(Above) The stage at the September 15, 2007 rally in New York
(Left) Traditional dances and outfits show authentic Taiwanese pride and culture
Working in the Taiwanese American community in New York, I am always absorbed in the preparation for the “UN for Taiwan” grassroots movement every September. The annual peace rally and march at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, located in Manhattan across from the United Nations, is organized by the Committee for Admission of Taiwan to the United Nations (CATUN), which was established in 1992 through the Taiwanese American Council of Greater New York and represents more than 20 Taiwanese American organizations in the states of New York and New Jersey.
For 15 years, CATUN has been raising the voice for Taiwan on the topic of membership in the UN. It has been promoting Taiwan’s United Nations membership through peace rallies, marches and demonstrations, as well as cultural activities such as musical concerts and art exhibitions. Through articles in Taiwanese-American publications, Dr. Hong Tien Lai, chairperson of CATUN, emphasizes the importance of pushing on with the grassroots movement each September. However, due to the current condition in the international society and the past standpoint of the Taiwan government, the peace rally each September has become a routine annual event that comes across as perfunctory and presents no visible breakthrough opportunities.
For 15 years, CATUN has been raising the voice for Taiwan on the topic of membership in the UN. It has been promoting Taiwan’s United Nations membership through peace rallies, marches and demonstrations, as well as cultural activities such as musical concerts and art exhibitions. Through articles in Taiwanese-American publications, Dr. Hong Tien Lai, chairperson of CATUN, emphasizes the importance of pushing on with the grassroots movement each September. However, due to the current condition in the international society and the past standpoint of the Taiwan government, the peace rally each September has become a routine annual event that comes across as perfunctory and presents no visible breakthrough opportunities.
(Right) Protestors,mainly NATWA members, including President Darice Lee from L.A., stand their ground in New York.
September of 2007, however, marks a historical milestone for the Taiwanese American’s “UN for Taiwan” grassroots movement. For the first time in history, the Taiwan government began using “Taiwan” instead of “Republic of China (ROC)” for the membership application, inspiring more than 3000 people, including Taiwanese Americans and non-Taiwanese Americans who support the issue, to join the peace rally and march on September 15th, 2007 at the Hammarskjold Plaza. This number of participants more than doubled the past record.
Current president and members of NTAWA devoted their time and energy for Taiwan to be in a four-day sit-in rally at the Hammarskjold Plaza from September 18th to 21st. The group, an average of 20 people, caught the attention of Americans and the English-speaking media, causing a breakthrough in the media coverage of the UN for Taiwan movement. Additionally, from friends I have also received emails about similar peace rallies held in countries around the globe, including Japan, the United Kingdom, and Europe. At the plaza in front of the Council of Europe, Taiwanese in Europe distributed educational materials in such diverse languages as English, French, Dutch, and German.
Current president and members of NTAWA devoted their time and energy for Taiwan to be in a four-day sit-in rally at the Hammarskjold Plaza from September 18th to 21st. The group, an average of 20 people, caught the attention of Americans and the English-speaking media, causing a breakthrough in the media coverage of the UN for Taiwan movement. Additionally, from friends I have also received emails about similar peace rallies held in countries around the globe, including Japan, the United Kingdom, and Europe. At the plaza in front of the Council of Europe, Taiwanese in Europe distributed educational materials in such diverse languages as English, French, Dutch, and German.
(Left) Traditional dances and outfits show authentic Taiwanese pride and culture
“I am Tai-Ke”
I am very touched by the passion and devotion of the many transportation coordinators across the US and Canada; their commitment inspired and encouraged many people to embark on the long rides to New York, taking as long as 15 hours one way, long enough to return to Taiwan from New York.
I am very touched by the passion and devotion of the many transportation coordinators across the US and Canada; their commitment inspired and encouraged many people to embark on the long rides to New York, taking as long as 15 hours one way, long enough to return to Taiwan from New York.
Among the most impressive UN-for-Taiwan emails I have received are actually two amazingly pleasant surprises. A couple of Caucasian owners of a lovely inn in New Jersey emailed me a supportive email with two pictures, showing bright blue sky and sky-typed words in white: UN FOR TAIWAN. The pictures were taken on their way to the JFK airport while sending off to a friend to China, who was told not to talk about the Taiwan/China relationship during his stay there. The few words in the sky prompted them to do some research and learn about Taiwan’s plight in the international society.
The other email came from a graduate student in England asking me if there are events he can join in the U.K. His name disclosed his Middle-Eastern ethnicity, and he mentioned that most of his knowledge about Taiwan came via a Caucasian friend teaching in a college in Taiwan. I visited the professor’s blog, entitled “The View from Taiwan” and enjoyed reading his analytical articles about his observation on Taiwan, including trips and travels, history and culture, the economy and politics, government policies, Taiwan and the world. In an article entitled “Why Hsieh Will Win”, he further provided his perspective on the 2008 presidential election.
As I was enjoying the blog, I was shocked when the graduate student in the UK emailed me in fluent Chinese characters to share with me his own blog. It is not an exaggeration to say that my jaw dropped as I read the eight Chinese characters in the name of his blog (the first four in Mandarin, the second four in Taiwanese): Wou De Wang Chi! Gua Si Tai Ke! (My blog! I am Tai Ke!) The bilingual blog’s content ranged from traveling in Taiwan, the rights of Taiwanese aboriginals, to music from soap operas that feature young Taiwanese idols. The term “Tai Ke,” while hard to find an appropriate translation in English due to the term’s rich cultural connotation, refers to local Taiwanese with strong grassroots characteristics. In a travel-related article on Taiwan in February 2006, The New York Times described “Tai Ke” as part of the country’s “vibrant cultural movement.” I certainly appreciate all the inspiration created by non-Taiwanese people who care about the island country.
The other email came from a graduate student in England asking me if there are events he can join in the U.K. His name disclosed his Middle-Eastern ethnicity, and he mentioned that most of his knowledge about Taiwan came via a Caucasian friend teaching in a college in Taiwan. I visited the professor’s blog, entitled “The View from Taiwan” and enjoyed reading his analytical articles about his observation on Taiwan, including trips and travels, history and culture, the economy and politics, government policies, Taiwan and the world. In an article entitled “Why Hsieh Will Win”, he further provided his perspective on the 2008 presidential election.
As I was enjoying the blog, I was shocked when the graduate student in the UK emailed me in fluent Chinese characters to share with me his own blog. It is not an exaggeration to say that my jaw dropped as I read the eight Chinese characters in the name of his blog (the first four in Mandarin, the second four in Taiwanese): Wou De Wang Chi! Gua Si Tai Ke! (My blog! I am Tai Ke!) The bilingual blog’s content ranged from traveling in Taiwan, the rights of Taiwanese aboriginals, to music from soap operas that feature young Taiwanese idols. The term “Tai Ke,” while hard to find an appropriate translation in English due to the term’s rich cultural connotation, refers to local Taiwanese with strong grassroots characteristics. In a travel-related article on Taiwan in February 2006, The New York Times described “Tai Ke” as part of the country’s “vibrant cultural movement.” I certainly appreciate all the inspiration created by non-Taiwanese people who care about the island country.
(Right) Different chapters from the US came to represent their Taiwanese American
communities
Childhood Dreams
“UN Membership for Taiwan.” Is it simply a glorious dream or an achievable goal with a long journey? While I am not able to provide a definite answer now, I would like to share my impression regarding a speech that I heard recently. A week ago, I had the chance to watch a recorded speech by Professor Randy Pausch from the Carnegie Mellon University. While many universities invite soon-to-retire faculty members to talk at “The Last Lecture” speech series, Pausch’s talk is unique because the slim, humorous, and friendly professor, who is in his forties and has made outstanding contributions to the technology of virtual reality, is diagnosed with cancer and was told by doctors that he has only a few months left to live. It could literally be his “last lecture.”
The topic of the lecture is “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” Pausch shared with the audience the process, the people, and the incidents that occurred while realizing most of his childhood dreams. The speech is not filled with doctrines of the secrets of success, but rather a sensitive and humanitarian description of the process, the people, and the incidents involved while realizing most of his childhood dreams.
Toward the conclusion, Pausch purposefully and sincerely pointed out that the main point of the speech was not directed at how to realize your dreams, but more importantly, how to “lead your life.” If done appropriately, eventually the dreams will come to you. His conclusion reminded me of some words that a first-generation Taiwanese American told me while I shared with him my dream of some day doing cultural work in Taiwan: “Sometimes you can not even imagine” he said, “some of the things that can happen in life.”
In the face of achieving dreams and goals, from personal ones to those as grand as fighting for Taiwan to be part of the United Nations, it is, after all, the accumulation of every single step that counts and matters. Not only regular and routine steps but creative ones as well. At a speech on the topic of the UN and Taiwan at Columbia University, I met a second-generation Taiwanese American. She volunteered to organize a trip to Taiwan so the students at the School of International and Public Affairs would learn more about the country and the challenges it faces. Also, a Taiwanese-American artist had an installation project at the Hammarskjold Plaza for two days in mid October, expressing UN membership for Taiwan from a different angle. Through the actions of people expanding the movement by way of creative and diverse events, I feel certain it will then be possible, like the pursuit of all dreams and goals, to witness another historical milestone for the movement.
By Yi-Miao Huang
“UN Membership for Taiwan.” Is it simply a glorious dream or an achievable goal with a long journey? While I am not able to provide a definite answer now, I would like to share my impression regarding a speech that I heard recently. A week ago, I had the chance to watch a recorded speech by Professor Randy Pausch from the Carnegie Mellon University. While many universities invite soon-to-retire faculty members to talk at “The Last Lecture” speech series, Pausch’s talk is unique because the slim, humorous, and friendly professor, who is in his forties and has made outstanding contributions to the technology of virtual reality, is diagnosed with cancer and was told by doctors that he has only a few months left to live. It could literally be his “last lecture.”
The topic of the lecture is “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” Pausch shared with the audience the process, the people, and the incidents that occurred while realizing most of his childhood dreams. The speech is not filled with doctrines of the secrets of success, but rather a sensitive and humanitarian description of the process, the people, and the incidents involved while realizing most of his childhood dreams.
Toward the conclusion, Pausch purposefully and sincerely pointed out that the main point of the speech was not directed at how to realize your dreams, but more importantly, how to “lead your life.” If done appropriately, eventually the dreams will come to you. His conclusion reminded me of some words that a first-generation Taiwanese American told me while I shared with him my dream of some day doing cultural work in Taiwan: “Sometimes you can not even imagine” he said, “some of the things that can happen in life.”
In the face of achieving dreams and goals, from personal ones to those as grand as fighting for Taiwan to be part of the United Nations, it is, after all, the accumulation of every single step that counts and matters. Not only regular and routine steps but creative ones as well. At a speech on the topic of the UN and Taiwan at Columbia University, I met a second-generation Taiwanese American. She volunteered to organize a trip to Taiwan so the students at the School of International and Public Affairs would learn more about the country and the challenges it faces. Also, a Taiwanese-American artist had an installation project at the Hammarskjold Plaza for two days in mid October, expressing UN membership for Taiwan from a different angle. Through the actions of people expanding the movement by way of creative and diverse events, I feel certain it will then be possible, like the pursuit of all dreams and goals, to witness another historical milestone for the movement.
By Yi-Miao Huang
** Yi-Miao Huang would like to acknowledge NATWA for their efforts
In sunny Las Vegas, the music is always blasting, people are always smiling and events are always happening. It was no exception the weekend of October 11-14, when NATWA held their semi-annual conference in the grand ballrooms of the Bellagio hotel and casino. Starting off with boxed meals and a night of introductions and ice breakers on Thursday, the members were all just excited to have made it safely. On Friday and Saturday mornings and afternoons, there were more workshops dedicated to “Conflict Management” interspersed with generous buffets for lunch and breakfast.
