EQUITY NOW!
PerryScope
by Perry Diaz
Fifty-nine years after the end of World War II, the war records should already have been archived and every war veteran compensated for fighting for freedom. Yet, in the halls of the cavernous United States Congress, there is a haunting air of uncertainty over the fate of a band of brown brothers who fought gallantly for the United States.
After 59 years, a debt of blood and honor has yet to be paid to the surviving Filipino veterans of World War II. Their number is fast dwindling. After all, they are now in their 80’s and 90’s. Yet, they stood unbendingly proud when the World War II Memorial was dedicated during the Memorial Day celebration in Washington, DC this year. The few who attended reminisced the period in their lives when they fought side by side with American soldiers fighting the Japanese forces in the Philippines.
After World War II, when they were just about to be given veteran benefits — just like the millions of American veterans — the United States Congress gave them a sweeping slap on their faces and denied them the benefits. The Rescission Act of 1946 remains to this day one of the most ignominious acts of the United States Congress. And for 59 years, ignoring the plea of reason and fairness, the US Congress continues to deny the Filipino veterans their rights.
The Filipino-American community has been working hard to convince the US Congress that this is the right thing to do. A good number of Congressmen, particularly those who served their country in time of war, have staunchly stood by the Filipino-American community.
The movement has steadfastly pursued the Filipino Veterans Equity bills for more than three decades. There were times when the Filipino-American community itself was divided over certain issues on the equity bills. However, this year, the Filipino-American community has finally come together as a united movement — one mission, one voice.
President George Bush and Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry gave their support to the Filipino-American community. However, the bill — H.R. 677 — has yet to pass Congress. I just received from Sonny Sampayan, an activist for the Filipino veterans, a set of information identifying the supporters of the H.R. 677 in the US Congress. Thanks to the fervent activism of Fil-Am community leaders, there are now 188 co-authors of H.R. 677. The bill needs a total of 218 votes in the House of Representatives to muster passage of the bill. We need 30 more congressmen to support the bill.
We can influence the election in several states and vote for congressional candidates who would support H.R. 677. Florida, Ohio, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Hawaii, Oregon, New Jersey, and Washington have large Filipino-American communities.
The time has come for all Filipino-Americans to use their votes on November 2, 2004 and support congressional candidates — regardless of party affiliation — who would support H.R. 677. We need friends in Congress. We are a community of more than three million Americans and we pay our taxes like everybody else. But America — born out of man’s desire to be free and just — must be freed of injustice and give true meaning to what this country is all about.
The United States Congress, the sentinel of justice and fairness for all Americans, has yet to measure up to its obligations, particularly to those who would sacrifice their own lives so that freedom and justice may live. Thirty responsible members of Congress would redeem the august body’s reputation heretofore blemished with the injustice accorded to the Filipino veterans of World War II.
What price honor? What price freedom? They’re both priceless. And that is why the United States Congress must do what is the only right thing to do and that is to give the benefits to every American veteran. The Filipino veterans were Americans when they fought for America in World War II. They deserve no less.
I urge every Filipino-American of voting age to register to vote. Vote for those who would support H.R. 677. And for those who would not support H.R. 677, let’s boot them out of office. Equity now!
