From a more traditionally acknowledged point of view, we, as
Asians, are considered to be somewhere in between the so-called
「superior」 and 「inferior」 races. It is also widely agreed among people
here in Taiwan that the 「whites」 have always held a certain degree of
prejudice against those who are not as 「civilized」 as they are. And we
happen to be one of their victims in this long-lasting racial war.
Not getting equal
treatments and feeling like they』re being looked down upon in foreign
countries, are things we often hear from Taiwanese visiting other
lands. Why don』t we slow down and turn the table around for a change
and put ourselves in their shoes? It』s getting to be an obvious fact
that we may be treating the Philippine and Thailand workers here just as
indifferently as the 「white world」 treats us.
Our cold treatment of
Philippino and Thai workers can be seen almost everywhere. The bus
drivers are often in a rush to get them on or off the bus; in fast-food
places, people tend to sit as far away from them as possible. And if an
American and a Thai worker ask questions at the same time, it is more
likely that the American will be the first to receive hospitality. We
can even see these things happening on the news, a Philippino worker
abuses a child, and it becomes the talk of the day. As the story gets
sensationalized by the media, 「all」 foreign maids are demonized as child
abusers. But if the abuser were Taiwanese (as it is often so), we
wouldn』t have this kind of ill feeling towards all Taiwanese.
Maybe it』s time to stop
complaining so much about how unequally we feel we are being treated in
foreign countries and take an upside down look on how we are treating
the foreign workers here. We need to relate to them how we feel towards
our 「superiors」. If we can all see beyond the racial
differences and learn to treat others the way we wish to be treated,
maybe it will change this whole system of superiors and inferiors; and
for once, we will be equals.