Dear Editor:
Your May (domestic edition) story from page 32 to 39 ("Amy in Taiwan -- the Story of a Returned Child Emmigrant") stirred up deep emotions.
While I am certainly happy that overseas Chinese "return" here to work hard and make their contribution to this land, in my heart I have continued holding some doubts: If Amy's mother, brother and sister have all stayed in Canada, does that not mean that she herself is a Canadian citizen?
While I don't narrow-mindedly criticize dual nationals, from an historical angle I think that Taiwan's current problems--its dirt, mess and pollution--may all be the result of the "emigration attitudes" of an emigration society. When our ancestors crossed the sea to come here, they came viewing this land as something of "productive benefit"--a place where they could make a living, a way station where money could be earned to bring back to support their families in central China (just as today its money is sent to support families abroad). There were never plans of setting roots here. And thus the dirt, the mess and the industrial pollution has been the result, as people want to earn Taiwan's money but don't want to live here! They make a big stink about all of Taiwan's problems, creating social disorder and chaos, and then they go.
And so is Amy putting down roots here? (Her roots are from here!) Or when the economy in North America improves will she "return home"?
And what is it that she cares about today? Besides her work and her leisure, I don't know if Amy cares about relations across the Taiwan Strait after the first direct talks between Taipei and Peking. I don't know how she feels about recognition of Taiwan.
I may have a somewhat narrow-minded perspective, but at the very least I hope that she isn't that one that I saw littering on the street.
If it's possible, I hope that this letter can obtain a response.
Lin Yu-hsin
Amy's Response
Dear Miss Lin,
Thank you for your letter. After reading it, I also have my own feelings about it.
First, I admire your courage and patriotism. You are always talking about Taiwan, but why are you majoring in English, but not Taiwan culture studies, Chinese studies, politics, or environmental studies? Aren't you very patriotic? Don't you want to repay your country by working on its behalf? So what can you do with an English degree? If I could give up everything--I mean everything in Canada, including things like family, friends, a job, security, self-identity, and much more--to come to Taiwan to learn about my lost culture, childhood memories, and future, why can't you at least go back and take the university examination again to enter some department which will be of more help in making a contribution to Taiwan? Compare my decision with reentering the college entrance exam and figure out which one is greater--I think you should be able to figure out the answer pretty easily. Now, you may well ask how I can judge your beliefs, personality, and so on just from your major field. Well, Miss Lin, I was just trying to give you a taste of your own medicine. How do you feel?
Second, all the various types of pollution in Taiwan were not created by emigrants or overseas Chinese. Every Taiwanese has some responsibility, such as housewives who bring home 50 plastic bags with them from the local market, school children who consume pastries or candies which are individually wrapped and packaged, office workers who drive their cars to work instead of taking public transportation, and then just park anywhere they want so they can go buy breakfast or a newspaper. Don't say this is the fault of Overseas Chinese--it is everyone's responsibility. Don't blame other people first; look at yourself first, and look at the root of the problem. Think about ways to resolve the problem, not to create hate or anger.
Third, I can assure you that right now I do not wish to set down roots in Taiwan. This is because people like you treat me like a foreigner, and have a bias against me, just because I have a Canadian passport. You have just set me into a category--this is called "prejudice" and "stereotyping." In the United States white people are prejudiced against black people because of skin color, a different culture, and a different history. But your prejudice against me is because I have another passport. Don't you think you are even worse than the KKK who hate blacks? This is very sad. At least I've never felt like a second class citizen in Canada. Now you know why I won't stay in Taiwan, because I'll always feel like an outsider.
Fourth, don't ever think that we Overseas Chinese never do anything for Taiwan. We have; it's just that for political reasons you people in Taiwan don't know. If you knew that our old Overseas Chinese abroad really want to come back, but are afraid to come back, you wouldn't have the same opinion.
Finally, I want to especially emphasize that I didn't come back to Taiwan for the money. My salary is only enough to live on, and not at all for being sent abroad to support my family like you say.
Amy Chen