American Rights Through Asian Eyes
On January 24th I attended the Asian Pacific American briefing session leading up to the February 2nd APA Legislature Day in Olympia, Washington. An annual event, the day is an opportunity for Asian Americans from all over Washington state to gather at the state capitol and present a legislative agenda, hear the Governor speak, and rally as an increasingly influential constituency. The expected crowd could reach 3000 Asian American citizens from every corner of Washington.
In politics, the view of the social landscape one has is profoundly affected by WHERE one stands. Issues, philosophies and legislation combine to create a complex topography on an ever-evolving map of federal and state law.
After listening to the fine briefing on the APA legislative agenda given by Tony Lee, I came away with a new point of view. Some issues I thought I already possessed a solid, detailed picture of now seemed sharper, more defined, and unfortunately, more sinister than I had previously perceived them to be.
One of the key elements of the APA legislative agenda involved voter’s rights. The landmark federal legislation known as the Voting Rights Act of 1964 is set to expire next year. Since the tumult of the early 1960’ s that led up to a new opportunity for Americans to participate in our democracy, many of us take for granted the fundamental right to vote.
However, that right to vote is now under attack in our society. Since the successful gerrymandering of Congressional Districts in Texas that brought Tom DeLay to power, there has been a growing awareness among the people of how elements within the Republican Party seek to suppress the voting rights of minorities, the poor, the disenfranchised, and people who speak English as a second language. Voters, in other words, who tend to favor Democratic candidates and initiatives.
Here in Washington State, Senate Republicans are preparing a bill that would require proof of citizenship in the form of a birth certificate or passport in order to vote at the polls. It is sponsored by Republican State Senator Pam Roach. Sounds harmless enough, doesn’t it? Why shouldn’t someone have to prove they are a citizen in order to vote?
Now look at the issue from another point of view :
1. There is a significant, elderly African American population who were not born in hospitals, where birth certificates were readily accessible. These citizens were born at home. Often the reason was because they could not get adequate maternity care because of discrimination and segregation. This is a cultural fact the Republicans are well aware of. The sometimes complex structure of the poor, migrant African American family in America prevents easy tracing of roots, and often does not rely on a paper trail. Should a citizen in this situation be denied the right to vote? Even when they present proper identification?
2. Many Asian Americans face language barriers when trying to participate in our democracy. Older immigrants who are naturalized citizens are no less befuddled than the rest of us when faced with hanging chads, hole punches, computerized voting machines. Should they be deprived of the right to have someone come into a voting booth to help them cast a ballot? The greater majority of states already have such rules on the books, but not Washington.
3. I heard firsthand the stories of Asian Americans who faced intimidation and rudeness at the polls. Asian and Latino names are often misspelled, mispronounced or mislaid. Voters have been told their names are not on the rolls because frustrated poll workers do not want to spend extra time seeking out “foreigner” names or reconciling ID inconsistencies. Should these people be denied the right to vote?
One side note: currently only about a third of the representatives in the U.S. Congress possess a passport. Good luck at some polling places.
When you examine this issue from another point of view, it becomes clear that the Republican measures that are sold to the public as “voter reform” or “vote confirmation” are really “voter manipulation” schemes in disguise.
As Americans we must stand up and protect not only our rights, but the rights of our fellow citizens. When a political party uses the right to vote to exclude, limit and control who has a say in our democracy, we remain silent at our own peril.
If the current ethics and spying scandals in Washington DC have taught us anything, it is that we need to look at who stands to gain and who stands to lose when our representatives advance measures affecting our basic rights as Americans.
When you look at issues like this from another vantage point, the landscape of the American Dream takes on a whole new perspective.
I am grateful to the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of Washington for giving me the opportunity to see things in a different light.
I know the view from the Olympia Capitol steps is going to be great on February 2.
In politics, the view of the social landscape one has is profoundly affected by WHERE one stands. Issues, philosophies and legislation combine to create a complex topography on an ever-evolving map of federal and state law.
After listening to the fine briefing on the APA legislative agenda given by Tony Lee, I came away with a new point of view. Some issues I thought I already possessed a solid, detailed picture of now seemed sharper, more defined, and unfortunately, more sinister than I had previously perceived them to be.
One of the key elements of the APA legislative agenda involved voter’s rights. The landmark federal legislation known as the Voting Rights Act of 1964 is set to expire next year. Since the tumult of the early 1960’ s that led up to a new opportunity for Americans to participate in our democracy, many of us take for granted the fundamental right to vote.
However, that right to vote is now under attack in our society. Since the successful gerrymandering of Congressional Districts in Texas that brought Tom DeLay to power, there has been a growing awareness among the people of how elements within the Republican Party seek to suppress the voting rights of minorities, the poor, the disenfranchised, and people who speak English as a second language. Voters, in other words, who tend to favor Democratic candidates and initiatives.
Here in Washington State, Senate Republicans are preparing a bill that would require proof of citizenship in the form of a birth certificate or passport in order to vote at the polls. It is sponsored by Republican State Senator Pam Roach. Sounds harmless enough, doesn’t it? Why shouldn’t someone have to prove they are a citizen in order to vote?
Now look at the issue from another point of view :
1. There is a significant, elderly African American population who were not born in hospitals, where birth certificates were readily accessible. These citizens were born at home. Often the reason was because they could not get adequate maternity care because of discrimination and segregation. This is a cultural fact the Republicans are well aware of. The sometimes complex structure of the poor, migrant African American family in America prevents easy tracing of roots, and often does not rely on a paper trail. Should a citizen in this situation be denied the right to vote? Even when they present proper identification?
2. Many Asian Americans face language barriers when trying to participate in our democracy. Older immigrants who are naturalized citizens are no less befuddled than the rest of us when faced with hanging chads, hole punches, computerized voting machines. Should they be deprived of the right to have someone come into a voting booth to help them cast a ballot? The greater majority of states already have such rules on the books, but not Washington.
3. I heard firsthand the stories of Asian Americans who faced intimidation and rudeness at the polls. Asian and Latino names are often misspelled, mispronounced or mislaid. Voters have been told their names are not on the rolls because frustrated poll workers do not want to spend extra time seeking out “foreigner” names or reconciling ID inconsistencies. Should these people be denied the right to vote?
One side note: currently only about a third of the representatives in the U.S. Congress possess a passport. Good luck at some polling places.
When you examine this issue from another point of view, it becomes clear that the Republican measures that are sold to the public as “voter reform” or “vote confirmation” are really “voter manipulation” schemes in disguise.
As Americans we must stand up and protect not only our rights, but the rights of our fellow citizens. When a political party uses the right to vote to exclude, limit and control who has a say in our democracy, we remain silent at our own peril.
If the current ethics and spying scandals in Washington DC have taught us anything, it is that we need to look at who stands to gain and who stands to lose when our representatives advance measures affecting our basic rights as Americans.
When you look at issues like this from another vantage point, the landscape of the American Dream takes on a whole new perspective.
I am grateful to the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of Washington for giving me the opportunity to see things in a different light.
I know the view from the Olympia Capitol steps is going to be great on February 2.
