Originally, I intended to name my project "Wordless Book" directly, indicating its absence of textual content. However, I find this name somewhat uninspiring and lackluster. Additionally, naming it "Wordless Book" would clearly disclose my political stance, which I prefer to avoid. I want things to become a bit more ambiguous in order to protect myself. So I thought that if I use a topic to represent that this is not a political work, it might be better. That's why I came up with different terms in my mind, such as "No Politics," "Non-Political," "No Political Stance," and so on. At last, I picked "不談政治" and "No Politics" . Actually, there is a slight difference between the Chinese and English names, and when I showed it to my friends, they gave me feedback to change the name to have the same meaning in both languages.
Initially, I only changed the Chinese name "不談政治" (mainly because I often think in my native language most of the time). When I was renaming it, I conducted research on the Taiwanese people's apathy towards politics. You might wonder why I'm doing a project related to Hong Kong politics but conducting research on Taiwan. One reason is that many news organizations reporting on Hong Kong politics have been forced to shut down, but the news in Taiwan is still active. Secondly, Taiwan's politics shares many similarities with Hong Kong, such as the existence of two major political voices. In Taiwan, the two voices are represented by the colors blue and green, while in Hong Kong, they are represented by yellow and blue.
During my research on Taiwanese apathy towards politics, I found that "no politics" in Taiwan usually refers to avoiding discussions or expressing positions and opinions on Taiwanese political issues in specific occasions or discussions. This is because Taiwan's political environment is relatively complex, involving sensitive political issues, party controversies, or ethnic divisions. In certain situations, such as social gatherings, workplaces, or public settings, people may choose not to talk about politics to maintain a harmonious atmosphere, avoid conflicts, or remain neutral. Additionally, in some contexts, discussing political issues may be considered inappropriate or irrelevant, leading people to avoid political discussions and focus on other topics.
However, it is evident that not talking about politics can lead to certain issues, such as:
1. Lack of awareness and engagement: When people avoid discussing politics, it can result in a lack of awareness and understanding of political issues. This can lead to reduced civic participation, making it harder to hold the government accountable. Lack of political engagement can weaken citizens' rights and hinder societal development.
2. Neglecting democratic issues: Politics is an essential part of a democratic society, and discussing political issues helps promote citizen awareness and discussions on social matters. If people avoid talking about politics, critical democratic issues may be neglected, failing to receive the attention and solutions they require.
3. Suppression of opinions and freedom of speech: In some cases, avoiding political discussions may be due to political pressure or fear. This can result in the suppression of opinions and restricted freedom of speech, further undermining the ability of the public to express their views and participate in public discussions.
4. Lack of government oversight: Discussing political issues can enable citizens to monitor government actions and decisions. If people avoid talking about politics, the government may lack effective oversight and accountability, potentially leading to corruption, abuse of power, and irresponsibility.
However, in English, I chose the title "No politics," which has a bit different meaning. In the United States, there is a "No Politics Day," although it is not widely known. The reason for having such a day is that the profession itself is vital and noble. Even Aristotle agreed; he viewed ethics and politics as intrinsically linked and believed that moral education was the main purpose of the political community. The Founding Fathers themselves were remarkable individuals, including politicians, and this profession integrated thousands of immigrants and dream-seekers into the very fabric of American society.
However, in English, I chose the title "No politics," which has a different meaning. In the United States, there is a "No Politics Day," although it is not widely known. The reason for having such a day is that the political profession itself is eons old and considered a vital and noble activity. Even Aristotle agreed with this notion, as he viewed ethics and politics as intrinsically linked and believed that moral education was the main purpose of the political community. The Founding Fathers of the United States were remarkable individuals who, among other things, were politicians. The political profession played a significant role in integrating thousands of immigrants and dream-seekers into the very fabric of American society.
From my perspective, "No politics day" symbolizes a regression in human enlightenment/ civilisation . If we have a "No politics day" today, will we eventually have a "No politics year" or a "No politics age"? I don't know, I wonder. The events happening in the world every day are all connected to politics. Your tax payments, the social infrastructure you have, strikes in the education sector, every protest—all of these are related and connected to politics.
Therefore, I have chosen "No politics" as the name/topic for my project. bit different meaning, but more stick to the eastern and western culture( I guess ).
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