new cause psa: embrace your power

The Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) just launched a new get-out-the-vote public service announcement, "Embrace Your Power" to encourage Asian Pacific Americans to vote in the November 4th election. Here's the press release: CAUSE LAUNCHES NEW PSA URGING THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO VOTE

Watch it here. The PSA features a couple of prominent, big name Hollywood actors, George Takei (Star Trek) and Kelly Hu (X-Men 2), and is directed by George Huang (Swimming with Sharks).

Is it just me, or is it kind of awful? To be honest, I'm pretty disappointed. I understand what they're trying to do, and no doubt, getting the APA community out to vote is an important, vital cause. But there had to be a better way to get this message across, rather than resorting to the old martial arts scenario.

Come on. George Takei as the old master and Kelly Hu kicking ninja ass? Really? Aren't we past this kind of thing? There's really no need to resort to Crouching Tiger tactics, especially when addressing our own community. You don't need to fool us with the mystical, chopsocky stuff. Save that for the Flying Daggers crowd.

CAUSE produced a similar PSA back in 2004, "The Least Likely," which, while kind of cheesy and overly dramatic, at least tried to do something different, offering an entertaining and compelling message. The whole "least likely" to vote thing—that's a powerful statistic.

Okay, I get it. You have to get people's attention. You've got two cool, likeable Asian American figures here. Surely, they could've come up with something a little more classy and challenging. I'm not even asking for something mind-blowing. This just feels a bit tired.