Be Passionate About 4th of JULY

We are less than a week from one of the most important Holidays of our
Nation, so it is time to remember ...

4TH OF JULY

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed
the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured
before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving
in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the
Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were
farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but
they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the
penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his Ships
swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties
to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move
his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, &
his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, &
poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British
General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters.

He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was
destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed
his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their
13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid
to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning
home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. Some of us take
these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and
silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they
paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

########
80-20 distributed 4000 flags to supporters in CA, TX, OH, NY, MA
..., etc. in June. They are organizing "Seas of Flags" events. Huge
"Seas of Flags" events are planned in Houston and Oakland. If you
are in those vicinities, please go join those events.

What if people see Seas of American flags on July 4th, when they
drive through areas known for concentration of APAs? Will it
change a lot of minds that APAs are foreigners?

You bet your life, it would.

Please join 80-20, if you have not already. Basic member: $35,
Family (2 votes): $50, and Life Member: $1000. Any US citizen or
permanent resident can be a member, using a credit card, visit
http://www.80-20initiative.net/membership.html or
http://www.80-20.info/membership.html.
PERSONAL checks are payable to "80-20 PAC", mailed to:
Jing-Li Yu
80-20 special Assistant
43-34 Union St., Apt. 6-d
Flushing, NY 11355-7042
Write down your E-MAIL address & PHONE no. on the BACK of the
check.

Victory VII & Other Good News

A) Victory VII & Salute to APILC, Asian Pacific Islander Legislative
Caucus of California (Co-Chairs: Assemblymembers Wilma Chan &
Carol Liu; Members: Assemblymembers Judy Chu, George
Nakano, & Leland Yee)

The California Senate voted unanimously on June 2 to condemn
remarks by Congressman Howard Coble (R-N.C.) regarding the
Japanese American internment and called for him to resign as chair
of the House Sub-committee on Homeland Security. The resolution
was introduced by APILC. The California Assembly took the same
action about 2 weeks earlier.

A copy of the resolution will now be sent to every member of Congress
and every member of North Carolina's Legislature and the Governor.

B) Good News -- GOP Leaders Are Dropping 80-20's Name In
Press Conference

80-20 didn't get much respect from GOP in the 2000 presidential
election. However, things seem to be changing. John Tsu who will
chair the "Asian Am. & Pacific Islanders for Bush/Cheney 2004" stated
during the press conference announcing its formation that 80-20
might join this campaign organization after 80-20's Endorsement
Convention.

While the statement is technically true, it is not news. 80-20 is just as
likely to support the Democratic presidential nominee after 80-20's
Endorsement Convention. The nominee of the major political party
that has performed more good deeds for our community in the
preceding 4 years gets 80-20's endorsement.

What is news is that Prof. Tsu, by working in 80-20's name in the press
conference, is recognizing 80-20's unique power to deliver a bloc vote.
What a difference that 4 years make!

80-20's growing prestige in the political arena is due to ALL OF YOU
who sacrificed your money and time to nurture 80-20. Keep up
with your history-making support.

C) Our interns are recruiting members very successfully. Thus far
Paul Jung, an intern from the Korea American community, has
recruited the most members.

D) Prof. Jerry Yang, an 80-20 Board Member was honored by the
Asian Am. Heritage Foundation of NJ, which was founded many years
ago by Dr. Steven Ko, another 80-20 Board member.

Please be vigilant. Join 80-20. Together, we shall overcome.
http://www.80-20initiative.net/fundraising.html.

******************************
UPDATE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS with 80-20, when anticipating a change.
******************************

OUR Young Lions at Work and Play

##### Seeking a Father's Day gift? A flag with a holder & have
it installed for him. DISPLAY OUR FLAG on July 4th !! #######

Dear 80-20 Supporters:

One of our Chang-Lin Tien interns, Sherry Zhang of NJ will
be interviewed on The Voice of America, VOA -- live broadcast
to China from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. E.C.T. on 6/11.

Here is how it came about.

As interns for 80-20, they undergo two weeks of intense training.
After that they'll go into our community to recruit members for 80-20.
The purpose is to let them learn how to organize which is the
essence of politics. Part of the training is for each intern to try get
a press release about their joining 80-20 into their respective local
papers. What follows best illustrates how "A little spark can start a
prairie fire."

1) 80-20 issued a press release in English and urged each intern
to try get it published in his/her local papers,
2) Sherry Zhang translated the release into Chinese and submitted
it to various news outlets in her locality as did other interns,
3) The Chinesenewsnet among other media published the translated
release,
4) VOA saw the news on Chinesenewsnet, and contacted Sherry,
5) Sherry accepted the invitation to go on live in VOA's broadcast to
China on 6/11 at 7:30-8:00 a.m., E.C.T.

So that's our 80-20's interns, OUR young lions are at work and
play. Getting a press release about oneself published and then getting
interviewed by VOA in a live broadcast to China is certainly work and
fun. One of our interns may try to recruit you as an 80-20 member
soon. Please respond generously.

This internship program will continue next year. Offspring of 80-
20 members will be given preference, other considerations being
equal.

If you are already a member, Thank you. Otherwise, please join as
a Basic member ($35; one vote) or Family member ($50; two votes), or
Life member ($1,000). Any US citizen or permanent resident can be a
member using a credit card, visit
http://www.80-20initiative.net/membership.html or
http://www.80-20.info/membership.html .
PERSONAL checks are payable to "80-20 PAC", mailed to:
Jing-Li Yu
80-20 special Assistant
43-34 Union St., Apt. 6-d
Flushing, NY 11355-7042
Write down your E-MAIL address & PHONE no. on the BACK of the
check.

SB