[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5417-S5419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, before we break for the Memorial Day 
recess, I

[[Page S5418]]

would like to remark on the celebration of Asian Pacific American 
Heritage Month and to honor the contributions Asian Pacific Americans 
have made to our country.
  Mr. President, the scope of the celebration has expanded every year 
since 1992, when President Bush signed Public Law 102-450 designating 
May of every year as ``Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.'' In 
Washington, D.C., and in cities all around the nation, schools, 
community organizations, cultural groups, and government agencies are 
commemorating the occasion with film festivals, conferences, cultural 
shows, museum exhibits, political forums, and a multitude of other 
activities.
  Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent number 10 million and 
that figure continues to rise. Asian Pacific Americans represent a 
broad range of ethnic groups. Their histories are as diverse as the 
lands of their origin. The earliest immigrants--Chinese, Japanese, 
Asian Indians, Koreans, and Filipinos--and the most recent refugees--
Vietnamese, Laotians, and Cambodians--all experienced similar, yet 
unique journeys as they crossed the Pacific to venture to a new land of 
opportunity. Opportunities, however, were not as plentiful as they 
would have hoped. From the Chinese Exclusion Laws, which restricted 
immigration on a racial basis, to Executive Order 9066, which resulted 
in the internment of more than 110,000 Japanese Americans and their 
immigrant relatives, life in America, at times, proved to be a 
nightmare rather than the promised American Dream. But despite 
seemingly insurmountable obstacles, these early intrepid immigrants 
toiled and sacrificed in order to make this country their own and to 
preserve the American dream for their American children. They helped 
build our railroads, labored on our farms, worked endless factory 
hours, and formed the backbone of many small businesses.
  Today, even more so than in the past, Asian Pacific Americans 
contribute to every sector of our society. They are in corporate board 
rooms, scientific laboratories, universities, Congress, statehouses, 
the judiciary, government agencies, the performing arts, and sports. 
They are architects like I.M. Pei, scientists like AIDS researcher 
David Ho, statesmen like Senator Dan Inouye, writers like journalist 
Iris Chang, musicians like conductor Zubin Mehta, filmmakers like Chris 
Tashima, sports heroes like Tiger Woods, and warriors like General Eric 
Shinseki. Unfortunately, the scope and ubiquity of Asian Pacific 
accomplishments are often overshadowed by insensitive acts directed 
against members of the community.
  For example, during last year's investigation of campaign finance 
abuses, the distinction between foreign donors and Asian American 
donors was frequently blurred by members of both political parties and 
the media. While investigations focused on contributions made to the 
Democratic National Committee by foreign donors, legitimate American 
donors were unduly interrogated and harassed simply because their 
surnames happened to sound ``foreign.''
  For their part, the media, including major newspapers, networks, and 
magazines, often confused ``Asian'' with ``Asian American'' in their 
stories and headlines on the donor controversy, though they never 
seemed to confuse ``European'' with Americans of European extraction. 
The media's inability to distinguish between foreigners and citizens 
contributed to the stereotypical impression that there is a nefarious 
``connection'' between all Asians and Asian Americans.
  This bias was in more recent evidence just after Michelle Kwan and 
Tara Lipinski honored America by winning the silver and gold Olympic 
figure skating medals, respectively. Immediately after the event, the 
internet website of NBC's cable affiliate, MSNBC, contained the 
headline, ``American Beats Out Kwan for Women's Figure Skating Title.'' 
As we all know, both Lipinski and Kwan are Americans. But the 
difference between the two champions, in the eyes of MSNBC's editors, 
was their skin color, making one ``more'' American than the other.
  Mr. President, instances like these remind us that Asian Pacific 
Americans, whatever their achievements, whatever their contributions to 
the nation, are still perceived as foreigners, whether fifth or first 
generation. These unfortunate incidents are reminders that as a nation 
we still have a long journey ahead of us on the road to tolerance and 
mutual understanding.
  But I would be remiss if I did not also point out that there have 
also been a number of developments that have helped advance the Asian 
Pacific community's quest to become fully accepted members of American 
society. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight two notable 
events which occurred during this month's celebration of Asian Pacific 
American Heritage Month, events that I hope reflect a growing 
understanding of, and appreciation for, Asian Pacific Americans by 
fellow Americans.

  First, last Saturday, a ceremony celebrating the designation of Angel 
Island as a National Historic Landmark was held in San Francisco. 
Located in San Francisco Bay, Angel Island Immigration Station served 
as an immigration processing station for many West Coast immigrants 
between 1910 and 1940. Most of the immigrants entering through Angel 
Island were Chinese, but a sizable portion of the immigrants came from 
Japan, the Philippines, and Europe as well. However, the Chinese 
experience was vastly different from that of other immigrants, 
regardless of which port of entry they entered through. Subject to a 
series of Chinese exclusion laws beginning in 1882, Chinese immigrants 
could only enter the United States under the ``exempt class.'' Instead 
of a welcoming atmosphere, these Chinese were subjected to days, weeks, 
months, and even years of hostile interrogation before being admitted 
to the U.S. or being deported back to China. They languished in prison-
like conditions at Angel Island until decisions were handed down. In 
contrast, processing at Ellis Island took an immigrant, on average, 
three to five hours. Angel Island Immigration Station closed in 1940 
after processing over 175,000 Chinese immigrants.
  In 1970, a state park ranger discovered scores of poems beautifully 
carved into the wooden walls of the detention barracks, evidently 
composed by its onetime Chinese and Japanese resident. In one poem, a 
prospective Chinese immigrant wrote:

     Every one says traveling to North America is a pleasure.
     I suffered misery on the ship and sadness in the wooden 
           building.
     After several interrogations, still I am not done.
     I sigh because my compatriots are being forcibly detained.

  Another wrote

     Originally, I had intended to come to America last year.
     Lack of money delayed me until early autumn.
     It was on the day that the Weaver Maiden met the Cowherd.
     That I took passage on the President Lincoln.
     I ate wind and tasted waves for more than twenty days.
     Fortunately, I arrived safety on the American continent.
     I thought I could land in a few days.
     How was I to know I would become a prisoner suffering in the 
           wooden building?
     The barbarians abuse is really difficult to take.
     When my family's circumstances stir my emotions, a double 
           stream of tears flow.
     I only wish I can land in San Francisco soon,
     Thus sparing me this additional sorrow here.

  These poignant works reveal the hardships these immigrants endured; 
but, more importantly, they also revealed hopes and desires that are 
universal to the American story. This story is work preserving, whether 
it is the experience of the Irish of Boston, the Italians of New York 
City, the African Americans of Savannah, the Mexicans of El Paso, or 
the Cambodians of Long Beach.
  I would like to congratulate the Angel Island Immigration Station 
Foundation, the Chinese Historical Society of America, the California 
Department of Parks and Recreation, and the many other community 
organizations and individuals who worked tirelessly to procure National 
Historic Landmark status for Angel Island. It is my hope the new 
designation will help preserve a significant experience in the lives of 
Asian Pacific immigrants, on that will also resonate with the universal 
immigration experience of all Americans.
  The second promising development that occurred this month was the 
announcement by Hasbro Toys, the company, which manufactures ``G.I. 
Joe,'' that it will be creating a Japanese American G.I. Joe, as part 
of its G.I.

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Joe Classics Collection. The action figure will honor the Japanese 
Americans who fought valiantly for our country during World War II.
  My colleagues will recall that as members of the famed 100th Infantry 
Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team, Japanese American soldiers 
suffered unparalleled casualties in the French and Italian campaigns. 
Many veterans today still recall the heroism of this fighting unit, 
which during one famous engagement sustained 800 casualties to save the 
lives of some 200 members of a Texas battalion who were facing certain 
annihilation by German troops. The 442nd emerged as one of the most 
decorated units in our nation's military history, among its more famous 
members is Senator Daniel Inouye, whose heroism earned him the 
Distinguished Service Cross.
  Aside from their military prowess, what was even more remarkable 
about these brave men was the fact that they were fighting for a 
country which was, in essence, holding their families hostage in 
internment camps. One of the darkest chapters of our nation's history 
was the forced evacuation of over 110,000 Japanese Americans into 
internment camps.
  And so I am very pleased that a toy company, which markets to our 
most important community, our children, has dispensed with typical 
marketing values to honor America's home-grown Asian Pacific American 
heroes. For ultimately, only change in our cultural values will have 
transformational effect on race and ethnic relations as we approach the 
next millennium.
  Mr. President, I am Native Hawaiian and I am Chinese, but above all I 
am American. I have embraced all of my identities and hope that others 
can learn to embrace and cherish our inherent diversity. It is my 
sincere hope that as we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage 
Month, each and every citizen will reflect on our nation's multiple 
heritages and appreciate the relationship between our racial and ethnic 
diversity and the unity that binds us together as Americans.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. ENZI addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming, Mr. Enzi, is 
recognized.

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