Shadows of the Past: Diverging Views on Taiwan’s Future

The George Washington University presents a talk by author Milo Thornberry on his book, Fireproof Moth: A Missionary in Taiwan's White Terror

From 1965 until 1971, Reverend Milo Thornberry was a Methodist Missionary in Taiwan. During his stay, Thornberry developed ties, and sympathy, with native Taiwanese who opposed Chiang Kai-shek's rule and sought to push Taiwan toward democracy. In his book, Fireproof Moth: a Missionary in Taiwan's White Terror (February 2011), Thornberry recounts his experiences in Taiwan, and particularly focuses on the role he and his wife played in the escape from Taiwan of Professor Peng Ming-min, a prominent opposition leader, who was under house arrest at the time.

Thornberry will give a sketch of his experiences in the 1960s, then focus on three more general topics:
1. What was the role of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan's subsequent democratization in the 1970s and 1980s? How could such a relatively small group (some 2 % of Taiwan's population) play such a key role?
2. How was Taiwan in those days perceived by the United States? Why was there not more awareness in US policy circles of the "White Terror," the lack of human rights and democracy on the island?
3. What are the implications of this part of Taiwan's history for the present? Some of the divisions that were created when the Nationalists came over from China still exist today. Taiwan has come a long way, but some of the old debates still reverberate in the discussion on how to move forward into the future.

Please RSVP at go.gwu.edu/ThornberryNov18 by Thursday, November 17.