by Al Poliarco
I was not surprised that just a handful of Asian Americans showed up for the rally for immigrant rights in Madison. I don't think our alarming absence was simply because the event was called a Day Without Latinos. We were not outnumbered because there are more Latinos in Madison. Tens of thousands marched and not even a thousand were of Asian descent. Was it because we don't have a white t-shirt to put on, as requested by the organizers, or was it because not enough of us are blue collar? Unfortunately, our presence was lacking because many of us are simply apathetic. Our absence was an opportunity wasted to show our strength as a community.
Where do we stand on issues that affect immigrants? Have we heard about legal immigrants' restrictions on welfare benefits? Perhaps this particular benefit does not concern us since not many of us are on welfare or need it. This statement may not be true but it seems to be the perception of many. Why should we oppose House Resolution 4437, Wisconsin Senate Bill 567 (SB567), or the passage of Wisconsin Assembly Bill 69 (AB69)? All these are attacks against immigrants, and could directly affect many of us in the Asian-American community.
After the rally, I received an e-mail suggesting that the Asian American community should release a statement in support of immigration rights. I guess it would be better late than never. But then again, I think joining the rally and adding our voices on the issue would have been the venue to do this. Are we too proud to resort to street parliament as a means of expressing ourselves? We certainly know that more and more politicians feel little pressure from another letter from their constituents that has no money attached. Maybe we do not want to be the loud ones that rock the boat.
Such Asian American apathy and fear is most disturbing at a time when our active participation is urgently needed. Regardless of our status, immigration remains an issue that affects all of us simply by how others perceive us, even if we are U.S. citizens. It is at the very forefront of national politics now. It is an issue that is being used to divide the public and we should not sit back and let others fight this for us. We have weight to bear. Our absence at the rally shows others where we stand ? nowhere. Should we blame our lack of leadership or dig down to the very core of our problem, blaming ourselves for the racism we face as our way of survival.
I have probably yanked your chain enough, but please consider, as we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, that perhaps we should go beyond displays of our native dances and colorful costumes to celebrate our lives here and our contributions to American society by exercising our right to protest.
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