唇亡齒寒

Share a common fate;  Lips and teeth relationship

 

個人自掃門前雪,莫管他人瓦上霜

Keep your breath to cool your porridge

 

Today’s Hong Kong, Tomorrow’s Taiwan.  It is increasingly apparent that Hong Kong’s fate is closely intertwined with Taiwan’s future.  

It serves as a wake-up call for the Taiwanese as the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong today is a clear example of what could happen in Taiwan tomorrow if further infiltration from the ever-encroaching China is allowed.  Governed by the Communist China, there will be NO Freedom of Religion, Expression, Press, and Assembly.  Hong Kong and Taiwan share a common fate, a lips and teeth relationship. 

 

This reminds me of Martin Niemoller again.  Actually, every year, when it comes to Martin Luther King Jr’s Day, I would think of Martin Niemoller.  Though it’s way past Martin Luther King Jr’s Day, which is in January, I can’t help think of what Martin Niemoller said.  By the way, Martin Niemoller is not Martin Luther King Jr.  Marin Niemoller was a German theologian and Lutheran pastor.  He is best known for his opposition to the Nazi regime during the 1930s and for his widely quoted poem “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist.  Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist.  Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew.  Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.”  DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE WHEN THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE TO SPEAK FOR YOU. 

 

If you take the attitude to turn a blind eye and do nothing, thinking that’s others’ problem, you will be left with NO one to speak for you when it becomes your turn. 

 

This reminds me of the proverb “Keep your breath to cool your porridge”So, what does it mean?  It means to look after your own affairs, and do not put your spoke in another person's wheel.  (個人自掃門前雪,莫管他人瓦上霜).

By the way, I like to read Jane Austen’s novels.  This phrase was used in her novel “Pride and Prejudice”.   On Chapter 6, Elizabeth said to Darcy “There is a fine old saying, which everybody here is of course familiar with: 'Keep your breath to cool your porridge'; and I shall keep mine to swell my song."

 

Written by Elisa English

On October 7, 2019 in Minneapolis

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