Chosun Editorial says "Korea Needs Heroes Like Congressman Honda"



"When asked if it was difficult for him to push for the resolution as a third-generation Japanese-American, Honda said the atrocities involving the sex slaves has nothing to do with race, but with what is right and wrong. But it must have been very difficult for him to urge the repentance of the country of his ancestors. He faced considerable criticism in Japan. One moderator of a Japanese TV program asked him how he could have proposed such a resolution "with the face of a Japanese." Right-wing newspapers even claimed that Honda was manipulated by the Chinese government to raise the sex slave issue. He faced ceaseless criticism for his righteous efforts, including claims that he was merely trying to win votes from ethnic Chinese and Korean residents in his constituency. Some even said that Honda's own family members did not support him. Yet he boldly realized what he believed in." Congressman Mike Honda of California served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador in the 1960's.

Chosun Editorial says "Korea Needs Heroes Like Congressman Honda"

Korea Needs Heroes Like Congressman Honda

U.S. Congressman Mike Honda is visiting Korea. Honda played the lead role in the passage of a resolution by the U.S. House of Representatives in July calling on Japan to formally apologize for forcing women into sexual slavery during World War II. Honda, a former teacher, said that historical wrongs must be rectified and passed on to future generations as reminders, no matter how difficult that may be. In a visit to a shelter for former sex slaves, he held their hands and called them sisters and thanked them for their testimonies, without which it would have been impossible to pass the resolution.

When asked if it was difficult for him to push for the resolution as a third-generation Japanese-American, Honda said the atrocities involving the sex slaves has nothing to do with race, but with what is right and wrong. But it must have been very difficult for him to urge the repentance of the country of his ancestors. He faced considerable criticism in Japan. One moderator of a Japanese TV program asked him how he could have proposed such a resolution "with the face of a Japanese." Right-wing newspapers even claimed that Honda was manipulated by the Chinese government to raise the sex slave issue. He faced ceaseless criticism for his righteous efforts, including claims that he was merely trying to win votes from ethnic Chinese and Korean residents in his constituency. Some even said that Honda's own family members did not support him. Yet he boldly realized what he believed in.

This resolution is not the end, but a beginning, Honda said. Although it has no legally binding power, the House resolution is sending shock waves throughout the world. The Lower House of the Dutch Parliament unanimously passed a resolution demanding an official apology and compensation from the Japanese government for forcefully mobilizing sex slaves. The EU parliament also recently held a hearing on sex slaves and is pushing for a resolution. The Canadian and Australian parliaments are preparing similar resolutions as well. The courageous act of one Japanese-American politician has brought about this much change. If the Korean National Assembly had a lawmaker like Honda, with as much dedication to dealing with human rights abuses in North Korea, the world's view of those abuses would be much different than it is now.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: November, 2007; RPCV Mike Honda (El Salvador); Peace Corps Korea; Directory of Korea RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Korea RPCVs; Figures; Peace Corps El Salvador; Directory of El Salvador RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for El Salvador RPCVs; Politics; Congress; Asian American Issues; California

When this story was posted in December 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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