博文
美国2008 感恩節(Thanksgiving 2008)
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In 2001 I “retired” from the Harvard faculty. At the retirement dinner given by my school, I gave the following “thank you” speech. Seven plus years later on thanksgiving day 2008, I like to re-affirm what I said. While several American idioms, phrases , and references to Harvard in what I said below may not resonate with Chinese ScienceNet readers, my sentiments are clear.
Retirement thank you on 5/8/2001 Loeb House, Harvard University
They say that when you are about to be executed by a firing squad, your whole life flashes past before your eyes. Tonight's event is a far happier occasion, but I now understand what they mean. In fact, just the other day, someone said to me, "Larry, you lived a life that is very un-American. All your adult life, you worked for one organization from whose employ you are retiring; you married one woman to whom you are still married; you bought and lived in one house in which you still live; and all your children went to the same kindergarten, elementary, middle, high school and university. This is an anachronism today". My reply is that my life may be monotonous but I really lived the American Dream. In that well known Christmas classic made famous by Jimmy Stewart in which he said "it's a wonderful life". I like to add that" Harvard is a wonderful employer, and the US is a wonderful country" . Baseball great Lou Gehrig said at his famous Yankee stadium farewell "today I am the luckiest person alive on the face of this earth". While I wouldn't go that far. But surrounded by family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues here tonight, I know I am a lucky guy! I was born one step behind real hardship having avoided WWII and Korea as a child; yet I came of age one step ahead of real competition during the early 60's when things were a bit easier. I did not have to write the first research proposal of my own until 2 years after receiving tenure, something unthinkable today. Dean Resovsky just spoke about refugees. I know I am among the lucky few of a lucky generation of Asian immigrants who took advantage of the opportunity to pursue happiness as promised in the founding papers of this country.
As I now enter a new phase of my life. I am keenly aware and extremely grateful for the support over the years from the University, all my colleagues, and the many generation of students. You all made me look good.
Let me close by recalling for you that famous line delivered by Humphrey Bogart to Ingrid Bergman in the climatic final scene of Casablanca. I'll have to paraphrase since I don't do Bogart or even Woody Allen's imitation of Bogart. He said," Our lives and contributions no matter how important and meaningful to us personally are but very minor perturbations in the greater scheme of things". Very true. However, I am awfully glad to have had the opportunity to contribute that microscopic drop in the bucket that is human life. Bill Buckley coined the phrase "for God, Country and Yale". But Asian believe in the existence of not one but many gods. And I certainly did not have anything to do with Yale. So permit me to re-order the salute as "To America, Harvard and my beloved Division". I had a wonderful ride for the past half century Thank you all very very much
Finally to have discovered a second and third career since 2001and loving every moment of being alive – "I am a lucky guy!" (phrase made fanmous by the American comedian Steve Martin)
https://blog.sciencenet.cn/blog-1565-48518.html
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