Wildfire Collection: Thirty Years Anniversary Edition

Chapter 26 Wildfire 20 Years (5)
The shocking appearance of Lung Ying-tai occurred in a great era, an era that was based on cultural depth and that Taiwan had consciously brewed for many years and was about to explode.Next, more than a year after I left Taiwan in June [-], I saw the performance of "Luohe Zhanyi" in the underground tunnel in front of Taipei Railway Station being expelled by the police, and I saw "Love of Freedom" performing at the National Taiwan University. During the campus parade and sit-in, I saw "My Nostalgia, My Song" sang the local voice for the first time in the Keelung Cultural Center.Long Yingtai is not lonely at all, her shocking effect lies in her head start.In Taiwan at the same time, many artists, cultural figures, and ordinary Taiwanese all had the qualities of intellectuals.Longyingtai is a particularly high wave in the sea.

When I returned to Singapore, I began to try to think about the reality of Singapore from an intellectual perspective. The 20 years of fertility development has indeed enabled Singapore to achieve many achievements that make locals proud and foreigners envy.However, in the same 20 years, in the process of pursuing these goals, many important qualities were also lost or could not be accumulated, including the neglect of the cultivation of humanistic personality, the restriction of the development of civil society, the suppression of the generation of cultural awareness, and the The demands of the subject are excluded.This is why when Lung Ying-tai burned the "wildfire" she started in Taiwan ten years ago to Singapore in [-] and wrote "Fortunately I'm Not a Singaporean", she was surprised by a The overwhelmed "Voice of Protecting the Nation" mobilized to attack Long Yingtai.

Another ten years later, in 500, Lung Ying-tai, who stepped down as director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taipei City, was invited to serve as a visiting professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He gave three public lectures in one month, from culture and identity to Traditional regeneration.In May of this year, she came to participate in a forum discussing "Museums and Society".Four speeches have accumulated more than 23 people.Her critique of Singapore's various realities remains profound, but her fighting stance has faded.When she mentioned Singapore, she kept saying: "'We' Singapore..." Many Singaporeans listened to Long Yingtai's opinion quietly, and they did not have the kind of "righteous indignation" they had ten years ago.Then, someone said euphemistically: "After all, Long Yingtai is an occasional visitor..." ("Lianhe Zaobao" editorial, May [-], [-])
Twenty years have passed, and Lung Ying-tai's idealism has not changed, but her posture has adjusted following the earth-shaking situation of the entire Taiwanese society.Many Singaporeans are still silently listening to Long Yingtai's criticisms, and they also look forward to seeing the emergence of Singaporean Long Yingtai.However, if there were no wave after wave, how could one expect the particularly high wave of Long Yingtai to appear?
Being outspoken is as important as being inclusive

——Bo Yang watching "Wildfire" by Long Yingtai
Writer: Bo Yang dictates

Reporter: Ding Wenling records

"Wildfire Collection" is the beginning of the world's recognition of Long Yingtai.But it makes no difference to me, I've known her for a long time.This person is a soul similar to mine in essence, but she is younger, and she believes that Chinese people can change. I am more pessimistic.Chinese people have a kind of stubbornness, which is very hard. For example, officials in history lack the tradition of apologizing, and they don’t know how to be ashamed. Even if ordinary people accept certain facts, they are unwilling to do something. There will definitely be no changes within the year, and it will remain the same for thirty to fifty years. What can words do?But having said that, if culture is easy to change, it is not a real culture, so we still need people like us who write quickly.

Long Yingtai and I are often compared, but apart from our age difference, we also have very different backgrounds.I was a soldier, and when I was a soldier, I couldn’t have personal will. I have received such training, so the angle of writing often switches between myself and the group.In comparison, Long Yingtai's thinking is much more personal.Beyond that, of course, we see things in very different ways, each with its own strengths.Although it is unavoidable to be suspected of relying on the old and selling the old, I still want to say that Long Yingtai has many ideas and practices, which are all things that Bo Yang would do when he was young. Probably every person with lofty ideals must go through this period!In my later years, I entered the doctrine of the mean, stood outside and looked in, and decided that the trajectory of Long Yingtai was like this.

If we talk about the relationship between Long Yingtai and me, although we have different opinions, we must mention one thing, and that is the continuation of the "February [-]" Memorial Hall in [-].At that time, she had a misunderstanding with the Taiwan Peace Foundation, and both parties hoped that I would come forward to mediate. They are both from other provinces. Although I knew that my words might not be powerful, I still called her.Now that times have changed, I want to say something fair for her. In fact, at that time, Long Yingtai, who was questioned by the outside world as a teenager and refused to accept objections, was very active in trying to understand and solve the problem.As soon as she heard my voice, she immediately said: "The more you talk, the more confused I become. Why don't I go to your house for dinner and listen to you clearly." Long Yingtai is such a straightforward person, and he ran away after a short while Come to my house for dinner.After explaining her approach to this matter, she asked me: "Do you think I am smart enough?" I remember that I also frankly told her that I was not enough, and added a sentence, since you have already I asked, and I had to say it, lest you think yourself really smart.Interestingly, she wasn't angry.

I say this because I want the outside world to understand that the definition of culture is fluid, and what cultural people lack the most is tolerance and tolerance of dissidents.As a cultural person, outspokenness and tolerance are equally important. Even though Lung Ying-tai is often criticized, I think she does have the above two qualities.Cultural people are often either too gentle, too uninitiated, too Ah Q, or just can't listen to other people's opinions. She has her own ideas and is willing to listen to the opinions of others. Maybe the media and people who conflict with her opinions should give her more opportunity to communicate.

Chinese writers are worthless. If you write hard for ten years, you will not be rich, and if you don't write for a day, you will be poor.Literati do not write for money, but mostly for ideals, wanting to be useful to society, but because the value of articles is held up by readers or future generations, writers with ideals and not for fame and fortune, Therefore, it is especially necessary to get feedback and reactions from readers. I have a vague feeling that Long Yingtai should be the same, and it is not natural to like to make noise.

I write articles like a pig eating chaff, because I have to, I can’t live without writing.The world is not simple, and the word "human rights" cannot enter the yamen. Writers can only keep writing, so that they can hope to have a small opportunity to participate in or change the current social situation.I am self-aware of the influence of writers, unlike Long Yingtai, who was still young and naive, and complained "why don't they read my book", and I have too much confidence in writing to govern the world.

Observing carefully, Long Yingtai and I do have many differences.Although I was born and raised in China, I was born and raised in China. Most of my pens were written because I saw injustices and drew swords to help. Long Yingtai was stimulated by Western democratic political culture and ideas, and reflected on China's problems.Both of us see the same malpractice, and may have different perspectives and suggestions for solutions.Some people criticize me, as long as you scold China, Bo Yang will be happy, the more you scold me, the happier Bo Yang is, but it is not the case.I wrote the article to let people who have done wrong but still have the ability to reflect and have a conscience feel the pain of being beheaded. I hope that there is loyalty and compassion in the spicy. Long Yingtai should be the same, but she is in a hurry.Perhaps because I am older, I feel that compared with the past, Taiwan and the mainland have seen great progress in terms of democracy and freedom of speech. I have the illusion and satisfaction of being in heaven. Long Yingtai hates iron. Steel, I still hope that one day China will be stronger and better than the West!

Just like the contention of a hundred schools of thought in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, civilization and democracy are all created by you and me.I have always believed in human nature. Most of the evils are caused by problems with the structure or mechanism of society, rather than any person who wants to be hostile to good or good people, things, and things. Human beings can be communicated, understood, and persuaded. Writers like me He Long Yingtai was born to take on the role of acupuncture and heal this society.

Rhododendrons in March

Associate Professor, Department of Drama, National Taiwan University
Ji Weiran

If someone is trying his best to mobilize the whole body to write a short article, the content is full of tense words-"Chinese, why are you not angry", "I feel disgusted, I feel angry", " Who is humiliating our children", "We ordinary people don't understand our rights"——then it will be compiled into a book called "Wild Fire Collection". I can only borrow the famous words of essayist Qi Jun and say that this Most likely it was the cuckoo on the National Taiwan University campus in March, crazy.

20 years later, much of the situation that Lung Ying-tai complained about in the [-]s has not improved. Our cities are still ugly, our education trains continue to drive off cliffs, and our traffic is still a color-blind rampage. But one aspect has changed. Complete qualitative change: Taiwanese, you get angry too easily.Now no one dares to say that the people of Taiwan do not know how to fight for their own rights. Whenever we are wronged, we ring the bell to complain or weep in front of the camera. Choking or gas suicide attacks.The anger of the Taiwanese has long been condensed into jacks and [-]-ton hammers. If everyone gathers together to perform kung fu, the power will be enough to sink the treasure island that people call a dozen times.Who said Taiwan has no nuclear weapons?
Taiwanese are really very angry, causing the lower beam to be wrong and the upper beam to be crooked. Even Mr. "President", who should be the most calm and should not be angry in public, has followed suit. The "president" is not powerful if he is not angry, but he can jump on his flat hat in private or pour tomato juice on the photos of his political opponents, but he should not be transformed into the Terminator on TV——Ah Bian, the Terminator—— Mouth Dang Uzi shot across the Taiwan Strait, killing all enemies and allies, and politicians and civilians were shot one after another.Not only that, but the "President" also practiced the motto of the devil Arnold "I'll be back". He really came back to renew the stall, and brought grenades and thunderbolts with him, and fired twice, turning the wildfire into a beacon fire.Who needs an action movie when there are talk shows like this?In the past two days, I sat on the sofa and watched A-Bian on the screen. I was dumbfounded at first, and then my vision gradually became blurred. I only felt in a trance that there was a burning rhododendron in the picture that was about to implode at any time.

Taiwanese, calm down.

20 years ago, Long Yingtai wanted the silent public to speak up bravely. Today, 20 years later, I hope that everyone will say a few words less.The silent people have long since turned into chattering crows, always chattering there.The death of an artist has spawned tens of thousands of crazy words, friends and reporters chattering, familiar and unfamiliar wow wow, even passers-by who ran into him at the beach had something to say.Can a relationship with the dead really spice up our boring days?The crowd was noisy and lively, but from the beginning of the curtain to the end of the curtain, people could not feel the slightest possibility of washing or sublimation from this human tragedy.

Taiwanese, you talk too much.

You and I don’t have to have insightful opinions on everything. Regardless of provocations such as “no opinion is a modern citizen”, we have to pity these people who worry about the country and the people. Their lives are blank except for politics.It's not like you have to make it public as soon as you have an idea. Savages offer poop (shit), why not hide reflexive and conditioned thoughts in your heart, revise them from time to time, and give them a chance to settle?We absolutely have the right to remain silent.If someone is lying in a hospital bed due to a car accident, he does not have to explain to reporters how shocking he was at the time and how embarrassing he was after the operation. However, it is puzzling that the interviewees often choose to speak, even if they are struggling to reveal Moving his semi-anesthetized lips, he also insisted on talking: "Ah, the car suddenly overturned, and I followed suit, and then passed out." After speaking, he passed out again.

Well, if anyone gets smothered if they don't talk, I can only ask: something fresh.Language hinders thinking, and nonsense leads to a pot of tar in the head.Most of the time, political celebrities have not yet spoken, and we have already guessed what they are going to say, because this group of people has few alternative opinions except for ideology and personal grievances; more often, entertainment celebrities have not yet spoken, and we already know their opinions Only gags and idiot ligatures.Also, for those "people in the city" who feel that they have never been on TV in this life, I can only advise: don't use your mouth as a language grinder.Now that you are on camera, please take this opportunity to act seriously, say what you want to say, speak from your dantian, and speak from your heart, don't be "big-tongued and talkative", just keep hemming and hawing, huh, yes, right... …

It says that anger comes uninvited, Taiwanese people are really irritable.The weather in Baodao used to have four distinct seasons, but now the timing is reversed. Every day is a pale March day, and rhododendrons are blooming on the hillside.

Can we fly over the cuckoo's nest?At least, the author of "Wildfire Collection" thought it was possible 20 years ago, otherwise she would not have written those articles, otherwise she would not have misjudged that she has a critical distance and has the commanding heights of returned intellectuals.These days, distance is a luxury we cannot enjoy.Everyone is in the same nest, and only when they are fooling themselves and others, do some people dare to nonsense that they are "a bridge over bad water".Taiwan has become a dangerous bridge, and we are bad water.

Don't ask me where the answer is, I only know that it is flying in madness.

Looking forward to the "new fire" passing on

Professor at Tsinghua University, Taiwan
Ma Yigong

During the Tang Dynasty, Chinese culture reached an unprecedented peak, and it was the most powerful country in the world at that time.Our knowledge of Tang culture is limited, especially the festivals of the Tang Dynasty.

The festival that people in Tang Dynasty attaches great importance to is cold food, which is set on the [-]th day after the winter solstice, about one day before Qingming Festival.On this day, there is no fire in the stoves of Chang'an City. People eat cold porridge and cold cakes. When the next morning, firewood is spread from the Daming Palace to the stoves of every household.

This is a festival full of symbolic significance, and it is very strictly enforced. Those who still start a fire on the cold food day will be punished by death.

Why is passing the torch so important?
It has been 20 years since "Wild Fire Collection" was published, which is indeed not too short a period of time, especially the tremendous changes in Taiwanese society in the past 20 years, which can only be described as complete changes in personnel and affairs, and full of mixed feelings.At that time, the ban on newspapers had not yet been lifted, and the three major newspaper supplements occupied an entire page.I remember that "Wildfire Collection" published the newspaper of the day, and tens of thousands of copies could be sold. Students would also post the supplement on the bulletin board, or photocopy it and circulate it for discussion.Among the large stack of newspapers now, the importance of supplements is relatively less, and students are far more interested in uploading "nonsensical" newsletters on mobile phones or the Internet than in circulating good articles.

20 years ago, there was no division in today's society. Although challenging the authority will always be suppressed by those who have the authority, the fairness and justice of the society has not been distorted by the position of the text content, or even the color of the author's classification. It can be seen that the current positions of the creator and the author are not the same.

When dissidents go to prison, it is the beginning of a new milestone in their lives.When dissidents are forced into exile, they are disarmed when they leave their land.Perhaps Lung Ying-tai had personal reasons at the time and left voluntarily. Later, his writing style may be more mature, his ideals and vision may be more ambitious, and the society's reaction will definitely not be the same as "Wild Fire Collection".

Today, 20 years later, we still need people who can point out and criticize the problems of today.What we need more is a large article that can first correct the thinking that society has distorted due to division.It is even more difficult for this kind of article to stand out and attract widespread attention and introspection in the current environment where the media is full of political talk shows, leading to more divisions and distortions in society.

Twenty years later, what we are most looking forward to and looking forward to is a "new" flame that can suddenly burst out from a certain corner of society.A "new fire" that can purify us and regenerate us happens in every era and every society, in fact, all the time.

(End of this chapter)