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| Sen. Inouye Addresses Nikkei 2000, Community Issues By KENJI G. TAGUMA Nichi Bei Times, Friday, May 19, 2000 He is, perhaps, among the most revered Japanese Americans — a highly-decorated war hero, a pioneering politician, and a much-respected leader on Capitol Hill. But for one night, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye was a man among his people. Inouye (D-HI) was in town April 28 to address participants of the Nikkei 2000 Conference at the Radisson Miyako Hotel in San Francisco’s Japantown. And after the visibly aged and vocally weakened senator from Honolulu gave the keynote address at a banquet in his honor, he addressed a private gathering of about 50 youth, who awed at his accomplishments and sought inspiration for public service. It was at the youth dialogue and a brief press opportunity afterwards that Inouye discussed his position on more provocative issues such as Nisei draft resisters, the controversy over the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, and Japanese military atrocities. War Hero Daniel K. Inouye was born on September 7, 1924 in Honolulu, and was named after a Methodist minister who had adopted his mother. In his youth, he made pocket money by parking cars at the old Honolulu Stadium and giving haircuts to fellow students. Most of his earnings were spent on a flock of homing pigeons, a postage stamp collection, parts for crystal radio sets and chemistry sets. On December 7, 1941, the day that Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor, a 17-year-old Inouye was one of the first Americans to handle civilian casualties. Armed with some medical training, he was pressed into service as head of a first aid litter team. He saw a "lot of blood" and did not go home for a week, according to his Website biography. "Many of us in the Nikkei community of Hawai’i felt that our world had come to an end," he told the gathering at the dinner. "It was a rather dark moment in our lives." Inouye remembers with some bitterness how a few weeks later, the U.S. government designated the Nikkei as "enemy aliens." "It was a crushing blow and an unacceptable insult to our citizenship and patriotism," he recalled. Bitterness aside, when the call came to serve his country, Inouye responded affirmatively. As an 18-year-old freshman in pre-medical studies at the University of Hawai’i, Inouye enlisted in March of 1943, joining the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team. As a sergeant, Inouye established himself as an outstanding patrol leader during the Rome Arno campaign. Then his unit was shifted to the French Vosges Mountains, where they spent two of the bloodiest weeks of the war rescuing a Texas Battalion surrounded by German forces. The rescue of the "Lost Battalion" is listed in the U.S. Army annals as one of the most significant military battles of the century. Inouye lost 10 pounds, became a platoon leader and won the Bronze Star and a battlefield commission as a second lieutenant. It was a glimpse of things to come. According to Inouye, the unit sensed the rescue of the Lost Battalion was "the ultimate test of patriotism." In Italy, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was assaulting a heavily defended hill in the closing months of the war when Lieutenant Inouye was hit in the abdomen by a bullet which exited out his back, barely missing his spine. Continuing to lead his platoon, he advanced alone against a machine gun nest which had his men pinned down. Inouye was able to toss two hand grenades before his right arm was shattered by a German rifle grenade at close range. He threw his last grenade with his left hand, and then attacked a submachine gun before finally being knocked down the hit by a bullet to the leg. It is this heroism which recently earned Inouye an upgrade from the Distinguished Service Cross to a Medal of Honor — the highest military service award. Inouye’s bravery on the battlefield did not deter wanton acts of racism, however. A barber in a small town outside of San Francisco in 1945 refused to give a haircut to Captain Inouye, whose chest was decorated with several honors, and whose empty right sleeve gave vivid testimony of what was sacrificed for his country. "We don’t serve Japs here," the barber told Inouye. Pioneering Politician Upon earning his law degree at George Washington University Law School, Inouye returned to Hawai’i and served as a deputy public prosecutor for the city of Honolulu. He broke into politics with his election to the Territorial House of Representatives, and then the Territorial Senate. As Hawai’i entered statehood in 1959, Inouye won election to the U.S. House of Representatives as the state’s first member of Congress — and the first member of Japanese ancestry. Re-elected in 1960, he then won election to the U.S. Senate in 1962, where he has served ever since. Over the years, Inouye has presided over some of the highest-profile political events. He delivered the keynote address at the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention, in which he appealed for racial understanding and progressive change through democratic institutions. Inouye gained further national exposure and respect as a member of the Senate Watergate Committee in 1973 and 1974. Inouye was in the national spotlight again in 1987, when he became the chair of the Senate Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan Opposition, which held highly-public hearings on the Iran-Contra affair. Remembering Redress Inouye called the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 — which granted a governmental apology and redress to eventually 81,000 persons of Japanese ancestry for the World War II internment episode — a "moment of solemn reflection for many of us." He also referred to it as "a moment of great pride, to realize that our nation, which had forsaken us in the ‘40s, had realized its errors and publicly apologized and provided redress payments." However, Inouye noted that at the time there were seven Nikkei in the U.S. Congress — Pat Saiki, Patsy Mink, Norman Mineta and Bob Matsui in the House, and S.I. Hayakawa, Sparky Matsunaga and himself in the Senate. "Today, there is one Nikkei in the Senate and two in the House," he pointed. " I believe it would be safe to wager that if in 1988 there were only three Nikkei in Congress, the redress bill would not have become law. I sincerely believe that our numbers and our involvement made the difference." The senator used this to emphasize the need for more Nikkei politicians, while pointing out that while Nikkei have seen success in academia and the business world, there is a definite political void. "...It appears that these successes have diminished the fire found in the hearts of Nikkei in earlier times — the fire and drive to be involved in community activities, in crusades to right the wrong, and in campaigns to help the less fortunate...this trend should not be permitted to continue." Remembering the Past Inouye stressed that it is important to learn from the past, in order to prevent difficult times in the future. "I believe it is well that all of us, old and young, recall events of the past and recall that our grandparents and great-grandparents had to make great sacrifices and, at times, undergo insulting humiliation to make our lives today better than their lives," he explained. "These things happened not too long ago. And if we are not vigilant, history can repeat itself. It is important to know where we came from." Inouye also encouraged the community to embrace its diversity. "In this gathering, there are people who are community activists, social workers, landscape architects, public office holders, and teachers — all men and women of talent and drive. "Imagine what can be accomplished if we were able to work together," he posed. He emboldened the gathering to be involved with their neighbors and community organizations that are non-Nikkei. "In this diverse society, we should not isolate ourselves socially, politically, economically or physically," he urged. Dialogue with Youth After his dinner presentation, the senator was whisked away for a private meeting with about 50 youth, who sat attentively while posing questions to the formidable figure. Some asked how they themselves could get more involved in public service and politics. Although he described public service as being "not as glamorous as some people think it is," Inouye nevertheless referred to it as an "honorable profession" and urged the youth to consider such a path. Understanding of Resisters Stanford graduate student Steven Yoda asked what the senator thought about the continual controversy regarding the Nisei draft resisters, who refused to fight for the U.S. until their citizenship rights were restored and their parents were released from concentration camps. The issue has long divided the Japanese American community, and reached a national forum last year when the Japanese American Citizens League — which had opposed the resisters’ stand along with many Nisei veterans — proposed offering an apology for not recognizing the resisters’ form of patriotism. Inouye, who has said he wouldn’t know if he’d volunteer for the army if his family were locked up in concentration camps, espoused respect for the resisters and their principled stand. "There’s not just one type of courage," declared the highly-decorated war hero. "It comes in different shapes. To me, it’s just as difficult to be courageous to live up to one’s beliefs. "Those who resisted the draft did so because they had some beliefs. And I honor them, because that’s what we were fighting for." Inouye admitted that some of his fellow veterans "volunteered because of peer pressure," yet also said he understands "some of the deep feelings held by some of my comrades" regarding the resisters. According to Inouye, a visit to an internment camp opened the eyes of his fellow Hawai’ian veterans, who were unaware of what Japanese Americans on the mainland were going through. "We had no idea that these camps existed," he said. "When we left Hawai’i, very few of us — I can’t think of anyone — knew anything about the internment. This was wartime, everything was censored." Inouye reiterated his ambiguity on volunteering had his family were imprisoned. "Would I have volunteered if we were in those camps?" he asked. "To this day, I cannot answer that question. "Under those circumstances, to be incarcerated by your government, and then to volunteer to fight for your government, now that’s a tough decision. I never hold it against those who did not volunteer at first." Memorial Controversy After the youth dialogue with Inouye, the Nichi Bei Times caught up with Inouye for some candid talk about other issues, namely the controversy over the inscriptions on the National Japanese American "Memorial to Patriotism" and Japanese military atrocities. Debates over the memorial have been rampant in Japanese American vernaculars across the country. In particular, much opposition has been garnered against the inclusion of controversial wartime Japanese American Citizens League leader Mike Masaoka and his "Japanese American Creed," which was written in 1940 to espouse unconditional loyalty to the U.S. Among the other selected quotes are those by Japanese American politicians such as Inouye, former Congressman Norman Mineta, and Congressman Bob Matsui. While the board of the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation approved the inclusion of Masaoka’s quote and name, a stream of letters from activists and scholars across the country have condemned it. Many have pointed to alleged complicity between Masaoka, the JACL and the U.S. government during the war. "It grieves me to see what’s happening," Inouye said. "I hope that we can resolve it. I’m in no position to say who’s right or wrong. But I could say this: Mike was my friend." Friendship aside, Inouye does recognize the wounds the issue is opening, and made a surprising revelation: "I had suggested that all our names be taken off. If it (solves the controversy), that’d be better." When asked if he would encourage the other politicians from having their names omitted from the monument, which is scheduled to be dedicated in November, Inouye replied: "If it takes that to bring the community together, yes, I’ll do that." Inouye was also asked about his position on Japanese military atrocities, and if the U.S. should demand that Japan apologize and give redress to its wartime victims. The issue has emerged with publications such as Iris Chang’s "The Rape of Nanking," various redress lawsuits, and last year’s Assembly Joint Resolution 27, authored by California Assemblyman Mike Honda, which asked the U.S. to demand that Japan redress victims of the atrocities. "The war is over, as far as I’m concerned," Inouye stated. "We have a treaty with Japan. I believe in upholding treaties." He suggested that no matter what is done, deep-seated hatred will not dissipate. "It will never be forgotten, because whoever suffered is not going to forgive." Although Inouye was unfamiliar with AJR 27 — which was controversial within the Japanese American community — he did express sentiments against it. "If some other country told us (to apologize), we’d call them nuts," he pointed. Reprinted with permission of Nichi Bei Times |