Our View: Census points to need for assimilation, celebrating cultures

This opinion piece shows how Asian immigrants assimilated in the past and now that more cities in this area have large Asian populations, it should happen again. - - Donna Poisl

Editorial

The affable Tony Lam stood out in the early 1980s as a uniter, not a divider, when the central Orange County city of Westminster was changing from white and Hispanic to predominantly Asian. The restaurateur-turned-politician would say Little Saigon should be for all citizens to enjoy, not just Asian Americans.

It could be said Orange County's Vietnamese immigrants became the test case for suburban integration, ethnic changes, culture clashes and the unfortunate by-product - prejudicial attitudes.

Now that the top 2010 Census story for the San Gabriel Valley is the changing of formerly majority-white populations with a majority of Asians in Temple City, Rosemead, Walnut, Monterey Park, Rowland Heights, San Gabriel, Alhambra and Arcadia, it's time that these cities re-double their efforts at getting along. We don't need any more studies on ethnic diversity - it's already here. Our region is the most ethnically diverse in the nation. What is needed are leaders - new Tony Lams - who can build more bridges into chambers of commerce, service clubs and city halls.
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