對話（五）

看你是從哪個角度想吧,當你站在國家的高度看"強制"執行語言問題,那只能說這是除了北京人之外每一個族群都得犧牲的,當每個方言都得被同等尊重時,光打電話到公家機關,等每種方言一一問候完畢,事也不必辦了.

But I was not talking about government branch offices, I was talking about TV programs. Why should TV programs be restricted? I must admit, I was quite young to realize what was going on, and since I understood both Mandarin and Taiwanese, it didn't bother me at all. But, I remember my poor grandmother hiked at least 2 miles to a neighbor's house to watch a Taiwanese Folk Opera at 11:00pm at night traversing narrow rice patty trails, because that was the only time shows like that was allowed.

語言文化等問題被重新翻開來炒悲情是正在進行式,當年的人民是否感受到壓迫我想我無法論定,不過只能說這是現實狀況下的無奈,利用無奈炒作悲情確實是可恥的.

True, what politicians do for getting/staying elected is shameless, but that's almost a by product of election. Politicians are people too, and just like people, there are good ones and bad ones. Besides, did you ever think that the tricks work on Taiwan people because some of what politicians spew out, though exaggerated, is not without an elelment of truth? Current generation of Taiwanese may not have experienced those discrimination first had, but they certainly grew up with their parents feeding those impression into them. Blaming it on today's politicians isn't going to make that problem go away.

一句話的殘酷與否不是在於說的人,而是聽的人的耳朵.我也常捲起舌說北京話,我想這與你模仿台灣國語的心態是相同的.聽的人如果心理感到自卑,那麼就算你的用意是拉近彼此,甚至是不經意的玩笑都同樣會造成傷害.只要不存心傷害別人,其實我認為輕鬆看待,不需要太敏感啦.

Sure, I never meant to hurt anyone, but nonetheless, it is a true form of condescension, there's no two ways about that mentality. The real problem is, that mentality is prevalent amongst the non-native Taiwanese and their descendants. Denying the existence of it is just like covering up a wound on surface, it only allows the infection to grow from underneath.

我為什麼認為政客在挑撥?如果你實地走走綠營選舉的場子(媒體看到的只是冰山一角),如果政客只是在陳述過往的事實,希望人民認可台語應該被重新重視也就罷了,你會發現他們企圖以炒作悲情大搞福佬沙文主義,壓抑國語及仇視外省人,用煽動性的語言企圖挑起這個應該讓他安靜癒合的傷口.這難道不是挑撥?不是炒作?小弟自幼生長在客家人的環境,長大後身邊的朋友幾乎都是本省人,平日的相處並沒有感受到政客口中的困擾,舊一代傷痕何苦需要被如此不堪的操弄?我不認為這是小弟的偏見.

I don't condone capitulating to this Taiwanese' "victim mentality" simply to gain political power, but, every injury takes time to heal, and the longer the duration of the injury endured, the longer it will take to heal also. The politicians can still manipulate people's emotions, because in people's mind, it is still real, it is still true. It takes time, generations of time. Haven't you noticed how race is still an issue in the US election every single time? Why can the politicians still manipulate the African American voters? (African Americans, now that's a PC term that just make me cringe.)

你我皆有悲情,歷史悠久的中華文化中誰沒有悲情?

And this is an excuse for not understanding other's pain? What it will take is lots of dialogs and willingness to listen. Just like what you and I are doing here with the brotheren from the other side. We don't need to be forgiving to the politicians, but we need to understand where the people are coming from.

如果台灣是提早反應出這個打不開的死結,那麼可見中國未來的處境也讓人擔憂.在政客蓄意傓動下,原本就心有積怨的族群會不會是一顆不定時炸彈?自古以來, 族群(說穿了就是種族)本來就是非常難處理的問題,難道或許真的非得用專制強勢強壓住才不會讓他爆發?給了自由,而當百姓不懂得理性的行使自由時會不會真的步上台灣的後塵?真的很難說.

Mainland is a different situation. There was never a single group of people that was singled out as the object of discrimination, so, I don't believe this will be an issue with them. Besides, their politicians are doing a pretty damn good job channeling all their focus on the one common enemy, those who want Taiwan to declare independence.

共產黨雖然可惡,但或許確實是有遠見.中國民主陣痛期勢必將必台灣來的更巨大,更無法控制.看來中國要安定,也許實行富有中國特色的社會主義是必要的.或許像李敖所說的吧,中國擁有全世界最完善的憲法,要是中共未來真能執行這部憲法,將同樣能為中國人民帶來自由與幸福,或許套用西方民主制度真的能帶來的弊將多於利吧.

Can't you hear the contradiction in your own sentence here? What is preventing the CCP to implement their own constitution? Themselves. A party as such, and you think they have vision? If you believe western democracy is not suitable for China, you are essentially saying Chinese people are not good enough to enjoy the kind of freedom and self-determination enjoyed through out the western world. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT. I believe people are born with innate yearning for freedom, and that's a God given right, Chinese or non-Chinese.