（節譯自The Floridazation of Taiwan, by John J. Tkacik Jr., in the Weekly Standard, 03/22/2004）
這真是一個令人幻想破滅的場景。我看著我過去廿年來所崇敬的兩個人，成為鼓動仇恨的政客。我看著他們激化群眾，進行徹夜示威，而他們應該知道這樣的示威可能演變成暴力脫序。他們煽動支持者，要求政府的法定機構背離職守，交出投票箱，只為了彌補他們想像中的傷害。而且由於他們不願意敦促他們的追隨者自制，他們的行動等於是鼓勵以暴力對抗執法官員。
這實在是超級諷刺的事情。在1979年，當時居於台灣權位的國民黨部長—包括交通部長連戰以及新聞局長宋楚瑜—一起點頭同意，將一群年輕的台灣民主運動者判處八年徒刑，而當時這些年輕民主運動者所做的事情，根本比不上過去兩天來，國親領導者所做的事情。但是時代變了。25年前的這群民主運動者，以及他們的辯護律師，現在已經成為政府官員，包括陳水扁總統，副總統呂秀蓮，高雄市長謝長廷，考試院長姚嘉文，以及勞委會主委陳菊。這一次，變成是國親的領導者在鼓動暴民統治。但是，在過去四分之一個世紀當中，台灣經歷了深刻的變化。連戰博士和宋楚瑜博士不會因為鼓動群眾上街頭而遭受軍法審判，更不會因此被判刑坐牢。
這是一個象徵，代表民主的理想已經在台灣生根茁壯—即使國民黨還不願意接受。
IT HAS BEEN a most disillusioning spectacle. I have seen two men whom I have admired for the past 20 years turn into hate-mongers. I watched as they incited followers to late night demonstrations, which they must have known could turn violent. They urged their supporters to demand that legitimate offices of government abdicate their responsibilities and surrender ballot boxes to repair imagined injuries. And by not urging restraint, their actions countenanced violence against law enforcement officers.
It is supremely ironic. In 1979, Taiwan's upper level KMT ministers--including minister of Communications Lien Chan and Government Information director James Soong--nodded in approval when young Taiwanese democracy activists were sentenced to eight years in prison for less than KMT leaders have done in the past two days. But times have changed. The democracy activists and defense attorneys of 25 years ago are now Taiwan's president Chen Shui-bian, vice president Annette Lu, Kaohsiung mayor Frank Hsieh , Examination Yuan president Yao Chia-wen, and labor minister Chen Chu. This time, KMT leaders countenance mob rule. But Taiwan has changed dramatically in the last quarter-century. It is unlikely that Drs. Lien and Soong will be court-martialed for their part in inciting this latest unrest, much less sentenced to prison.
It is a sign that democratic ideals have indeed taken hold in Taiwan if not in the KMT.
John J. Tkacik Jr. is Research Fellow in Asian Studies at the Heritage Foundation.
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