1. [Chin]

Here's the stuff. Seems you haven't been doing your homework. Every first year sociology student knows what you have to say about my dad being an immigrant therefore my connection or stake in immigrants is a crock of shit. Just the contrary is true. Immigrant parents are points of disconnection, they are for good or bad the break in continuity of Chinese culture and influence. My continuity would be with the seven generations of Chinamen culture even if both my folks were from China. Because of that continuity being the culture I was born and raised in, the language I speak and my distinctive sensibility. The history of America is in large part the history of generational, cultural breaks in sensibility, lifestyles, and language in families of immigrant parents and native-born kids. [...]

2. [Frank Ching]

Dear Frank: 

Sorry for the delay. I would have written earlier but there was so much that I needed to do for Bridge Magazine. 

I understand your point about immigrant parents being points of disconnection. Perhaps you didn't understand my point. Immigrantt parents are points of disconnection in that they signify a change in direction. But they themselves are and comoprise a transitional phase--a transition from one culture to another. Seen in this way, they are also the link between future American-born generations and past china-born generations. Certainly their experience is different from that of the American-born-and-bre, just as it is different from those who lived out their lives in China. They have one foot in each camp, as it were, and share some of the values, practices and prejudices of each society. The differences between the American-born and the immigrant are undeniable, but a degree of commonality also exists. That was all I was trying to say. 

[...] 

3. Letter from Betty Lee Sung

[Sung] Dear Frank Ching of Bridge:

Looks like a free-for-all here. Since I am not ashamed to appear in Bridge and since I was mentioned in the verbal brickbats flying around, I thought I would put in a few addendums of my own. 

Don't let Frank Chin pull that one about threatening to send an autographed copy of B.L Sung or Francis L.K. Hsu to him and his friends. He won't need it. he already has an autographed copy of 'Mountain of gold,' which he asked me for at the Asian American conference at U.C.L.A. in May of 1971. 

In fact, I consider Frank Chin a friend. He had been corresponding with me, and, with his permission, I could also release one of his letters to me for print in Bridge, which would throw a different light on his sideswipes at me. [...]

Frank Chin has talen which is gradually being recognized. Too bad he is so sour on all people, friend and foe alike. We talked at length about this in a taped recording which we did together prior to his production of the TV show 'Chinaman's Chance, 'which was shown on Channel 13. Remember, Frank chin? 

4. Letter from Diana Chang

[Chang] I'm torn. Is it wiser to endure Frank Chin's insults silently -- or is that bad for my health? But I don't want to let his compliments go unremarked on, so let me say at the outset, I'm so glad he finds I write with style, even 'brilliantly', and says I'm worth reading. I thank you, Frank Chin, for your generosity and perspicacity. He also brands me as 'like one with brain damage,' so naturally I'm on the look-out for brightness from other people. 

[...] I'll spell it out again loud and clear: What Frank Chin has to say about 'Chinaman cultural identity' is strikingly original, a clarion call to other Chinese-Americans like him: his thoughts on stereotyping are terrifically clarifying: and he is combative, which is healthy. Except when he combats and tries to cow people who might wish him well. 

I'm boggled, so I have to explore every possibility. How come I seem to loom so large or powerful a figure that he thinks he must bring me down? Maybe he has me confused with someone else?