对这个问题，美国最高法院在 The Chinese Exclusion Case, 130 U. S. 581中做了明确的判决："That the government of the United States,... can exclude [Chinese] from its territory is a proposition which we do not think open to controversy." 这个判例从来没有被推翻过，到今天美国各级法院还在引用。
1. Chinese exclusion act was repealed only during in World War II. That means, for almost half century, a US person (remember, not a us citizen) with a chinese heritage was treated as a sub-human for his or her entire life. There were no slightest freedom to normal lifehood and citizenship. How can a human being living under such a draconian act as Chinese exclusions act enjoyed a life that is "way better than the Chinese living in his or her motherland?" The tremendous injury Chinese exclusion act inflicted upon Chinese Americans are beyond simple comprehension, not to mention its long lasting ferocious social impact on Chinese American of modern days. For example, Chinese males under Chinese exclusion act were not afforded the very basic human natural biological rights such as freedome to life and reproduce and having a family to pass his genes. And the suffering was designed intentionally to cause lifelong harms to Chinese American community in not only social and economic way, but more psychologically as a means to demoralize the community as a whole. This is equivalent to racial cleansing. Didn't you still see the isolations that all the Chinese males are suffering in this country??? Isn't that enough for a cause of action for relief from the supreme court of United states and a formal apology from the United State Government.
2. Again, Chinese Americans won their right through their own endeavors and for their own cause. Read the book i recommend and you will see the constant struggles that Chinese Americans in this land went through. We, Chinese Americans, in this country are simple outnumbered by the Whites, Blacks, and Latinos. This theory proves correct if you are to use Canada as an counter-example. The Dominion of Canada has about 10% of populations with Chinese heritage, which are capable of supporting a large number of ballots influencing the Canadian day-to-day political life. There is a mere 1% of Chinese populations in US, not to mentioning there is a constant flow of Chinese women volunteer to give away themselves to other races. Now, you may say this sex bias is unfound, but how about this Barack Obama. Is he a black or white? He put down his race as black during the national census. Why!!! Alas, because he considered his father the dominant race and his mother white race the submissive one in this sexual and matrimonial relationship. So, with such a infinitesmal population of Chinese Americans and constant attritions aforementioned, don't you think that every person with Chinese heritage nowadays should cheer those Chinese American as pioneers for their heroic bravery of perseverance and striving for survival? Don't you think they are the true pioneers to establish Chinese heritage in this country. Without their persistence and the foundations they built throughout those arduous years, all the Chinese American endeavors and advancement later in this country would have not been possible. 3. In conclusions, simple admit your chinese heritage. Forbide yourself from self-dividing. Have more childrens to populate this country. And united together and fight for your rights that you deserve in this country!
Furthermore, every single Americans of Chinese heritage should educate him or herself of the history of Chinese Exclusion Act. Indeed, more articles should relate this important topic in the public life of Chinese Americans.
This article should always be on the front page of all the Chinese website so that there is a constant reminder for this extremely unfortunate past of American history.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, as Thomas Jefferson said.
To answer the question that why Chinese in this country did not fight back: it was because there were NOT enough Americans of Chinese heritage in this country. However, that is not to say that Chinese Americans did not fight back. They had fought back relentless and heroically many many times, but were simply outnumbered by the Whites. We, Chinese Americans, really has endured the most suffering in this country, far more than any other races. Everyday, we are facing injustice and prejudice.
So, friends, let's unite together and fight for the long overdue JUSTICE for the Chinese Americans. Please do not ridicule your fellow country men any more and take pride in your own heritage.
To learn more about this bitter part of Chinese American history, I would suggest the following books:
1. Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese Americans by Jean Pfaelzer. 2. The Chinese in America : A Narrative History by Iris Chang(the same author for Rape of Nanking).
