Taiwan’s first wave of 25 major recall cases did not pass, disappointing Golden Bell Award-winning actor Zhuang Kaixun who had been a strong supporter of the recalls. However, he could not hide his disappointment, but he still took to Facebook to post, “Regardless of the outcome, it is the Taiwanese voters who cast their votes one by one. Even if our positions differ, we should respect the result,” and he expressed that he still feels “proud of (his choice).”
Zhuang Kaixun stated that this was the first time he had “courageously and clearly made a political statement.” Despite the setback in the recall vote, he still reflected, “I am proud of myself because, born in this era of Taiwan, we really do not have the luxury of political apathy. Just like religious beliefs or taste buds, we all have our differences, but we also mutually respect each other. Whether it’s a loud argument, a rational discussion, or careful communication, at least it is a kind of resonance, which is better than the cold indifference of ignoring the issues at hand.”
At 44 years old, Zhuang Kaixun revealed that he was taught from a young age to “avoid discussing politics if there is no need,” but he believes this should not be the case. In his view, politics is “as natural as sunlight, air, and water. As long as you are still breathing, you cannot escape politics. I believe that consensus will eventually emerge from resonance.”
“Although our political beliefs may still differ, we can work together for the better because as long as you and I continue to live here, there are no outsiders. This is our shared fate as islanders,” Zhuang Kaixun’s words moved many netizens, garnering over 20,000 likes in just a few hours. Finally, he encouraged himself, “Let the seeds of hope be planted in my heart, entrusted to the next democratic ballot, I firmly believe that one day they will slowly bloom and bear fruit!”