70th Birthday Party Speech
I am honored and delighted to have so many friends and relatives attending this
dinner. I hope everyone has enjoyed themselves. I wish to take this opportunity to give
thanks to poet Russell Leong for reciting his poem written expressly for this occasion.
And also to Vivian Chiang, Philip Choy, Maurice Chuck, Prof. Yuji Ichioka, Gordon Lew,
Dr. Rolland Lowe, Ruthanne McCunn, Prof. Ling-chi Wang, and Prof. Judy Yung who
uttered so many kind words of praise at the podium. I also thank friends and colleagues
who were unable to attend but sent congratulatory messages. I also wish to express my
appreciation to the many friends who, being very Chinese, insisted upon sending gifts.
The planning and organizing of this event had involved a great many people and
it is appropriate at this time for me to give them the recognition they deserve. In
September my brothers-in-law William and Albert Jung and their families and my wife’s
nephews Horatio, Jr., Horace and Eugene Jung and their families started the ball rolling
when they decided to host this dinner. My brother-in-law Horatio Jung, his wife Jane,
and my wife Laura then took care of reserving the restaurant, printing and sending out
the invitations, and planning the seating arrangements. At that time nobody had given
any serious thoughts to issuance of a souvenir publication since it was felt that there was
insufficient lead-time. Prof. Lorraine Dong, however, solved that problem when she
volunteered to edit and put out such a booklet; Mr. Ou Weiye wrote the Chinese section.
Amazingly, a publication was finished in a month. Prof. Marlon Hom agreed to be in
charge of the program and he also took on the task of notifying friends and colleagues
outside of the Bay Area with the results you have seen. I wish to take this opportunity to
express my deep gratitude for their hard work in putting together this event.
As you probably all know I have been retired for ten years. In a few days I will
see my seventieth birthday. According to the Chinese tradition few people lived to be
seventy years old, hence seventy years of age was also call the age that had been “rare
since ancient times.” However, thanks to modern science and technology, nowadays if
one does not live to be seventy then he or she would be considered to have had a short
lifespan! But, regardless of how I may wish to choose to look at this question, at age
seventy I have reached a stage when I have to consider stepping back.
I have lived an interesting and rich life. My seventy years have seen momentous
changes in the world. The world I am living in today certainly differs greatly from the
world that existed when I was born. About the only element that not changed is the fact
that the world is still full of strife and problems. It is just that people are now fighting over
different issues. Maybe that is progress!
I am a product of the San Francisco Chinese American community. I came out of
a working class family background, which undoubtedly influenced my outlook on life.
Nam Kue Chinese School, the public schools, and the public library system had given
me the fundamental knowledge that had served me well in my later career. My
participation in Mun Ching during the fifties broadened my horizons and enabled me to
better focus in my life. There I made some lifelong friendships and also first met my wife.
When the Chinese Historical Society of America, East-West Chinese American Journal,
Chinese Culture Center, the Hon Sing Community Hour radio program, and Asian
American Studies arose during the sixties and seventies as part of the struggle of the
minorities to gain a place in American society as equal partners, I participated in some of
the developments. Tonight I hear many words praising my role in these sectors. While I
do acknowledge that I did put in some effort, it should be recognized that it was the
circumstances of the times that enabled the deeds. I just happened to possess those
skills that could be used to advantage at the time and was a willing participant. Thus the
conditions were right. However, I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to
contribute.
But, as the Chinese poem goes, “The evening sun’s glow is incomparable, only it
is already twilight,” and it is time for younger more energetic people to come to the fore
to assume the principal roles. However, you are not rid of me yet, for I still have a
number of unfinished tasks I have committed to. And judging from the list, it looks like it
may take some time.
Thank you.
Him Mark Lai
October 27, 1995