LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor:

I have received the November issue of Sinorama of 1993, I didn't have a time to read the cover story until now and I was very surprised to see the different point of view concerning the overseas Chinese.

I would like to give my two cents in. . . . I was born in Taipei, Taiwan, my father worked for the Taiwanese government. Shortly after my birth, we were transferred to Philippines for five years. After that, only four years back in Taiwan and the rest of my life in Panama City, Republic of Panama. I was basically raised with the Western culture. But I have never lost the chance to continue learning my Chinese. . . . Either talking with my parents in Chinese, I always go and get some Chinese novels to read, especially those fiction martial art novels. Other than that, I participated in many Chinese events held in Panama at the same time was helping in doing public translation for businessmen from Taiwan that were there exhibiting their products in Panama. I have never thought of myself other than I am Chinese and I was very proud of being born in Taiwan, although I hold very little image of my homeland, but I still remembered the time I played in Peitou with joy.

When I decided to pursue my college studies, I realized I can't possible go back to Taiwan, first, my Chinese were only good as of a 12 grade student, and besides I couldn't even write any Chinese word with ease. Second, I have so much Westerner's cultural background in me that I was afraid to be discriminated. Third, Taiwan is too far, and I couldn't afford to buy a ticket back home. And the last, I realized I wouldn't possible be able to survive the competitive lifestyle back home. I know I am good in computers, but I realized that in Taiwan many are better than me. I know I am good in English and Spanish that I can make a living, but I was still feared of trying to make myself comfortable with all the strangers but yet of the same race.

I decided to study in the United States, I came to Cleveland, a land where the competition is much less than the West Coast areas. I didn't feel uncomfortable here and were able to adjust my living according to the local customs. But I also realized for the first time what I have become. . . . Shortly after my father retired in Panama, we all received our new Taiwanese Passport but a passport starts with O = Overseas Chinese . I realized this while in Cleveland studying, my homeland had already considered me as an Overseas Chinese but not a Taiwan born Chinese. I had realized that the Taiwanese government had taken away what I always stand proud of, my citizenship of being a Chinese born in Taiwan, not an Overseas naturalized Chinese. Other than putting myself down, I have decided to study more of my own cultural background, and while doing so, I found that not many Westerners understand or even know of the Chinese culture, they always mistaken us for Japanese. And while visiting many bookstores and libraries, there were more Japanese related literature than Chinese related subjects. I became more upset, first my country decided to treat me as OS (Overseas Chinese), then I am upset of not finding many Chinese related books around. How could we show others and alert others about our existent? In fact, I also found out that Chinese are still NOT considered as minorities here in the United States!

So, I decided to make something new, I decided to create a bilingual Chinese/English cultural magazine here in Cleveland. I followed the examples of your magazine and created the Han Wei--Chinese Advocate (a magazine to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western cultures). I wanted to distribute this magazine in all the bookstores here in Cleveland, Akron and Columbus, Ohio. This way, everyone can get a copy and read about us! I also want to use this opportunity to broaden my knowledge of who I am and also let the US government understand that we are of existence .

To cut everything short, I am very upset for what is going on now in Taiwan, I wish that people who are of the same race, same color and from the same descendent can actually unite our heart together and make our future generation a better place of less bigotry and ignorance.

Johnny Wu, USA