How American are we?

This e-newsletter (from the 80-20 Educational Foundation, EF) takes
a look at the value systems of most of the first and second general Asian
Americans and compares them with those of most other Americans.

To our credit, we probably emphasize education, saving, work ethic
and helping out our family members more than most Americans.

Not to our credit, we might not have sufficiently absorbed some of the
better values, listed below, of most other Americans:

1. Speaking out against injustice. (Some of us don't even speak out
against injustice when it is against us.)

2. Turning the negative energy of a personal tragedy into the positive
energy of helping a project designed to prevent others from experiencing
the same tragedy. (A huge fraction of Asian Ams. have encountered
discrimination at work or in the society, few have channeled their negative
experience to establish positive relief for other Asian Ams or other new
immigrants.)

3. Committing a certain amount of time, money and energy to help a
community's needs. This is especially so among the highly educated, and
especially after they've retired. (We have a very high share of the "highly
educated." Our community is not known for volunteering or giving for
community needs.)

4. Having individuals like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Ted Turner.
(We have a couple of equivalents. Hopefully, there will be more.)

The above have been my observations through my 54 years living in
America. I am NOT a sociologist. Nor did I do research in any of the above
topics that I am blabbing about. So, if I am way off base., please
forgive me. If you think I may have a point that is worthy of your
attention, examine thyself first, and then share the e-newsletters with
others.

Why is 80-20EF sending this e-newsletter to you? EF
believes that we can be the first generation of Americans possessing the
best of both Asian and American cultures. Besides benefiting ourselves,
it is also one way to give back to America.

So "how American are we?" We can be the best of Americans.

Sincerely yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.
http://www.80-20EF.org

PS To give your feedback, please go http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp

To be a Judge -- a very political process

Most Asian Ams know that judges (federal or state) are NOT supposed to make political contributions and/or be partisan. Therefore, many have deduced that the appointment of judges must be a non-political process. The truth is just the opposite.

Becoming a judge -- a very political process

Here is why.

First, very emotional issues clearly identified with either D or R could eventually be won or lost by the decision of the Supreme Court. Examples are abortion; guns; desegregation/affirmative action/diversity; torture/internment; gay marriage, .., etc. Most of the Supreme Court Justices came up from the Appeals and/or District Courts. Hence, the appointment of every District or Appeals Court judge could be a seed for victory or defeat to R or D.

Just look at the confirmation of Sotomayor, you'll easily deduce that the appointment of federal judges is a partisan issue. Indeed, all judges I personally know are either Rs or Ds, not a single Ind. or Decline.

Secondly, there are these facts. Red is used to indicate where politics comes in.

1) The President normally selects District judges from a short list of 3 submitted by the senior Senator from the President's party in whose state the "District" lies.

2) Those who get on the short list of 3 usually meet both of the following descriptions: a) having done a lot of service for either the senator and/or the party, and have similar legal temperament as that of the President's party or the senator., and b) being legally qualified.

"Check & balance" mechanisms to ensure justice

To assure justice, the American forefathers have installed counter-balancing mechanisms to the political process of appointing judges.

(1) All federal judges, be they District, Circuit or Supreme Court justices, are life-tenured. Hence, once appointed, all judges are free to judge by the dictate of the law and their own conscience, e.g. retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter was appointed by a conservative Pres. Reagan but had voted mostly with the liberals.
(2) In most states, the judges are NOT life-tenured, but the State Constitutions often require that the more important courts have equal numbers of D's and R's.
(3) Wrongful or partisan judgments can be appealed at the state & federal levels.

Will a generic letter to US senators urging attention to qualified Asian Am candidates be necessary & helpful?

Necessary? Yes. For District judges, Pres. Obama normally chooses from the lists of 3 submitted from the Dem senators only.

Helpful? Yes and no. In politics, it is not what one has to say, but who is saying it. Why? If an official ignores the request of an ethnic civic org., say, a law org, there will be no repercussion at that official's re-election time. If the same request from a powerful political group is ignored, when the official faces re-election, he/she may at best expect no support from that group. In the worst case, the official may find strong opponents in both primary & general election, all supported by the political group whose request he/she had ignored.

That is why when a powerful labor union, the Nat'l Rifle Association or AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) sends personalized requests, they will be given due attention. 80-20 PAC is no AIPAC's . But it fights with courage for a diversity that includes Asian Ams.

Asian Am. Legal Eagles & Appeals Court Judges

President Obama has promised our community (via 80-20 EF) that he'll "make it a top priority of my Administration to nominate qualified Asian Ams to serve as Article III Circuit (Appeals) Judges, whenever there are vacancies in those positions."

Since Circuit Court judges often come from District Court judges, please view a picture of the 4 of the only 6 AsAm District Court judges who were present in 2006 when 80-20 announced to drive for more Asian Am. federal judges.

Their names are from right to left Anthony Ishii, Anthony Ching (Solicitor General of AZ), Ronald Lew, S. B. Woo (80-20), Susan Oki Mollway, and Dana Makoto Sabraw. District Judges Danny Chin and George King were not present owing to prior commitments, although they have consistently worked with 80-20 EF for the benefit of our community. 80-20 has high hopes that some of them plus other Asian Ams. will become Circuit (Appeals) Court judges.

When it comes to good jobs, e.g. judgeships, high managerial positions in big corporations & universities, America is much more political than most first generation Asian Am. immigrants may reasonably perceive.

80-20 Educational Foundation (EF) is pleased to provide the above educational service. If you find the service useful, donate to http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/donate/donate.asp or send a check to Katy Woo, 5 Farm House RoadNewark, DE 19711.

Respectfully yours.

S. B. Woo
President (a volunteer), 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

Readers wanting to comment, please go http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp

History, YOU & Glory of America

YOU and 80-20 have made history together. No one can question that.

The "Overseas Chinese History Museum of China" has written 80-20 Educational Foundation (EF) to request a copy of then candidate Sen. Obama's reply to EF's questionnaire for exhibit in its museum. As you know, Sen. Obama has become President Obama. See the formal request, with apologies to those who don't read Chinese.

80-20 EF has replied affirmatively to the request, as it would to a similar request from any museum. Indeed, 80-20 is honored by the request, as we trust YOU are.

Without you, the Asian Am. history would be less illustrious!

The museum is being built in a very prominent location in Beijing, within the "second ring road" near Tian'anmen Square. One day, when you are in Beijing, you may visit the museum and stand in front of that document with pride.

80-20 wants that historic document to be spread as far and wide as possible for 2 reasons:
1) It is a proper way to honor all who've strived greatly asking Sen. Obama to reply and who later worked hard for him in the battleground states to help elect him.
2)This document is a reflection of the glory of America. This document tells the Chinese people more about the true significance of American democracy than any "outreach" sent to China by our government.

David Broder, known as the dean of American political reporters, stated, "A bloc vote ….. is one of the "un-noticed glories of American life," because it is a mechanism available to small minorities like the Arab/Asian Americans to protect their rights.

80-20 EF is delighted that our shared effort will be recorded in history. We want you to know about it and be proud.

For donation to EF, go http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/donate/donate.asp, or send a check to Katy Woo 5 Farm House Road, Newark, DE 19711. Bequests and gifts in stocks are welcome.

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Pres. Obama's Preferred Supreme Court Justice: Someone who will show "empathy" towards "people's hopes and struggles."

Let the above be a constant reminder to all who emphasize career success only. Many Asian Americans are often too career-minded & insufficiently willing to stand up for justice, &/or the weak and the powerless. America values & respects those who care deeply and who are smart &
successful.

Respectfully yours,

S.B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational foundation, Inc.

PS: Readers wanting to comment, please go http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp

Practice Plowing Back or ESI

Practice Plowing Back to Enrich Your Own Community

Here's a true story that may help you live happier.

I naturalized 35 years ago. During the ceremony, the presiding judge gave a speech that helped me live happier till this day. He said to hundreds of us new citizens that day,

"You may have mixed emotions today. You may be happy because you applied to be an Am. citizen, and you got your wish. You may also be sad, because you think you are saying good bye to the country and people you once identified with."

"That is NOT what becoming US citizens means. In becoming a citizen, it simply means that you now owe your primary allegiance to the USA. You don't need to cut your tie with your old country. You can still care about it and want to help its people."

"The US is a decent nation. It doesn't expect its new citizens to cut off their emotional ties with another people and culture upon naturalizing. If a person can do that during this ceremony, then the same person can probably cut the US off completely through another ceremony. America will NOT want people with such an easy value system to be its new citizens."

How well said!

The topic of "a value system" that Americans generally expect from their fellow citizens then get me to the subject of "plowing back to enrich one's own community."

There are many rich individuals and a few powerful political leaders in the Asian Am. community. How many rich Asian Ams have given tens of millions to an Asian Am. cause??? Which of our powerful political leaders have spoken out on the discrimination against us in workplaces or the lack of Asian Am. Federal judges???

There may be a few, but far too few. In contrast, I know quite a few rich &/or powerful Asian Ams who have consistently turned their backs to the need of our community, once they thought "they've made it."

You know what? They may actually have limited themselves. Here is a case I know:

A very powerful political leader once told me that he/she tends to trust those minorities who have a record of serving their own community. If they don't, he/she can't help but wonder, if those individuals might not turn their backs to her/him when she/he needs help.

America values those who volunteer to help their own people in need, NOT those who are "success robots."

If you agree with what is said here, pass it around. Practice "enlightened self interest" and plow back to enrich your own community.

Post your comments at http://80-20ny.net/cgi/dm/8/bb/b31. Thanks.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.
http://www.80-20EducationalFoundation.org

Letter to Labor Secretary Solis

I just reported to you that our stars seemed aligned just right to win equal opportunity in workplaces soon for the 14 million Asian Ams. 80-20 is not relaxing, however. Lots of activities are going on.

See below for a letter sent a week ago to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. She is authorized to enforce equal opportunity for all Americans through Exec. Order 11246. If you live in or close to her Congressional District which includes Monterey Park, CA, you have probably donated and voted for her. Judy Chu is now running for her vacant seat.

Here are the key points of 80-20 Educational Foundation's (EF) letter to Sec. Solis:

"Dear Madame Secretary:

. . . I am requesting a meeting with you concerning a written commitment by President Obama to the Asian American community to provide equal opportunity in workplaces for Asian Americans, when he became the President. His unequivocal commitment is attached below. . . . . .

Then Sen. Obama was deeply moved by the information presented to him by EF which included the following:

"Asian Americans have the least opportunity to enter management when compared with blacks, Hispanics and women; the slowest rate of progress toward equal employment opportunity, despite having the highest educational attainment."

To see the validity of the above statement, please click on http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/projects/equalopp_washingtonpost_wpad.asp and see Tables 1 and 2 and related statements in a full page ad in the Washington Post on 9/6/06. The data and conclusion have been verified, in writing, by EEOC's Chief Statistician Ronald Edwards. If you are interested, I can provide you with a copy of his letter. This ad had also been entered into the Congressional Record by Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware on 9/21/06. . . . . . .

Not a day should be lost in the delivery of equal opportunity to all Americans. Not a day should be lost to help make America "a more perfect Union."

I look forward to hearing from you soon. It will be an honor and a privilege to meet with you and answer your questions.

Sincerely,
S. B. Woo, (title) , . . . "

The above is just to keep you posted. You need not take any action. If you happened to correspond or see Sec. Solis, you are naturally welcome to express our yearning for equal opportunity in workplaces ASAP.

See Table 1 to understand how badly we have been discriminated against. See also how firmly President Obama believes in equal opportunity for all Americans in his reply to 80-20's questionnaire.

For feedback to this email, leave your comments for all to read at http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/posterboard.html. I'd love to correspond with you. Thank you.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

PS If you like what 80-20 is doing, don't forget to help back. Visit http://www.80-20EducationalFoundation.org and pull down "Donations" and click on "Donate." Donations are tax deductible.

Click HERE to view 80-20's full-page ad in the Washington Post on 9/6/06.
Click HERE to view President Obama's written commitment.

Gen. Shinseki & Asian Ams. as Cabinet Secretaries

News: Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, A Japanese Am. was chosen as the Veterans Affairs Secretary. As the Army Chief of Staff, he told Rumsefeld the truth -- needing more boots on the ground in Iraq -- & earned Rumsfeld's wrath. Had he been listened to, the Iraq war and our nation would most likely have fared better.

Question: Is having an Asian Am. Cabinet Secretary important?

Answer: Before 2000, YES. Then, we wanted the historic first Asian Am. secretary for its symbolic significance. After 2001, NO! We are way beyond wanting a token Asian Am. Cabinet Secretary now.

In 2000, Norm Mineta made history by being the first Asian Am. Cabinet Secretary under Pres. Clinton. President Bush invited 2 Asian Ams into his cabinet. Mineta made us proud. He insisted on no racial profiling in airport checks during those emotional days following 9/11. At the end he proved to the nation the worth of his judgment.

Elaine Chao was a different story.

She taught us that having an Asian Am. cabinet secretary does NOT necessarily benefit our community.

Q: How did Elaine Chao disappoint or harm our community? Give facts please.

A: In 2001, 80-20 approached Sec. Elaine Chao about the apparent non-enforcement of the Exec. Order 11246 for Asian Ams. Her Labor Dept. was explicitly charged by Exec. Order 11246 to secure equal opportunity in workplaces for ALL Americans. She used various excuse to avoid discussion.

In 2005, 80-20 presented irrefutable data, shown at the end of this email that had been read into the Congressional Record by Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware. It showed that

"Asian Ams have the least opportunity to enter management and the slowest rate of progress towards equal employment opportunity, despite having the highest educational attainment."

She still refused to enforce the law although it was her duty as the Labor Secretary*.

Q: Could Sec. Chao be right and 80-20 be wrong?

A: NO. She could have held a public hearing to examine the merits of 80-20's request. Note that 16 Democratic presidential candidates including John Kerry & Joe Lieberman in 2004 and Barack Obama & Joe Biden in 2008 have agreed to this 80-20 request.

Her Deputy Sec. Steve Law sent comments intended to refute the our argument. Instead, when 80-20 researched to verify their validity, we found facts diametrically opposed to the comments. Why the Labor Dept. didn't seek the validity of its own comments before sending them to 80-20 was a puzzle. It seemed to suggest an unprofessional way the department was run.

For details visit http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org./projects/equalopp_washingtonpost.asp.
Go to "6. Frequently Asked Questions," where 80-20 EF answered all the questions sent by the Labor Department under Sec. Chao.

Q: So what did the lesson teach us?

A: As George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to 
repeat it." We don't just want an Asian Am. Cabinet Secretary. We want

"qualified Asian Am. Cabinet Secretaries and/or any Cabinet Secretary who share our community's rightful concerns. "

Q: How do we ensure that the lesson learned will benefit us with the Obama Administration?

A: Ever since Obama's victory, 80-20 has worked hard to ensure that we have qualified Asian Am candidates who will share our community's rightful concerns. President-elect Obama's Transition Team has been most helpful.

Remember the past! Don't worship Asian Ams with impressive government titles. Such worshipping betrays a servile and feudal mentality. Respect them only if they serve the nation and our community well. Otherwise reject them.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation.

* 80-20 seriously considered suing Sec. Chao. We instead decided to go through the political process with presidential candidates which would be less time and money consuming.

View the full-page Washington Post ad (September 6, 2006)

Good news - a great Talent Bank

A great Talent Bank of Asian Am. jurists is in the forming!

In 3 days, the list of Asian Ams jurists expressing interest to be appointed an Article 3, life-tenured Federal District or Circuit Court judge already includes

2 supreme court justices of large states,
a Law School Dean,
a General Counsel & a Chief Legal officer of Fortune 500 companies,
a Deputy Mayor of a large city,
a Managing Partner of a law firm,
many distinguished law professors, and
many prominent lawyers.

The above is only the beginning of a FABULOUS talent bank of qualified Asian Am. jurists in every Federal judicial district, and of course every circuit of the appeals courts is forming.

Apologists used to say that the lack of Asian American Federal judges (Only 7 out of 875) was due to the lack of interest by Asian American jurists.

With your help, 80-20 is proving the apologists wrong.

In the past, Asian Ams might not have applied for such positions, because they know that good jobs are usually NOT available to them regardless of their qualifications.

With your help, 80-20 has given all Asian Ams the courage and the backing to fight for equal opportunity.

Cynics still say don't trust President-elect Obama. See Q4 to Q6 of President-elect Obama's commitments at the end of this email.

With your help, 80-20 trusts President-elect Obama & shall deliver.

Forward this email to your friends in legal professions. Ask them to send their resumes to President@80-20EducationalFoundation.org. Hurry! Don't miss out. TOGETHER, we can help make America "a more perfect Union."

Notice how many times we've said "With your help." We meant it. We need your help to win equal opportunity for us and our children. Visit http://www.80-20EducationalFoundation.org and DONATE. Thank you.

Respectfully,

S. B. Woo
President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.

Acknowledgment:
Woo's Foundation -- $7,000 Dr. Kenneth Fong -- $2,000
Mark Chen -- $1,500 Baltimore Family Foundation -- $1,000
Dr. Steven S. Ko -- $1,000 Dr. Mimi C. Yu -- $1,000
Dominic Ng -- $1,000

Commitment from President-elect Obama