Folks, I want to share an incident from Baptist history in Japan which is open to interpretation from either side. It may muddle things even more, but my hope is that it will cause both sides to think more deeply. It's from Southern Baptist Mission in Japan, by Calvin Parker (1989). This is an excellent read, and I recommend it. One thing it does is refuse to glorify us missionaries and refuse to put us on pedestals, and that is part of a good trend in missiology in recent years. (See especially From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya, by Ruth A. Tucker (2004 edition), a biographical history of missions.)
Here's the story: "At a Convention annual meeting, when a Japanese pastor said that churches could not be started without land and building, Garrott (Missionary Maxfield Garrott--JoJ) shouted 'Bakayaro!' So offensive is this term, usually translated "You fool," that its one time use by Prime Minister Yoshida in a Diet debate almost toppled his government. Yet Garrott's use of the obscenity--he could be excused as a foreigner--and later it was praised by Convention president, Shoji Okamura, as a shock that eventually won Convention wide support." (Parker, p. 197).
Here are some comments. First of all, the term's literal meaning is "foolish country bumpkin." Doesn't sound bad to you Americans, does it? This illustrates how epithets (not really an obscenity as the author says) are culturally connected. If the society around you thinks it's offensive, it is. If I were to go downtown on a Friday night and call someone this, I could get in any number of street fights!
Next, it is offensive to me that the Japanese overlooked the offense. It's paternal and prejudiced--"Well, the poor foreigner can't learn our language properly. He doesn't know any better." I've faced this prejudice many times, and it hurts. You might say, "They thought it helped." That was probably what is called tatemae (puttingup a front) in Japanese, trying to help the missionary save face.
Finally, I guarantee that the Japanese pastor who was called this name never forgot and never forgave. Plus, I'm sure the friends of the Japanese pastor took his side.In this way the missionary (really a good missionary who just made a mistake) actually limited his future ministry.
There you have it: cross-cultural experience with taboo words. Make of it what you will, just let it make you think.