With the elections approaching, various social issues have become focal points for politicians seeking to secure votes. The United States, known for allowing citizens to engage in politics and express their views freely, has also provided a platform for the Asian community to voice concerns regarding issues that directly affect them. However, for the Asian community, which is only recently gaining some momentum, it is crucial that representatives do not wield significant social issues as tools for political maneuvering aimed solely at consolidating their power or influence, rather than focusing on resolving the core problems at hand.
Take, for instance, the current critical discussion around combating homelessness. The Asian community, as a grassroots force, faces the city government, and without notable progress in negotiations, if community members or representatives prioritize their political careers over communal interests, the entire Asian community will suffer. Excessively politicizing important community issues can lead to inevitable divisions within the community. What should be a collaborative effort among different groups may turn adversarial due to political tactics, ultimately undermining the stability and development of the entire community.
It’s true that representatives need to take a firm stance on community issues to gain voter support. However, neither representatives nor influential community figures should resort to personal attacks against their opponents on such matters. If the approach is solely to vilify opponents with slogan-driven rhetoric without delivering tangible results for the community, even if there is short-term emotional support from the public, the lack of substantial progress will only serve to diminish public engagement and trust over time.
The political participation rate among the Asian community in the U.S. is relatively low, and this applies similarly to the entire Asian demographic. Given this context, if we truly want to address issues affecting our community, it is essential for Asian individuals to unite and voice their concerns collectively. Only by doing so can the Asian community carve out its rightful place within the multicultural melting pot of New York and secure tangible benefits for itself.
