"In 1941, the date December 7th was a day that evoked anger, fierce patriotism and dangerous racism. Soon after that day, I suddenly found myself, pursuant to a decision by the government and along with thousands of Japanese Americans declared 4C, enemy aliens. It was a difficult time. I was 17."
Enemy alien or not, Inouye enlisted in the US Army, and lost part of his right arm during a charge on a machine gun nest in Italy.
“This is my country...Many of us have fought hard for the right to say that. Many are now struggling today from Harlem to Da Nang that they may say this with conviction. This is our country.”
--Keynote address to the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Yes, THAT 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
"There exists a shadowy government with its own Air Force,
its own Navy, its own fundraising mechanism, and
the ability to pursue its own ideas of national interest,
free from all checks and balances, and free from the law itself."
In the late 1980s, Inouye chaired a special committee investigating the Iran-Contra scandal.
I thought he was terrific. Like @Patrica said they don't seem to make them like him anymore.
ReplyDeleteI was 12 when Hawaii became a state and I though it was so interesting. Living in a desert, Hawaii was paradise ! I still love visiting there and at one time really though of moving there. Still a dream.
So I was all caught up in the whole Japan, American, war history. And then here come Daniel Inouye
Yes, I went to school at a time when we read current events and learned history, math and English. Not diversion.
I also remember the !968 Convention.
cheers, parsnip
I didn't include it in the post, parsnip, because I'm always a bit skeptical about "last words", but Inouye reportedly said "Aloha" right before he died.
DeleteAloha is Hawaiian for hello and goodbye.
Are they not making them like him anymore, Patricia, or are they making them, but they're somehow being discouraged from serving in the public sphere? Or is the reason they're not serving in the public sphere is because they're no longer being made? Wish I knew the answer to those questions.
ReplyDeleteNice tribute. Just scrolled through your blog and wonder if you'll do a write-up of me when I die.....
ReplyDelete....wishing I were that notable.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteImpossible, Kass. You'll probably survive me.
Delete