Teresa Teng was a true trail blazer and had been the first of a lot of things in her life. But after death she continued to set record. The most noteworthy were the first artist to be interned with a State-like honor with national flag draped over her casket; the first Chinese singer being honored with stand-alone real postal stamps by North Korea (1996), Granada (1998), and Taiwan (2015); the first non-citizen being voted the most culturally influential person in new China's history (2009); and the first foreigner being extensively and fondly memorialized by Japanese TV for 24 years and the Japanese people still couldn't get enough of her story. . . and there were just too many more firsts to list. People admired her vocal and linguistic talents, her courage, determination, and charisma; and they were attracted to her warm smiles, kindness, and her easygoing girl-next-door friendliness. Being a superstar Teresa Teng served as a bridge across cultural barriers and, later in life, she brought awareness to love and peace by often flashing in public the peace hand gesture V (as in loVe), a sign which stood for love and peace from the 1970's U.S. peace movement (she attended University of Southern California in 1979). So, people to this day still regard her as a voice for love and peace in Asia. The generations that have been cradled in her legacy are the lucky ones. But will we continue to be blessed or will this shining beacon be darkened by the dust of TIME? I believe a sincere, heartstrings-tugging voice with an indomitable spirit will shine ever forever as long as there is still goodness left in humanity.
