OPINION Bremerton
Page A4
Question of the week
This week’s question: Should assault weapons be banned in the U.S.?
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Friday, January 4, 2013 | Bremerton Patriot
Aloha, Sen. Daniel Inouye
I
’ve met a lot of people in my life, but no one like Sen. Daniel Inouye. A soft-spoken son of Japanese immigrants, he rose to become a war hero and represented Hawaii in Congress from the time it became a state. But I always believed he was an Indian at heart. My good friend for more than 30 years, he died Dec. 17 at 88. He served in the Senate for 50 years, the second longest term in Editorial U.S. history, and became one of the greatest champions for Indian people that we have ever seen. Danny understood us and our issues in a way that many Americans can’t. I think it’s because he knew what it was like to be different, to be someone who came from a people set apart. As a 17-year-old, he rushed to Billy Frank Jr. enlist after Japanese bombs fell on Pearl Harbor in 1941. At a time Chairman, NW when most Japanese-Americans Indian Fisheries were rounded up and forced into Commission internment camps around the United States, Inouye was fighting in Europe. In Italy he lost his right arm, and nearly his life, in actions that were later recognized by a Medal of Honor, our country’s highest military award. Many might question why a Japanese American like Inouye would fight so hard for a country that treated his people so poorly. That same question could be asked of Indians, AfricanAmericans and many others. As a tribal member and a veteran, I can tell you that we did it for the greater good of everyone in the hope that things would get better. But for Danny, and for many of us, it took awhile for things to get better. On his way home to Hawaii while recuperating from his war wounds, he made a stop-over in San Francisco. Wanting to look good for his homecoming, he stepped into a barbershop, but was told they didn’t cut “Jap” hair. Despite the injuries he suffered and the racism he experienced, he was never bitter. He became a quiet giant in the Senate, always with an eye toward helping those in need of social justice. He worked tirelessly to support the sovereignty of See OUR CORNER, A6
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LETTERS Protecting children and the country As always, the Associated Press picks only a couple suggestions by the NRA and makes light of pro-
tecting our children by armed security. The same security that protects the President 24/7. Is any President or any elected office more important than the life of one child. If you said “yes,” then you are truly part the problem. Anything less than the toughest measure of security to protect our children invites itself to repeat this tragedy over and over
again. Ask President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder about the “Fast and Furious” mission. They sent AK-47’s into Mexico illegally to drug lords whom in turn killed hundreds of men, women and, yes, children and our border See LETTERS, A5
Planning for change in the coming year The time around the start of a was not as challenging to me anynew year is always ripe for reflecmore. I also realized that my desire tion on the past as to serve my community well as anticipation in a greater and more Everything for the future. involved capacity was When we get pushing me toward cerBremerton comfortable in our tain decisions. routines we tend to In the next couple of live our lives a ceryears I will be reaching tain way that does a financial, social and not challenge us too physical point where much. We tend not I will be able to make to push ourselves certain changes, take out of our comfort a few more risks and zone very often. We accept more challenges. think about those Before I reach that actuColleen Smidt things we have al point I will spend a always wanted to certain amount of time change or accomlaying the groundwork plish in our lives as a mental to do for the changes to come. I fully list that is just patiently waiting for understand that my journey to lay us much farther down the road and that groundwork will be filled with we have all the time in the world to success and acceptance as well as reach out and complete it. obstruction and rejection. This past year I realized I had During my service as a citizen in reached that point in my life where the public process I have personally my comfort level of involvement found rejection to be an important
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motivator. Rejection inspires me to find out why I was rejected in the first place. At times, I have come to understand that the rejection was warranted and the decision made to reject me was for the overall best at the time. Other times, I have discovered the rejection was for reasons completely outside of my control that really had nothing to with me and everything to do with the desperate political survival of the decision making individuals involved. So here is my New Year’s toast to the next couple of years filled with planning, implementing and working through some rather significant personal changes and challenges as I look to redirect my skills, talents and passion for increased service to my community, my neighbors and my wonderful city of Bremerton. For now, I look forward to continuing to write about Everything Bremerton. Thank you for reading and Happy New Year.
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