Aoki Film & "Deporting Cambodian Refugees"

In the film, Richard Aoki's life is portrayed as a long political fight against the racism and discrimination in the United States. Watching the film, I understood why he turned out the way he was and why he became so pro-Asian American rights in the United States. I find it inspirational that Richard Aoki spoke out against the blatant racism and injustice that the United States had treated him with and the fact that he was just so blunt and direct with what he wanted to say is very full of confidence and I think that is a trait that every strong leader has. The fact that he was also able to bring in the department of ethnic studies to the UC campuses through struggle and protests is very brave and impressive.

Soo Ah Kwon investigates the deportation of Cambodian refugees who have previously escaped the Khmer Rouge, only to find that the laws in the United States have been cutting the lifeline short by making the amount of strikes to get out only one to get deported out of the country. The youth group, AYPAL, advocates to seek justice for the Cambodians who get deported by creating protests and activities against the IIRIRA. Because of their age, the youth group is not taken as seriously as they would like to be, making it difficult for them to truly express their opinions on political issues such as the deportation of Cambodians. I think the political efforts made by the people in office to suppress the youth political activism is something that should not be done because the youth are the future, and denying them this right to express their political opinion is something that should not even be thought. Encouragement for the youth to participate in political events that will affect their future is something that should be happening, not the opposite.