Taiwan lets go a symbol of ancient days

On Dec. 6, lawmakers in Taiwan voted to rid the island of a prominent symbol of the country’s past.The law, coming 30 years after Taiwan moved toward democracy, shows how far a people will go to free themselves from a cultural legacy that may hinder progress in individual rights and equality before the law.Chiang’s harsh rule of Taiwan was based on Confucian-style autocracy, or a belief that only a natural social hierarchy with a strong ruler can bring stability.