Monday, July 02, 2012

Celebrate July 4th with a Flag!

Dear Fellow Asian Americans and Friends,

Celebrate July 4th with a Flag!

On July 4th, help celebrate the founding of a great nation, OUR NATION, the United States of America, by displaying a flag at your home.  Legality aside, the essence of citizenship is the pride of ownership.  It means we owe our primary allegiance to the USA while celebrating the vitality of our ethnic communities and preserving our cherished cultural heritages.  It means we stand up and fight for our rights as full-fledged citizens.  It means we are equal partners in making this great nation a more perfect union.  But are we?

AsAms must shatter the “perpetual foreigner” image before we can become first-class citizens.

Don’t just blame others for bias: Are you behaving like a citizen? No amount of enlightenment by others would help if you think, talk and act like a refugee in a foreign land.  As the proverb put it well, “If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it is a duck.”

“Refugee mentality” is a state of mind that makes you a foreigner regardless of your citizenship status.

It affects a person’s conduct, yet has nothing to do with his education attainment, professional development, family income or wealth.  Many “model minority” individuals, suffer the same “refugee mentality” as would a destitute, despite being in the top 10% income bracket and living in suburban McMansions:  Constant insecurity about job and financial well-being, exclusive focus on immediate family needs, look at everything from a “what’s in it for me” perspective, don’t give away anything to anyone, don’t care or get involved in the community, don’t dare to defend own rightful interests lest it would step on toes and cause a backlash, and above all, avoid “dirty” politics like the plague.  Then look around and wonder why are we looked upon as perpetual foreigners, why our children face the highest bar to college, and why our adults face the lowest ceiling?

Look around your friends and look at yourself.  Look no further:

“First-class citizenship” is an ideal that germinates in your heart and emanates through your actions.

The change is in you!

80-20 toils to plant the seeds for a better and stronger AsAm community, support us by paying your membership dues and help spread the words.

Or send your check to: 80-20 PAC, 13337 South St. #189,  Cerritos,  CA 90703.
Family membership is $50 (two), individual $35, student $15.

Please see us on facebook at: www.facebook.com/8020PAC 

Respectfully,
80-20Collective Leadership

Acknowledgements:
Pedro Chan, California, life member, $1000
Tiepeng Zhou, New Jersey, $405