How We Should Celebrate Our Time In History
Dear Friends & Neighbors,

(Please click on red links & note magenta)
On Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, I arrived at the Fashion Square Mall in the afternoon to observe Dragon Parade & Lunar New Year celebration. I was a bit disappointed (but not too surprised) to find fewer food and gift vendors this year than last year’s celebration. Perhaps our planet earth has truly gotten smaller. Through the ease of air travel and communication through iPhones, what occurred on one side of the planet may easily impact the behavior of the celebration of another. Allow me to explain. Last week, many of the pro-Democracy activists groups and their supporters gathered in Hong Kong Mongkok District to protest in support of the unlicensed vendors (these vendors are selling without license for 3 days out of a year, specifically for Lunar New Year celebration). In the past, Hong Kong officials had tolerated this practice, but this time they decided to remove the vendors, sparkling the confrontation. To view the extent of this confrontation which resulted in serious riot, please click on this red link.
I’ve later received phone call from some viewers indicating that the fact that vendors are located outside of the mall this year may have contributed to the perception of fewer food and gift vendors. Since I’ve not yet been able to obtain the exact figure on the actual number of vendors for this year vs. last year, I will simply share some photos of the fact that residents of Central Florida had plenty of fun on this day of celebration at Fashion Square Mall regardless where the vendors were located. As a matter of fact, in addition to some wonderful performances by Asian and African Floridians, children were able to enjoy mobile cart rides inside the mall area (shown in the fourth video below).

Lunar New Year celebration at Fashion Square Mall of Orlando, FL (credit: Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker)

Lunar New Year celebration at Fashion Square Mall of Orlando, FL (credit: Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker)

Lunar New Year celebration at Fashion Square Mall of Orlando, FL (credit: Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker)

Lunar New Year celebration at Fashion Square Mall of Orlando, FL (credit: Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker)

Lunar New Year celebration at Fashion Square Mall of Orlando, FL (credit: Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker)

Lunar New Year celebration at Fashion Square Mall of Orlando, FL (credit: Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker)

African American dancers’ celebration of Dragon Parade & Lunar New Year celebration at Fashion Square Mall of Orlando, FL (credit: Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker)

African American Dancers’ celebrating Dragon Parade & Lunar New Year celebration at Fashion Square Mall of Orlando, FL (credit: Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker)

Chinese (Cantonese) Opera Lunar New Year celebration at Fashion Square Mall of Orlando, FL (credit: Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker)

Chinese (Cantonese) Opera-Lunar New Year celebration at Fashion Square Mall of Orlando, FL (credit: Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
Many Asian Americans/Floridians are very well traveled, well informed, and very cautious. Therefore, it is not surprising that some of the vendors and/or residents decided not to participate in this year’s Lunar New Year celebration in Orlando. But I would simply like to remind Floridian business owners and residents that we are living in USA, not in Hong Kong. USA had already gone past Boston Tea Party time. If any Floridian wants to be in support of small businesses, it is best to help small businesses to be informed and to vote for state, county, and city representatives and legislative body that would be responsive to the needs and welfare of small business owners. Some of us may consider taking part in our regional governing/planning body such as the Orange County Citizen Planner Academy. How we behave will determine the direction we will move toward in history, forward or backward in time.
As we move on our historical time line, allow me to share some of the performances that occurred during the Dragon Parade & Lunar New Year in Fashion Square Mall of Orlando, FL, on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016.
I hope we will all remember what founding fathers of USA have gone through and not let their blood, sweat, and tears be wasted.
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