Rachel mentioned this on the show last night, but I'd be remiss if I neglected to write an item on the passing of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D) of Hawaii, who died yesterday at the age of 88.
Despite his extraordinary career and rank as the Senate's president pro tempore, Inouye probably isn't a household name, and that's a genuine shame because he's the kind of American hero who doesn't come along often. Rachel noted that the senator lived a life "that reads like fiction and that earned him legendary status." Here's a portion of a Ken Burns documentary in which Inouye spoke about joining the U.S. military during World War II.
The details of Inouye's decorated combat service are truly extraordinary. In 1945, in a firefight against Nazi soldiers, he was shot in the stomach, but continued to lead his platoon. On the same mission, when preparing to throw a grenade, his right arm was shot and shattered, so Inouye used his left arm to grab the grenade from his lifeless hand, throw it at the enemy, and take out a Nazi machine gun nest.
Seriously.
He then returned home, got a law degree, became the first Japanese American elected to Congress, and died after one the longest Senate careers in American history.
It's also important to appreciate what kind of senator Inuoye was.
We didn't see him preening for the cameras or demanding to be on the Sunday shows every other week; we didn't see him grandstanding or seeking celebrity status, though he deserved it. In a town full of show horses, Daniel Inuoye was a work horse, and he will be sorely missed.
Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) will choose a successor who will serve until 2014. Inouye made clear he hoped Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D) would take his place in the Senate.
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Rest in peace, Senator Inouye.
The clip is worth watching, if only for Inouye's recitation of his fathers council to him before he shipped out.
In these days, when politicians strut around on the pumped-up jingoism of American exceptionalism, his modest recognition of what this grand American experiment endows us with is an inspiration.
he didn't need to talk about American exceptionalism, he had it.
Inouye has always been one whose record I put forward whenever I'd run across some service-avoiding right wing douchebag crowing about "libtard cowards."
Interestingly enough, Republicans have never had Medal of Honor winners among their elected ranks, while Democrats have had at least two. Not to mention more Democrats in elected office are veterans than are the "I had other priorities" Republican "patriots."
That was a good guy.
It's impressive a Japanese-American was even allowed to enter the army during WWII, let alone become such a hero. In the larger picture, there's a lot of surprise turnover in the Senate this year. With DeMint, Inouye, and possibly Kerry leaving, there'll be quite a few appointees in the next Senate.
Typo in the headline - please correct. :)
Steve (or maybe his typist?) may be a little dyslexic....... When I have to write up something professionally, I always have to have someone else review it, because I just can't see my typos either!
RIP, Senator. America thanks you for your extraordinary service.
This is why the easy blanket term of "government is corrupt" is so damaging, because there are good and worthy people serving in Washington, who are extraordinary civil servants, doing exactly what they were elected to do. If we could hear more about them and the good things they do, public perception about our government might grow more positive.
Not that we'll have much cause to say his name out loud anymore...it's apparently pronounced: ih-NO-ay...not how Rachel pronounced it.
Small things are important, too!
Well, actually no. That is how DC people often pronounce and no one will fault you for it, but here are locals pronouncing it: (video)
For the linguistics geeks, here is the break down. First syllable: The "I" often misprounced as a soft i "ih" like bit, but it's a Japanese I- a long E sound like in bean. The second syllable is often done as a long O but isn't. It may sound like the locals are saying "new" which is what you should try to approximate. To be most faithful, it is actually a rapid sliding vowel from a long O to an long U sound. The last syllable is often mispronounced "Way", but there is no w sound- just long A- "AY. For Japanese community people, you will hear the more accurate subtle pronunciation of the y, but it is so quiet, that the differences are practically non existent to a non native speaker. Civilians shouldn't even try it. Just say AY.
Thanks, John! I lived in Hawaii for 12 years and it always drives me bonkers when news people mispronounce "Inouye" (even Rachel). You got it right!
Thanks, Steve, for sharing that video.
The Senator may not have been a show horse in DC but on the West Coast we venerated him every day. He was a hero and he understood the pain that DC inflicted on the Coast during WWII. He worked hard for his state and his country. He will be sorely missed.
Does anyone know is he will be buried in Arlington or the Punchbowl back home?
The Punchbowl is for those who served in the Pacific Theater. He was in Europe. Though I am sure no one would say no to whatever he had asked for.
Sen. Inouye was on the Watergate committee--for those (like myself) of a certain age, that was how we came to know and respect him.
I testified before a committee he chaired in 2004. It was a tense session and at one point I raised the eagle wing fan I held and told him that because I held that fan I could not lie and my words were the truth. The Senator paused, look at me over his glasses and held up his gavel and said "I hold this gavel, it too does not allow me to lie..please proceed sir, you have my full attention." Everyone said afterwards that I had made a big mistake but from that time on, whenever I was in the Capitol or anywhere and ran into the Senator, he remembered my name and always had a kind word for me and my family. We lost a true friend and I, along with many others miss him and his kindness already.
Aloha Senator and Mahalo for every thing you did for our country.
Senator Inouye took the term honor to a whole different level both on the battlefield in WWII and in the United States Senate. Too bad we have so few like him. Hand to helmet, Sir!
Actually, there are quite a lot (of people) like him among other Japanese- and Asian- Americans here in Hawaii. Politicians like Inouye are many fewer and much further between, but we have some. Believe it or not, Obama embodies a lot of what we admire in Inouye - though some taint of his experiences as a Chicago pol is occasionally evident as well.
Inouye's cohort among the "greatest generation" (the 442 RCT and the 100th Battalion) were essentially ALL like him. I've had the great fortune to meet and spend time with a few of those who are still living, and know some of their families. Without exception, their accomplishment and humility always blow me away.
Apart from the 1951 Hollywood production "Go for Broke", there are several very good documentaries out recently about the 442nd and 100th. One is also called "Go For Broke", as well as 2 in an as yet uncompleted trilogy of documentaries by Japanese Director, Junichi Suzuki.
The film about Inouye's cohort in the European Theater is called "Live with Honor, Die with Dignity" (google 442 the movie). I can't recommend any of these films enough, though this one is my favorite.
Senator Inouye is the first well known, and best example of an important Asian-American immigration story, that is only now beginning to be understood and told. These films are excellent introductions to that story.
Aloha Senator.
My favorite art teacher Matsumi "Mike" Kanemitsu was one too.
sad the general public has to learn about him only on his death. Or, I speak partly for myself. Didn't know the story of him loosing his hand.
Seems like he was the epitome of the postive adjective "Senatorial" ie distinguished has gravitas and is above the fray (that's how I think about it...we can't use the word anymore becasue of how the Senate is now).
RIP Senator
I have long been an admirer of Sen Inouye. He was an exceptional American and a true hero. I wish he had gone on the Sunday shows! Then I could have the pleasure of his rich calm baritone voice rather than the high pitch agitated whine of another senator who is called a hero.
Sir you will be missed.
My nephew asked me recently "Where are the statesmen?" and I could not bring a name to mind at that moment - we'll have a conversation about Senator Inouye soon.
A giant has passed and we will not see his like again.
Since you were kind enough to correct the pronunciation of Ke$ha, poor Senator Inouye suffered the same from Rachel: his name is most commonly pronounced as "in NO way". Greatly respected here in Hawai'i, we'll miss him and his service to the state. (And Colleen Hanabusa is "ha na" like haha! with the accent on "bu" as in BOO then sa... ha na BOO sa).
Thanks! No need do anything on the show, but if Rachel needs to pronounce them again, maybe she should hear how to do it right, first! No shame, eh?!