Come Join us June 20 in San Jose: Professor Jerome Keating tells us about the Making of Taiwan's Democracy

[Sophia Tseng]

Friends of Taiwan,

Have you ever wanted to learn more about Taiwan's history and especially about how the Democracy came to be?  If so, we've created this event just for you.  Join us on June 20 in Santa Clara, when renowned scholar Professor Jerome Keating tells us all about the factors which led up to Taiwan's Democratization and the challenges it faces today. Admission is free but bring money because we will have some FABULOUS t-shirts for sale! Also, please help spread the word to your friends, neighbors, co-workers as the more people who know about Taiwan's history the better.  For the Old Skoolers among us, I've attached a flyer you guys can use for these purposes. 

For more info & to RSVP
Keep Taiwan Free site: http://www.keeptaiwanfree.net/events.html
Or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=124044714280493

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Event Description:
Until about twenty years ago, Taiwan was a country ruled by martial law. During that era, the government on Taiwan brutally suppressed numerous pro-democracy protests; most notably in Kaohsiung in 1979. Yet, by 1988, the first direct local elections had taken place, and the first direct presidential elections followed in 1996. How did this democratic reform happen? Can the seeds of Taiwanese democracy be transplanted elsewhere in Asia?

During the 1996 presidential election, Beijing attempted to intimidate the Taiwanese electorate by conducting extensive missile tests across the Taiwan Strait, hitting targets within 25 kilometers of Taiwan. The message was clear: “a vote for Lee Teng-Hui is a vote for war”. In response, President Clinton sent an aircraft carrier to the Taiwan Strait, in order to fulfill the obligations of the Taiwan Relations Act. Beijing's maneuver was unsuccessful, and Lee Teng-Hui became Taiwan's first democratically elected president. Today, China relies on softer tactics to pressure Taiwan, with economic integration being its first step towards its longer-term goal of annexation.

Join us as Professor Jerome Keating, renowned author, scholar and commentator from National Taipei University, provides us with an overview of the historical developments and changes under which democracy emerged in Taiwan as well as the current threats and challenges that still need to be met as it develops.

Keep Taiwan Free: The Making of Taiwan's Democracy
Featuring Professor Jerome Keating, PhD
Sunday June 20, 2010, 3-5 pm
Taiwanese American Center
4413 Fortran Ct, San Jose CA

Free Admission

Bio: Jerome F. Keating

Jerome F. Keating is an educator, trainer, consultant and writer who
currently lives in Taipei, Taiwan, who recently retired from National
Taipei University. His co-authored book, "Island in the Stream: A
Quick Case Study of Taiwan's Complex History" is now in its 4th
edition (2008). A second work, "Taiwan: Struggles of a Democracy" was
published in 2006, and a third, "Taiwan: The Search for Identity", was
published in early 2008. He has also published numerous articles on
many aspects of Taiwan's political and international status.

In his writings, Keating is pro-democracy and uses the African
proverb, "Until lions have their historians, the tales of the hunt
shall always glorify the hunter", which he applies to the history of
Taiwan. As Taiwan is buffeted about by the desires, whims and greed
of the hegemonic powers surrounding it, the world has never asked the
Taiwanese what they want for their country and their lives.

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follow me on twitter @california_grl

--
follow me on twitter @california_grl