I love Taiwan

[ceevee369]

I have noticed that the majority of comments here are from the same small % of people that must chew glass for breakfast or are so self-absorbed that no matter what would be posted here would never get any sort of positive input.So it's good-bye Forumosa.com and off to Taiwaneasia.com where the crowd seems calmer and not as hateful as this group.I wish you all happiness.Bye

Mmm.. you got a fair point here. I might consider the same. Can't stand negativity and envy.
Success to you Shaun if you read this.

[Poagao]

I once saw a promotional video commissioned by the KMT. It showed a foreigner walking around, and if I remember correctly, the gist of what the foreigner was saying - and I may be wrong - was how warm and lovely the Taiwanese people are, and how great it was to live in Taiwan and become Taiwanese, and how helpful and accepting the Taiwanese are, and how this foreigner had moved from the United States because - well I can't remember exactly what was said - something about being bored of the life over there or something, and how he had served in the army here.
Now I can't imagine and Asian-American being featured in a promotional video of this kind in the United States or back home. A novelty value foreigner walking around saying how nice America has been to him, and being used to try to sway votes?
No less cringe-worthy in my opinion.

Thanks for that. It was just what I needed.

[tommy525]

HA @ above post

[headhonchoII]

From the perspective of improving things you should love and feel attached to a place and be proud of it and want to improve it. Getting this to happen , whatever way possible, is a great thing in itself. That can be difficult with the politics on the island.

One thing though, hasn't I love Taiwan been written on 101 before?

Double 10 day is the worst national holiday, if people could think of some actual activities to happen on that day that improved the place I would be right behind it.

[bobk49]

From the perspective of improving things you should love and feel attached to a place and be proud of it and want to improve it. Getting this to happen , whatever way possible, is a great thing in itself. That can be difficult with the politics on the island.

One thing though, hasn't I love Taiwan been written on 101 before?

Double 10 day is the worst national holiday, if people could think of some actual activities to happen on that day that improved the place I would be right behind it.

1/True.However do you know a country anywhere in the world that has no political agenda and issues? If so advise and I will move there tomorrow.

2/So what.The I Love New York campaign and slogan has been done to death since the mid-70's and is still the most effective ad campaign ever devised for a city.

3/Why so.Every country celebrates a birthday in some form or another.It's up to each individual to do something productive.

[bobk49]

I have noticed that the majority of comments here are from the same small % of people that must chew glass for breakfast or are so self-absorbed that no matter what would be posted here would never get any sort of positive input.So it's good-bye Forumosa.com and off to Taiwaneasia.com where the crowd seems calmer and not as hateful as this group.I wish you all happiness.Bye

Mmm.. you got a fair point here. I might consider the same. Can't stand negativity and envy.
Success to you Shaun if you read this.

Thank you

[bobk49]

I have noticed that the majority of comments here are from the same small % of people that must chew glass for breakfast or are so self-absorbed that no matter what would be posted here would never get any sort of positive input.So it's good-bye Forumosa.com and off to Taiwaneasia.com where the crowd seems calmer and not as hateful as this group.I wish you all happiness.Bye

Jesus man. People have a different take to you on something and you take it personally? GTFU! You might not have noticed but almost all of us gave some credit to "Shaun" for his efforts. At the same time the OP asked us for our comments and we gave them as honestly as we could. Not much wrong with that.

Now back to my bowl of glass.

By all means everyone is entitled to their opinion but in most cases the manner in which they have been posted are rude,crude,not constructive and in some cases down right racist.Keep in mind WE and that includes ME are the minority and this is OUR adopted home for whatever reasons.The comments also reek of "us vs.them" or the days of colonization when other countries ruled with an authoritativeness about them.

[bobk49]

I am amazed at all the negativity being posted in the last 2 days about this video.Quite frankly it reeks of self aggrandizement and reflects an expat mindset of "them and us".I do not know Shaun nor do I have any vested interest in his video.But I do know that I haven't seen one constructive comment or better idea on how to promote Taiwan here from all the haters.The video has raised Taiwan's awareness globally just by the publicity it has generated with the daily hits of images and comments being loaded on FB and other websites.Once again my hat is off to Shaun for taking the initiative.Results are the bottom line.

Well, something "reeks of self aggrandizement and reflects an expat mindset," in any case. Also, the Legislature "raises Taiwan's awareness globally" even more effectively.

Yours effectively,

A. Hater

Birds of a feather dude

[bobk49]

You really think these people can't express their love for Taiwan because they don't understand who they are and thank god this foreigner has shown them the light? Quick, get James Cameron and Kevin Costner, we've got just the movie plot for them!

I just think it is difficult for Taiwanese people to display a love for their country due to some social constraints. It's not like other countries, such as the United States, where citizens routinely glorify and salute the Star Spangled Banner.

[color=#0000FF]I hope you are not serious with the above statement.I find the Taiwanese to be one of the most affectionate group(almost obsessive) when it comes to displaying their affection and pride for Taiwan.Just stand in front of Sogo( as I have done for a study of Taiwanese culture and my thesis) and ask anyone:
1/Do you love or like Taiwan?
2/Are you proud to be Taiwanese?
3/If you had a choice would you like to live in another country and if so which one?
4/Would you like Taiwan to reunify with the Mainland?
I would be more than happy to send you the results.
The United States (and yes I am an American) is in such shit shape and doesn't look to be improving in the short or long term.I doubt you would have many Americans routinely glorifying or saluting anything these days. [/color]


This foreigner serves as a catalyst and the focus of loving Taiwan is moved from the Taiwanese to an outsider, therefore making it easier to show expression without the spotlight being placed on them. This isn't about the Taiwanese being 'shown the light,' or about Taiwanese people not understanding who they are, although I think Taiwan does suffer - and quite understandably, some huge identity issues and in some way, any outsider 'loving Taiwan' can be seen as recognition and the guy who made this video is playing into this.

There are hundreds of meaningful ways to show one's affection for this island, but reinforcing foreigner stereotypes for self promotion videos isn't one of them. Asian-Americans would cringe just as much if they saw some Asian guy walking around New York filming himself saying in a horrible accent "I RUV AMURIKA!" and then accusing people of not being able to show they care.

We all know that foreigners are slightly dumb, naive, strange cuddly people from other countries who wonder around aimlessly being English teachers. Yes, it would be cringe-worthy if an Asian America ran around filming himself shouting "I RUV America!" But Asian Americans don't have a novelty value in the US. They don't turn up regularly on talk shows because they are Asian American and just because their English is good. Or they married an American. Or they had children. Or they became naturalised and obtained citizenship.
Foreigners have novelty value here and the culture, views and stereotypes of foreigners here compared to back home are totally alien to one another.

Speak about yourself when you trash foreigners as you have done in your comment above.Not all foreigners in Taiwan are wandering(not wonder)aimlessly or are English teachers or marry a local.I have been here less than 3 years and make a USD 6 figure salary.Not sponsored by any company but by effort, hard work and fortitude.You reap what you sow.

I once saw a promotional video commissioned by the KMT. It showed a foreigner walking around, and if I remember correctly, the gist of what the foreigner was saying - and I may be wrong - was how warm and lovely the Taiwanese people are, and how great it was to live in Taiwan and become Taiwanese, and how helpful and accepting the Taiwanese are, and how this foreigner had moved from the United States because - well I can't remember exactly what was said - something about being bored of the life over there or something, and how he had served in the army here.
Now I can't imagine and Asian-American being featured in a promotional video of this kind in the United States or back home. A novelty value foreigner walking around saying how nice America has been to him, and being used to try to sway votes?
No less cringe-worthy in my opinion.

Would you like me to download all the videos sponsored by the American government that promote exactly what you say they don't? All races have been used and continue to be used to promote either living,working,becoming a citizen and contributing to the USA.

[Mucha Man]

...Speak about yourself when you trash foreigners as you have done in your comment above.

Poagao isn't a foreigner. He gave up his American citizenship decades ago and even served in the ROC military. You might want to learn a little about the people on this site before YOU start taking offense at every perceived slight. Most of us have been here long enough to have earned the right to say whatever we like. Any notion that we are "guests" who must constantly be reminded of our "minority" status is risible bordering on contemptible.