It’s admittedly a bit late for this, but given that this is the last week of October, I’d like to step outside my role as “perpetually angry blogger” and wish you all a happy Pilipino American Heritage Month (and you can read all about it in our latest issue 13.1, out now!! … and has been out for like 2 weeks)
The subject enters my mind now partly because I just came back from Friendship Games last night, and it really was this absolutely amazing weekend. Although I was initially dismayed at how some people didn’t really appreciate our politicized theme, it really did make me recognize that given our history (the very history we use October to commemorate), any gathering of Pilipinos celebrating each other really is a politicized statement. Perhaps it is, gasp, in fact true that even in being happy, I am making a difference!
Coming here from New York, I’m very pleased with how awesome the different facets of our API community here are. I wish all of you the same sort of transformative experiences with your communities that I just had. ;]
Really good news: UC Regents give honorary degrees to those Japanese Americans who were interned during WWII and were unable to finish their education. That’s pretty good, except… aren’t the internees like… pretty old now (or even deceased)? Why so overdue?
Here’s a quote from the article from our man (hah hah), UC Regents President Mark Yudof:
“This action is long overdue and addresses an historical tragedy,” Yudof said. “To the surviving students themselves, and to their families, I want to say, ‘This is one way to apologize to you. It will never be possible to erase what happened, but we hope we can provide you a small measure of justice.’ ”
But if anything, I’m glad that this step was taken — it once again brings to light the civil liberties that were harshly snatched away from legitimate American citizens, serving as a reminder for years to come…
Richard Masato Aoki, 1938-2009.
Fearless Leader and Servant of the People
It is with deep sadness that we inform you that Richard Aoki, due to complications from longstanding medical problems, passed away on March 15, 2009.
Born on November 20, 1938, Richard was a righteous fighter and a warrior in the truest sense – he dedicated his life to his beliefs and the struggle for human rights. He was a field marshal in the Black Panther Party, a founding member of the Asian American Political Alliance, a leader in the Third World Liberation Front Strike at UC Berkeley, co-ordinator for the first Asian American Studies program at UC Berkeley, an advisor for Asians for Job Opportunities, a counselor,
instructor and administrator at Merritt and Alameda Colleges.
We will remember him for the personal impact he made on our lives and the social impact he made on the community movements of people of all colors:
“…Based on my experience, I’ve seen where unity amongst the races has yielded positive results. I don’t see any other way for people to gain freedom, justice, and equality here except by being internationalist.” – Richard Aoki
Memorial arrangements are pending and information will be available at a later date.
