Indian American Center for Political Awareness Home Page : Election 2004 : We must not forget our core values –

“As an emerging community, we need to have an honest discussion and historical understanding about race, ethnicity, religious diversity, and economic opportunity in this country to understand our place within the American story and the American mosaic. Only then can we begin to grapple with the values and rhetoric of the political groups in America and assert an informed and honest political identity in the country.”
With this introspection by a woman of substance (who prefers to remain unnamed), in the background a reminder for those on the way to the voting booth –– our economic success is brilliant and it certainly buys us necessary power. But what we must not forget are our core values –– social and political. Those are the ones that will not only make us proud but will keep us safe in this fearful environment after 9/11 which created the tremendous backlash against us and it continues! –– Veena Merchant

Democratic Perspective ––- Power of Democracy

Upendra Chivukula, State Assemblyman (D-NJ)

Your vote is proof of the power of democracy, and ultimately, the power of the people.

‘Today, we almost take our elections for granted, and can’t imagine a time when our government operated any other way. But the truth is, the vote you cast was fought and died for. Your right to vote was secured by the sacrifices of dedicated generations of Americans who came before us.

‘We cannot forget the struggles of the people who came before us even though some of us may be encouraged to do so. Just last week, for example, the Missouri Republican Party objected to a flyer that showed a photograph of a firefighter hosing a black man that read: ‘This is what they used to do to keep us from voting.’ The Republican Party felt that the flyer would inhibit African Americans from voting for our current President. The GOP’s objection is misplaced. The true outrage is that such shameful actions occurred, and that so many Americans were denied the right to vote –– even though they were legally able to do so.

‘Consider the history: The Civil War, which freed African Americans forced into slavery, ultimately guaranteed that African Americans had the right to vote in 1870.

‘Prior to the passage of the Voting Rights Act, only 23 percent of African Americans voted. By 1969, the number jumped to 61 percent.

‘Unfortunately, this number has dropped considerably. In 1998 only 42 percent of African Americans voted. As our history teaches us, we can never take our democracy for granted. We must make sure that all our rights are protected. The right to vote is a legacy we inherited from our ancestors, and a gift we owe our children. By safeguarding our vote, we guarantee that our country is stronger, that our nation stays free, and the United States remains the greatest country on Earth.

Republican Perspective –– Keeping Nation Safe

Dino Teppara

George W. Bush is doing everything possible to respect the rights of all Americans and keep our nation safe from the terrorists who are trying to attack us.

‘President Bush became the first President ever to ban racial profiling. Further, when Congress passed the PATRIOT Act, it required the Justice Department to investigate whether changes in the law resulted in civil rights abuses. Of the more than 3,500 complaints received, not one was found to have had anything to do with a substantive provision of the PATRIOT Act.

‘Under the leadership of Attorney General John Ashcroft, the Justice Department has aggressively pursued the perpetrators of bias-motivated crimes. During the first two years of the Bush Administration, the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department charged 316 defendants with criminal civil rights violations and successfully prosecuted 243. The Civil Rights Division has aggressively cracked down on 9/11 backlash crimes –– crimes committed against individuals perceived to be of Arab, South Asian, or Muslim descent. Working with the FBI and the United States Attorneys offices, the Civil Rights Division has investigated over 500 allegations of such bias-motivated crimes and assisted local prosecutors in initiating an additional 125 prosecutions.