70thBirthday 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