Yes, these ideals represent what many Japanese Americans went through during World War II, when close to 90 percent of public opinion believed they should be herded into camps surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. But these statements also can relate to the current battle over marital rights for same-gender couples, a concept disapproved of by at least 70 percent of island residents. LAST week's legislative decision supporting the inclusion of a proposed constitutional amendment on the next ballot to preserve marriage between one man and one woman may be an initial disappointment for civil-rights advocates and gay lobbyists. But much can be learned from the plight and eventual vindication of Japanese Americans in U.S. history. Among these lessons are gaman or quiet endurance, gisei or sacrifice, and perhaps most relevant for now, shikata ga nai or acceptance of current circumstances.
History has a long memory.
But it also has a powerful potential for surprise. Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.