Taiwan is an island. Literally and, often, figuratively. One thing you must do battle with here is provincial attitudes that are sometimes quite surprising. Many people here have no clue about world history and culture. I’m not sure if it is due to having been educated with KMT blinders on, or just blissful and lazy ignorance. There is so much to teach people here—mostly young adults—about the world. It’s frightening.
I just had a student come into my office looking for my office mate. She was wearing a necklace with a friggin’ Nazi swastika on it. It’s not the first time I have seen it. A guy last week biked by me wearing a swastika shirt, and I didn’t have time to question him, but it seems to be part of a “fashion” to wear them.
I remember hearing a story once my friend told me about a Taiwanese guy who showed up to watch a German soccer match in a local pub while wearing a Nazi swastika shirt as an emblem of his support for the German team. The Germans (as well as all other foreigners) who were there were horrified, and finally my friend told this guy that it just isn’t appropriate due to its symbolic meaning. I think he went to the bathroom and reversed his shirt and all was fine. But the Taiwanese staff didn’t think anything of the fact that he was wearing it and was deeply offending half the bar.
So when this girl walked in, I could question her about why she was wearing a swastika around her neck. I explained that in the rest of the world, that would be likely to anger and offend many people. Her response? She said that she wouldn’t wear it in Europe or the U.S., but “Here is Taiwan.” What, is there no meaning to this symbol in Taiwan? Is Taiwan exempt from responsible actions? What is she thinking? I went on to explain that the symbol still has meaning in Taiwan, and she needs to think what message she is sending. Even after explaining that it is basically a symbol representing her support of the killing of 6 million people, she said “I know” and tucked it in her shirt. On what planet does it become acceptable as a fashion statement to wear the Nazi swastika? And why was I the first person to make her feel embarrassed enough to hide it?
Sometimes this place is just so disconnected with reality, so myopic. It’s no wonder international news here lasts a pitifully short time, with the rest of the news focusing on ridiculous and unsubstantiated local news stories, inevitably resulting in the ceaseless badgering of some poor soul.
It's an island. Then again, England is an island, and it has the BBC.
I can understand your position. But to tell the truth, not every Taiwanese is "myopic". Compared with many foreigners who have never heard of Taiwan or misrecognized Taiwan as Thai, Taiwanese people are not that skin-deep. However, I agree with you that we need to aggressively broaden our global perspectives and develop international awareness as part of global citizens.
Thanks for teaching such an important lesson about this global taboo.
Posted by: Ivan | 2006/11/25 at 上午 2:46
It’s pity, my English ability is not enough to express my opinion, But I still need to say something. I admit this phenomenon existence, but not about KMT, I did not know whether this phenomenon belong to so-called "political correct", It’s could be happen to any country.
When I travel England , I felt some discrimination from local people because Taiwan between the American culture relations, but I could not said, Britian' all so , because I also met British at the London street ,have good experience. I did not know what is your field at Ttaiwan, I must say, any phenomenon formation, not only has a sole reason.
But you do correct job, tells them this symbolic mark the significance, sometime we need to learn from other people, just like the Confucius said that “Three person of lines must have my teacher”，sorry wrong grammar, but I think you know what is my mean.
Posted by: jennifer | 2006/11/27 at 下午 1:08
I'm sorry to rain on your parade but there's always a flipside to the coin. You're perfectly right that the swastika is an extremely offensive symbol associated with Nazi germany , Hitler and all that goes with it. That is in the WEST,however in the EAST it's not considered offensive at all because the swastika's history goes much further back than the second world war. It's not a GLOBAL taboo.It's a sanskrit term meaning good fortune or well being and considered SACRED in Hinduism and Buddhism. Not only in Taiwan but most Eastern countries including Japan and India use it on a daily basis in rituals, ceremonies and as decorations and can be seen everywhere on temples, necklaces, bracelets, clothing etc. She was totally right in saying she'd wear it in Taiwan but wouldn't wear it in the West. She was not the one being myopic. I wonder who was?
Posted by: JO | 2006/11/27 at 下午 1:11
To Jennifer,
If you look closely, there is a subtle difference-angle of inclination-between the swastika of Nazi and the swastika of Buddhism.
Posted by: Ivan | 2006/11/27 at 下午 3:41
Ivan- I didn't imply that all Taiwanese are this way. Only some. And you are certainly right about foreign attitudes toward Taiwan. I still think half of my cousins think I live in Thailand!
Sorry, Jennifer, I don't quite understand what you mean with the "political correctness" part. Try again, please!
JO--I think you are misguided here. You don't need to educate me on the history of the swastika--I know it well, thank you. You see "reverse swastikas" all over Taiwan as a Buddhist symbol. Hey, no problem there. Even a swastika used as a Buddhist symbol is fine. BUT, a black swatiska printed in a white circle on a red background is NOT a Buddhist symbol--it is the symbol appropriated by the Nazi party. That swastika is clearly not a Buddhist symbol, no matter what its historical basis. The meaning of words and symbols change, and if you are ignorant to that change, it is myopic. Even if the girl was wearing it as a Buddhist charm, she still needs to know that presented as such, its meaning changes to something else. Something that has tragic global meaning. Here's a website whose name says everything: http://www.reclaimtheswastika.com. There is a great section of photos showing its use as a luck symbol and even as logo for a Canadian women's hockey team. You can reclaim the swastika, sure. But there is nothing that can be reclaimed by wearing the Nazi swastika, as this student did. Take the swastika off of the standard Nazi regalia, and it ceases to have the same meaning.
Good swastika: Download postcard_02_s.jpg (11.2K)
Bad swastika: Download 200px-Nazi_Swastika.bmp (117.2K)
Posted by: taiwantiger | 2006/11/29 at 下午 2:27
Point taken Mr. Tiger. I just tend to get a bit defensive where TAIWAN is concerned.
Posted by: JO | 2006/11/29 at 下午 10:21
first of all read this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika
The swastika symbolizes many different things to different people. You as a westerner see the swastika as a symbol of the holocaust. To many asian people the swastika symbolizes the founding of Buddhism. The commonly recognized symbol of Nazism is the right facing swastika. The Buddhist symbol is the left facing swastika.
Posted by: Karin | 2006/12/24 at 上午 6:21
Karin-
Did you even bother to read the responses above?
Posted by: Tiger | 2006/12/25 at 下午 2:18
Once I saw a girl wearing a (yes, Nazi-style) swastika T-shirt at Eslite bookstore. I must have done a double-take or something because she saw me and just looked so pleased with herself for shocking the foreigner. She had this nasty expression on her face. I have been kicking myself for years for not approaching her and asking her what she knew about it, telling her some details of Nazi atrocities and asking her if she thought that was "cute."
I empathize with JO as well--I am defensive about Taiwan, too, and it is true most "Westerners" know precious little about Taiwan or even Asia. But being defensive about Taiwan doesn't mean defending every idiot on the island.
Posted by: amida | 2006/12/29 at 下午 11:08
Sure UK has the BBC as well as racism against Jewish people.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/17/nislam117.xml
Which is better without swastika (refer to http://www.textually.org/picturephoning/archives/2005/01/006816.htm)
but racism toward Jewish people or with swastika but no racism toward Jewish people?
Being ignorant is better than not knowing enough.
Posted by: 12345 | 2007/1/31 at 上午 4:42
The swastika sign actually means "peace" in the original Sanskrit and is an important symbol of fortune and harmony for many Buddhists and persons of South Asian or SouthEast Asian descent and culture. It has a different cultural meaning, it does NOT, in fact, represent the tragic genocide of millions. Projecting that emblem of negativity when it might be quite innocent is a bit unfair.
Posted by: Hsin | 2007/2/4 at 上午 8:53
Just as my shrink told me, it's not the words, or the symbols, by themselves, it's the meaning we attach to them. And I don't know that it makes sense to push so hard (often in futility) to hold others accountable for what we consider their insensitivity. Yes, a swastika can and does readily cause psychological and emotional and intellectual trauma to people. But does it make sense to banish it (I don't care which way the tines point, it's all the same to me) from being seen throughout earth, Asia, the West, Africa, Native America, et al?
Posted by: DJS | 2007/2/7 at 下午 1:00
For pete's sake, people, READ THE COMMENTS BEFORE POSTING.
Hsin- I know exactly what the swastika is, and what it has been used to represent since that time. Go look at the links I gave you. The Nazi regalia that includes a swastika does, in fact, represent the tragic genocide that killed millions. The normal swastika does not.
DJS- Did anyone suggest banishing the swastika? I am saying wearing the Nazi swastika symbol...AS FASHION JEWELRY...seems tragically ignorant. Wear as many swastikas as you want, all over the world, but the Nazi swastika on the red field will not cease to carry its symbolism. Other swastikas will.
Posted by: taiwantiger | 2007/2/7 at 下午 2:03