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US apologizes for Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
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Kuros



Joined: 27 Apr 2004
PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 4:51 am    Post subject: US apologizes for Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 Reply with quote
US finally apologizes for Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Quote:
Congresswoman Judy Chu authored H. Res. 683 to express the regret of the House of Representatives for passing the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. That law prevented Chinese citizens from becoming naturalized American citizens, voting, or immigrating to the United States. It lasted for 60 years until 1943, scarring the Chinese American community for generations. This was the first and only federal law in U.S. history that excluded a single group of people from immigration on no basis other than their race, splitting apart families permanently.


Here's a round-up of Chinese press reactions.

It wasn't all discrimination in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a handful of California laws discriminating against Chinese. Additionally, in 1898, SCOTUS ruled in U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark, and held that "A child born in the United States, of alien parents not serving in a diplomatic capacity, acquires United States citizenship at birth via the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."

Nevertheless, it took too long for U.S. Congress to apologize. Its 2012, already.
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northway



Joined: 05 Jul 2010
PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 4:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well, we didn't apologize for slavery until 2008, so it looks like we moved more quickly on this front. Progress.
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geldedgoat



Joined: 05 Mar 2009
PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 8:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
*sigh*
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Underwaterbob



Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 6:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
When did apologizing for things that no living person is even remotely responsible for anymore get trendy? Frankly, I'm sick of it.
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northway



Joined: 05 Jul 2010
PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Underwaterbob wrote:
When did apologizing for things that no living person is even remotely responsible for anymore get trendy? Frankly, I'm sick of it.


It's like watching your buddy move a couple boxes then telling him after the fact that you would have helped him, if you'd known he needed help.
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Kuros



Joined: 27 Apr 2004
PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Underwaterbob wrote:
When did apologizing for things that no living person is even remotely responsible for anymore get trendy? Frankly, I'm sick of it.


Think of it from the Chinese perspective. I believe the gesture is quite valuable and worthwhile.
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Titus



Joined: 19 May 2012
PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I anticipate a similar apology from the Chinese for excluding everybody since forever.
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Dave Chance



Joined: 30 May 2011
PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Titus wrote:
I anticipate a similar apology from the Chinese for excluding everybody since forever.


This one not only exclusive to Chinese people.
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radcon



Joined: 23 May 2011
PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Can I immigrate to China and become a citizen? If not I want my apology from China.
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Kuros



Joined: 27 Apr 2004
PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Tsk tsk.

The Chinese Exclusion Act was the first immigration and naturalization law in the history of the United States. Before that, there were neither legal nor illegal immigrants, only immigrants. And the United States was, and still is, an immigrant nation. Thus, Chinese were singled out, and denied the equal protection of the laws (at least insofar as it affected Chinese already within the United States). The concerns were entirely racial. The law was motivated by loathsome stereotypes of Chinese.

wiki Chinese Exclusion Act

Quote:
The Act excluded Chinese "skilled and unskilled laborers employed in mining" from entering the country for ten years under penalty of imprisonment and deportation.

Any Chinese who left the United States had to obtain certifications for reentry, and the Act made Chinese immigrants permanent aliens by excluding them from U.S. citizenship. After the Act's passage, Chinese men in the U.S. had little chance of ever reuniting with their wives, or of starting families in their new homes.


Titus wrote:
I anticipate a similar apology from the Chinese for excluding everybody since forever.


Ignorant.