Asian Americans should participate in US politics

 
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail People's Daily, July 27, 2012
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 Asian Americans took a huge step in participating in political affairs.

According to the World Journal, about 30 Asian Americans ran for the U.S. Congress in 2012, setting a historical record. The figure was 10 in 2010 and eight in 2008.

Judy May Chu, a Chinese-American member of the U.S. House of Representatives, said that the congressional election of 2012 will probably be a milestone for the Asian Americans. "It is an important step taken by us," Chu said in an interview with CNN.

Two Asian American-based constituency for House of Representatives and one Asian American-based constituency for Senate were added in the redistricting plan announced in New York State on March 12, 2012, which is regard as a huge victory for Asia Americans in U.S. politics.

Although some failed in the primary congressional election, there are three Asian Americans who won the success in New York, Tennessee and Florida and respectively became the first Asian-American candidates of congress in their own states.

The article titled "Asian Americans participating in political affairs" is published by The Walt Street Journal on July 6, which says that there was not a congressman of Asian origin in past 12 years while the success of Chinese American Grace Meng in the sixth constituency in Democratic primary for House of Representatives opened a new page for New York's political history.

Chu said in a program that the newly emerged Asian-American representatives in the U.S. mainstream society will help change the public's traditional impression on the Asian Americans and their participation in the leadership of the United States will enhance the political voices of Asian Americans.

The exaggerated strength of Asian Americans

Many media regarded the record number of Asian-American political participators as an embodiment of their increasing strength.

A survey report of U.S. Pew Research Center described the Asian Americans as "successful, well-off and highly educated".

Some media said that the Asian-American electors and electoral districts become increasingly mature and powerful in recent years. Grace Meng is the best example. Although economic situation, consciousness of political participation and political status are improved, some groups of Asian origin believe that their strength is exaggerated and the Western media were also suspected of misleading the public.

There is still a long way for the Asian Americans to go

There is still a long way for the Asian Americans, in the real sense, to participate in the political affairs, attract the attention of electoral camps and make their own voices heard. Actually, the lack of Asian-American managerial personnel also occurs in the fields of education, science and technology and business.

In terms of political participation, the voting enthusiasm of Asian Americans from registration to poll is less than the groups of Latin-American origin. Therefore, the Asian Americans still need to make great efforts to enhance their potential and influence in the U.S. elections and safeguard their own interests by using political elections.

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