergence and continuous progress of transitional justice; The incident has not been completely resolved to this day, and many families of the victims or related persons have not yet obtained the truth at the time, such as the Lin House bloody murder and so on. Finally, the major historical event of February 28 was never an event that could be casually consumed, but must be taken seriously and understood in a contextualized way to understand the cause and effect of the Kuomintang and the February 28 event itself, and should not be relegated to the "inter-party relationship". opposition". 228 did not stop at "investigating and arresting smuggled cigarettes", but the people's long-standing resentment and dissatisfaction with the dictatorial government also erupted with 228. "Time may cover up a wound, but only truth can heal it and learn from it without getting worse."

＊“‘Reconciliation and Symbiosis’: What should Taiwanese society do?”

This February 28 event invited former President Ma Ying-jeou to attend, and many people protested, believing that Ma Ying-jeou, the former Kuomintang president, was "unqualified" to attend such a memorial day. In addition, Taipei Mayor Ko Wenzhe, as a family member of the 228 victims, ranted that he would ride a bicycle to carry out the "Two Towers in One Day" activity, replacing tears with sweat. What the author does not understand is how to think about history when riding a bicycle? And such behavior also shows Mayor Ke's "contempt for history" and regards the collective trauma of society as an event that can be "consumed." He also seemed to hold a "neutral and objective" point of view: "Many people would even say: Why should we cling to history? It's been so long, why are we still arguing every year on February 8th? ?As Chen Yuzhen, a legislator of the Kuomintang, said in an interview: The February 28 incident has already been compensated and given a holiday, but the DPP has repeatedly consumed February 28. The February 28 event was more than 70 years ago, and whoever is present has experienced these events? , or was born at that time? It's overconsumption."

Is it overconsumption?

In fact, it is not that the families of the 228 victims and related persons are unwilling to let go of the past, but that they should be able to reconcile with peace of mind only when they "know the truth". Reconciliation and symbiosis". Moreover, the promotion of transitional justice formed by 228 is an unfinished task, “Transitional justice is the political oppression of the past authoritarian dictatorship by a society after the democratic transition, and the social (political, ethnic, and social) racial or ethnic) division, and the aftermath work.” Even after more than 70 years, the work of transformational justice seems to have not been completed, and the government’s view of the February 28 incident has not been completed. The period of the people of the twenty-eighth history

*"Summarize":

"The biggest consensus in Taiwanese society is that there is no consensus."

The historical event of 228 is still a collective trauma and collective scar of the entire society, but many people shouted for the victim's family members and related people to "put it down and move forward" all day. For reconciliation and symbiosis, there must be preconditions. Taiwan now has the "Political Archives Regulations" that passed the third reading of the Legislative Yuan in 2019. This law helps clarify various truths hidden by the government in the past. In addition, the society's awareness of turning justice has risen, and more and more people want to know more about Taiwan in the past. The historical tragedy that has occurred makes it more likely to "restore the truth".

"Facing history is terrifying, but it would be less terrifying if we had everyone with us to face it together."

The author is still optimistic about the commemoration of the history of 228 by Taiwanese society. Although political parties still use this incident to crusade each other's "consumption history", in recent years, Taiwanese people are indeed more willing to actively explore the truth of past history and accompany them. It is a positive trend that families of victims face painful memories of tragedy together. The Kuomintang has also gradually shifted from its conservative attitude to being willing to slowly face the demands of the victims’ families and related people. The author believes that “attitude” is also a very important factor in the aftermath. Active, diligent and willing to accept the sincerity of the review. Only by showing the "sincerity" of being responsible for the February 28 incident is the attitude.

All in all, the author believes that "truth" is a necessary ingredient to help heal the historical tragedy. If the families of the victims cannot get the truth for a long time, they will not be able to truly let go. In addition, in the era of lifting the martial law, "what angle should we look at on February 28?" is also the topic that the author wants to discuss.

Author: Huang Tingru