台灣人很保守嗎? Are Taiwanese Conservative?
When people refer to someone as “conservative,” what they have in mind is an old-fashioned person who does not approve of radical ideas and is opposed to sudden changes. Nevertheless, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, “conservative” can also be defined as someone who holds moderate opinions and emphasizes cultural values. Therefore, it may not be such a terrible and shameful thing to be called a “conservative.”
Due to cultural differences and historical backgrounds, Taiwanese may seem to be rather traditional and conventional, compared with Westerners, when it comes to making decisions. For us, we tend to consider the consequences, magnifying them ten times greater than they truly are, thus often keeping ourselves from poking further into the matter. Afraid of discovering a whole new world that may be stronger and tougher, Taiwanese tend to stick to their own plate of food and dare not take a peep at their neighbor’s tempting and magnificent feast.
However backward it may sound, by keeping this moderate pace of not too fast or not too slow, we have managed to survive 5000 years while the Westerners, with their intense attitudes, have caused much destruction to their own civilization. Being less aggressive or fierce, we do not support extreme notions or violent protests. We make ourselves heard but in a softer and milder voice. And because of that, our society and its traditions have survived. In contrast, westerners tend to destroy any disagreeable establishment, evidenced by the highly aggressive American foreign policies, and that is why they are constantly invoking protests from other countries.
Being milder, Taiwanese have maintained a healthy balance between radical reforms and conventional methods, creating an existing harmony between two extremes. We neither rush to make haste, nor wait until the end of the world. Next time someone makes a comment about how Taiwanese are conservative, you can answer them with a broad smile that says: “I am proud to be conservative.”
When people refer to someone as “conservative,” what they have in mind is an old-fashioned person who does not approve of radical ideas and is opposed to sudden changes. Nevertheless, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, “conservative” can also be defined as someone who holds moderate opinions and emphasizes cultural values. Therefore, it may not be such a terrible and shameful thing to be called a “conservative.”
Due to cultural differences and historical backgrounds, Taiwanese may seem to be rather traditional and conventional, compared with Westerners, when it comes to making decisions. For us, we tend to consider the consequences, magnifying them ten times greater than they truly are, thus often keeping ourselves from poking further into the matter. Afraid of discovering a whole new world that may be stronger and tougher, Taiwanese tend to stick to their own plate of food and dare not take a peep at their neighbor’s tempting and magnificent feast.
However backward it may sound, by keeping this moderate pace of not too fast or not too slow, we have managed to survive 5000 years while the Westerners, with their intense attitudes, have caused much destruction to their own civilization. Being less aggressive or fierce, we do not support extreme notions or violent protests. We make ourselves heard but in a softer and milder voice. And because of that, our society and its traditions have survived. In contrast, westerners tend to destroy any disagreeable establishment, evidenced by the highly aggressive American foreign policies, and that is why they are constantly invoking protests from other countries.
Being milder, Taiwanese have maintained a healthy balance between radical reforms and conventional methods, creating an existing harmony between two extremes. We neither rush to make haste, nor wait until the end of the world. Next time someone makes a comment about how Taiwanese are conservative, you can answer them with a broad smile that says: “I am proud to be conservative.”