P.S. : For the convenience of reading, the English and French translation will be put right after the Chinese version if there is no photo.
P.S. : Pour l'avantage des lecteurs/lectrices, les articles en anglais et en français seront mis après l'article en chinois s'il n'y a aucune de photo.
尊重不是說說而已。
即使來到英國以後，對英國也有某些不滿（如食物，吃到最好吃的是前些天吃的西班牙菜），然而有一件事令我深深欣羨，是我認為即使曼大還在用選課單，但歐洲仍然比台灣進步的地方。
猶記得當年學英文時，不知是從老師那兒還是網路上得知，說用 "disabled" 指稱殘障人士是非常、非常無禮的，"handicapped" 也不遑多讓，現在應該要說 "physically-challenging" 才對。因此我每每在捷運上看見印著 handicapped 字樣的博愛座貼紙，總覺得有些不安，雖然若真寫上 "physically-challenging" 也蠻怪異的。
來到英國，滿街的 "disabled"。
我愣怔了；這不是以尊重少數為本的歐洲嗎？怎能使用如此具有歧視意味的字眼？說是失望有些太過，但這件事自此便未曾從我心上離開過。
後來我才發現，即使用了 disabled 這般「不敬」的詞，英國人對殘障人士的體貼與尊重卻處處體現，舉凡是隨處可見、顯然是由舊有的門改造的自動門（一律向外打開，我一直覺得總有一天會撞斷我的鼻樑），完善的輪椅坡道，可降低門口底盤的公車，以及電動輪椅及其他輔助醫療器材的高使用率，都令我為之驚詫。除了以上這些硬體設施，更令我印象深刻的卻是殘障人士們臉上煥發的光采：他們一個個都穿著整齊乾淨而色彩鮮豔的衣服，說起話來的舉止及表情彷彿他只是今天剛好摔斷腿，無法走路，但這件事對他的心理狀態一點妨礙也沒有。他仍然正常生活、開懷微笑，樂於在陽光下活動。
他們看起來好快樂，彷彿他們只是剛好不能走路，其中的差別如你是長頭髮、我是短頭髮一般微不足道。
說起來其實與我無甚關係，不是嗎？我是個可以自己拉開門、自己爬樓梯、自己走二十分鐘的路到市中心去的人；但我卻好羨慕他們的快活，心中深深希望在台灣，殘障朋友們也有這種平凡卻珍貴的幸福。雖然現在捷運站、學校等地大都加設電梯及殘障坡道，然而不足或損壞的卻多得多（尤以導盲磚為甚），而且在台灣，我幾乎看不見殘障人士臉上煥發那種光采，即使有，似乎也需要他本身超人的樂觀，像個太陽一般發光，才得以過著與他人一般的生活；而更多的卻是神色黯淡、心事重重，很多人看起來都需要經濟援助。我不是殘障人士，無法替他們發言，也不敢說我能體會他們的心情。然而在台灣，無論是在硬體設施甚或大眾社會心態上，他們得不到同等的尊重與幫助，我想是沒什麼爭議的。
為什麼會這樣呢？我聽到／看到好多台灣人說歐洲科技「落後」，新型電子產品的使用率似乎是台灣大幅領先，如銀行的 IC 金融卡即是。然而果真如此嗎？歐洲人沒有比較高級，也不是說歐洲什麼都好，但是是否自此便可看出，雙方定義中「重要」且「值得投資」的項目是不同的？
我不會假裝自己非常中肯，為了不受到「崇洋媚外」的「譴責」而說其實台灣也不錯啦等等鄉愿之語。台灣社會對此類議題的冷漠程度，一直令人感到心寒。我難以用文字形容，但總之，並不是從心底對殘障人士包容接納其融入社會（如我在歐洲所見），而是一種「哎呀還是不要看他免得他覺得我歧視他」而將目光刻意移開的奇怪反應，彷彿一切都只是為了政治正確，至於「那些人」？我坐博愛座有讓座就不錯了呀。（至於沒讓座的，也沒什麼好說的了。）
或許過於嚴厲，台灣已經開始（非常）緩慢的改變。但我仍舊認為，這些事情刻不容緩，是「重要」且「應該投資」的，這是社會對接納個體差異的具體展現；而這些也不應是為了躋身「進步國家」之列所做，而是整體社會價值觀將「尊重」奉為圭臬的結果。
其實，我一方面羨慕他們，一方面覺得心裡很難過；與其追求語言文字上的「尊重」，我更希望這個我總是毫不猶豫、大聲告訴別人的「台灣」，也是個真正善體人意的地方。
湖區的美景搬不回台灣，但是對 "the disabled" 的尊重及為他們的週到設想可以。En fin, j'espére.
Respect is something that we should DO instead of merely mentioning.
Though I do have some complaints about the UK (for example, the food, the best I have had is the Spanish tapas for the dinner a few days ago), there is one thing of which I am really envy; it’s something that I think Europe is still better than us despite of all the overwhelming paper works for enrollment in the University of Manchester.
I still remember that when I was young, maybe from the English teacher or even on the Internet, I was told that “disabled” is a very, very rude way to refer to those who are unable to walk (usually it’s walk), and “handicapped” is no better than it either; we should say “physically-challenging” instead. Therefore, I always feel uneasy when I saw the “handicapped” on the sticker of priority seat in MRT trains, though it is also kind of weird to write “physically-challenging” on it.
When I came to the UK, “disabled” everywhere.
I was shocked. Isn’t it the Europe that always emphasizes on the respect of the minority? How can they use the word so discriminatory? It is exaggerating to say that I was disappointed, but it has never been forgotten since then.
Afterwards, I found that in spite of the use of such a “impolite” word, the respect to the disabled can be seen everywhere. For instance, those automatic doors of which I’m afraid since I believe one day they will break my nose, the slopes for wheelchairs, the bus that enables the wheelchairs to be aboard, and the high utility rate of electronic wheelchairs and other medical instruments all surprise me. Beside of the hardware, the most impressive part is the radiance on those disabled people’s faces: they wear neat, clean, and colorful clothes, talk and behave as if they just happen to break their legs today and are unable to walk, but it does not trigger any mental problems for them. They still lead a normal life, laugh without a care, and glad to be under the sunshine.
They look so happy, as if they just happened to be unable to walk. The difference is as trifle as the difference between having long hair and short hair.
Actually it has nothing to do with me, doesn’t it? I am a person who can walk by myself, walk on stairs by myself, walk to city centre for twenty minutes by myself; but I am envy of their happiness, sincerely wish that those disabled in Taiwan would have this plain but precious happiness as well. Though there are elevators and slopes for the wheelchairs at schools and in the MRT station, many of them are broken. Also in Taiwan, I can’t see the radiance on their faces; even if there is, it seems that it requires their own optimism to be so and lead a normal life as others do. Yet more seem pale and gloomy, wanting for financial help. I am not a disabled, so I won’t say I can really stand in their shoes. However, the phenomenon that they do not have the same respect and support as those in Europe is not controversial.
Why? I’ve heard/seen so many Taiwanese who said that the technology in Europe is backward, and the utility of new technological products is much higher in Taiwan; the use of IC card is an example. But is it true? Europeans are not more nobler, and I’m not saying that everything about Europe is good. But can we see the difference between the definition of “the important issues” and “the worth doing things” of both sides from this issue?
I won’t pretend that I am mild and therefore say anything such as “actually Taiwan is good too” for fear of being blamed as a xenomania; the indifference to this issue is always disappointing in Taiwan. It is hard to put into words, but it’s a don’t-look-at-them-or-they-will-think-I-discriminate-against-them attitude. They don’t really try to include the disabled as a part of the society, and the reason why they shift their look is usually for being politically correct. And about “those people”? I think it’s good enough to yield the priority seats to them. (And there’s nothing to be commented on those who don’t yield the priority seats.)
Perhaps it is too harsh. Taiwan has already begun to change (though very slowly). But still, I think it is urgent, “important” and “worth doing,” this is the concrete representation of the society being able to accept individual difference; also, these should not be done for being among the developed countries, but the consequence to value the concept of “respect.”
In fact, I am envy but meanwhile sad; instead of trying to “respect” others literally, I prefer the Taiwan that I am proud of is also a place that is really friendly to everyone.
The beauty of the lake district cannot be taken back to Taiwan, but the respect for “the disabled” can. Enfin, j’espére.
***La version en français sera écrit après mon retour de Paris !
***La version en français sera écrit après mon retour de Paris !
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