| "ROC Centennial Peace Day" |
The history of the Republic of China has been a complex and multi-faceted one. The country has endured hardship and enjoyed glory. It has suffered defeat and basked in victory. Its land has been baptized by war, yet the people have turned their scars into beautiful "Medals of Honor" that they now proudly wear as a reminder of their strength and their endeavor to peace. Peace is the perpetual value pursued by all mankind and the ROC centennial is a special time for the nation to reaffirm its dedication to such a universal value. As part of our affirmation of peace, we are to turn the remnants of war into a symbol of our beliefs by melting down the artillery shells that once scarred our land and forge a "bell of peace", a bell which will help show that no matter what barriers or obstacles may be presented in its way, sounds of peace will ring through and true for all of mankind. ROC Centennial Peace Day seeks to transcend the desolation of war into a shining beacon of peace. The Taiwanese people will have a chance to proclaim their strong belief in peace to the world, and at the same time show the world, "this is where we are, after 100 years; we, are here! " The event will also provide a platform for dialogue by inviting international experts, scholars and other distinguished figures to explore the meaning and value of peace. The ROC Peace Day gives us the opportunity to reflect upon ourselves and the distance we have travelled as a society over the past century. Peace is one of the values this nation was built upon, and within it, there is an inherit attitude of humbleness and respect that we must remind ourselves of, not only when interacting with the person standing next to us, but with the environment in which we live. We have come this far, because this is what we believe in, and this belief is what will help us through the next century. "The ROC Centennial Peace Bell" designed by architect Kris Yao will be unveiled at our ROC Centennial Peace Day on August 23rd, 2011 in Kinmen. Today, the Berlin Wall no longer stands and the Korean Peninsula is still divided. Yet the history of Kinmen remains relatively unknown to the world. Kinmen is located just a few kilometers off the coast of the People's Republic of China and nearby the coastal city of Xiamen. During the height of cross straight tensions, Kinmen was the last thing that stood between China and the ROC. It was also the first to face relentless bombardments, a military campaign which lasted a total of 27 years. The heroic martyrdom of those who defended the ROC shall never be forgotten, and the war has seared and scarred the collective memory of the Taiwanese people. 8/23 is a date in the ROC's history which commemorates a historical day of artillery bombardments. To show Taiwan's dedication in pursuing the universal value of peace, the bell-ringing ceremony will be held on this day in the Kinman Memorial Peace Park. We will also invite other countries to ring their bells of peace with us simultaneously, while international figures will be invited to partake in the ceremony here in Kinmen. In addition, local and international artists will be invited to create and show their works in exhibitions and performances that are all based on the perpetual value of peace. Friends from all over the world will bear witness to the ceremonies, and various pre-event marketing activities and visits by international and local media will help spread the message throughout the world. It is our sincerest hopes, that the "ROC Centennial Peace Day" will inspire the people of Taiwan to examine the value of peace, promote the Taiwanese spirit in pursuing of peace and send such a message to the international community.
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