Author: Ben Tamashiro, D Company
Puka Puka Parades, December 1960, vol. 13 no. 12
The editor is encouraging Club 100 to be politically active
It is about time that the Club 100 started leading. We led in war. Why not today?
In last month’s editorial of the same title, we urged that Club 100 members take a more active part in party politics. Through the process of involvement, members would be able to contribute more to the public good since every government and civic improvement must take the form of political action.
To continue the discussion of last month, take the act of war as an ex ample. Here is the supreme case of political action at its lowest ebb. Of course, the bigger failure in this in stance is the complete breakdown of diplomacy and statesmanship. But swirl ing within the innards of diplomacy and statesmanship is the craft of politics. So where are we?
We go to war. And out of the misery, blood and death of war come the men who become leaders of tomorrow; lead ers who have gained the experience of hardship, heartbreak, desire and am bition out of the toughest form of human endeavor.
This month’s cover portrait of our men trudging the long road back to vic tory portrays a moment in this experience. And that picture of the 50th Star Flag (p. 16) proudly flying over our Club house is a symbol of all that we have gone through – and what we have won for ourselves, and our people. But more important, that flag is a symbol of our strength, and a constant reminder that we must always maintain our strength.
The question is that of how to main tain this strength. And this is where the Club 100 comes into the picture again, for the heart of the matter is that the Club 100 must again meet the challenge head on, as it did in war, by contribut ing its utmost to the government and the people during this time of uneasy peace.
How? We were a fighting force once. Now, let us become a political force in the 50th State during this time of peace.
The Club 100 is loaded with very capable individuals, both in and out of politics, who could help the club lead the way, if they would only take a strong and active part in the affairs of the club. Surely, we all contribute some thing to the club but for the outstanding individuals with strength and aggressive ness the men with the ideas – these are the individuals whom we are seeking.
To start off with just a handful of names in the political news – fellows like Yasutaka Kukushima, Kenneth Harada, Tad Kanda, Takashi Kitaoka, James Lovell, Spark Matsunaga, How ard Miyake, Mike Miyake, Jack Mizuha, Sakae Takahashi – these and many, many others, in every field of our com munity life – the Abes, the Endos, the Fujimotos, the Higas, the Ishiis, the Matsumotos, the Saitos, the Yamamotos — and so on down our roster. Why can’t we band all of them into a great big political force dedicated to “continuing service” under the banner of the Club 100?
Obviously, within a paid membership of over 500, the two political parties will be proportionately represented, and there will be many shades of political thoughts. But the strength of our country is based upon these divergent views.
And the prime requisite for viewpoints to be aired. This is where we fall flat on our face.
The pages of the Puka-Puka Parade are open to discussions that provide comments or healthy criticisms, and we encourage the political body within the Club 100 to take the initiative. Equal space will be accord to all who desire to participate in this program de signed to motivate the membership to wards political action, the sole ob jective being the advancement of the club motto “For Continuing Service into an action phrase, rather than a figure of speech.
-Editor