[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11206]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 25, 1999

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage month from May 1 to May 31, 
1999.
  Mr. Speaker, the greatness of our nation rests in its diversity: the 
diversity of its ideas, the diversity of its experiences, and, above 
all, the diversity of its peoples. America's institutions are 
constantly being reinvigorated by the vitality of our country's 
component communities, with their distinct but equally wondrous values 
and histories. This multitude of cultures fuses together to form a 
magnificent social mosaic, one made bolder and more dynamic by the 
contributions of citizens of diverse national origins. We learn from 
each other, and we share with each other the dividends of our different 
traditions.
  Throughout the month of May, we celebrate the achievements of 
millions of Americans by commemorating Asian/Pacific American Heritage 
Month. This year's theme, ``Celebrating Our Legacy,'' calls attention 
to the extraordinary gifts that Asian and Pacific Americans have 
bestowed upon our nation. From the scientific community to the sports 
world, from the arts to the Internet, the perseverance and patriotism 
of Asian and Pacific Americans add to this country's greatness.
  Internet pioneers such as Jerry Yang prepare our economy for the 
twenty-first century, while Dr. David Ho leads the crusade against one 
of the new millennium's most alarming dangers: AIDS. Congressman Bob 
Matsui and Congresswoman Patsy Mink stand at the forefront of our 
government's fight for civil rights and social justice, and respected 
ABC news correspondent Connie Chung keeps America informed about these 
challenges and others with her insightful investigative report. This 
nation's cultural heritage has been enriched by the musical brilliance 
of Seiji Ozawa and Yo-Yo Ma, the creative genius of author Deeprak 
Chopra and fashion designer Vera Wang, and the athletic skills of 
golfing superstar Tiger Woods and Olympic figure skating legends Kristi 
Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan.
  Mr. Speaker, these exceptional contributions are all the more evident 
when one considers the formidable obstacles which Asian and Pacific 
Americans had to overcome to achieve them. Their long history has 
featured pervasive discrimination in the form of restrictive quotas, 
unfounded stereotypes, and, all too often, violent hate crimes. The 
most infamous example of this bigotry involved the forced detention of 
Japanese-Americans during World War II, when innocent men, women, and 
children were expelled from their homes and banished to camps in remote 
parts of the country. This outrage remains a permanent stain on the 
history of the American people, sullying an otherwise proud record of 
support for human rights and individual dignity.
  While the American government officially questioned the patriotism of 
Japanese-Americans on our West Coast, other Japanese-Americans serving 
in our nation's armed forces in remote corners of the globe were 
demonstrating the fallacy of such unjust accusations. During the Second 
World War, the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd 
Regimental Combat units earned more than 18,000 medals for bravery and 
valor in battle--52 Distinguished Service Crosses, 560 Silver Stars, 
and 9,480 Purple Hearts. The 442nd remains to this day the most 
decorated combat team of its size in the history of the United States 
Army. Yet, while the brave soldiers of these units were risking their 
lives to preserve freedom, the government for which they so 
courageously fought was evicting their family members from their homes 
and communities.
  Mr. Speaker, this is only one of a multitude of examples of Asian and 
Pacific Americans surmounting the hurdles of prejudice and 
discrimination to make a difference in every sector of society. It is 
these innumerable stories of perseverance and success that we celebrate 
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the legacy 
of all Americans of Asian and Pacific descent.




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