When Formosa meets Iberia
當福爾摩沙遇上伊比利 (IV)
TAIWAN NEWS(英文台灣日報)2004.06.07~08
第十一版 EU-PAGE連載
馬德里人
(Continued III)
(續前篇)
Conclusion: Perhaps Formosa and Iberia can become a bit closer
結語：福爾摩沙與伊比利 或許你們可以再靠近一點
People may ask if relations between Spain and Taiwan have any importance at all? Indeed, Taiwan and Spain currently do not share many common interests. The relationship between Taiwan and Spain seems independently in comparison to Taiwan-U.S. or Taiwan-Japan mutually beneficial relation. Nevertheless, observing from humane perspective, Taiwan and Spain do share certain common similarity, such areas as democratic development, economic growth and even partial folk customs. It would be too far-fetched to conclude that common interests and culture are not exists between Taiwan and Spain. It’s just that these two countries lack of channels for mutual understanding that has led to misconceptions on both sides. This seems that there is still considerable room for the two countries to forge a better understanding.
或許許多人會問一個問題「台灣跟西班牙之間的關係到底有什麼重要的？」的確，從現況來看，台灣與西班牙之間的確沒有太多交集，彼此之間也不存在著如與美國、日本那般的依存關係，「橋歸橋，路歸路」，或許這會是台、西之間的相處方式。然而，從另一個較為人文的角度來看，台灣與西班牙無論在民主發展的過程、經濟成長、民族性、甚至部份民性習慣等方面，若仔細觀察後均可發現兩者之間有許多共通或相似之處；若要說雙方毫無交集，其實也不盡然，恐怕又只是因為雙方缺乏認識與了解所造成的誤解，這也顯示出兩造之間仍有增進了解的空間。
Although Spain is not a dominating country in the present European Union framework, further development on the relationship between Taiwan and Spain is still very much important. EU nations adhere a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), which make it very difficult for a member state such as Spain to pursue official diplomatic relations with Taiwan under the EU’s policy attitude towards China. This does not mean that Taiwan should not eschew present apathy and take a more positive approach in strengthening substantial unofficial ties. As mentioned above, Taiwan and Spain still have a lot of room to work with in augmenting relations. Forging understanding between the two nations could only serve to foster a more positive public image of Taiwan in the eyes of the Spanish people, making ties that much more mutually beneficial. Without any effort taken on the part of Taiwan however, how can we expect to establish a win-win situation that would allow Spain to go to bat for Taiwan in EU administrative matters?
以西班牙目前在歐盟當中「有點重要又不會太重要」的地位來看，台灣與西班牙發展關係仍然有相當的必要性；雖然礙於「歐盟共同外交暨安全政策」的架構下，歐盟各國對於中國政策的態度，使得台灣能夠和歐盟成員之一的西班牙發展官方的關係幾乎微乎其微，但是加強兩國間實質關係，徹底擺脫目前消極、漠視的心態，仍然是台灣應該積極思考的課題。從上述的內容當中可以發現，目前兩國無論在官方或民間關係上，仍然有許多努力與改進的空間，一旦能夠促進雙方的認識與了解，藉以能夠在西班牙輿論上形成力量，對於台、西關係的推展必然會有正面的助益。畢竟沒有下過一番功夫，尋找建立雙方互利雙贏的利基，如何能期待西班牙能在歐盟事務上對台灣有善意的舉動？
Taiwanese had long considered Spanish people to be an indolent, less industrious lot. But perhaps the people in Taiwan could take another look at the carefree, easy-going, and optimistic characters of the average Spanish people. This might just allow the majority population in Taiwan to live in a healthy, happy, and optimistic life. Not everything has to be taken so seriously all the time, people need to learn how to relax once a while without fearing that they are going to miss on something else. Try to seek a middle course somewhere between the industriousness of the Taiwanese character and the carefree nature of the Spanish people may discover a way to bring the spirit of Formosa closer to the mood of Iberia. Perhaps such an adjustment can bring a bit more color to your life.
用台灣人的觀點去看西班牙人的處世態度和人生觀，總會認為他們似乎過於懶散、不認真、缺乏積極進取。然而，西班牙人的悠閒、樂觀，那種「寓工作於樂」的態度，以及從喜愛自己所從事的工作當中所展現「職業無貴賤」，是台灣人可以嘗試用另一種心情去體會的境界，因為那可以讓自己的生命變得更快樂、樂觀、健康。不是什麼事情都一定要那般嚴肅地去看待，偶而讓自己學著放鬆一點，也不見得就一定會漏失掉些什麼。試著讓「勤奮的台灣人性格」和「悠閒的西班牙人性格」作個中和，讓「福爾摩沙精神」與「伊比利心情」能夠更接近，或許經過這樣調整過後，您的生命可能會活的更有光彩！
The end
全文完
The author would like to give a special thanks to Howard Tsai & Janice Liu for English translation revising.
作者在此特別感謝蔡明昌先生及柳嘉玲小姐在英文翻譯上所提供之鼎力協助。
Edited by Tina Lee/Translated by Steven Marsh & the author
編輯李美儀/ 英文翻譯馬強及作者本人
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