Time for Respect, and Inclusion : Korean-Americans are rapidly learning the ropes

Korean-American merchants feel under siege, and understandably so. As they continued their protest downtown this week over what they feel is unfair treatment in the aftermath of the riots, they were pelted with ink bottles, thumbtacks and other office supplies tossed out of City Hall windows. Not exactly the kind of reception that makes one want to participate in the U.S. political system.

Mayor Tom Bradley ordered an investigation of the inexcusable attack on the protesters, which slightly injured several people. But Korean-Americans must not be discouraged by the rude reception they received from some city worker or workers annoyed by their loud protests. Now, more than ever, they have to learn the American political system as they have learned its economic system.

Korean-Americans in recent years have made substantial financial contributions to local politicians, and they say they feel betrayed by those who have not stood up for them. All that proves is that money alone--without the power of lots of votes or legislative representation behind it--does not guarantee that their voices will be heard.

More than 3,000 Korean-American business owners suffered losses in the Los Angeles riots. They should not have had to stage protests in order to gain the attention of city officials.

Korean-Americans are not the only ones hurting from the riots, of course. And the merchants admit they still have a lot to learn. “We’re pretty new about this kind of thing,” one Korean-American merchant said about exercising political power. “We’re starting to learn the system.” That’s as it should be, for the good of Korean-Americans, for all fair-minded people and for Los Angeles.