March 21, 2021

Hello Everyone.

We’ve posted our March newsletter to the website. Have a look.

Note that the newsletter was written before the March 16, 2021 shootings, in the Atlanta area, in which six people of Asian descent (and two non-Asians) were killed. Our condolences to the loved ones of the victims.

I was having a discussion yesterday with my brother who had read our newsletter. The subject came up about what could be done about anti-community crimes (hate crimes) and we both felt a bit of helplessness at the situation.

I’ve heard and read a number of news reports with prominent Asian Americans on the subject of anti-community crimes and most are saying what is needed. As we mentioned in our article, we’d still like to hear more from the wider community condemning these acts – not just from those in the community. It’s really a problem for all of us.

The one thing that I’d like to add to what we wrote in our latest newsletter is that we need to be brave and strong (things that my brother taught me a long time ago and reminded me about in our conversation). Anti-community crimes are really acts of terrorism and thus we must not give in to fear.

--------

Yesterday, I said my goodbyes to my uncle – Dr. Gaing Chan. He passed away on February 19, 2021.

He was the last among my many uncles and aunts.

I mentioned Uncle Gaing in my October 2021 newsletter article – Dinner at Fong Lee’s. Here’s his obituary.

He and his wife (Aunt Lily) were also regular AACP newsletter readers during the first incarnation of it (before it went on hiatus back in January 2011).

Uncle Gaing’s family history research helped spur my interest in doing family history research too. Thank you very much for that. There are many other things that I could thank him for, but I’ll leave it at that.

I’ll sincerely miss him and all of my family members of my parent’s generation.

As always, please take care.

Leonard Chan