■ Chen Zhen (Physician)

Deputy Director Xie Yanyao of Hoxing Hospital stated in the media that many people are dissatisfied with Taiwan's cultural chaos but lack the literary talent and courage of Fan Lanqin, hence they dare not criticize. Based on this, he affirmed Fan's remarks as "a wake-up call" and "unpleasant but honest advice," even praising his "scholar-martyr temperament" as comparable to Wen Tianxiang. However, a true hero should own up to their actions—not act like Shi Yanwen by day and Qian Xinmo by night, saying one thing in private and another in public. Is there such a Wen Tianxiang?

Whether a statement or action is discriminatory lies not in its literal meaning but between the lines. Bo Yang's *The Ugly Chinaman* uses strong language, yet anyone with basic reading comprehension wouldn’t accuse him of discriminating against his own people. In contrast, self-righteous "Fan Lanqins" often express themselves elegantly, insulting others without vulgarity, yet their discriminatory mindset is glaringly obvious. Attitude, though invisible, is undeniably real. Beyond attitude, the overall atmosphere and underlying consciousness are the psychopathological roots of the "Fan Lanqins." Thirty years ago, when I moved north for high school and often spoke Taiwanese, I faced constant humiliation. Many times, "Fan Lanqins" on buses or the street would publicly grab my collar, berate me, and report my student ID to the school, claiming I "disgraced" their prestigious institution. Meanwhile, urban elites would deliberately sprinkle English into their speech to flaunt superiority, and those who could kiss foreigners in public were especially admired.

Whether cultural differences hold relative value or a true hierarchy is debatable, but those who deem themselves superior often lack the ability to imagine things unlike themselves. For example, British cuisine is infamous for being unpalatable, yet an experiment showed that when foreign food was suddenly placed before Brits, their immediate reactions were often negative and exaggerated. Some laughed at curry rice, calling it "yellow like feces"—hardly human food. Others gagged at bowl cakes to show disdain. Little did they know that, in the eyes of the world, British food is the epitome of bad taste. Yet the ignorant remain arrogant, unaware of their own limitations.

Dr. Xie's use of Fan Lanqin to criticize traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is another example. He claimed Western medicine is like a missile, while TCM is a primitive bow and arrow—no matter how improved, it remains outdated and unworthy of study, let alone collaboration. However, whether the two can cooperate depends not on superiority but on whether their knowledge systems are "incommensurable"—like tofu pudding and morning glories, both containing the word "flower" but fundamentally incomparable. Whether TCM and Western medicine have a "categorical difference" is another discussion, but to dismiss TCM as too primitive to study is an exaggeration. Thirty years ago, while the Chinese world mocked acupuncture, the WHO recognized its clinical value, and countries like the U.S. and Canada gradually included it in insurance coverage. Dr. Xie advocates for science and rationality, yet many of his judgments are riddled with arrogance and prejudice—a common ailment among "Fan Lanqins."

Fan Lanqin was born on February 28th and thrived in the era of "Greater Chinese compatriots." Today, the phenomenon persists, only with slogans swapped from "love China" to "love Taiwan"—superficially opposed, yet essentially twins. Politicians exploit this for votes, and having tasted blood, the Fan Lanqin family has proliferated beyond measure. Compared to Guo Guan-ying, it’s the green camp politicians who are the foremost instigators of ethnic hatred, systematically vilifying Chinese people. Politicians reap the benefits, while society pays the price.

[Reprinted from *Taiwan立報*]

Source: http://akau. net/ sonews/ Article_Show. asp? ArticleID=5640