Breaking News, World News and Taiwan News.

Updated Friday, September 18, 2009 9:30 am TWN, The China Post news staff

Sponsors
▪	Get the best deals for Guangzhou Hotels or choose from more than 10,000 hotels in 499 Chinese cities.
▪	Find great real time deals on China Flights. Book flights to China or China domestic flights 24/7.
▪	Buy china wholesale products from reliable chinese wholesalers on DHgate.com!
▪	Save 75% for all hotels in Shanghai, Beijing and whole China. Lowest rates for Flights in China.

All of 'Son of Taiwan's' men

As movie reviewer Nick Schager notes, populist redneck Stark ran for office because he was disgusted by the crooked officials in his hometown. He appeals to his fellow hicks with a straight-shooting platform. But once he's elected and becomes enamored with his new-found clout, his loudly proclaimed ideals quickly go by the wayside.

As movie reviewer Phil Villareal notes, the film is a cautionary tale. A country bumpkin rises from nothing. He finds his calling in politics. He promises to soak the fat cats and spread their wealth around. Instead, he throws his ideals out the window once his fame and reputation grow.

Stark resorts instinctively to rhetorical devices that enhance his folksy authority. He calls his followers hicks, then turns the insult upon himself, making it seem as though they're all in it together, and that he's their unquestioned leader.

Stark delivers fist-pumping speeches, blasting the powers that be and inspiring devotion among onlookers, who elevate him to the status of an infallible priest in a cult of personality.

Stark barks at crowds from his bully pulpit. He stomps his opponents with abandon. Stark is a straight-talker who captures the imagination of the public, but who begins to believe his own press releases.

Stark has an insatiable appetite for political influence and higher office. He negotiates backroom deals that increase his power at the expense of his integrity. He takes things because he believes he deserves them, unaware that the more he consumes, the more he's consumed. It's a path that can only lead to oblivion.

Does any of this sound familiar?

Chen's autobiography, “The Son of Taiwan,” was published in 2000. The introduction gushed: Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan's most captivating political star, explains the secret of his administration's success and phenomenal approval ratings. He articulates the reasons why Taiwan must establish a government headed by a strong president. He outlines his vision for a society revitalized with fresh confidence, trust and faith.

“The Son of Taiwan” is a real life version of “All the King's Men.” Eight years later, Republic of China citizens have seen how the saga ends. It does not endp happily for Chen Shui-bian, any more than it ended happily for Willie Stark. All the king's horses and all the kings men, cannot put the Son of Taiwan back together again.

1|2

Comments

September 22, 2009 linotw@

The taste of power has crippled and succumbed the former president to graft & corruption. "All the King's Men" can be entertaining, but the live action of "Son of Taiwan" runs for 8 years and continues to dungeon. The editorial of last July 23rd "Sorrow of being Taiwanese" when former Lee Teng-hui often spoke of “tai wan ren de bei ai,” or “the sorrow of being born Taiwanese,” I deeply feel sorry of being a Taiwanese.

September 23, 2009 err_co_eds@

Wonderful Editorial.

Two GOOD SON OF TAIWAN was born in the same island but with different time and both become the President of our country.

Chen Shui-bian become an "ICON OF CORRUPTION".

Lee Teng-hui became the Godfather for the DPP and frequent visit to the Yasukuni Shrine. Forgetting how our martyr's fought and died against the Japanese Fanatics invader. And the most POIGNANT is Lee cause the untimely dead of a 5 year old little girl who survived the earthquake without any conscience to save her young life. Thats what "Tai Wan ren de ai".
Now another figure is emerging to be a Good Daughter of Taiwan in the South. Anybody can figure out who she is.

September 23, 2009 linotw@

Father and Son of Taiwan want to promote something very own individuals thoughts while enrich themselves, which let millions of people here living in dangerously for 20 years. They are better known as Tai Wan De Pei Ai.

Sound she is the mayor of Kaohsiung city. If is she the one you mean to, yes I agree with you. She is a very deceiving and tricky lady, showed her true double identity; taking fake video recording during election day to let her opponent fell and recent visit to China to draw a number of Chinese tourists to attend games. She later used Dalai Lama's visit and 10 Conditional Love movie to provoke and irritate people. Her motives are to serve people of Kaohsiung or her own political agenda that long forgot the original democratic movement.