Increase in Concern

I was talking with SD today -- actually we went to go see Tribute and Rememberance: Asian Americans after 9/11 at UH -- Thanks go out to Asian American Federation of New York and the Honolulu Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League for sponsoring the showing.

The movie shows a side of the aftermath of the WTC tragedy that does not involve Iraq, Afghanistan, the Taliban, Osama, or anything else you can learn by watching Fox or any other media outlet -- it informs of how WTC means more than a war against terror, it has reshaped the lives of those that live and work in New York -- it really opened our eyes to how the Asian American, and particularly the South Asian communities were affected -- if you are not familiar with South Asians, I suppose their "Oriental" dress and misidentified "Arab" appearance makes them a target for unfair treatment and violence

I have not been terribly political about being an American of Asian ancestry -- I suppose that I am lucky to have grown up in Hawaii where I was largely sheltered from the discrimination that other Asian Americans experience while growing up on the continent

I do empathize however with movements and attempts to address injustice and inequality-- in our country we have access to civil rights and process under the law, yet so many experience discrimination, injustice, and inequality as a normal part of their American lives because they look differently, speak differently, worship differently, love differently from the majority of people

It has been brought to my attention lately after being dormant for several years -- the issue of civil unions and same sex marriage -- Vermont, Massachusetts, San Francisco, and our federal government have been spinning wheels about this issue -- I frankly do not understand why it is that some members of our community feel a need to DECIDE FOR OTHERS who, what and how people can relate or love one another -- if this is not an issue of tyranny of the majority, I frankly do not know what is

I find this lack of tolerance, lack of respect for basic human dignity, and an individual's pursuit of happiness to be frankly repulsive -- No matter the moral, religious, ethical/legal, or other reasons given for why there can be no gay marriage -- it hardly seems loving or understanding to deny otherwise law abiding citizens the opportunity to pursue their own happiness in a way that does not harm others

Let's be honest, civils unions are a form of "separate but equal" -- therefore, essentially it is denying homosexuals their constitutional right to equal protection of laws related to the rights and privileges that should be protected relating to their choice of relationships

I do not understand why after nearly 2000 years we still cannot love one another and respect the individuality, choices, and liberties of our fellow citizens -- it is not a matter of moral or religious correctness, it is a simple matter of protecting civil liberties and the dignity of individuals -- I remain puzzled as to how it may be that we still will tolerate inequity and injustice perpetrated on a segment of the people of our country

On a separate note, I do not agree with the current administration's positions to wage war on terror in a way that unilaterally excepts itself from abiding by international law intended to promote peace and human rights -- I further do not agree with fiscal policies that put our nation in massive debt (and essentially and implicitly put our national future in the hands of foreign owners that hold the debt) -- I do not agree with attempts to restrict the civil liberties and privacy of individuals as guaranteed by law and our Constitution for the sake of creating a climate of fear -- I do not agree with further attempts to empower the corporations of our country at the expense of our common public national resources

I do not believe necessarily or wholeheartedly that John Kerry or John Edwards provide clear cut best alternatives to our current president -- however, I am willing to support efforts such as Moveon.org and the campaign of John Edwards to restore a positive direction to our country and the common future that we share -- I'm not writing this to urge my readers to do the same -- however, I do make a simple request that everyone register to vote and go out and vote, and importantly inform themselves on the issues that face us today

Whoo, I feel better -- ha