I was born in Japan in 1964 while my father was studying at Japan’s Keio University. My parents were native Taiwanese and because of my father’s scholastic ambitions, he sent me back to Taiwan for my grandmother to raise me while he pursued his law degree and eventually became one of the first lawyers here in Flushing, NY. When I was ten years old (pictured bottom left), my father petitioned for my immigration to the United States.
When I arrived to America in 1974 to join my family I discovered that we were a dysfunctional family. My father abused my mother and me. I ran away from home in 1975 and was placed in a shelter for abused children. My parents eventually divorced and I was placed in my mother’s custody a few years after that.
By age 11, I was doing chores in the shelters for abused children and made a small income from that. When my mother took custody of me we moved to Kingsbridge in the Bronx. During that time, I delivered newspapers; the Daily News in the morning and the New York Post after school. Around this time, I started to hang out around the wrong crowd and picked up vices common to troubled New York teenagers; substance abuse. My life was spinning out of control. Eventually, I was arrested for burglary and criminal trespassing. Long story short, I went from juvenile delinquent shelters on to a federal penitentiary.
A short time after my release from federal and state penitentiary, my father was diagnosed with liver cancer. He apologized to me on his deathbed when he passed away in 1989. When I was released from prison in 1988, I was lost and lonely. It was at the lowest point of my life that God brought to me my Eve. At first I did not cherish God's mercy and grace and took my wife for granted. But my wife never gave up on me. Our first child Francesca was born in 1990. I named her after my father, Franklin. Upon my release from prison and my father's death, I used his car and went into the limousine/car service business—a terrible dead end job. My wife suggested I go learn a trade, car repair. I was used to being clean and dressed tidily so the idea was initially a turn off. On the flip side, I was always extremely handy so I took to car repair like fish to water. After a few years in the high end automobile industry, I ventured out into my own repair and have done this from my daughter's birth in 1990 until now.
I have worked long and hard in the same neighborhood I fell from grace in the early 80s. After all the trials and tribulations in my life and if not for the grace and mercy of Almighty God, I would not be here. It is because of my faith in Christ who died for my iniquities that I may come before God the Father. And as much as my faith in Christ dictates my political beliefs and perspective. The state of our nation and community is in shambles. This country cannot go on with complacent political hack jobs making empty promises and giving false hope to advance their own agenda. We need to restore the integrity of our government leaders to the likes of our founding fathers. We must put Godly principles and values as the basis for establishing a family and nation. Politicians aught not to compromise but stand firm for values and principles that will lead to human flourishing.
FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE
Copyright © 2024 Joseph for NY - All Rights Reserved.
paid for by joseph chou, committee to elect for ny6
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