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No on Proposition 8 |
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"I went
to school in a black tar-paper
barrack [as a child in internment
camps] and began the day seeing the
barbed-wire fence, and thank god
those barbed-wire fences are now
long gone for Japanese Americans.
But I still see an invisible,
legalistic barbed-wire that keeps
me, my partner of 19 years, Brad
Altman, and another group of
Americans separated from a normal
life." |
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--
George Takei, during a 2006
interview on National Public Radio |
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Brad
Altman and George Takei, followed by Walter
Koenig (Lt. Chekhov) and Nichelle Nichols
(Lt. Uhuru). Photo by Stan Honda |
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Many people in our community
may feel unconnected to the issues that are
related to Proposition 8, also known
as the Eliminates Right of Same-Sex
Couples to Marry Act. Some people do not
see LGBT rights as basic human rights and
cannot relate their own experiences with
racism, intolerance, and bigotry to the
experiences of the LGBT community. On
September 14, George Takei, actor and
community activist, married his longtime
partner Brad Altman, at a wedding ceremony
hosted by the Japanese American National
Museum. Takei specifically chose the venue
to make a point that connected his
experience of being a target of racism (he
was interned at Rower and Tule Lake during
World War II), and his experience as a gay
American. |
Here are comments made
by George Takei during a recent CBS
interview:
"As gay Americans, we have been stereotyped
and characterized as something frightening
and threatening as Japanese-Americans were
before the war."
Referring to the constitutional gay marriage
ban on November's ballot, Takei said,
that it is "against the basic fundamental
ideals of democracy."
"You know, we're a pluralistic society, and
there are many, many faiths and beliefs
here. Now, we respect everybody's
faiths--their right to their beliefs, but
there's no right for any one faith group to
write their own particular beliefs into
civil law that applies to everyone. That's
not democracy...and we are going to make
sure that democracy
prevails here."
"I think, basically, the majority of
Californians are fair, decent-minded people
and they will recognize the beauty of our
marriage, the truth of our marriage; and
they will not take it away from us."
"However, I warn everybody that we must not
be confident, we've got to fight...we don't
know what kind of last minute campaign they
are going to throw at us."
Recently, one Proposition 8 proponent
claimed that they have raised $18 million
since June 1st and they are now broadcasting
television advertisements with misleading
charges that have been challenged by legal
experts (San Jose Mercury News 9/30/08).
NOC urges you to prevent bigotry and
homophobia from being written into the
California State Constitution. Vote NO on
Proposition 8. |
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U.S Army Muslim Chaplain
James J. Yee
to speak about Guantanamo |
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6 pm ,
Friday, Oct 17, 2008
Muslim Community Association Islamic Center
3003 Scott Blvd, Santa Clara, CA
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Chaplain James J. Yee will provide a
gripping account of his Guantanamo
experience and his struggle for justice.
James J. Yee is a former US Army Chaplain
and graduate of West Point who served as the
Muslim Chaplain for the U.S. prison camp in
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. While
ministering to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay,
Captain Yee advised camp commanders on
detainee religious practices and objected to
the cruel and degrading abuses to which the
prisoners were subjected. |
After being
officially recognized twice for outstanding
performance, Captain Yee was arrested and
imprisoned in a Naval brig for 76 days in
September 2003 while being falsely accused
of spying, espionage, and aiding the
alleged Taliban and Al-Qaeda prisoners. He
was held in solitary confinement and
subjected to the same sensory deprivation
techniques that were being used against the
prisoners in Cuba that he had been
ministering to.
After months of government investigation,
all criminal charges were dropped.
With his record wiped clean, Chaplain Yee
was reinstated to full duty at Fort Lewis,
Washington. He tendered his resignation from
the U.S. Army and received an Honorable
Discharge on January 7, 2005. Upon
separation he was awarded with a second Army
Commendation medal for "exceptionally
meritorious service."For more info:
Stephen McNeil, at
smcneil@afsc.org. |
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WWII Rendition of Japanese Latin Americans
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Redress Remembered:
WWII Rendition of Japanese Latin
Americans
2:00 pm, October 25, 2008
Japanese American National Museum
369 East First Street
Los Angeles, CA 95012 |
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| During WWII, over
2200 men, women and children of
Japanese ancestry were kidnapped
from 13 Latin American countries for
the purpose of hostage exchange.
Learn more about what they endured
during WWII, their ongoing redress
struggle to hold the US government
accountable for war crimes, and
lessons for present day challenges.
More info:
Event website |
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Spirit of Japantown Festival |
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NOC booth at 2007 Spirit
of Japantown Festival |
Spirit of
Japantown Festival
Saturday, Oct 4, 2008
Festival website:
www.spiritofjapantownfestival.com |
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Jemma Jio |
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NOC is proud to announce that famed
Origami Grand Master, Jemma Jio (the daughter of
NOC Treasurer, Gary Jio), will be giving lessons on
origami, the traditional Japanese art of folding paper
into various decorative shapes, in the NOC booth.
Jemma studied extensively at the famous Tule Lake
Pilgrimage Origami Crane Two-Hour Workshop where she
earned the prestigious Certificate of Attendance.
Come by our booth and pick-up your free NOC Crane
of Peace from Jemma. |
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