These disputes, are actually, only, reflections of the bigger problem in this, society: the moral responsibilities the individual, and the societal values! Off of the Front Page Sections, translated…
The disputes on the matters of priority seats, seemed very miniscule in the goings on of day-to-day, but, it also showed, how FAR Taiwan had progressed in the civilized means.
First, there were the disputes of the priority seats, but, is it, really, THAT, serious? Since the operations of the Taipei M.R.T. began back in 1996, it'd become a part of the life of those living in Taipei metro. On February 4th, 2012, the day's occupancy exceeded two million commuters for the first time, the accumulated total of commuters got up to ten billion on March 31, 2019, the affirmative of all of these data goes to show, that the digits will continue to rise higher and higher in the near and far, futures.
the dispute got to the point where the elderly woman ranted incessantly, even after the younger man let up his seat to her, until he was forced to get down on his knees to apologize for sitting in the priority seats, photo from online
Under this situation, can the sporadic disputes of the priority seats be considered, day-to-day going on on the M.R.T.'s? Based off of my personal experiences, I'd taken the M.R.T eight to ten times weekly, and, "unfortunately", I'd, never witnessed any disputes of the like personally; on the contrary, I'd often seen, the letting up of seats, and the exchanges of the gratitude between strangers, and this, is the beautiful sight of Taiwan.
Secondly, the debate on doing away with the priority seating, has a depth of meaning legally and, the values of progress in the civilization.
The Handicap Persons' Protection Act stated, that the public transportation without the assigned seating, need to set up the priority seating sections, not lower than fifteen-percent of total seating. And, this spirit in legislature, exceeded the ideological equality, and used the difference of treatments, to apply the properties of equality, hoping to set up a handicapable zone, to assist those with the issues (caused by old age, injury, etc., etc.) of mobility, so they can safely ride the public transportation.
And, compared to those with the visible needs of the priority seat (using canes, pregnant women), the disputes often surfaces with those who don't have the visible needs (like women who are experiencing menstrual cramps, or someone who's too tired), and this is also, a test of the progressions of societal civility, the key is in how to handle the uncertainties of situations, and, how we viewed strangers.
The original thought of the seats was of good will, and, there would be a complete set of working policies, to reduce the misunderstandings that are caused by the, uncertainties, for instance, the "pregnant woman" sticker that women can get, or the sticker of "needing help", that are made available, to those with a need of sitting in the priority seating sections, but, there's only, limited effect, as not very many people used these, reinforcement items.
And, how we treat strangers, showed how civilized a society is. On the one hand, a civilized society is willing to believe, that kindness can transpire between, strangers, not doubting the motives of others, and on the other, a civilized society also, respects that everybody has a choice, to NOT enforce ones' own beliefs onto others, and this is shown by the tolerance, the trust between the members of society. And how to view those who sit in the priority seats is a good example of this.
Maybe, the name of the priority seats can be changed, but, it should be, eliminated. But, the efficacy of the name change is to be, observed, the maintaining of the priority seating on the public transportation systems is parallel to the progressing of the Taiwanese society. The children at home, need to fight with each other, to grow up, to learn the ethics of the families, while these debate of regarding the priority seating, in the active progression of equality and the values of civilization.
One thing is for certain, in the futures, there will, be more disputes like these, but this is, a necessary evil of the society, learning to become more and more, civilized.
And, if these priority seating sections are, taken out of the public transportation systems, then, W-H-O will pay, if a pregnant woman falls and miscarries, the city, the department of transportation? Her own self, for NOT grabbing the handrails, tightly enough? This is NO longer about the priority seating, it's on the moral responsibilities, the well-roundedness of a society, and, frankly, everything had, gone, down that slippery slope, and this is, missing the point of the disputes here.
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