Ice in Switzerland

（這是一篇在台灣住過兩年多的瑞士人辛為德寫的文章，他講的話很直接，當然也不會好聽到哪裡去，如果你也認同他所說的，請自由轉貼分享吧！）（This is an article written by a Swiss, who lived in Taiwan for more than 2 years. What he said in this article is really direct, so of course it won't be so pleasing to the ear, but if you also agree with him, please feel free to SHARE it! ）
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As a Swiss man who lived in Taiwan for more than 2 years, I have something to say to Taiwan
我是一個在台灣住過兩年多的瑞士人，這是我想對台灣人說的話

I already know most people who should read these words won’t read them. For the last few days I have followed the situation in Taiwan. I have seen young students getting interested in Taiwan’s politics… finally!

在我下筆的同時，我已經知道大部分該讀這篇文章的人不會讀它。幾天前，我開始關注最近台灣發生的事。我看到年輕學生開始對台灣的政治產生興趣……「總算」！

These first words go to the Taiwanese Government, which sadly will never read them, not to mention care about them. Taiwan wants be an independent “democratic” country, but you, the Taiwanese Government, don’t listen to the citizens at all. You don’t care about the human rights in your own country. You force police officers to hit their children. You send messages to the hospital saying they should prepare rooms for victims of the police, who are fighting with batons and shields against unarmed protesters! Taiwan is a small country in a big world, yet the government and president have no respect for their own population. How can you expect anyone else in the world to have respect for a country like Taiwan? Have any one of you thought about a little more than just lining his pockets and earning his salary? You have a responsibility to lead the country, and not destroy it with unnecessary violence!

首先，這些話是針對台灣政府，雖然很遺憾地他們絕對不會來讀這篇文章，更別說他們會在乎這些話了。台灣想成為獨立的「民主」國家，但你們，台灣政府，卻完全不傾聽人民的聲音。你們不在乎在你們自己國家的人權，你們逼迫警察去攻擊他們的小孩或是你們自己的小孩。你們通知醫院清空病房，為那些即將受到警察以警棍和盾牌暴力攻擊、手無寸鐵的抗議民眾而準備。台灣在世界上是個小國，而政府和總統一點也不尊重自己的人民。你們怎能期待，世界上的其他人會對台灣這樣的國家有所尊重呢？你們所有人當中，有任何人整天想的不只是自己口袋裡賺的錢和薪水這兩件事嗎？你們的責任是領導一個國家，而不是以不必要的暴力毀滅它！

Then to my favorites, the two political parties. The only thing you guys can do is play like 5 year old kids, fighting and bickering with each other. Have even one of you any interest in what’s really going on in politics or Taiwan? I seriously doubt it. Fighting with fists during a meeting... how ridiculous is that? It seems the only interest you guys have is how much money is in your pockets, and how to best insult the other party. We have 5 big political parties in Switzerland, and of course there are always differences between left and right, but they can still talk with each other. Sometimes they are loud, sometimes quiet, but most important is that they respect each other, and are even sometimes in agreement with the others' points of view. The only thing I can say is: shame on you! Shame on you and grow up, quickly! You are acting like you're in kindergarten!

再來這些話是針對「我最愛的」國民黨與民進黨。你們唯一做的事就是把自己當作五歲小孩然後針鋒相對、鬥個不停。你們哪一黨真的在乎政治上或是台灣到底發生什麼事？我強烈懷疑。在會議上拳腳相向，這該有多荒謬可笑？似乎你們唯一感興趣的事就是如何把錢賺進自己口袋，或者是怎麼侮辱另外一黨。在瑞士我們有五個政黨，當然左右兩派總是意見相左，但他們仍然可以彼此對話溝通，有時候分貝高了點，有時候很平和，但最重要的是，他們彼此尊重，而且有時候甚至同意對方的觀點。我唯一能對你們（國民黨與民進黨）說的就是：「你們真丟臉！你們真丟臉，趕快長大成人！你們根本就是故事書裡的幼稚園！」

Next, to the parents of those young students. Where are you? What are you doing? Are you sitting at home in front of the TV watching what those reckless students are doing? Maybe you remember, once, around 70 years ago, it was YOUR parents fighting for your freedom and for your liberty against the Chinese government in Taiwan’s Capital, where several tens of thousands of people lost their lives for your future. How can you guys sit now on your lazy bottoms and not care for the future of your children? They are fighting for Taiwan’s future and getting injured by the government's police force. You really should feel deeply shamed for not caring at all! You should be the ones getting hit by the police, punished by the government for not caring about Taiwan for the last 30 years! You are no better than your president- ignorant, blind and deaf. Shame on you! Shame on you! Shame on you!

我也有些話想對這些年輕學生的父母說。你們都在哪裡啊？你們現在又在做什麼？你們是不是在家裡坐在電視前看看這些「笨學生」在幹嘛？也許你們還記得，曾經，大概七十年前，「你們」的父母曾經也為了你們的自由反抗國民政府，數萬人為了你們的未來而喪失了他們的生命。你們怎麼能一副懶骨頭樣，而且一點都不關心自己小孩的未來？他們正在為台灣的未來而奮鬥，因這些受國家指使的警察而受傷。你們真該為了你們的漠不關心而慚愧不已！你們才應該被警察攻擊、被政府處罰你們這三十年來對台灣的不聞不問！你們並沒有比你們無知、又盲又聾的總統好到哪裡去！你們真丟臉，真丟臉，真丟臉！

At last, to you Taiwanese youngsters: don’t give up! Gather together, agitate them, hold against them, but don’t use violence, even when they use it. You are NOT like them. You are better than them. Stay strong and endure it. They can’t strike you down so easily. The longer you hold on, the more people will come to support you, from everywhere, the world is starting to listen. Scream louder until everyone can hear you! Never give up!!!

最後，這些話是給台灣的年輕人的。不要放棄！團結起來，惹惱他們、反對他們，但不要訴諸暴力，即使他們使用暴力。你們跟他們有所不同，你們比他們還好。要堅強，要忍耐，他們沒辦法打倒你們的。只要你們堅持下去，就會有更多人前來從各地前來支持你們。世界已經開始傾聽你們的聲音，大聲吶喊吧，直到所有人都聽見你們！永不放棄！

Feel free to post it, share it, print it, and spread it out!

請自由轉貼、分享、列印，並散播出去！

作者回應之一（2014.03.28）：

作者：辛為德（Christoph Schindler）
譯者：Ice（Ice in Switzerland部落格版主）

我終於有時間回應大家了。我就是寫這篇文章的人。我是瑞士人，今年三十四歲，我的名字是Christoph Schindler。然後天哪，56000人讀過這篇文章，超過13000人按讚……

（註：作者回文時間為2014/03/27 05:58），這遠遠超過我的預期。謝謝所有將我的想法分享出去的人，至於所有批評我的人，我尊重你們的意見，但這並不代表我同意你們。

首先，我得先為我的破英文道歉，因為英文並不是我的母語。我寫英文，是因為太少人了解德文，所以寫英文應該對你們來說比較方便（閱讀）一點。

對那些批評我英文的人，沒關係，我很願意學習並加強我的英文，就像我對中文（的態度）一樣。但如果你只是說我的英文很破、很糟或很可笑，這幫不了我；如果你願意改正我的英文，這對我才有幫助，這樣我也可能學得更快一點！

確實，我對台灣並不像我對自己的國家那麼了解。但在瑞士這裡，就像在台灣一樣，是被允許說出自己想法的。所以那些認為我應該閉嘴的人，請忽略這篇文章，無須拘束，而不要禁止我表達我的意見。其中一位（留言者）比較了瑞士與台灣，這個人甚至買了瑞士手錶。我得說，非常謝謝你對我們（國家）商品的信賴且促進（註：原文為支持）我們的經濟。我可以告訴你，我待在台灣的期間也買了很多台灣商品，舉例來說，像是捷安特腳踏車及富力特羽球拍。另外也順帶一提，瑞士警察的英文可能很糟糕，但是跟台灣警察相比，至少他們的英文能力還存在。如果你想談論瑞士，請儘管與我聯絡，我很願意與另外一位台灣人分享一些文化上的差 異。但這些絕對跟台灣目前的情況一點關係都沒有。

然後就像另外一位讀者說的，我並不是那個試著分化台灣的人。怎麼可能？一個陌生人有辦法分化台灣嗎？這真荒謬！那些將台灣分化為兩邊的是政黨和跟隨他們的人，不是我。

是啊，我並不知道台灣所有完整的歷史。我知道，台灣曾經數次被荷蘭人、西班牙人、日本人和中國人佔領。這對台灣人來說一點都不容易，同樣地要台灣成為一個獨 立且成功的國家也不容易。中國仍然認為台灣是他們的一個省，而且許多世界上那些太懼怕中國的國家，並不接受台灣是一個獨立國家。但台灣想成為一個獨立的國家，為此，台灣一定得和中國擁有良好的關係且不受他們的控制。為此，你們的政府需要非常好，我指的是真的非常好的談判技巧。因為（你們的）經濟得像現在一 樣運作。

有些人提到台灣的自由，並認為這些學生以他們無用的抗議打擾了你們平凡安寧的日子。讓我們來看看如果他們沉默了會發生什麼事？這個兩岸服務貿易協議生效。這代表，台灣媒體有可能被中國管制，以後再也沒有任何國際新聞。中國可能管制網路，以後再也沒有臉書、Google、 推特，和其他商業性的社群網路。中國可能控制你們的商業。未來將會有許多中國公司在你們國家，有許多薪資低廉的中國勞工，台灣將出現更多失業者，因為台灣公司在國際市場上將失去競爭力。但除了很小一塊地區以外，中國其實也不會讓台灣在整個中國擴張他們的公司。對我來說，目前看起來像是那些正在抗議的學生是 唯一真正了解兩岸服貿對台灣經濟的意義。

但怎麼會學生還得再次抗議呢？（譯者補充：台灣之前也有其他的抗議活動）台灣怎麼可能會只有兩個只對互相拳打腳踢感興趣的重要政黨呢？一個帶了智慧型手機的 士兵怎麼會被謀殺呢（我是故意用「謀殺」這個字的）？政府怎麼可能會趁著人民為自己的家奮鬥時，為了延伸科學園區而拆除人民的房子呢？政府怎麼可能會建造一個有可能在第一次啟動就爆炸的核電廠，而且還堅持這樣做，使得數百萬人民的生命遭受危險呢？應該保護人民脫離暴力的警察怎麼可能會把手無寸鐵的抗議者打癱呢？

這是什麼樣的自由？「我已經五十歲了，當這一切釀成大禍時，我已經老了，而且很快就死了，所以管他的呢？」當然，說這樣的話很容易，但（你想過）你的孩子和孫子呢？難道不值得為了他們奮鬥嗎？你的祖先不是也曾經為了你的自由而奮鬥過嗎？

也許Ice也會把這篇文章翻譯成中文，為了那些甚至不懂英文的人……

作者回應之二（2014.03.31）：

作者：辛為德（Christoph Schindler）

Thanks to all those readers. Special thanks to those, which give me critical but constructive answer. I know, my article is direct and offensive, I did this on purpose. Unfortunately you just get attention if you use a little bit stronger words. Sadly I’ve to ignore all posts which are rude or not essential, because is just wasting time, not just yours also mine. But negative and critical answers show me, that I still get some people attention which I wrote this for.

Quickly to those which compare Taiwan with Switzerland. First, we have a unique form of democracy, a direct one. This means, everything what the government wants to do, has to be voted by the population. One of you who answered just said, that the government said “yes” to the initiative about the foreigners in our country, I’ve to correct you, the government actually didn’t want to, but the population while voting said yes! Now our government has to solve this problem with the European Union. Furthermore, I never said our country is perfect, I never said, we don’t have problem here. But, Switzerland is NOT the topic right now, we talk about Taiwan! I count Taiwan as my second home, so it’s also in my interest, that Taiwan stays a beautiful, peaceful and nice country, with less corruption and good work conditions. I don’t know if I’ll go back to Taiwan one day, to stay there and get old. So, why it’s not allowed to care about this country too, even if I’m a foreigner?

Yes, I didn’t read the free trade agreement, that was a mistake, I agree with you. But sure is, it won’t make Taiwan’s economy better. As long as Taiwan is in most countries not accepted as an independent country, Taiwan needs a good relationship with China, this for sure, but not unconditionally! Because too many companies aren’t competitive in the international market. But this demonstration got a much bigger meaning than just this free trade agreement. The younger generation wants to be “accepted” in the government and politics as voice too. It has been a long time that the older generation didn’t respect the youngsters as a part of the Taiwanese future (I talk about politics). I often heard students say, “if I want to talk with my dad about politics, he just said: I’m too young, I don’t have experience and knowledge about politics. Students are stupid and can’t do anything else than study. They are still kids without feeling for trade, politics, or business.” Fact is, more and more students are interested in politics, and this is important. So why not listen to them too, and give those words some respect, maybe they are not that wrong! Young people have sometimes “fresh ideas”!

Sure, occupy the parliament shouldn’t be the way to get attention, is breaking a law, but sometimes is it necessary to use extraordinaire ways in special situations (this doesn’t means, that I’m blindly agree with everything). In Switzerland, as example, this won’t be possible (someone mention about it). But in Switzerland you also need permission for demonstration; otherwise you will already break the law. If the police catch you, at least you’ll have a crime record. This depends on how heavy the contravention is. But it is definitely not allowed for the police to use randomly force to stop a demonstration. It always has to be comparative with the situation. That means, if the protesters are unarmed and do not attack the police, the police is not allowed to use force like the batons and shield to hit the protesters. It’s allowed to carry them away, without using unnecessary force. If the protesters are attacking the police, they are also allowed to use heavier tools to against the protesters (like water gun, rubber bullet and so on). I saw on the news in Taiwan, most officers did it right and carry them away without use more force than necessary. But I have one question, why sometimes the police forced the reporters to leave the demonstration, if they are not going to break the law too? And if I remember right, it wasn’t the students which destroyed the facility; it was the police while breaking into the parliament…

Because of Taiwan’s situation, in this two years I saw a lot of things happen which makes me sad and misunderstanding. The government can destroy buildings, people demonstrate and it changed nothing. As soldier died, 250’000 thousand people where on the street for demonstration because of murdered by the army. The government said the culprits will be punished by the law. The protesters went home and believe in the power of the executive. But none of those which was responsible was convicted seriously for manslaughter, because all proofs were afterwards destroyed or disappeared in a mysterious way. My question right now is, how could this happen in Taiwan? Why people don’t care about things like this more seriously? I guess this is the reason why a lot of students went to Taipei too! And that’s why I support them…

Feel free to discuss this with me, you also can contact me by FB if you like, my name is Christoph Schindler (辛為德), but stay constructive instead of just insulting me in a rude way, otherwise you won’t get any answer…