Patriotism

Taiwan's Retrocession Day has just gone by, but it remained unnoticed. When it was still a national holiday some years ago, though most people only viewed it as an extra day for recreation, their remembrance of historical events may be revitalized again. Now it’s not even marked on the calendar, people may know Oct. 25 is an unusual day, yet when it actually arrives, it’s totally forgotten. I secretly sang our national anthem by myself, feeling oddly sorry. Am I so pedantic that I take the respect of our country so seriously?

Patriotism used to be generally appreciated. But with some demagogues’ manipulating, it is widely laughed at. What kind of insanity this is! People nowadays tend to receive more and more education, but their reverence of our national heroes also dies out. It seems that my chauvinism is ironically out of date.

When citizens abroad return on Double-Tenth Day, their generosity of showing their love for Taiwan always moves me. Students who have studied overseas are likely to be more patriotic as well. Perhaps only when people leave their homeland can they understand its beauty inside. However, for those native residents, this island is destined to be bombarded and disgraced, as if it is hell to them.

Nations with patriotic peoples will prosper, as everyone is willing to make their country better. I wish people here would also learn to love Taiwan. Our ancestors have created so many miracles on the island, and we have gone through numerous foreign invasions, but we eventually survive and thrive. Now we’re just in the middle of some trivial barricades; it’s impossible for them to bring us down. We should stop complaining because we should always take pride in the feats of our country, in spite of its significance.