Change Your Name, She suggested.

A Texas Republican State Representative, Betty Brown, asked during a House testimony on voter identification legislation if Asian Ams should change names so that it is “easier for Americans to deal with.”

She asked, “Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?” See Houston Chronicle http://www.chron.com/d cc6 isp/story.mpl/front/6365320.html

That of course has created a fire-storm in the Asian Am community. Besides the suggestion to change names, there are plenty of hints that she doesn't think Asian Ams are American citizens. How otherwise is one to understand "your citizens" and “easier for Americans to deal with.”

For those of us who think that the "perpetual foreigner" image against us is attenuating, think again! If your compatriots think you are a foreigner, can you get good jobs?

A number of organizations have asked for an apology. 80-20 supports that.

However, unlike others, if words & reasons fail, 80-20 acts!

80-20 punishes those politicians who don't share our rightful concerns when they run for an office again.

In Betty Brown's case, her fellow Republicans are likely to be so embarrassed by her that a good Republican believing in "diversity" and that "We are all Americans" will want to replace her for the glory of Texas in 2010. If so, 80-20 may want to create a "Victory for a Republican" fund to help elect that good Republican.

If you like our style and effectiveness, join as a dues paying member. Go http://www.80-20initiative.net and click on the button "JOIN 80-20."

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A Related Story

A reporter emailed to ask:

"WE WERE IN CHINA LAST YEAR. MANY OF THE CHINESE WE SPOKE WITH HAD ADOPTED AMERICAN NAMES SO PEOPLE COULD TALK TO THEM EASIER. WHAT IS SO WRONG WITH THAT? IT IS A REALITY!!
LARRY SMITH"

My answer:

Dear Mr. Smith:

There is not a thing wrong with people voluntarily adopting names to make things more convenient for themselves and others. What is wrong is for others to suggest that.

If I say why don't you adopt a Chinese name in emailing me to make things easier for me, you might think me uncivil, to say the least, and perhaps uneducated and arrogant to the point of being Barbaric.

When you were in China, if a Chinese had suggested to you to adopt a Chinese name to make things easier for him/her, you'd probably write an article reporting a growing arrogance among Chinese now that they are economically doing well. Or if the Chinese government had suggested that non-Chinese naturalizing to Chinese citizenship need to consider adopting Chinese names, you'd probably write an article condemning the entire Chinese government.

Well, Betty Brown is an official, speaking in an official capacity.

Thanks for asking the question. It gives us a chance to exchange views.

Regards,

SB