Did 228 Deprive a Generation of Elites' Lives and the Various Beautiful Possibilities They Could Have Brought to Taiwan?

This article criticizes the narrative that blames all of Taiwan's current political, economic, educational, and cultural problems on the deprivation of 'elites of the Japanese occupation era' in the February 28 Incident. The author considers such claims to be flowery rhetoric filled with beautiful imagination and 'ridiculous bullshit.' Using the painter Chen Cheng-po as an example, the article points out that his true identity during the incident was a 'Taiwan area council representative'—a political figure—rather than just an artist. It questions why these 'elites' failed to stop the Japanese military's war crimes, the comfort women issue, or the Kominka (imperialization) education. The author mocks the idea of these elites bringing 'beautiful possibilities' and argues that 'Chinese culture' is deeply rooted in Taiwanese people's hearts and shouldn't be blamed on 'Republic of China aesthetics' after the 228 incident.