Radwan Chowdhury, Florida
The US government, arguably one of the best in the world, is still only as good as the people running it. Xenophobic and racist elements persist in federal and local governments, in universities and private industries; and they refuse to see us as genuine patriotic Americans. They will seek to obstruct or turn back our progress unless we’re strong and united.
Fellow Asian Americans, are you tired of being treated as second class citizens? You may personally be successful in your career or business, but you may not be able to escape the injustices that befall ethnic minorities of similar backgrounds. Consider the following SAMPLE events. What do they have in common?
- Chinese Exclusionary Act in 1882, blocking tens of thousands of Chinese immigrants from uniting with their family in America.
- Japanese American Internment during WWII, in gross violation of constitutional rights but sparing German and Italian Americans even though Germany and Italy were also allied enemies.
- Vincent Chin, an automotive engineer, presumed to be Japanese, was chased down and clubbed to death in the streets of Detroit in 1987 by two Detroit Caucasian autoworkers. The assailants, who were upset about the unemployment and market competition by Japanese auto makers, were heard by witnesses to utter, “It’s because of you mother***kers we’re out of work!” Wayne County Circuit Judge Charles Kaufman, sentenced the two men to ZERO jail time, three years’ probation, $3,000 in fines and $780 in court costs. In a response letter to protests from American Citizens for Justice, Kaufman said, “These weren’t the kind of men you send to jail. You don’t make the punishment fit the crime; you make the punishment fit the criminal.“
- Dr. Wen Ho Lee, an American nuclear scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, was accused of stealing US nuclear secrets for China in December 1999. He was denied bail, put in solitary confinement and faced life in prison. As part of a plea settlement for release after nearly 280 days in jail, Dr. Lee pleaded guilty to “improper handling of restricted data”, one of the original 59 indictment counts, which the government could not prove. Federal Judge James Parker apologized to Dr. Lee, “[The prosecutors] have embarrassed our entire nation and each of us who is a citizen of it. I might say that I am also sad and troubled because I do not know the real reasons why the Executive Branch has done all of this.. I sincerely apologize to you, Dr. Lee, for the unfair manner you were held in custody.”
- Denny Chen and Harry Lew, Chinese American soldiers, both committed suicide because of relentless racial taunting and physical hazing by their fellow soldiers and officers in Afghanistan. The perpetrators received slaps of the wrist, with one receiving the most serious punishment — mere dismissal from the military!
- Alien Land Law, barring Asians from owning land in the state of FL, although the law has not been enforced.
These miscarriages of justice happen to people who are politically weak! The American Civil Rights movement was preceded by a long history of gross miscarriages of justice and bloodshed. Like the African Americans, Asian Americans (AsAms) have come a long way in the long struggle for equality. However, the pain of discrimination is still felt in America. By Asian American being denied equal salary for equal work. . . Denied equal opportunity for career advancement. By our children having to leap over higher bars in order to gain admission to top schools.
Research by Princeton University Sociology Professor, Thomas Espenshade showed that in order for AsAm students to gain admission to top universities, their AVERAGE SAT scores (out of 1600) must be 140 points higher than whites; 270 points higher than Hispanics, and 450 points higher than African Americans. Why should AsAm applicants score higher than whites? Isn’t that ANTI-affirmative? Isn’t that blatant discrimination against us?
Is this acceptable to you? Are you outraged yet?
Dr. Edward Lin, Chairman of NAAPAC FL, gave a presentation at the Annual AAFF (Asian American Federation of Florida) Summit in Fort Lauderdale on June 29, 2013. Forum panelists from NAAPAC FL included Victor Swaroop, President, Radwan Chowdhury, VP, Syed Faris, Secretary, Wen Raiti, Treasurer, and Wendy Chen, Board Member. During the presentation, Dr. Lin stressed that in order to achieve equality sooner, AsAms must actively and intelligently target political candidates for support or defeat via a cohesive bloc vote.
Dr. Lin added, “We do not seek any preferential treatment, but unless we are willing to be actively involved in the political process and pursue the opportunities that come from having political power in our government, we are going to be left with a pathetic serving of crumbs. Ultimately, we will become an inconsequential ethnic group. Just as the civil rights movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ushered in a new era for African Americans, it is time for AsAms to unite and each of us do our part, pulling together, so that our entire community can move forward with strength.
AsAms are fiercely independent, with strong faith in our individual abilities. However, the goal of social equality is not achievable individually; we have to all work together in order to achieve the critical mass necessary to have an effective legislative impact. This is not work that can be left to someone else. If we don’t care enough about our own future, then we will continue to suffer by not getting our full measure of American opportunities and rewards. The loss is thousands of times greater than the modest dues and efforts that most of us can easily afford. This crucial social insurance fee is tiny compared to auto/home/health insurance, yet for inexplicable and unwise reason, most AsAms refuse to pay our ‘American Future Insurance’ even though in reality, they cannot afford NOT to. For a people otherwise known for their intelligence, it is very sad to see we are forsaking our future and that of our children to save $50.”
So, how can a small minority gain the political power it needs to gain equality and protect its interests? REWARD politicians who shared our rightful concerns by helping to elect them. PUNISH those who don’t by trying to defeat them. That is how our voice gets heard. The powerful tool we use is our bloc vote. While our national organization, 80-20 NAAPAC has made landmark progress of a magnitude previously thought impossible, we are still far from achieving equality.
Most of the work lies ahead of us and we are badly in need of additional funding and members in order to continue our noble quest. NAAPACFL board members calling on all AsAms to support the work we are doing, to donate money and to become members. None of the officers and board members is paid. They are busy professionals volunteering their limited time to serve the public interest of AsAms. NAAPAC FL President, Victor Swaroop and Dr. Lin, implored, “Please do not starve your workhorse. Gave it some food (money) so it can keep working hard for you”. For more info about NAAPAC FL and how to join FL chapter, please visit www.naapacfl.org.
