Your Immediate Action is Required! The Fort Lee City Council will have a meeting on April 4, 2013.
WHAT WE WANT
We urge the government of the Borough of Fort Lee, NJ (Mayor and city council) to revise the wording and design of its proposed “Comfort Women” memorial to make it appropriate and unambiguous.
[To Sign Our Petition Click Here]
BACKGROUND
On January 10, 2013, Fort Lee City Council conditionally passed a Comfort Women Memorial Proposal. The Fort Lee municipal government’s action could be unanimously welcomed by the Asian American community. However, the proposed language and design of the memorial include many inappropriate and controversial expressions that may cause strong opposition from Comfort Women survivors, their supporters, and the Asian American Community.
The proposed wording read:
“In remembrance of over 200,000 women from every country in East Asia who were forced into sexual service by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, with terrible consequences to themselves and to their children. This monument is erected to honor their memory: these “Comfort Women” have not been forgotten. “
1. “Every country in East Asia”: This expression may sound derogatory to Asian Americans by implying “you are all the same.” People in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia do not consider themselves as “East Asian”; rather they call themselves as “South East Asian.” In addition, the expression misses the fact that there were many western women who were victimized as well. We ask the Fort Lee municipal government to list specific countries such as Korea, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Indonesia.
2. “Sexual Service”: It implies “commercial prostitution” and, therefore insinuates that the sexual act was done “voluntarily.” We strongly ask the Fort Lee municipal government to change it “sexual slavery.”
3. “The Japanese Imperial Army”: It is not only the army, but also the navy and the air force who sexually exploited the women. The correct wording should be “the Armed Forces of Imperial Japan.”
4. “…with terrible consequences to themselves and to their children”: We are still trying to figure out what this phrase means. Grammatically, “themselves” should denote “the Japanese Imperial Army,” which is the nearest noun phrase doing an action, and in that case, “their children” refers to the army soldier’s children. Are we commemorating the suffering of Japanese soldiers and their children? It is total nonsense. It must be replaced with appropriate and clear language.
5. The Rising Sun Flag: The proposed design contains a drawing of a woman sitting in front of the Rising Sun Flag. Most of Asian Americans have a strong repugnance to the flag. The designer may have simply intended to depict “Japan” with the flag. However, it only causes feelings of strong animosity against Japan. Also, it is inappropriate to put the perpetrator’s symbol on a memorial for the victims. It can be compared to putting a Nazi Swastika on a Holocaust memorial. We recommend the removal of the Rising Sun Flag from the monument.
6. The Girl Statue: The proposed design contains a drawing of a Korean girl. It appears very similar to the statue in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Korea. It looks okay. However, if we consider the fact that we are commemorating ALL THE VICTIMS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES and we are building the memorial for all Asian American communities in Fort Lee, NJ, the Korean girl statue will be too narrow to represent all the victims. Therefore, we recommend changing the design to be more inclusive.
TAKE ACTION
Online Petition: Click Here to Sign Our Petition
Call Now: Mayor Mark Sokolich – Tel. 201-592-3500 x 1500
Your Immediate Action is Required! The Fort Lee City Council will have a meeting on April 4, 2013. WHAT WE WANT We urge the government of the Borough of Fort Lee, NJ (Mayor and city council) to revise the wording and design of its proposed “Comfort Women” memorial to make it appropriate and unambiguous. [To Sign Our Petition Click Here] BACKGROUND On January 10, 2013, Fort Lee City Council [...]
On March 25, 2013, Korean American Civic Empowerment (KACE) delivered completed voter registration forms and vote-by-mail applications to the Bergen County Board of Elections, On April 16th, 2013, fifteen towns in Bergen County will hold their school board elections. Some of the Korean-populated townships such as Palisades Park, Cliffside Park, Norwood, and Englewood are included as well. All other towns that are not holding elections in April will hold their [...]
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Around 3:20 PM, Assemblyman Gordon Johnson explained the importance of the Resolution, and the voting process started right after his short address. This resolution was passed unanimously among 75 attending assemblymembers (80 in total). Following the session, Gordon commented, “ACR 159 is a very important resolution. This resolution was created to remember the women whose youth were taken away. We will always remember their pain and suffering. This resolution [...]
On March 20, 2013, Representatives Eni Faleomavaega (AS) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) introduced a bipartisan legislation titled “The United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Fairness Act of 2013.”
This legislation, if passed, would grant South Korean nationals the same eligibility for E-3 (temporary employment) visa status as granted to Australian citizens following the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
Adding South Korean nationals to the E-3 visa category was one of the policy objectives that Korean American Civic Empowerment chose to pursue in 2013.
Please write to your legislators and politicians, urging for their support of this key legislation.
The following is a press release by Representatives Faleomavaega and Ros-Lehtinen.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: March 20, 2013
Washington, D.C. FALEOMAVAEGA AND ROS-LEHTINEN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TITLED “THE UNITED STATES –KOREA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT FAIRNESS ACT OF 2013”
Representative Eni Faleomavaega and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen introduced bipartisan legislation today which would grant Republic of Korea nationals the same eligibility for E-3 (temporary employment) visa status as granted to Australian citizens following the successful negotiation of the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
“South Korea is a major global economic power and America’s seventh largest trading partner,” Congressman Faleomavaega noted. “It is a matter of fairness that the citizens of such a major trading partner and strategic ally of the United States are granted the same visa privileges as those extended to the citizens of Australia, now that we have a free trade agreement with both countries.”
“The admission of South Korean professionals for temporary employment in specialty occupations will further enhance the economic competitiveness of the United States,” the Congressman added. “Based on our past national experience with the creativity and multiple contributions made by the Korean-Americans to the United States, one can only say that this is a win-win situation for both of our countries.”
Congressman Faleomavaega noted the enthusiasm and support for the proposed legislation expressed by the Korean-American community, especially such organizations as the Korean American Civic Empowerment of New York and its Executive Director, Mr. Dong Suk Kim.
On March 20, 2013, Representatives Eni Faleomavaega (AS) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) introduced a bipartisan legislation titled “The United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Fairness Act of 2013.” This legislation, if passed, would grant South Korean nationals the same eligibility for E-3 (temporary employment) visa status as granted to Australian citizens following the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement. Adding South Korean nationals to the E-3 visa category was one of the policy [...]
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Did you know that legislators are trying to limit the amount of family-sponsored visas while increasing the amount of work visas for skilled workers? They see high-skilled workers as a much valuable asset compared to family members invited into the U.S. by American citizens. Their measure, which intends to limit family-sponsored immigration, will make the already-broken immigration system worse by tearing families apart. Would you choose money over keeping families [...]
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