Bursting an information bubble
Back in my first year of graduate school, I was challenged by several passages within Tim Ferris’s The 4 Hour Workweek. At one point he argues that we should reduce information overload in our daily lives by tuning out tradition news media and focus on the things we can actually make a difference in. To a young graduate student’s mind, this made complete sense – to become singular and committed solely to my field of lung cancer. And essentially for the past 7 years, I’ve rarely tuned into the news (seriously, I read The New York Times only when my friends sent me a link – usually on minimalist running or the state of healthcare. Yes, my friends hail from the yuppie Bay Area). For my part I only listened to Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me for casual laughs about the news!
But what about our duties of being contributing citizens? When critical times have arisen, I’ve simply asked my dutifully informed friends. For example, I remember when Snowden’s leaks first broke out, I had heard enough mentions in passing that I inquired about it to the bemusement of my buddies on the way to a camping trip. Obviously, this method will only work if you have thick skin.
That brings me to the recent weeks. In Taiwan, there is currently a “Sunflower Movement” rocking the nation. In summary Taiwanese university students stormed the Legislative Yuan (like Congress or Parliament) in an irate response to the president cozying up to China by passing a trade pact without going through due process. The students fear that Taiwan’s future will be shackled to China. They take Hong Kong’s severely diminished sovereignty as a harbinger of submissive times to come.
I come from a political family. My grandfather had been the Chief Magistrate of Taitung County (think 10% of Taiwan’s area) many years ago and worked with Chiang Kai-shek, Taiwan’s original leader. My uncle followed Gramp’s footsteps and fills those shoes now.
I was always befuddled by politics. Why do people do it? I never bothered to trouble myself with becoming nationalistic (heck, I can’t vote there!).
In Taiwan, really the sole issue is sovereignty from China. Growing up, I obediently followed the middle line policies of the KMT party, just as one would follow customs or religious rituals. As I’ve emerged as an independent thinker, I find myself inspired by, rooting for, and commiserating with this youth movement – of its long term outlook of independence and self-determination. Old Taiwan seems solely interested in the short-term – to increase security by relying on the economic prowess of China. It somehow makes me proud that the Taiwanese students are taking such a powerful and nonviolent stand. Their actions have made a difference. (Well, this is ongoing, so I don’t know…)
In my information bubble, I never would have felt any need to participate. But now more so than ever, we can through social media.
I for sure will make an effort to become a little more generally informed and a little bit louder. Heck, this blog just gave me a platform. (But don’t worry, I still don’t like politics.)
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