UNION DAILY NEWS 聯合報 and other Asian Papers

Among the various Asian publications, my cartoons found a home in Taipei newspapers before I moved to the United States in 1971. Despite the geographical separation, I stayed connected with Union Daily, contributing cartoons to Taiwanese publications while residing in the States. These cartoons often delved into cultural differences, injecting humor into my observations.

Before my relocation, Taiwan was under Martial Law, a regime in place since 1948. In 1970, as I prepared to leave, I vividly remember a warning from the chief editor of one newspaper. He cautioned me about depicting an old, bareheaded character with a mustache, as it could be interpreted as a mockery of President Chiang Kai-shek and lead to potential censure. Consequently, I refrained from creating political cartoons in Taiwan until I arrived in Los Angeles in early 1971.

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Starting school in Chicago in September, I took the opportunity to explore the country. Job hunting in Chicago proved fruitless, leading me to a brief stint at a Roy Rogers Roast Beef in Washington D.C. before settling in New York. There, I worked as a waiter at a Chinese restaurant in the suburbs. On a day off, I took a two-hour bus ride to the then less-polished Times Square. A visit to a poster shop exposed me to a bold poster featuring President Nixon on a toilet, pants down, flashing his iconic V finger gesture, accompanied by the word "SMILE." The unabashed freedom of speech in the U.S. left me astonished, instilling a sense of liberation. From that point on, I cast aside my reservations and embraced the freedom to express myself through words and drawings.

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The lifting of Martial Law in Taiwan on July 15, 1987, marked a significant turning point. Gradually, freedom of speech was restored, allowing me to publish political cartoons about Taiwanese events with less fear. However, I consciously chose to maintain a focus on light-hearted and humorous topics, continuing to playfully explore cultural differences.