Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Voices That Must Be Heard" Articles Description An account of the resource The Independent Press Association (IPA) translates articles from the ethnic press (when necessary) and distributes them via web and fax newsletter to mainstream and ethnic press, government offices, nonprofits, and interested individuals. Voices That Must be Heard was designed by the Independent Press Association staff in New York City in response to the horrifying events of September 11. After Sept. 11th, Voices focused on the South Asian, Arab and Middle Eastern communities in New York. Since February 2002, the project has expanded, selecting articles from the broad range of ethnic and community newspapers throughout the city. Here, the Archive has preserved the Voices collection from its inception until November 2002. VTMBH Article VTMBH Article: Edition 41 VTMBH Article: Article Order 7 VTMBH Article: Title Too busy to vote: Filipino-American voters tend to become apolitical VTMBH Article: Author Emelyn Tapaoan VTMBH Article: Publication Filipino Express VTMBH Article: Original Language English VTMBH Article: Translator VTMBH Article: Section elec02 VTMBH Article: Blurb VTMBH Article: Keywords VTMBH Article: Body Like most Filipino-Americans, Mabel Sanchez did not vote in Tuesdays election. When asked Why not? the 46-year-old Brooklyn resident, said, Will I benefit from it? Mabel was not the only one with the same reaction to the recent elections. Many Filipinos have said that they are too busy earning a living to go to the polls. They say it doesnt matter to them whether Republicans or Democrats control Congress, so long as they can eke out a living. Philippine Forum executive Robert Roy explained that the I-dont-mind-at-all response has to do with the relevance of the elections to the day-to-day lives of ordinary Filipino-Americans. It doesnt address the housing, education, minimum wage, jobs, and other bread and butter issues of any ordinary U.S. citizens, Roy said. As such, elections are only for those who arent facing financial hardships and uncertainty. He explained that the I-dont-mind response became more apparent with the post September 11th anti-immigrant policies. During the past year, about 479 Filipino immigrants were detained and then deported; racial profiling turned from an increasingly offensive means of crime fighting into a brazen national policy. How can you encourage them to vote when their own brothers, sisters, and relatives were curtailed of their civil liberties? Roy asked. The most egregious breach is the U.S. Homeland Security, wherein immigrants of color have been the target of anti-immigrant sentiment, legislation and policies. And this concern has not been addressed by any candidate. But not only Filipino-Americans are disinterested in elections. A majority of Americans themselves have been feeling the same political climate. American Jenny Pendergast said that to the greater majority of Americans, elections are kind of luxury for those who arent facing starvation and homelessness. The bulk of the money has been spent so far in an old-fashioned, down-and-dirty TV and radio blitz aimed against each candidates enemies. Instead of addressing issues, candidates are throwing mud at each other. If you notice, both Democrat and Republican candidates are silent on civil liberties, the poor, the catastrophe that passes for health care. So, why should I vote? Pendergast concluded. For Roy, Pendergast, and many othersbe they Americans or Filipino-Americans, the recent election was a farce, and a waste of taxpayers money. For them, electoral politics all come downflagrantlyto cash. Roy said that with or without the election, the economy remains dead in the water, with no new jobs, only a slight increase in wages, and unemployment near 6 percent. Roy cited reports saying that at the onset of the Bush-controlled government, the country had a budget surplus of $405 billion. Now, halfway through Bushs term, the surplus has become a $175 billion deficit. Foreign investors are pulling back. The S & P 500 has fallen 37 percent from its peak in early 2000. As mutual funds tank, 401(k) pensions have disappeared. Roy also said that the governmental functions have been steadily taken over by corporate barons. Citing media reports, Roy pointed out that the government has re-created the business structures of J.P. Morgan. Each administration since Reagans has cut away at regulation. Meanwhile, activist groups believe that the Republican controlled Congress means more war expenditures. VTMBH Article: Line Breaks 1 VTMBH Article: Date 2002-11-08 VTMBH Article: Thumb VTMBH Article: Article File VTMBH Article: Hit Count 61 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Too busy to vote: Filipino-American voters tend to become apolitical 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. unknown Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. article Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-11-08