Though no doubt the news coverage of Oct. 10 will fit the occasion of the Republic of China's (R.O.C.) centenary, this year may not be as conducive to reflection on the history of the R.O.C. as it could be. This is mainly due to having attention drawn away by the lead-up to the 2012 elections, and the bitter, sometimes childish mudslinging that the campaign entails. This is a shame, because it obscures something both the blue and green sides can not only agree on, but celebrate â?? the transformative, unrivaled power of democracy.
In the 1950s, after over a century of constant internal strife and exploitation by foreign powers, China began a long process of stabilization and development, with a focus on fighting inflation and rebuilding industries from the ground up. It was what needed to be done. Unfortunately for China's then-approximately 600-million-strong population, these efforts were being led by Mao Zedong and his Communist Party.
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