Day of Uprising (起義的日子)
By James Harworth (何杰明), Founder of Seeds to Sunflowers
When I first came to Taiwan and heard of Double Ten Day, I was only led to believe that it was a holiday to “celebrate Taiwanese freedom”. I didn’t really understand any of the complexities that still accompany these few words. I actually thought it was some sort of independence commemoration even though China has continuously claimed that no such thing is possible. The more I started to study Taiwan’s history and especially its relationship with China, the meaning of Double Ten Day became more apparent… and more then again more nuanced.
To avoid dragging out too much of the history of which many readers are already aware, it is my intention to keep this brief: Double Ten Day commemorates the Wuchang Uprising, which paved the way for the KMT to assume power.
The Wuchang Uprising was not about voiceless submission to authority though, whether it be to that of the Qing Dynasty or of the KMT. Without getting into too many specifics, my understanding is that the uprising was generally about establishing republican government that could best represent the will of the people.
It is in this spirit that the Taiwanese are right to celebrate this holiday and to hold it dear, regardless of party affiliation.
Perhaps this spirit will one day lead to a globally recognized independent Taiwan. Most importantly though, it is one day out of the year that citizens of this country can come together and say, “Yes. We are Taiwan.”
我來台灣時就聽說過雙十節，因為字面的意思導致我認為這就是一個紀念＂台灣自由＂的日子。我那時候並不了解原來＂雙十節＂背後的故事是這麼複雜的。其實，雖然中國大陸有表示過這件事情不可能發生，但我還是以為雙十節一種獨立紀念日。學過一點台灣歷史與海峽兩岸的關係之後，雙十節的意義在我腦中變的明顯了，可是話說回來也有一點模糊。
未免顧著太多歷史上的細節，我只要寫簡短的評論：雙十節的目的是紀念＂武昌起義＂，這事件使得國民黨得到控制權。
無論是對於清朝或國民黨，武昌起義的目標不是希望人民沉默地將權威交出去。我的想法是，武昌起義是建立一個共和政府，如此一來政府能夠有效地保障人民的權利。
不管支持或反對任何黨派，存著這樣的希望與想法，台灣人這樣過雙十節就對了。
抱持著這樣的想法，期許有一天將能迎來全球認定的獨立台灣。主要的是，每一年有一個特定日子讓台灣人站在一起說＂是的！我們是台灣人！＂
OFTaiwan 
