On the day following the TAP-LA Banquet and Casino night, there will be a San Diego based event with one of the performers, Dog G from Taiwan, to do a Townhall Discussion about the youth in Taiwan. This is more Taiwan focused, rather than Taiwanese American, so it’s not an official TAP-SD event, but a community event we support. We encourage as many of you to attend or pass on to contacts, since it may be good chance to get to know more about our Special Guests from Taiwan. Following the meeting, Dog G will perform a few of his new songs.
Special Guest speakers: 阿明 (Eric Chang) & 大支 (Dog G)
Topic: What The Young Voters in Taiwan are Thinking / How to communicate with them – Discussion on Grass Roots
Location: Taiwan Center (7838 Wilkerson Court, San Diego, CA 92111)
Time: 3pm
Information about special guests
Eric Chang, aka 阿明, is an inspiring 2nd generation Taiwanese American born in the US (or an "ABT" - American Born Taiwanese) who has traveled to Taiwan > 10 years ago in search of his root while pursuing his PhD in Taiwan. He can be spotted in countless democratic movement demonstrations. He was one of the leaders for the Wild Strawberries in Southern Taiwan. His dedication for standing up and speaking out for the social injustice and corruption in Taiwan as an "ABT" has garnered him a large following on the island nation. In an interview with FTV, a famous clip in YouTube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRhQCKdvXFs ) , he says, "...Young people in Taiwan, 少年家啊 have to stand up and fight for your rights. Taiwan is now a relatively democratic country, but have 'YOU' thought about why it is so democratic? And how much sacrifice was made?" His willingness to speak up and fight for the rights of Taiwanese people and Taiwan can be witnessed by one of his many famous demonstration of PRC officials who refuses to recognize Taiwan's independence and continues to set foot in Taiwan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORLmzkloOgk
Although Eric is just one of many Taiwanese Americans in Taiwan presently, his action and his unwavering pursuit of equality, justice, liberty and full democracy in Taiwan will continue to to inspire and garner support from young Taiwanese in Taiwan and many more who care about the future of this island nation.
大支 (Dog G) is the first TIME Magazine documented Taiwanese hip-hop artist. Taking an excerpt from the page of TIME , March 15, 2004 issue, it states: "The issue of Taiwan's identity has even infused the island's pop culture. In a studio-cum-hip-hop clothing store in the southern city of Tainan, Tseng Kuan-jung, alias Dog G, 25, writes and records pro-Taiwan rap....Dog G was a struggling musician until he penned "Taiwan Song," ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O41OJ0KPyHo ) in which he raps not in Mandarin but in Taiwanese: 'Those without the fear of losing, they are the true spirit of Taiwan; those who don't agree, get out!' Dog G, whose best selling single tells listeners to 'act Taiwanese, speak Taiwanese, and to stand up and proclaim they are Taiwanese,' says he wrote theat song because he wanted people 'to stop being ashamed of being Taiwanese.'"
Under the new pro-China regime, 大支 (Dog G) has continue to write and rap against social injustice, government corruption, and the dangerous games that current Taiwanese government is playing with China, i.e. ECFA. His music and his pro-Taiwan style has inspired many other Taiwanese hip-hop and rap performers in Taiwan writing and singing about this beautiful island nation called Taiwan.