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Introduction of Speakers by Pi-Chen Hsu
I extend my gratitude to the #WUJ team for holding this space and for the great amount of time and energy devoted to its development. #WUJ aims to ensure that our Ukrainian colleagues know that they are still very much to the fore, and #WUJ also wants to extend a caring embrace to all those who are affected by the war in the Middle East. Today, we also extend our moral support to those impacted by the tragic earthquake in Japan. I warmly welcome all participants for demonstrating trust in humanity and solidarity with those enduring suffering in these challenging times. Your presence gives this event profound meaning.
Globally, many regions, including Ukraine, Gaza, and numerous African countries are grappling with the ravages of war. As a friend astutely remarked, “perhaps the world is no more crazy or violent than it has always been. Also, perhaps people have been in conflict from time immemorial.” The aspiration is a resounding “never again,” but history often reveals that we struggle to learn from its lessons. While I am not currently in a war zone, as a Taiwanese, the looming threat of erasure is a constant reality. Pardon my somber tone, but the prevalence of wars, the rise of authoritarianism, and the surge of hatred are deeply disheartening. In Jungian psychology, we emphasize holding the tension between good and evil, acknowledging and confronting collective evils. Despite maintaining hope for a “transcendent third,” recent years have seen split and hatred getting intensified in our world; intimidation and violence seem to gain ground, while indifference and resignation permeate society. Should I accept it as a karma we all share as my cultural upbringings told me? I don’t want to lose faith in humanity, but I also am uncertain of the “transcendent third” and feel that it is out of reach. I feel that at this moment I can only speak for myself and my own experience as a Taiwanese.