張世勳部落格

休士頓沙拉醬

[10/01/2011]

（吳文馨譯自張世勳Houston Salad Bowl） 一盤沙拉可以提供給我們許多佐菜。依據您的喜愛，這些佐菜可以是混合著各式各樣的綠色香草或蔬菜，蕃茄，生菜，菠菜，包心菜，紅蘿蔔，白蘿蔔，洋菇，香菇等等，有些時候和起士，肉片，魚片或可能是水果，一齊調配混合。這盤綜合沙拉經過準備處理，切片，再配以沙拉醬，清爽可口。我們可以從沙拉盤看見並嚐到各種蔬菜佐菜的味道。當我們一口一口嚐著這盤沙拉中各樣的佐菜時，每一樣菜的佳味都更甜美，更可口了。

　　在美國這個偉大的國家一樣，不同的種族，就好像沙拉食譜中的許多佐菜。每天我們看到不同族群的居民生活工作在一起。就好像在沙拉盤裡不同的佐菜。當你把這些人混合在一起，再加上大家的共同目標（就像沙拉的沙拉醬)，你就看到了美國這個國家了。這些共同的目標就是使這個國家變成更好的地方－讓每個人有機會去實現他們美夢，養育我們的下一代，使大家生活，工作得更好。

　　當我們檢視休士頓的人口組成，我們看到許多種族和國籍。這個城市主要族群是白人，西班牙裔，非裔和亞裔，每一族裔有他們獨特的傳統風俗和宗教。有些更有他們自己的語言，學校和報紙。促使種族的融合，使大家生活在和諧中，台灣人是這些致力於融入社區的族裔之一。

　　今天休士頓至少有五萬人以上台灣人，大多數大抵在廿五年前移民美國，有些人更早，約在四十年前。在八十年代初期，有更多本土台灣人移民休士頓地區，隨著這些新移民而來的是更好的財務支持，同時在離開台灣之前，對美國就有更多的瞭解。更多台灣人的公司或機構也已開始在這裡興隆起來。這些地方也就是台灣移民碰面，社交往來在一起，交換關於台灣和休士頓當地資訊之所在。

　　我們也注意到更多的父母把小孩送到中文學校，去學習有關台灣文化及生活方式。許多年青的台裔美國小孩都非常熟悉台灣傳統並引以為榮。另一方面，許多年紀較大，同樣是台裔美籍的小孩，則沒有機會享受這樣的經驗。他們大都成長在七十年代早期，那時休士頓台灣人還是非常少。除了在家庭之外，他們較沒有機會沈浸在自己的文化傳統。這些台裔美籍也就比較少受到台灣傳統之薰陶。比起那些後來者他們的生活方式使得他們比較難去認識自己。

　　一盤成功美味的休士頓沙拉盤，沙拉醬扮演著重要的角色，去掘取每一佐菜的美味。做為代表一個休士頓的族裔或文化，我們必須以共同的目標來凝聚大家和諧在一起。什麼是每個人追求的共同目標？一些比較重要的是，使休士頓成為更好居住的地方，使休士頓更適合養育家庭的地方，更好繼續享有我們傳統的地方。我們很多人都忘記了在這些理想中，我們貢獻我們自己責任的重要性。做為一個移民，為了更有所成就，我們面臨更多的困難。我們必須更勤奮工作去達到成就的標準，而這個標準對別人也許是容易一些的。在這種過程中，我們忘記了對社區的責任，我們忽視了我們身處的社區是一個整體。美國是個人人生而平等的國家，每個人都有機會表達他自己的意思，表達個人的意思是被鼓勵的。很可惜的是，缺少參與的熱誠是台灣人社區中，一個很大的瑕疵。

　　典型的藉口是「我很忙」或「我英文講得不好」或「我沒有認識任何人」。事實上每件事的重要性是自己預想的。優先順序是依重要性而設定。如果很重要就不會沒有時間了。假如英文說不好，也許就應該加強語文訓練。你不認識任何人，或許是你從沒給自己機會認識新朋友。數年前，休士頓警局西域指揮站新的主管想和鄰近社區溝通認識。他主動安排不同族裔市民集會，在非裔及西班牙裔的集會中，很多居民都來參與，表達他們的關切及對新主管的支持。慚愧的是亞裔的集會幾乎是無人參與，這位主管諷刺性地對我說：「你們亞裔似乎沒有問題吧！」因為只有兩人來參加而已。另一個缺乏參與社區事務的集會是休士頓西南區規劃委員會集會。

　　幾乎所有中文報紙都報導，有一個市民大會將討論在百利大道和Fondren路上的規劃案，並表示歡迎提問或建議如何做好更好的鄰近社區環境。這是一個重要的集會，討論如何使用一千四百萬美元的債券基金來改善當地交通安全及美化。這是西南中國城所在地，有超過50%的地產是亞裔擁有的，我數了一下，沒有超過七位亞裔參加，其中還包括三位華文報紙的記者。再一次，亞裔被證明是不溝通，不社交的族裔，既使是可以贏得我們自身的利益。

　　在積極方面，有些亞裔關切我們居住的社區。有些社團已經推出一些活動諸如清掃社區，從亞裔中募集財務和義工去幫忙休士頓比較不幸的人。再例如休士頓台灣商會，連續五年，會同休士頓市政府，台北經文處籌辦年度市長優良教師表揚大會，經由對老師的表揚，來回饋社區。我們表示我們關心我們居住的都市，我們貢獻於一個叫休士頓的社群。許多亞裔也致力地方性的選舉。他們之中有黃朱慧愛當選德州眾議員，關振鵬當選休士頓市議員。他們在主流媒體的展露頭角，提高並展示了亞裔在休士頓是有實力的一群。我們希望我們的下一代能更被認同。我們希望他們能在這機會之地上更發揚光大。我們必須表示出我們亟想成為這個偉大國家的一份子，我們更要展示我們要參與，使得美國這個國家，在世界村裡變成更好的國家。

　　溝通是互相瞭解的根。互相瞭解是減低種族磨擦很好的工具。只有透過相互瞭解和相互關懷，透過共同的目標，我們可以有一個和平的，繁榮的地方去實現我們的美夢。有安家之處，更好工作和居住的地方。這些共同目標就是休士頓沙拉醬。我們有權力去選擇我們自己的宗教，實踐力行我們傳統，講我們自己的語言，但作為這個都市的一份子，我們必須努力於這些共同目標，我們是個別的佐菜，被美味的沙拉醬圍繞著，我們是有名的休士頓沙拉。試試看，確信你將享受其間美味！

HOUSTON SALAD BOWL

By Jackson Chang

A plate of salad can be served with a variety of ingredients. Depending upon what type of salad we desire, these ingredients can be a mixture of all sorts of green herbs and vegetables – tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, carrots, radishes, onions, mushrooms, etc.--tossed together sometimes even being mixed with cheeses, fruit and meats or perhaps, fish. The mixture is being processed, prepared and served with a dressing. We can see and taste the individual vegetable ingredients in the salad bowl. The flavor of each ingredient is enhanced as we devour each collectively as a dish of salad.

Different ethnic races, in this great nation of the United States of America, are like the many ingredients in a salad recipe. Each day we see citizens of different ethnic backgrounds live and work together. It’s similar to different ingredients in the salad bowl. When you mix all these individual persons together, add common goals (like dressings in the salad), you have just made the country of the United States of America. These common goals make this country a better place for everyone to have a chance to realize their dreams, a better place to raise their families and a better place for all to live and work.

When we look at the make up of the population in Houston, we see many ethnicities and nationalities. The predominant groups in our city consist of Anglo-Saxons, Hispanics African-Americans and Asians. Each group has their own unique traditions, customs and religions. Some even have their own languages, schools and newspapers. While integrating, everyone is striving to live in harmony. The Taiwanese is one of these groups engaging in earnest to be a part of this community.

Today there are at least fifty thousand people in the Houston area that have a Taiwanese heritage. Most of them immigrated to the United States in the last twenty-five years. But some came as early as forty years ago. Only since the early eighties, have we seen more Mother Land Taiwanese immigrate to the Houston area. These new immigrants were showered with better financial support and better understanding of the United States before departing from Taiwan. More Taiwanese owned businesses and organizations have started to flourish here. This is where Taiwanese immigrants meet and socialize together to exchange information about Taiwan and local activities. We have also noticed that more parents are sending their children to Chinese schools to learn more about the Taiwan’s culture and ways of life. Many young American born Taiwanese are very familiar with our Taiwanese traditions and are very proud of who we are. On the contrary, many older American born Taiwanese did not have the opportunity to share the same experiences. Most of them grew up in the early seventies where the Taiwanese population was very small in Houston. They had fewer chances to be exposed to their own heritages other than what was offered at home. These American Taiwanese were less influenced by Taiwanese heritages and cultures. Their way of life made it harder for them to identify themselves with later arrivals.

For a successful and delicious Houston salad, the dressing must play an important roll of bringing the flavor out of the vegetables. As an individual ethnicity and culture we must have common goals to keep us together in harmony. What are the common goals every person is seeking? Some of the important ones are to make Houston a better place to live, a better place to raise our families and a better place to continue to practice our own traditions. Many of us forgot about the importance of contributing our own share of responsibilities in these common goals. As immigrants, we were faced with a harder reality for making a successful living. We had to work extra hard to reach the level of accomplishment that might have seemed easy to others. In the process of doing so, we forgot the importance of community and social obligations. We neglected our own surroundings and community as a whole. The United States is a country where every one is created equal. Every one has an opportunity to speak up for his or her own thoughts. The expression of oneself is encouraged. Unfortunately, the lack of enthuastic participation is one of the biggest flaws in the Taiwanese community. Typical excuses are “I was too busy at that time”, “I do not speak good English” and “I don’t know anybody there”. Well, time is as important as you want it to be, priorities are set according to one’s importance. If you do not speak good English, perhaps it’s time to emphasis your language training. The reason you don’t know anybody is because you never gave yourself a change to meet new friends. Several years ago the new captain of the Houston Police Westside Commanding Station wanted to become familiar with the surrounding communities. He initiated town hall meetings to different community groups. In both the African and Hispanic communities town hall meeting, many citizens of the area showed up to express their concern and support for the captain. Ironically, in the Asian town hall meeting almost no one showed up. This captain sarcastically told me “You Asians must not have any problems”, because only two concerned Asians were in the town hall meeting. The other example of non-participating in the community affair was the Southwest Houston Redevelopment Authority meeting. A planning and discussion town hall meeting on Bellaire Blvd. and Fondren Road were published in all the Chinese newspapers to solicit questions and answers to better the neighborhood environment. This was a very important meeting where fourteen million dollars of bond money was going to be spent to enhance traffic, safety and beautification of the area. This is the area where the Southwest Chinatown is located with more than fifty percent of the properties being owned by the Asians. I counted no more than seven Asians present in the meeting. This included three Chinese newspaper reporters and myself. Again, the Asians were proven to be a group of non-communication and non- social activity, even though the gain was for our own benefit.

On the positive note, some Asians do care about the community we live in! Organizations have planned service projects to clean neighborhood areas and have gathered financial and manpower supports in the Asian community to help the less fortunate people in Houston. We showed we cared about the city we live in. We contributed to the society we call Houston. Many Asians have also shown interests in local politics. Among them are Texas State Legislator Martha Wong and Houston City Council member Gordon Quan. Their notoriety in the mainstream press enhanced and promoted Asians to be one of the dominant groups in Houston. We want our next generation to be better accepted by our society. We want them to be able to surplus us in this land of opportunities. We have to show we want to be part of this great nation. We have to show that we want to participate to bring this nation to an even better nation in the world community.

Communication is the root to understanding one another. Understanding one another is an important tool to reduce frictions among the different ethnic groups. Only through understanding and caring for one another and thru common goals of the community and society can we have a peaceful and prosperous place to realize our dreams, a place to have our families and a better place to live and work. The common goals are the dressing of the Houston Salad. We have all the rights to exercise our own religions, practice our own traditions and speak in our own native tongue. But as a part of this great city, we have to work toward the common goal. We are individual ingredients bonded by the delicious dressing. We are the famous Houston Salad. Try it; you most certainly will enjoy the taste of it!

Jackson Chang

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