Ma Ying-jeou: Mea Maxima Culpa

Ma Ying-jeou: Mea Maxima Culpa
China Post Editorial
by Bevin Chu
February 28, 2009

"The worst guilt is to accept an unearned guilt."
-- Ayn Rand

Novelist/philosopher Ayn Rand once said "The worst guilt is to accept an unearned guilt." She was right. But an even worse guilt is to accept an unearned guilt on behalf of others, without their consent and without moral justification, for selfish political gain.

Ma Ying-jeou has apologized for the 228 Incident, again. How many times has Ma apologized for 228? So many times surely even he has lost count.

The real question however is not "How many times has Ma apologized for the 228 Incident?" but "Why is Ma Ying-jeou apologizing for the 228 Incident," again and again, ad infinitum, ad nauseam?

After all, the 228 Incident occurred on February 28, 1947. Ma Ying-jeou wasn't even born until July 13, 1950, three years later. What does he have to apologize for?

Did he shoot and kill anyone on February 28, 1947? Obviously not. Did he order anyone shot and killed on February 28, 1947? Obviously not. Does he bear any responsibility in connection with the tragic events that unfolded on February 28, 1947 and the weeks following? Sadly, he does, but not in the way Taiwan independence demagogues would have the public believe.

Ma Ying-jeou bears responsibility, not for 228, but for helping to perpetuate morally reprehensible and socially destructive lies about 228 promulgated by Taiwan independence demagogues.

According to Taiwan independence demagogues, "mainlanders" were responsible for the 228 Incident. Therefore "mainlanders," even those born after February 28, 1947, are "Enemies of Taiwan" guilty of "Mainlander Original Sin."

Ma Ying-jeou repeatedly apologizes for 228 in order to appease Pale Green swing voters, without making clear why and for whom he is apologizing. By doing so, he helps Taiwan independence demagogues scapegoat millions of innocent Republic of China citizens who had nothing whatsoever to do with the 228 Incident.

Taiwan independence hate-mongers' "reasoning" has a Western counterpart. Some Christian Fundamentalists "reason" that "Jews killed Christ." Therefore "Jews," even those born long after Christ's cruxificion, are "Christ killers" guilty of "Jewish Original Sin."

The concept of "collective guilt" is logically indefensible, psychologically primitive, and morally contemptible. Civilized peoples capable of rational thought know that an individual is responsible only for his or her own actions, not for the actions of other individuals whom primitive tribalists lump together as "members of the same tribe."

This is true of Christian Fundamentalists who lump together all Jews as "Christ killers." This is true of Ku Klux Klansmen who lump together all black African Americans as "rapists of white women." And this is true of Taiwan independence hate-mongers who lump together all "mainlanders" as "Enemies of Taiwan."

As former Minister of Justice, former KMT Chairman, former Taipei Mayor, and current Republic of China President, Ma Ying-jeou occupies a position of political influence. He has access to the "bully pulpit." When he speaks, the media has little choice but to report what he says. But with this immense power comes immense responsibility. Ma Ying-jeou, as President of the Republic of China, has both a moral and political responsibility to establish the truth about 228.

Has he? He has not.

Some of Ma Ying-jeou's critics in the Blue Camp complain that he panders to Taiwan independence Political Correctness, and defaults on his responsibility to tell the truth about 228 because he is "too soft, too weak."

But prominent Blue Camp political commentator Yao Li-min said accusations that Ma Ying-jeou is "too soft, too weak" underestimate Ma's strength of will, and overestimate Ma's strength of character. At a New Party political rally on the anniversary of 228, Yao said Ma Ying-jeou panders to Taiwan independence Political Correctness and defaults on his responsibility to tell the truth about 228, out of cold political calculation. Ma Ying-jeou is a politician. Politicians count votes. Ma is convinced he rose to the presidency not on the basis of Blue Camp core support, but on the basis of "Pale Green swing votes." That, said Yao, is why Ma callously neglects his Blue Camp core supporters and shamelessly panders to "Pale Green swing voters," real or imaginary.

Should Ma Ying-jeou apologize? Yes, he should. He should apologize to citizens of the Republic of China, for failing to clear up the confusion surrounding 228, for lacking the courage to tell Taiwan independence supporters hard truths they may not want to hear, for defaulting on his responsibility to promote social harmony in the Republic of China. Mea culpa. Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa.