Silence Sank the Island

These two songs were written in Taiwan in late July 2025, after a large-scale recall movement officially failed.

From February to August, I worked as a volunteer in a citizen-led campaign to recall around 30 opposition legislators from the Kuomintang (KMT). These lawmakers had blocked key legislation, cut public budgets, and weakened democratic oversight. Many of us believed the recall process was a legitimate constitutional tool for civic resistance.

The recalls were driven by growing concern over democratic backsliding, frustration with legislative actions that undermined constitutional norms, and anxiety about Taiwan’s political direction.

Despite months of organizing, the recall votes failed to reach the legal threshold.

On July 26, the movement officially failed.

Those who remained engaged—who warned, organized, and showed up—realized we had become a minority.

Around us, many people chose to disengage emotionally. Political fatigue turned into avoidance: not listening, not watching, not wanting to deal with it anymore. Disengagement became normal.

That loss completely crushed me

I honestly believed public awareness had matured.

I thought people understood what was at stake.

Reality proved me wrong.

These songs were written in that moment— not during mobilization, not during momentum or hope, but after the failure had settled in, and after most people had already moved on.