此文譯自1999年「台灣人傳統基金會台灣子弟獎學金」頒獎典禮中，受獎人Victor Hung演講全文。
對於生於美國，長於美國的台灣人子弟，恐怕很難了解做為台灣人的意義，當然並不是因為父母是台灣來的移民就可稱為自己也是台灣人，他們必須記得也必須了解自己的「根」及生長之源。雖然現實環境的崇高理想應是將地球視為一個以人類互動的一整體單元，但在這至善的理想中，認知自己的文化背景，自己的傳統，而引以為榮，並不是羞恥或不對。要成為「台灣人」首先必須維持只屬於「台灣人」的特定理念、風俗及傳統。
許多人說：「我是台灣人。」但我相信有些並不真正了解它真正的意義。並不是他們有家在台灣，或有時講「台灣話」，如「呷飯」「放塞」；而也不是因為有台灣人的血統，或他們的父母隨著「穿著80年代漂亮衣服的女郎，在寺廟或森林中走來走去的音樂錄影片」而高聲唱著「卡拉ＯＫ」，就說自己是「台灣人」。要做「台灣人」是需要有更多更深的條件和資格。希望每個人必須了解這些條件和資格即是具有極大的勇氣、智慧及毅力。就以最近的大地震（1999年，9月21日，集集大地震）事件為例，即可證明。在彼時，無比劇烈的震撼及破壞力下，建築物倒塌，房子被毀，眼看親人、家屬生命、所有記憶、景物，生活點滴記錄，掩埋於斷橋廢墟內，損毀一夕之間。在這無可抗拒的巨大災變之際，「台灣人」立刻投入救援工作，失去親人、家屬、生命、財產的浩劫餘生者，也將背挺得直直的，頭抬得高高的，勇敢面對殘酷事實。於災後數天，人們即刻回至個人工作崗位，極力保持災後剩餘的資源，重建破碎家園。不只在台灣國內人們互相扶持，在美國無數的「台灣人」馬上成立捐款救援小組；我們台灣子弟們也盡力提供洗車服務，及其他大小的募款活動。這巨變奪走了無數的生命和財產，但也充分的說明「台灣人」是無時不刻的互相扶持，全世界的台灣人並沒有浪費精神在無謂的感傷、唏噓其巨大的損失，反之全體調整步伐，極力合作重建，使得台灣不致於跌入混亂、恐慌、死亡的地獄深淵中。
若你自稱為「台灣人」、那麼你必須確認自己的風俗文化。台灣文化是多元、豐富且多采多姿的。它被荷蘭、西班牙、日本及中國影響甚深；但仍然維持著原住民的原始傳統文化。能夠說自己的語言是非常的重要。在這地球村內、台灣本土語言已是很少被應用了，即使現在住在台灣的居民也無法流利的說出自己的母語。其實，台灣話是很美的，很詩意的語言，應該是被極力的保存才對。若你看不懂、聽不懂「歌仔戲」，無法去了解欣賞它，那你怎能稱自己是台灣人呢？台灣的烹調、食物及日常生活也是豐富、絢麗燦爛的。你若沒有吃過「肉粽」或在「夜市仔」用「衛生紙來撈金魚」、那你也不可能自稱為「台灣人」。
做為「台灣人」並不是你生得英俊、美麗、聰明、智慧，並不是有黑髮、有迷人的棕色眼睛；「台灣人」是能照顧、扶持周遭的人們，對需要幫助的人都能盡力提供你的援助，即使他們不是台灣人。總而言之，在你說漂亮的台灣話，吃豐富台灣美食之餘，必須時時刻刻學習追溯這寶貴的資產的源頭。多謝！
To Be Taiwanese
Being a Taiwanese person raised on American soil, one might find difficulty in truly understanding what it means to be Taiwanese. A person is not Taiwanese simply because his or her parents were born in Taiwan. One has to remember their roots and where they came from. Though to ideal in this world is unity and for all of mankind to be at one with everyone else, there is nothing wrong with knowing about your cultural background and to be proud of your heritage. One should uphold certain ideals, customs, and traditions that are particular to the Taiwanese people.
Many people say they are Taiwanese but do not truly know what that means. They have family in Taiwan and sporadically utter phrases like "jia beng" and "bung sai", but being Taiwanese is more than that. Someone is not Taiwanese because they have Taiwanese blood or because their parents sing to cheesy karaoke videos of women in 80's clothing walking around a temple or forest. One has to realize that being Taiwanese comes with a great deal of resourcefulness and strength. Just witnessing the recent earthquake incident in Taiwan on television will prove this. The inhabitants of the island were struck with a great destructive force. Building collapsed and peoples' homes were torn apart. Loved ones and fond memories were lying underneath crumbled layers of stone and brick. However the citizens of Taiwan were able to pull together and form teams of relief groups almost immediately. People whom had lost their families were able to keep their heads on straight long enough to help rescue survivors from within the rubble. Only a few days after the terror of the quake struck people were already returning to work or doing their best to put together what was left of their lives. The Taiwanese on the island were not the only working together to help. Vast groups of Taiwanese here in the United States were able to provide large quantities of monetary assistance by raising money with donations, car washes, and other fund-raisers. This macabre earthquake took many lives but it also helped illustrate the compassion that the Taiwanese have for each other. Instead of lamenting their own losses the people of Taiwan and their families in other parts of the world came together and kept Taiwan from falling into chaos and pandemonium.
One who claims to be Taiwanese should also recognize the customs that are the defining qualities of their culture. Taiwan's history and culture is rich and colorful. Its traditions have been greatly influenced by the Dutch, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese while still retaining its original culture from the aborigines. Speaking the language is very important. The native Taiwanese tongue is rarely spoken in today's world. There are even people on the island that are not fluent speakers. The Taiwanese language is a beautiful and poetic linguistic tradition that must be kept alive. How can one vindicate being Taiwanese if one cannot watch "Gwa Hee" and understand what is being said? Taiwanese cooking and lifestyles must also be sustained. One cannot truly be an indubitable Taiwanese person if one has never eaten "bha zhang" or captured gold fish with toilet paper at the night market.
Being Taiwanese is not just about being handsome, pulchritudinous, and witty. It is not just having dark hair, and sexy brown eyes. Being Taiwanese is taking care of and looking out for those other people around you, even if they are not Taiwanese. Feeling compassion not only for other Taiwanese but also for anyone that may need help. So speak an elegant language, eat good food, and know where it all came from.
Thank you!
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