Chen Shu-chu and JT Wang: Austerity and Pride

Chen Shu-chu and JT Wang: Austerity and Pride
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
May 6, 2010

Time Magazine has published its Time 100 list of the world's most influential people. Chen Shu-chu, a vegetable stand owner in Taitung was the only recipient to wear tennis shoes to the awards ceremony. As she stood amidst the world's most famous political leaders and artists, she displayed her uncommon character. She allowed the world to see how People Power originates at the grassroots. She showed that the ability to influence events is not reserved for the world's elites.

She has been away from her native Taitung only twice in her life. The farthest she got in the past was Taipei. Chen Shu-chu obtained her first passport, and along with a new purse she bought for 199NT (US$6) at a roadside stand, traveled to New York to receive her award. She made everyone on Taiwan proud. Given a greengrocer's meager income, it is hard to imagine the energy and boundless willpower she must have demonstrated to overcome hardships and get where she is today. It's a small world. She demonstrated a love for humanity without borders. She scrimped on herself, but was generous to a fault to others. Her humble appearance makes her noble character even more moving.

The media has focused the spotlight on Chen Shu-chu. But let us not forget Acer Chairman JT Wang, the other individual from Taiwan to make the Time 100 list. JT Wang did not go to New York to receive his award. This was consistent with his low-key style. But he was unable to hide his light under a bushel. Over the past four years, JT Wang's leadership has transformed Acer from the world's fifth largest personal computer maker to the second, behind Hewlett-Packard. Time magazine said the trend for the next decade will be the rise of Asian firms. These firms have demonstrated increasing refinement in marketing, design, branding, and other soft factors. JT Wang stands at the forefront of this wave of pioneers.

The Time 100 list shows Wang in the "leaders" category, in second place, behind Brazilian President Lula. He was listed ahead of fourth-ranked U.S. President Barack Obama, and sixth ranked Prime Minister of Japan Yukio Hatoyama. Acer has been praised for leading consumer trends. JT Wang responsded with modesty, saying "We do not rush to judgment. We merely respond to the consumer's needs." That an entrepreneur from Taiwan has been the recipient of such international recognition and praise has filled the public on Taiwan with pride.

Chen Shu-chu is a bodhisattva who works quietly. She is a diligent humanitarian who finds satisfaction in doing good. She preaches a philosophy of "accumulating virtue, not wealth." She unselfishly spreads love to the outside world. This humble vegetable stand owner demonstrated greater humanitarianism than many billionaires. JT Wang represents the wisdom and perseverance of entrepreneurs on Taiwan in pursuit of progress. He is careful in his assessments, and rigorous in his observations. He is never satisfied with the status quo. His is not arrogant. He considers the customer king. He listens to signals from the marketplace. Amidst fierce global competition, companies either move forward or fall behind. As the leader of Acer, JT Wang fully deserves his honor.

Individuals such as Chen Shu-chu and JT Wang reveal the Republic of China's true source of vitality. On Taiwan politics rules. Every day from dawn to dusk. mutual recriminations between the Blue and Green camps fill the air. These internal conflicts wear down the nation. One cannot help wondering how it can possibly endure? Now it would seem, the answer is clear. The Republic of China's vitality will be found not in the temple, but at the grassroots. The Republic of China's compass will be found not in the public sector, but the private. The Republic of China's ethics and values will be found not in the calculating minds of its politicians, but in the beating hearts of its citizens.

Chen Shu-chu is not alone. There are many unsung heroes on Taiwan, each quietly creating a better world, each protecting their weaker neighbors. JT Wang is not alone either. Other companies on Taiwan also have leaders with steady hands and lofty visions. Each of them in their own way, has been through hell and high water. Unfortunately the public is often unaware of their existence or underestimates their value. Until Forbes magazine honored Chen Shu-chu as an Asian humanitarian, her activities drew little attention. If Wang had not ranked high on the Time 100 list, would we have turned a blind eye to his efforts?

Chen Shu-chu and JT Wang are the "Lights of Taiwan." They have brought honor upon Taiwan. But lest we forget, their achievements did not become brighter merely because they were recognized by the foreign media. Their value predated their moment in the spotlight. People have been mesmerized by the political turmoil around them. They can no longer see the gems beneath their noses. Meanwhile, political turmoil has unnecessarily depleted society's energy, without offering one iota of happiness. Why does the public tolerate these politicians?

Vegetable stand owner Chen Shu-chu walked onto the red carpet wearing tennis shoes. She gave new meaning to the term "hero." She also let the world know that the righteousness people expect in life must be created by our own hands.

陳樹菊和王振堂：活出台灣的素樸和驕傲
【聯合報╱社論】
2010.05.06 02:00 am

時代雜誌頒獎給全球一百大最具影響力人物，台東賣菜阿嬤陳樹菊是唯一穿著球鞋出席的得獎人；但站在全球政治領袖和知名藝術家之間，卻反而格外襯托她的不平凡。她讓世界看到人的力量如何從草根噴湧，證明「影響力」絕非菁英階層的專利。

一生僅離開過兩次台東，過去最遠只到過台北，陳樹菊拿著生平第一本護照和地攤上一九九元新買的皮包遠赴紐約領獎，讓所有的台灣人都沾染了她的光榮。菜販微薄的收入，積蓄著難以想像的能量；刻苦的生活，懷抱著無以倫比的志願；狹小的世界，釋放出沒有邊際的愛心。對自己百般省儉，對助人卻極盡慷慨，正因為這樣強烈的反差，讓其間迸發的高貴人性更顯得珍貴動人。

當媒體幾將全部焦點放在陳樹菊身上時，別忘了台灣還有另一位上了百大影響力人物的企業家，那就是宏碁董事長王振堂。王振堂此次並未前往紐約領獎，這符合他一向的低調風格，卻掩不住他樸素而精準的領導光芒。過去四年多，在王振堂的帶領下，宏碁從全球第五大的個人電腦廠商躍升為第二大，僅次於惠普。時代雜誌的評語是，未來十年亞洲企業的崛起將成為趨勢，在行銷、設計、品牌等企業「軟元素」上愈發精進，王振堂代表了這波趨勢的先驅。

在百大排行榜上，王振堂名列「領袖」類第二名，僅次於巴西總統魯拉，卻領先排名第四的美國總統歐巴馬，及排名第六的日本首相鳩山由紀夫。對於宏碁受到讚譽善於引領消費風潮，王振堂僅謙虛地說：「我們不妄下評斷，我們只是追隨消費者的需要。」一位台灣企業家，在國際上受到這樣鄭重的肯定和推崇，當然也讓台灣與有榮焉。

陳樹菊是一個默默布施的素人菩薩，一個以自苦助人為樂的行善者。她自奉「積德不積財」哲學，無私地把愛心灑向人間，把一個菜販的大愛壘築得比億萬富翁還要高。王振堂則代表著台灣企業家追求精進的智慧和毅力，他審慎評估、嚴謹觀察，不滿足現狀、不妄自尊大，以消費者為師，聽取市場呼喚。在全球化的激烈競爭中，企業不進則退，王振堂領導宏碁成長，其榮譽絕非倖致。

從陳樹菊、王振堂這些人物身上，我們看到了台灣真正的生命力。在政治掛帥的台灣，每天從早到晚充斥著藍綠互罵的口水和爭鬥的煙塵，如此一個擾攘、內耗的國家，不禁讓人懷疑是靠著什麼來維繫？如今看來，答案其實非常明顯：台灣的活力，是在草根而不在廟堂；台灣的方向感，靠的是民間而不是政府；台灣的道德與價值，是鞏固於社會人心而不繫傍於政治。

除了陳樹菊，台灣其實還有很多行義不欲人知的庶人英雄，默默打造自己的善心世界，守護身旁的弱者。除了王振堂，台灣企業也還有其他瞻矚高遠、下手沉穩的領袖人物，在各自的戰場出生入死。遺憾的是，社會大眾似乎常常忽略了他們的存在，甚或低估了他們的價值。在富比世雜誌推選陳樹菊為亞洲慈善英雄前，她的義舉甚少引起國內注意；而如果王振堂不是高掛在時代雜誌的百大排行榜上，我們對他的努力是否也將視若無睹？

沒錯，陳樹菊和王振堂都是台灣之光，也把他們的榮耀帶給了台灣。但別忘了，他們的成就，不是因為受到國外媒體的肯定才變得更亮；他們的價值，是在聚光燈探照前即已存在，只是民眾的心神一直為政治紛擾所侵奪，乃至無法看清我們身旁既有的瑰寶。而反過來看，政治上許多無謂的紛擾耗竭了人們精力，卻無法為台灣增添一絲幸福感，民眾為何甘願受政客的驅遣？

穿著球鞋登上紅地毯的賣菜嬤陳樹菊，在紐約為「英雄」寫下了新的定義。她也讓世人了解：人生所能期待的正義，可以在自己手裡變成可能。