![\"\"](\"http:\/\/jtca.org.tw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/black-bmw944x596.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Last Thursday, on my way to vi …<\/p>\n
Last Thursday, on my way to visit the (only) Jewish prisoner at Tucheng Detention Center, something caught my eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A black BMW crossed into my lane from the right (not too unusual in Taiwan). At second glance the license plate confirmed what I thought I saw \u2013 a black Nazi swastika with an eagle hanging over it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have been in Taiwan long enough, and know the people well enough to know that symbolism results from an innocent misunderstanding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet, I decided to do something a bit bold \u2013 I got behind the car and started honking and flashing my front lights. At the nearest stop I chose the parallel lane and asked the driver to lower his window. (Yes, I know, if we were in Europe I would never dare doing it). It was a friendly looking middle aged guy and all he understood from what I said was “your car! your car!”. Thinking there was a mechanical issue, he pulled over. So did I. As got out of his car he started inspecting, looking for the problem. I approached him and pointed to the swastika saying “this!”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following dialogue was between my broken Chinese and his rusty English:
-“this! this!”
-“what about this?”
-“do you know what this is?”
-“no”
-“where did you get this?”
-“I bought it on the internet”
-“this is the symbol of Nazi Germany”
-“ok”
-“they were very bad, they killed a lot of people”
-“ok”
-“it represents Hitler, do you know who was Hitler?”
-“no”
-“Hitler was a really bad guy, he killed millions of innocent people!”
-“ok”
This is when my surprise started to turn into frustration: “you know, it brings you bad luck”
“BAD LUCK?? I am going to remove it now!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am not sure if the guy removed it (if you spot the car somewhere let me know) but I did get another chance to experience that it is not WHAT you say, it is HOW you say it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We need to learn how to talk to people in their own language, saying things the listener could not only hear or understand but, more importantly, relate to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
May we merit to a time when there will be no more hatred but only misunderstandings (or maybe this time in already now?…)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How would you respond? You are welcome to write me back with questions, comments or suggestions.
Shabbat Shalom!<\/p>\n\n\n\n