Summary: Taiwan is an interesting and unique place that Americans should learn more about. It has a vibrant culture, beautiful cities like Taipei, and a reputation for being tolerant and progressive. Despite not having the same pop culture appeal as Korea or Japan, Taiwan offers great food, nightlife, and a rich history, making it a top travel recommendation.
My sense is that this individualism goes hand-in-hand with Taiwan’s general laid-back-ness, and its tolerance — when nobody is snapping at you to fall in line, you learn to pretty much do what you like. At times, Taiwanese self-expression can border on the goofy. Coming from me, that’s a compliment.
Why shouldn’t people be able to live this way? Why should a society be consumed with dreams of empire? (View Highlight)
Why should a peaceful, prosperous, gentle country like Taiwan be forced to prepare for the threat of invasion and bloodshed? There is no principle of human morality or justice that says they should have to. Instead, it’s purely the law of the jungle; there are predators in this world, and they will conquer what they can until they are stopped. China’s leaders want to conquer Taiwan not just because they want to rival the old Qing dynasty in territorial extent, but because Taiwan represents something to them that they can’t abide — an alternative blueprint for Asia. Perhaps even more than Japan or South Korea, Taiwan shows people in China and its satellite states what they’re missing — a way of life where people can just be themselves, instead of living in service to a grand empire. (View Highlight)