San Jose Mercury News profiles Norman Mineta: "Be the nail that sticks out"

06.24.06 - Posted by AsiansVote

The San Jose Mercury News has a nice feature on retiring Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. Like most other reporting about Mineta this week, the article leaves out the fact that Mineta held the line against racial profiling in the wake of 9/11 (why are the papers so hesitant to take note of that fact?). But the story includes a great quote which every progressive Asian American politician and citizen should tack onto his or her mental bulletin board:

Mineta also took the growing ranks of Asian-American politicos under his wing, said Maeley Tom, president of California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Institute.

"He mentored us on what it took to make our mark on politics,'' she said, adding that Mineta told her: "Maeley, I was always taught never to be the nail that stuck out on a board. That's why Asians kept so silent. I urge you to be that nail that sticks out. Take a risk.''

Let's repeat that: Be the nail that sticks out. Take a risk. That's what progressive voters are looking for. Heck, that's what all voters are looking for right now. The latest polls show that 60 to 70 percent of the population believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. Progressive politicians who are too scared to speak up for and act on their beliefs will be left by the side of the road. Those who pick a path and blaze it for us are the ones who will get the campaign donations and the votes.

Another thought -- it'll be worth keeping an eye on Mineta's successor to see how he or she will handle the racial profiling issue. It'll also be interesting to see if Mineta, a Democrat who has avoided criticizing the President during the time he's been on his cabinet, will help Democrats during the upcoming midterm elections. Here's hoping he'll be the nail that sticks out and speak up.

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06.24.06 | Candidates & Leaders , Civil Rights & Liberties , Issues , Norman Mineta , Voting Trends