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PROTEST LETTER

 

After three weeks of intensive work, participants coming from Japan, Taiwan and Korea protested against the insensitivity of those participants who spoke fluently in English. Their grievance stemmed from the fact that because of their disadvantaged position of the English Language, they were not able to fully participate in the discussions. Therefore, they wrote the following letter (Japanese and Chinese) to bring to the knowledge and attention of the other participants their frustrations.  The letters have been translated into English, which is self-explanatory.

 

16

 

Protest Letter Written in Chinese

 

 

 

17

 

Protest Letter Written in Japanese

 

 

 

18

 

TRANSLATED FROM PROTEST LETTERS

WRITTEN IN JAPANESE AND CHINESE

 

This is a passage concerning our strong feelings during the past three weeks and have their roots as follows:

Be it an open conference or small group discussions, participants' speed of speaking and attitude towards those who are handicapped in English have led us to a very great dissatisfaction, especially the feeling of being taken for granted. Does it mean that we have to bear with such unfriendly attitude due to our language barrier?  This has made us feel secondary in position to the better English speakers and in addition, not being accepted by the group. Thus, the claim that all of us are one under the name of Jesus Christ is being questioned and is not comprehensible to us.

This strong frustration feeling has over-ridden our enthusiasm to enhance a better relationship with the other participants which is not only a loss to us but an even magnified loss to the whole conference. We really do not wish such a situation to persist on till our return to our home countries when we mill share with our fellow countrymen, not only the regional friendship but also the frustration that we have felt here.

On the other hand, we must say that me are milling to believe that most of the participants are not treating us with such an attitude intentionally. It may have been an unconscious act.

Our disadvantaged English-speaking position has placed us as part of the "minorities problems" that we have all along been discussing. Hence, we would like to call upon the direct attention of all participants with regards to this problem.

Just like the slight progress of women's issues seen only yesterday, we wish that with the fast approaching final stage of this programme which is also the peak of HRD '87, each and every participant should be given the opportunity to exhibit his/her abilities and express his/her opinions. But without an improvement in the language problem, not only are the participants’ wishes for expression being scaled down but at the same time, it is very difficult for us to proceed with the discussion. Most importantly, HRD ‘87 may not be considered as a success after all.