Messages from Jason Wong

         "Of the ten fingers, some are long; some are short" is a Chinese proverb that I learned when I was young. It is a simple saying, easy to remember, like a nursery rhyme; a word for each finger. Simple as it is, it has a deeper meaning that took me years to fully understand.

          The proverb is not about the individual fingers. It is not about the opposable thumb without it we would find grasping things difficult or the index finger that we use to point with, the middle finger for expression, the ring finger to signify availability and the pinkie... is the pinkie. It is about the entire hand and how the hands work amazingly well with all the fingers long and short.

          Remember the times you jammed or hurt your finger and how difficult it was to carry on life's daily activities while your finger healed? Remember how difficult it was to comb your hair, tie your shoes, prepare dinner and use the computer without full use of all your fingers? Your hand works because all the fingers are working together for a common purpose. Imagine trying to do things if your fingers had a mind of their own and refused to cooperate. Can you imagine trying to crack an egg if each finger decided to do its own thing? Scrambled eggs would have a whole new meaning.

          Our Chinese community can be compared to our hands. It is made up of people from China, Taiwan, the United States, Vietnam, Singapore, Central America and other countries. Although we are all Chinese we have our commonality and differences. Most non-Asians see our commonality and naturally assume that we are all the same and don't see our differences. But we have differences.

          The differences I am talking about are not about our physical appearance long or short but about our learned biases. The biases can take the form of national pride, language, customs and misunderstandings. These biases often make it difficult for the various Chinese groups to socialize and work together. Would it not be wonderful if we could all be in harmony like the fingers of our hands working together? Imagine what could be accomplished if we all set aside our biases and worked together.

          The Cultural Center is a place for us to do that; to work together in harmony. The Tucson Chinese School is a testament of what can be done if we work together. Imagine the wonderful things that could be done if we took the same effort to other areas.

          Imagine standing together, some are long; some are short, for a common purpose.

          Come stand with me, together.

Let's Go Climb a Mountain

      "To climb a mountain takes one step at a time; but you must take the first step" is a Chinese proverb that had great meaning to me as a child and as an adult. The proverb has helped me through out my life to achieve tasks and overcome situations that at the time seemed unachievable or overwhelming. I am sure you can all remember an event or situation in your life that seemed unachievable or overwhelming but by taking one step at a time you succeeded, you overcame.

      The Tucson Chinese Cultural Center is climbing its own mountain. The center has been opened a little over two years now and has been working hard to provide programs and services to the Chinese, Asian and greater Tucson community. The Tucson Chinese School, Seniors Program and Mandarin language program with Pima Community College and TUSD have been a great success. Cultural events, Tai Chi, cooking and dance classes have also been successful but more needs to be done. More programs, classes and services need to be offered. The "mountain" here is deciding how and what new classes, programs and services to offer and how to maintain the existing programs and services.

      I am asking for your help in climbing the mountain. Your help is needed in telling me what classes, programs and services you want. Your help is needed to maintain the newsletter, website, and existing programs. Your help is needed to work in the new east courtyard garden and the community garden. You may think I am asking for money. It is true, I do want your money, for our center cannot operate without financial help, but what I really want is your time. I want your time to help think of how to make the center better; I want your time to volunteer and to participate in the events and programs. Your center is only as good as the programs and services it offers and people who attend. Let's make the center a place you can be proud of.

         Please come and help climb the mountain to create a successful cultural center so that we, together, can stand at the top and say to each other "to climb a mountain takes one step at a time and WE took the first steps."

      The climb will not be easy; it will be full of challenges.

      Will you climb the mountain with me?