關於 can barely意思 ，我們在網路上蒐集到這些相關的討論、資訊與評價

#尋人啟事
#胡湘荷妳在哪裡

我的母親已八十歲，
疫情期間，
母親常在電話跟我聊一些過去的事情，
母親的記憶力非常好，
從她十歲開始到現在，
她幾乎能記得所有的事情。

當然，
她記的幾乎都是些令人心碎的事。

就像她的妹妹＿
我的小阿姨，
跟她失聯了四十三年的事，
一直讓母親忘不了。

小阿姨屬猴，
64歲、
1956年出生。
大約1977年離開緬甸，
去到泰國投靠大舅，
又輾轉在1978年左右去了加拿大。
之後，
就失去了聯絡。

自從有網路以來，
我就幫忙母親在各種尋人版上刊登過尋人啟事，
但都沒有下文。
可能是刊登的資訊不齊全。

四十三年前，
小阿姨從緬甸到泰國又到加拿大，
可能證件、姓名等都跟原本的不一樣了。

近期，
與我母親通話，
母親又提到失聯的小阿姨。
她叮嚀我們是否能幫忙她再找找看。

母親今年八十歲，
她很想知道她的小妹，
是否還活在這世界上？

附上母親說的話，
她讓我公佈在網路上。

希望有緣，
我的小阿姨能看到。

Midi 於永和
2020 April 12

#胡湘荷
#尋人

胡湘荷，妳在哪裡？

阿湘，
我是妳的二姐胡明珠。
我們分別有好長一段時間了。

妳離開緬甸時，
我二兒子才剛出生，
都還不滿一個月，
妳來看他時，
還說：
「他的臉白白的，
是不是我給他擦粉？」
現在，
我二兒子四十三歲，
我呢，
已經快滿八十二歲，
八十多歲，
是老人了。

人家說，
人愈老記性愈差，
我是相反，
我的記性反倒是愈老愈好。
但是，我能記住的，
都是些傷心的事情。

也許，
我們這代人，
也沒有什麼快樂的事情可以記住。
就像妳的離開，
我們從此失去聯絡，
想起妳，
就讓我難過。

妳還活著嗎？
我想妳會活得好好的。
妳有幾個小娃了？
過得怎麼樣呢？

四十三年前，
妳離開腊戌時，
妳還在腊戌漢人學校唸書。

有天放學，
我去攔住妳，
跟妳說：
「妳以後每天下課後就來我家吃飯，
別去大姐家吃了…」
妳說：「好」。
妳也就跟著我到我家吃飯了。

我還記得，
妳才剛坐下，
我不知怎麼搞的，
就說了那些話。

我說：
「大姐讓妳以後來我這裡吃飯，
別去她家吃了，
讓妳三姐去她家吃，
妳三姐不挑嘴，
妳比較挑嘴…」。

這些話，
是大姐跟我說的，
我當時太懵，
太老實，
我也不曉得，
為什麼要說這些大姐講的話？
為什麼要講給妳聽？

我完全，
沒有擔待不了妳的意思呀。
不管多窮，
姐妹間互相照顧都是應該的，
我轉述大姐說妳的那些話，
是沒有任何理由的，
就是我以為是姐妹之間的聊天，
講出來而已。

我那時候過得很困難，
養著六個小娃，
病死了兩個。
但是，
照顧自己的妹妹是天經地義的。

那天，
我邊說就邊到廚房去炒菜，
難得妳來這裡吃飯，
總要多一樣什麼菜才行。

我炒完菜端著出來，
妳就不見了。

當時，
房東許老嬤嬤還在場，
她說，
「我轉進廚房，
妳就站起來走了…」

我那時才發覺；
我講錯話了。

妳這麼敏感的人呀！

我一路追著妳，
追到大水塘路上＿
到妳跟妳三姐住的地方，
妳正在哭。
妳正在哭著跟妳三姐吵架，
妳跟妳三姐說：
「二哥寄來的錢分來…」
妳三姐不敢應妳，
在旁沉默著。
這筆妳要的錢，
確實是妳二哥寄來給妳們兩姐妹的生活費。

那時，
媽媽剛去世不久，
大哥人去了泰國；
在泰國北部滿堂安了家，
家裡所有的兄弟陸續去了泰國。
而爸爸因為沒身份證在貴概被移民局抓住，
送到仰光坐滿九年牢，
緬甸政府正打算著把他送到台灣去的時候…

那天，
我看著妳哭，
我就明白了妳的心情。

妳三姐在準備跟她愛人私奔，
在腊戌妳也只有大姐、我和妳三姐了。

我和大姐早結婚，
各自已有有家庭。
如今妳三姐又要嫁人，
大哥他們又遠在泰國，
母親去世，
父親坐牢。
妳接下來就要孤苦零丁的一個人生存了。

一個十八歲的女孩。
我知道妳的害怕和難過。

那天，
看著妳哭，
我很後悔把大姐說的話講出來。

妳應該了解我的。
我一直都盡力照顧我的家人，
當時從雲南背著妳逃難到緬甸邊境，
背了一天一夜。
我都是自願的。

妳記得嗎？
妳到腊戌讀書時，
很想要一條件仔褲，
那時許多人都買不起，
我還是費盡力氣買給妳。
妳知道我是心疼妳的。

妳離開腊戌的那天，
妳說妳要去泰國了。
臨走時，
我拿了300塊錢給妳，
妳知道嗎？
那時候我拿出300塊錢緬幣是到處借來的錢呀。

阿湘，
我知道妳一直都在受苦，
去到泰國，
大嫂可能待不得妳，
妳二哥、三哥他們當時也沒能力照顧妳，
妳在泰國又沒有合法的身份；
哪可能有其它去處。

最後妳選擇結婚，
我想也只是為了解脫這些難過的生活罷了。

之後，
就聽說妳嫁了人，
跟著丈夫家去了加拿大。

之後，
我就再也就打聽不到妳的下落了。

我們最後的連繫，
停留在泰國北部滿堂，
或是停留在泰緬邊境美賽，
我都有些記不得了。

那時，
聽說妳從大哥家跑出來了？
又聽說妳去暫住在一對老年夫妻的家裡？
這些，
都是後來傳到腊戌的消息了。

妳去加拿大前，
還寄來給我和大姐和妳三姐每個人一件衣裳布、
一條籠基。
三份禮物裡夾著三張白紙，
寫著：「大姐的、二姐的、三姐的…」。
我還記得，
那是託「義號佛堂」楊前人帶來的禮物。

那條籠基到現在我還留著＿
孔雀花紋的。

阿湘，
我這個作二姐的也羞愧妳了。
當時，
聽到這些關於妳的困難的消息，
只能每天想念著，
想到傷心，
我沒有任何能力。

那時，
我是，
連從緬甸腊戌到泰國邊境的車票都買不起呀。
當時我養著這麼多小娃，
吃一口飯都難。

阿湘，
現在講這些都只是回憶了，
都是我們老人家的回憶，
都不重要了。

那為什麼還要講這些呢？
就是，
為了，
想讓妳看到，
看到這些我說的話，
證實，
我是妳的二姐而已。
想讓妳知道，
我一直在找妳。

我活到八十歲，
夠了，
人活這麼老沒什麼意思，
都盡是傷心的事情。

我不知哪天會死去。
但如果可能的話，
在死去之前，
能讓我知道一下妳的消息。

我想知道，
妳在哪裡？
我想知道，
妳還活著嗎？

阿湘，
爸爸十幾年前已經去世，
大哥六年前去世，
連大姐，
前年也不在世上了。

妳二哥；
他住在泰國山邊荒地裡，
幫人家看田地，
過得不是很好，
但也不用擔心，
我在泰國的二兒子和大姑娘時常會去照顧他。

妳三哥，
講到也是讓我難過呀。

他大前年腦出血，
去醫院醫好了，
但醫好後，
很奇怪，
突然忘記了漢人話，
只會講泰國話。
後來不久，
他就偷偷上吊自殺了。

你說，
我們兄弟姐妹這是什麼樣的命運呢？

阿湘，
我們家沒剩下什麼人了，
妳三姐、妳四哥還在泰國。
還有我，
我還活著。
我還在緬甸，在腊戌。

除了妳，
我們一家人也就剩下這三個人了。

阿湘，
我們已經分別已四十三年，
妳也有六十多歲了吧？
我很想知道，
妳在哪裡？
妳還活著嗎？

如果有緣，
妳看到這信，
就回我一下吧。

妳的二姐胡明珠，
日日夜夜，
在等妳的消息。

二姐胡明珠　於緬甸腊戌
2020 年4月11日
姪Midi代筆

找人信箱：humingju1638@gmail.com

**************
#notice for a missing person

translated by Jane Lin
****************

Where are you, Hu Shine-Ho?

Ah-Shine,
This is your 2nd sister, Hu Ming-Ju. It has been a long time since we last saw each other. When you left Burma, my 2nd son was not even one-month-old. You asked why he was so fair-skinned? Had I put powder on his face? Now, he is 43 and I am almost 82.

Eighty something...I am indeed an old woman! People say that you lose your memory as you age. I am quite the opposite. The older I get, the better I remember! But, what I remember is nothing but sadness. Perhaps, our generation just doesn't have much happiness. Like you leaving home, we losing contact forever…. The thought of you puts me in such despair. Are you still alive? I imagine you living a good life?!! How many children? How are you?

Forty-three years ago, you were still a student at Chinese High School in Lashio. One day after school, I went to intercept you, "From now on, come to my home after school. Don't go to 1st sister's for dinner anymore." You said, "OK" and followed me home.

I still remember clearly that you had just sat down and I said, "The first sister asks that you come to me for dinner. She will take 3rd sister who's easy-going, not like you, a picky eater." I don't know what possessed me that day? Why I had to tell you what 1st sister had to say? Was I too naive? Too honest? Too stupid? I had absolutely no intension not to take care of you - we are sisters!!!! We have to care for each other, no matter how poor we are!!! The first sister's words just came out as a casual chat between sisters. Nothing more!

Life was tough for me at the time. Diseases took away two of my six children. But that didn't mean I would ignore my God-given responsibility as your elder sister. Without realizing the impact of my "casual chat", I went into the kitchen wondering what additional dish I could come up with for your first dinner with us. When I came out with the dishes, you were already gone! According to our landlady, Granny Hsu, you just got up and left as soon as I was out of sight. Only then did I realize my stupid mistake and how sensitive you were! Immediately, I ran after you, all the way to Big Pond Road where you and 3rd sister stayed. You were crying, asking 3rd sister for the money that 2nd brother sent. 3rd sister just kept quiet.

Indeed! The money that you demanded from 3rd sister was to cover living expenses for both of you. At that time, Mother had already passed away. The first brother went to Thailand, had already settled his own family in Pong Ngam. All the brothers followed suit. Father got caught in Kutkai by the immigration for not having an I.D. and had been in prison in Rangoon for 9 years. The Burmese government was just about to send him to Taiwan…. That day, while watching you cry, I understood how you felt. The third sister was getting ready to run away with her lover and both 1st sister and I were married young with our own families to deal with. As an 18-year-old with no mother, a father in prison, you must have felt all alone, sad and very scared.

I was filled with regrets watching you that day. But, please understand that I have always tried my best to take care of my family. When we escaped from Yunnan to Burma as refugees, I carried you on my back all day and all night without any complaints. When you went to Lashio for school, you wanted a pair of jeans so badly, remember? It was such a luxury that most people could not afford. Yet, I gathered all my might to get you a pair. You know I always have a soft spot for you, don't you? The day you were leaving Lashio for Thailand, do you know how many places I had to try to gather 300 Burmese kyats for you???

Ah-Shine, I know it was a huge struggle for you in Thailand. It's impossible that 1st sister-in-law would put you up. Second and 3rd brothers were in no position to help you….. I suppose you were pushed into marriage, just to end this desperate situation. Last I heard, you moved to Canada with your husband. From that point onward, in spite of all the efforts, I just couldn't find any trace of your whereabouts.

Our last contact stopped at Pong Ngam, Thailand. Or, was it MaeSai? I can't quite remember now. The news came to Lashio that you had run away from 1st brother's home. Later, you were temporarily staying with an older couple….

Before leaving for Canada, you sent, via Abbott Yang of the Yi Buddhist Hall, a package for us - each gift had a piece of dress fabric and a longyi, clearly labeled on a piece of white paper: "for 1st sister," "for 2nd sister," "for 3rd sister." I still have that longyi, with a peacock pattern, after all these years!

Ah-Shine, I feel deeply embarrassed to be your elder sister. Upon hearing the challenges that you had to face at the time, I could do nothing but worrying and feeling sad. I couldn't even afford the bus fare from Lashio to the Thai border. I barely managed to feed my own children!
Ah-Shine, What's the use of talking about these old memories? These sad memories of us old people have no importance but to serve to show you that I am indeed your 2nd sister.… that I have been looking for you all these years.

To live in my eighties is more than enough for me. It's not much fun to live this long - just a lifetime of sadness. I have no idea when I will die and I don't really care. I just wish that I could hear from/about you before I leave this world. I want to know where you are. I want to know if you are still alive.

Ah-Shine, Father passed away more than a decade ago. The first brother left us 6 years ago, so did the first sister 3 years ago. The second brother works as a field caretaker in a remote Thai mountainside. It's not a good life, but both my 2nd son and first daughter are also in Thailand; can visit and take care of him often. The saddest is our 3rd brother. He had a stroke 3 years ago. After recovery, he suddenly forgot his Chinese, could only speak in Thai. Not long after, he hanged himself! Please tell me what kind of fate has been bestowed on our siblings??? What is the meaning of life???
Ah-Shine, There aren't that many of us left, only 3rd sister and 4th brother in Thailand and me still in Burma. In Lashio.

Ah-Shine, We have been apart for 43 years. You should be in your 60s by now. I really would like to know if you are still alive and where you live. God willing, you will see this letter and reply!!! (humingju1638@gmail.com)

Waiting to hear from you, day and night!

Second sister, Hu Ming-Ju
Lashio, Myanmar
April 11. 2020

今天來介紹 barely 的用法
這是我7年前寫的文章😂 相信很多人應該沒看過

barely 查字典的話，你可能會看到 barely 的意思是：
「僅僅、勉強、幾乎沒有」

但我認為這不是最理想的翻法

這個字表達的是一種
「幾乎快要不行了，但還是可以」的感覺

舉個例子來說：
I can barely trust you.
說的就是「我幾乎快要不能相信你了，但我還是相信你」

【時事分享】
關於台灣街頭藝人的生態

原文為已在世界各地巡迴過的舞蹈家/導演/教育工作者所著
分享者為台灣極少數進入太陽馬戲團表演過的 陳星合(目前正在推動當代馬戲、新藝術表演發展的重要推手)

今天，小編不希望從新聞等第二手消息來源分享，相反的，把當事人最直接的反應和感受緣由呈現給大家

進入正題

首先小編必須很遺憾的說
台灣的藝術生態真的相較歐美國家還要落後許多。不僅發展時間短、投入經費少、人力匱乏、且大眾認知普遍不足，甚至，培育"藝術相關人才"的體系，除了相關院校有較為完整的配套，基礎上都是破碎的。要超英趕美，同志尚待努力，也許還要幾百年的時間。

回到街頭藝人為什麼會被這樣對待？

這是政府重視街頭文化程度的問題。
可以這樣說的原因是：

1. 沒有足夠的經費、人力去安排街頭藝人考試。

場地租金算天數的(而且很貴)，工作人員算時薪的。活動廠商沒有資源去安排一個為期足夠長的寬裕時間讓街頭藝人考試。也就是說，政府沒有想要投入更多的錢，反而是招標找最便宜的廠商解決活動。

如此一來，在時間十分緊湊的狀態下，要評審一天之內評審數百位街頭藝人，評審的品質如何維護？有時甚至會陷入如公車司機的窘境：delay趕場。我沒辦法聽你唱完，只能大概看一下就得評了。你還會什麼？趕快表演給我看，不然我就下分數了哦。

2. 評審的來源和資格一直都是爭議。

街頭表演五花八門，卻是少數幾種類別的表演人(甚至不是表演者)來評。

沒有相關背景的人來評分其實不是問題，畢竟街頭表演就是在街頭上表演的，也就是面對一般民眾。並不是開演唱會、音樂會、或者要進國家戲劇院演出的。

難的是：評審到底知不知道技巧難度與否？注意事項有哪些？也許評審不會做，但他必須看得出來，並有大致的概念。

政府要怎麼找到這些視野足夠寬廣且有公信力的人？
現在台灣政府普遍和藝術界還是有點代溝，因為這是一個很難看到成效的投入，你沒辦法用數字說人民的藝術氣息提升了十分。再者，會聯繫上政府的，只有出國成名回來，或者長期接案與政府合作者。

也許有人會說：街頭藝人不就是要在很短的時間內獲取觀眾的注意力嗎？
是的，在不同場合有各自適合的表演模式。不適合的，自然會被市場淘汰。

但，難道所有的表演藝術都"應該怎麼樣"嗎？
有些表演就是需要時間醞釀，有些表演需要足夠空間揮灑，有些表演需要觀眾安靜的看，他們都可能成為使社會藝術成份提高的一分子，可能是獨特的藝術文化起源。
如果是街頭藝人，又規定你的表演一定要短時間(一分鐘誇張的短)怎麼樣，這絕非一個可以助長各種多元藝術成長的環境。

雖還不能自稱藝術家，但小編希望這些訊息能夠讓大家更了解關於街頭藝人、關於台灣藝術生態的一小部分。

甚至，我們應該要有所行動。

對於社會的不公不義站出來，以各種合法的形式付諸行動，這是公民的權利與義務。
為的，是攜手讓社會更加美好。
因為我們，就在這裡。

By 蝶編

感謝黃翊 （Yi Huang）的中文翻譯。

『街頭藝人遴選制度需要被關心。
今日令我感到震驚的一幕
今天是我第一次在公眾場合、眾人面前表達我的憤怒與失望。
這一切開始於美好的一日，我以為這天只會因為參觀台北街頭藝術家徵選而更美好。當我看到所有的表演者們都在散佈於中正紀念堂各地的徵選位置準備時，一切都看起來完美極了。但在我看到評審團首席如何對待這些奮力演出的街頭表演者時，我無法對這一切保持沈默。
先讓我說明，每位表演者都必須支付報名費參加街頭藝人的徵選。徵選時他們獲得3分鐘的時間來呈現他們的表演，希望透過徵選獲得街頭藝人證，所以他們可以有機會透過他們熱愛的事物（表演）賺取收入。照片中的這位評審，帶領著一組看起來對觀看或聆聽街頭藝人的表演完全不耐煩的評審團。演出大約進行一分鐘時，他暫停了歌手的演唱，並對歌手說：許多歌手能唱不同語言的歌，像是英文，唱另一種語言！隨後歌手唱了一首台語歌，但大約唱了2句，他就和另一位評審交談，並不在意歌手的表現，這位評審團的主席就離開了，並招手要其他評審跟著他。
這位歌手只唱了不到一分半鐘（他們規定為3分鐘，而且這位評審中途不斷地打斷），請記得，這位評審的出席費是由這些充滿的期待的表演者們支付的，過程中他不斷的踐踏這些藝術家的熱情與努力。沒有任何一個正面的字眼，他的行為就像他是這裡的大老闆，高高在上的看著這些卑微的表演者們。他隨意地與他人閒談以及離席，從未有任何言語或動作上給予任何人肯定。一位擊樂演奏者的呈現被打斷，並被要求演奏不同的內容，第三次時他就離席了，而其他評審就跟著他這麼做。
所以，我禮貌的接近他，詢問他的姓名以及希望索取他的名片。我告訴他我希望未來能與他對談。他鄙視的問我是誰？他用看待一位學生的眼神看著我，但我並不是。我是一位已40歲，並曾於世界各地的大學與藝術節工作的的舞蹈、電影、和教育工作者。
他不想給我他的名片，他看起來很不耐且驚訝有人對此表達意見。所以我說我可以給他我的聯絡資訊，但我們必須對徵選方式做討論。
今天台北市徵選街頭表演者的方式是對整體的藝術工作者與環境的不尊重與侮辱，我不想否定這一切，但他讓我無從選擇。
我和他說，第一點，他對待表演者的方式過於失禮。身為一位教育者，我無法對我所見的保持沈默。
第二點，評選的流程對藝術領域來說並不公正，若他不能尊重藝術家，那他對藝術的觀點又是什麼？我可以看出他對我的發言嗤之以鼻。但他的行為使我無從選擇。他嚴重踐踏這些表演者，我自己身為藝術家與藝術支持者，我必須要做點什麼。
承辦人對我表示道歉，並說程序必須要繼續下去。我和他說我並沒有意思要停止他們，我僅不過是想知道我該怎麼與他們取得聯繫，討論這件事情。如果你對我有足夠的了解，會知道我的個性，我是一個隨遇而安，很好相處的人。我幾乎未曾在公眾場合發過脾氣。但今日他們對在場所有藝術家做的一切，是真正的污辱與踐踏。
我可以從這位傲慢的評審眼裡看得出，他並不在意我的意見。他認為他是權威，而且他的做法是對的，他也總是這麼做。所有的年輕職員總是畏懼他。今天他的無禮、粗暴、傲慢，使我非常想了解他為何這麼做。
事後，幾個人前來感謝我站出來發聲，表示他們也有同感但沒有勇氣對評審、主辦單位反應這些評議、授權機制的問題。其中一位台北縣政府承辦人說，她也對藝術家被對待的方式感到難過。
我不懂為什麼人們不為彼此挺身而出。台北市的社會已經失去它的功能，在藝術領域更是嚴重。
身為一個理應支持與保護藝術的機構，不論在文化或專業上，今天他們都完全失格。這一切看起來像是一個考一條狗、一隻貓、一隻鳥和一尾魚去爬樹一樣的荒謬。
我留給了他們我的聯絡資訊，他們說他們會聯絡我，如果他們沒這麼做，這可以是我下一部電影的標題《一部關於那些帶著希望與期待的表演者被如何對待的紀錄片》。
我非常的憤怒，我真的希望能夠改變他們對藝術膚淺的觀點。
翻譯William Lu文章』

謝謝大家關注這個議題，我剛剛把評審的照片拿掉了，原因是我希望大家不要將這位評審當成壞人，而也我們把焦點專注在這個事件上，而不是人身上，我們才能真正長期的改善這個問題．因為我不會中文，所以我會和我的夥伴們一起再產出一篇更詳盡完整的中文文章，屆時也煩請大家一同關注，讓台灣的藝術環境更好，最好也謝謝幫我翻譯以下文章的朋友，我非常訝異這篇造成的影響力，感謝你們！

I CAUSED A SCENE TODAY IN THE PUBLIC

Today I got very angry and upset for the first time in public in front of a crowd.

What started out as a nice day, I thought it would only get better by attending the street performance artist's exam in Taipei. Everything seemed nice when I saw the performers were all prepared in their provided locations around the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. But after I saw the head of the judge panel treated the street performers while performing, I couldn't keep my mouth shut.

Let me explained: each performer had to pay to register for the license exam. They were given 3 minutes to present their work(s) hoping they'd get a lisence so they can earn some sort of living from their passion. This one particular judge (pictured) leading the group seems impatiently listen and watch the street performers. It barely hit the one minute mark, he aggressively cut into the song of a singer and told the performer "many singers sing in different languages like English etc, sing in another language!"(I paraphrased with my bad Chinese translation). Then the singer started singing in Taiwanese language. But barely two sentences, he talked to another judge barely paying attention to the performer this head judge basically just left and gestured to the rest of the group to follow him.

The singer sang barely a minute and a half (they were promised 3 mins and they kept being interrupted by this judge). Bare in mind, this judge is earning a wage while these hopeful performers were paying him to be there. He basically did the same thing over and over again disregarding the artist's intent and hard work. Not a single word of appreciation. He just acted as he was a big boss looking down on these petty performers. He chatted as he wished and walked away without saying a "thank you" or a gesture of acknowledgement. A percussionist kept being interrupted asking him to do something different. Then he just left after the third time. The rest of the judges just followed.

So, i approached him politely asking for his name and his business card. I told him I wanted to talk to him one on one in the future. Degradingly he asked me who I was. I could see in his eyes that he saw a young man who looked like a student to him. But I was not and am not. I am a 40 year old dance artist, filmmaker and educator that have taught around the globe and in many prestigious colleges and festivals.

He didn't want to give me his business card. He seemed annoyed and surprised that someone spoke up. So I said I can give him my contact info but we needed to talk on how the exam went.

The way Taipei city exams the performers today was both disrespectful and insulting to the arts community in general. I didn't want to say this all out. But he left me with no choice.

I told him, for one, the way he treated the performers was disrespectful. As an educator I could not be quiet when I see something like that. Second, the process of the exam is not doing the art community any justice. If he cannot see the artists as a human being first, then what does it say about his view on the Arts. I could see him pissed off. But again he left me with no choice. He was very degrading towards these performers. As an artist myself and an art advocate I had to do something.

The organizer apologized to me said the process needed to go on. I told him I wasn't trying to stop them. I merely want to know how I could get in touch with them to discuss this. If you know me well enough, you should know my temperament. I am a happy go lucky person. I almost never get angry in the public. But it was genuinely insulting and degrading to every artists based on what I saw today.

This arrogant judge didn't care of my opinion. I could see it in his eyes. He was basically the superior in his world and his way was the right way. That's how he had always done it. All the young staffers there were afraid of him. Today he was disrespectful, rude, and arrogant. I really want to know why he does what he does.

After the incident, a few people came up and thanked me for speaking up. They felt the same way but they didn't have the courage to say it to this judge or the organization that issues these licenses. One organizer from the New Taipei City said even she felt bad seeing how the performers being treated.

I don't understand why people don't stand up for each other. The Taipei City has failed their community and even more so to their arts community.

For an organization that is supposed to advocate for the arts, culture and authenticity, they did miserably today. It is like giving an exam to a dog, a cat, a bird and a monkey then telling them that their exam is climbing a tree. It's absolutely ridiculous.

I left them my contact information. They said they will contact me. If they don't, this could be an interesting subject for my next film project. A documentary on how these hopeful, aspiring performers being treated.

I am mad and I am angry. I really hope they will change their shallow way of seeing Arts.

P.S. Share or repost in Chinese. They need to change. Thanks.

台北國際藝術村－寶藏巖 Taipei Artist Village－Treasure Hill
Taipei National University of the Arts
臺北表演藝術中心 Taipei Performing Arts Center
National Theater and Concert Hall, Taipei
中正紀念堂 Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
National Taiwan University of Arts