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風雨中 父女情
薛毓麒和鄭博久的兩個女兒 傅建中
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三十一年前，加拿大在杜魯道當政時，終於承認中共，是北京在北美地區外交上的一大勝利，無形中孤立了美國，我駐加拿大大使薛毓麒在十月十三日中加斷交後撤往紐約，是薛外交生涯中的最低潮。薛大使在紐約暫居住在旅館時，他的女兒有一天在枕頭下放了一封給爸爸的信，說是她深知中加斷交對父親的打擊，可是他已經盡了一切的努力，不應有愧，而且作為女兒的她，永遠以有像他這樣的爸爸感到驕傲，這封情文並茂感人至深的英文信，經紐約時報報導後，予記者深刻印象，迄今難忘。 |
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| 三十一年後，那時尚未出生的駐馬其頓大使鄭博久的女兒，不讓薛毓麒的女兒專美於前，目前自紐約以電子郵件方式寫了一封長信給她的父親鄭博久，讚揚她爸爸在馬其頓外交崗位上的艱苦卓絕。這封以英文寫的文詞優美、情意真切的家書，經她母親彭水英女士傳給華府的友人後，傳誦一時，閱過此信的人，無不為之動容，是鄭博久大使最好的安慰，也是對他外交工作最大的肯定，勝過外交部的慰勉多了。目前在紐約攻讀博士學位的鄭大使千金克莉絲汀(Christine)的信是這樣寫的（大意）： |
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「親愛的爸爸：當您還在華府時（任駐美副代表），我曾經和媽媽分享過一首小詩。這是我喜歡的美國著名詩人佛洛斯特(Robert
Frost)所寫的『不曾走過的路』(The Road Not Taken)。現在我也想您分享詩中的下面幾行」：
「許多、許多年以後，
我會喟然而嘆地述說這樁事：
林中有兩條岔路，
我走的是少有人走的路，
也因此而有很大的不同。」
「兩年前，您前面有兩條分岔的路，面臨了要不要去馬其頓的抉擇，但您終於選擇了挑戰，這可能是許多人為了自身的利益，所不願作的事。在這條路上，您盡了最大努力排除了許多路障，可是如今卻走到了路的盡頭。您也許認為自己的選擇錯了，甚至失敗了，已從開始馬其頓之旅前的顛峰跌到谷底。如果您真的這樣認為，我要說：您錯了」。
「儘管您知道馬其頓是難守的外交據點-因為大家都知道馬國風雨飄搖，我們和它的外交關係很脆弱-可是您還是選擇了馬其頓。您要全力以赴地去爭取它，作出改變(make
a difference佛洛斯特詩中的話)，給自己增加一些新的經驗。
您帶到馬國的是您豐厚的外交背景，在格瑞納達、聖文森和約旦的成功經驗。現在您正面臨嚴苛的現實，但沒有人想到會責備您，要為現在的失敗負責。您不覺得這是很了不起成就嗎？這顯示太多的人尊敬您和您的作為。大家都知道您試了一切辦法，付出了所有，但絕沒有犧牲您作外交官的尊嚴和風範。您以正直、尊嚴和自豪代表著台灣。當您回到台灣時，可以昂首闊步，正眼直視著每一個人，而無愧於心。
馬其頓可能是您心中永遠的痛和遺憾，甚至讓您懷疑自己的能力。但卻也可當作使您更加虛心、謙卑的經驗，讓您知道成功不是絕對的。對您個人而言，也會使您的人格更為深廣有力，讓您知道人生中那些是值得追求的，那些是微不足道，應該捨棄的。
馬其頓帶給您新的知識，生活上的經驗，人格上深而且富的歷練，都因為您選擇了這條少有人走的路。而事實上，這段歷程也改變了一切(Make
all difference)，您想想，這不是很值得嗎？」
永遠敬愛您的女兒 克莉絲汀 ■
（本文原載中國時報，本刊獲同意轉載）
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Dear
Dad:
When you were in D.C., I shared with mom my favorite poem by a very
famous poet Robert Frost. He wrote
"The Road Not Taken" and I want to share the last few lines
of that poem with you.
"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
Two roads split ahead of you two years ago. You had a choice: to take
on Macedonia or not. You chose the challenge, one that not many people
are willing to take, due to self-serving interests perhaps. Along
this road, you tried your best to cross the many obstacles thrown
your way. Where are you at the end of this road? You may think that
you've chosen badly, or think that you've failed, or think that you've
fallen from the mountain top where you believed you were before you
started on this journey. If you really believe this, then let me tell
you: You are so wrong.
You took on Macedonia, despite knowing how hard it will be to keep.
Everyone knew that Macedonia was very vulnerable, and our diplomatic
relationship was very tenuous. Despite that, you wanted to fight for
it, to make a difference, to add on a new experience for yourself.
You brought to Macedonia your rich background, your success with Grenada,
St. Vincent, and Jordan. Now, when faced with the harsh reality, your
past success has directed everyone to look at the larger picture and
analyze Taiwan's diplomacy on the international arena. No one even
thought about blaming you and designating you as the one who should
be taking on the responsibility of this fall. Do you realize what
an amazing accomplishment this is, daddy?! That shows how much people
respect you and your work. They know you've tried everything you can
and invested all that you have, but sacrificed nothing of who you
are. You have represented Taiwan with pride, dignity, and integrity.
And when you return to Taiwan, so shall you carry yourself; head up,
shoulders back, and looking at everyone in the eye.
Macedonia may always be a source of heartache and regret for you.
Despite everything you've done, Macedonia may always bring up doubts
about your abilities. But at the same time, it will serve as a humbling
experience, one that lets you know that success is not absolute. And
because you realize that you will not always be flying on the wings
of success, you will bring to work a new sense of humility and respect.
On the personal level, there will be new depth and strength in character.
And on life, a new realization of what is really important and worth
holding unto, what is inconsequential and deserve to be let go.
And all this new knowledge, richness, and depth in character and life
experience you have gained, because you have chosen this road, the
one that is less traveled by. And, indeed, it has made all the difference.
It was worth it, don't you think?
Love always,
Christine
P.S. Here's the complete poem:
"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that they passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should every come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. |
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