“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you” - Pericles
The words of the Ancient Greek philosopher Pericles apply not only to modern politics, but to the census as well. Many Americans are simply unaware of how important the census is. Census data is used to determine how federal funds are allocated. Before starting the CAUSE Leadership Academy, I too was unaware just how pervasive the impacts of the census were. The extent of my appreciation of the census was seeing it as a useful and in-depth data set that I could reliably cite in my Political Science papers. Through CAUSE Leadership Academy informational workshops I have gained a deeper understanding of why the census is important.
One CAUSE Leadership Academy activity that truly taught me about how important the census is was looking at a list of federal funds that are distributed based on census data. The list was long and contained nearly seven hundred billion dollars of funding. The list included items such as State Underground Water Source Protection and Fire Assistance funds- two state initiatives that I would have never associated with the census. The list also included many items pertaining to housing initiatives; this included housing for Native Americans, housing for people with AIDS, and housing for people with physical disabilities. I intern at a non-profit law firm in San Luis Obispo, California that practices housing law and witnesses firsthand the extreme difference between the availability of affordable housing and the high demand for it. Census data has a direct impact on where federal housing initiative dollars are spent, and making sure your community gets counted is crucial.
“Dissent is Patriotic” - Nancy Yap
Another important experience I had during week two of the CAUSE Leadership Academy was a Family Reflection activity led by Nancy Yap. Nancy Yap had the interns break into groups of two or three and share our family’s immigration story. My discussion partner and I found that even though our parents came from two different countries of origin, at different times, for vastly different reasons, there were common themes in their stories.
Nancy Yap then had the interns imagine how the experiences of our parents and grandparents may affect their socio-political views and beliefs. In today's highly polarized political climate, discussing politics with family members, especially ones that disagree with you, can be an extremely taxing task. As the younger generation of Asian Americans become politically aware and active, it is important that we learn to engage with older generations of Asian Americans. To effectively engage with a family member with different political beliefs, it is important to consider how their personal history may impact their beliefs. This empathy can lead to a more productive conversation.
A quote from the Family Reflection activity that stuck in my mind was “Dissent is Patriotic.” With Blacks Lives Matter protests sweeping the nation, a common critique I have heard is that the protesters at Black Lives Matters demonstrations are “un-American” and lack patriotism. However, I believe that dissent and the first amendment right to freedom of speech, two very American ideas, are embodied in these protests.