“Contradictions” in America Cited by Senator Inouye in a Fourth of July Message |
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Columns - JGL Eye | |||
Monday, 05 July 2010 12:05 | |||
JGL Eye By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA (Journal Group Link International) “Contradictions” in C HICAGO (JGLi) – At the 234th anniversary of the Independence of the United States, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, the fourth most-powerful American official in his capacity as President Pro-Tempore of the U.S. Senate, pointed out in his 4th of July message that when the Founding Fathers issued the Declaration of Independence in 1776 against “the most powerful nation on earth – Great Britain,” “it is ironic that the author and many of those who signed the Declaration of Independence were slave owners.” The most-senior Democratic senator from The 85-year-old legislator said in March 1942, the But in 1946, the provision was repealed, and “the promise we made to these men was broken. Once again, I am proud to say that the country I love admitted its error and restored its promise of citizenship. We also have appropriated monies, in largely symbolic gesture, to compensate Filipino veterans of World War II for their service.” But Senator Inouye came up short in advocating that the American government and Congress issue an apology to the mistakes committed to the Filipinos compared to the discrimination committed by the APOLOGIES TO JAPANESE AMERICANS In the case of the Japanese Americans interred during World War II on suspicion that they would be aiding In the case of the Filipinos, those American citizens were given a token one-time $15,000 pay each while the non-American surviving Filipino soldiers were given $9,000 each. There was no letter of apology from President Barack Obama, who signed the Filipino Equity Fund lumped in the Stimulus Bill last year. In the case of the Native Hawaiians, Sen. Inouye said, “We are now in that process. In 1993, the Congress enacted P.L. 103-150, otherwise known as the Apology Resolution wherein the “Today, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, known as the Akaka bill, provides the critical next step – recognition. There has been much discussion and debate over these many years. Now is the time to act, even if it may require compromise to, at long last, adopt a measure, which begins the process of self-determination.” Mr. Inouye recalled that there was even a time that he was also “a victim of our nation’s imperfect attempts at Democracy. “Shortly after the attack on PAINFUL YEARS “Y oung men, like myself, rushed to enlist, each of us eager to prove our love of country, by distinguishing ourselves on the battlefield. Under the heavy weight of prejudice, I joined my friends and fought and bled for my country. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team became the most-decorated Army unit of its size and length of service in the history of the American military. “When we trained at A native of During World War II campaign in Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at: (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)
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