:: Boy In Corner ::

:: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 ::

Since it was Thanksgiving a week ago:

Arigato

Darkened skies, and cried out eyes, corporate lies I surmise are slowly killing us. Crimson streams from the wrists of those we do miss stain my brain with portraits of pain and rain, the rain of the past beats down on me.
My conscious aches under the weight of civil injustices brought upon my grandparents, it’s apparent these erroneous lies about them being spies are just a try to get them to lower the price on their material goods so other could get a better deal.
Farmer success was seen as a threat, which made for regrets when the government imprisoned it’s own people. Why?

Cuz racism is still an issue, back then and right now, so how should we stop it, with a handshake and a bow?

No, we need to take action, speak up and be heard, because not rocking the boat is extremely absurd. We need to remember, remember the dismemberment of traditional Japanese culture during World War II,
Lose it or keep it, that’s up to you, but whether you eat rice with hashi or a fork,
Whether to you it’s tonkatsu or simply pork,
We wouldn’t be where we are without the people that stood up and resisted, spoke against the enlisted, ignored curfews and orders, redefined borders, said difference was okay, assimilation no way, they refused to fight and die for a thankless government, they didn’t want to get sent, to kill and die, and lie in a pool of their entrails cuz they were nailed or sprayed with shrapnel and death, the cries of bloodied bodies way too intense..

Fuck war.

Thank you Fred Korematsu, Minoru Yasui, and Gordon Hirabayashi
See, these men fought for their rights, they fought tooth and nail, through legal wars, not with bayonets that impale,
Their cases were lost, as racism and war hysteria too great, but finally wiped clean was their slate,
They endured jail, exile and more, all so that they could get a foot in the door and pave the way for loudmouth Americans of Japanese ancestry like me, I’ll break it down for you all to see
I complicate the stereotype of Asians, I’m even called white, I like rock music and scream into mics, I do shitty at math, I don’t go to class, I don’t wanna be rich I do get my share of ass, I can’t read speak write understand Japanese, but then why should I? I’m American. Please.

I’ve grown up with independence, mom and dad, thanks a mil, I’ve made up my mind that blood I will not spill, I’m ill, from ignorance and hatred and war, but the courage of soldiers can’t be bought in a store,
But my heroes are those like Yuri Kochiyama, who taught me to speak up, my father, and my mama, Domo arigato, I say to you, for teaching me to do what I do, fight for what I believe in, cuz to me my cause is true.

So Kako, Lon, Dan Thiele, Yuri, Fred, Gordon, and Min, without you guys I don’t know where I would have been, I have many friends and family to thank as they’ve always supported me, whether I shine or I cry, or my wings melt and I die, you’ve all inspired me to try, to ask why, I get by, with your support, your love, your friendship your trust,
Without it the overwhelming odds would squeeze me til I bust.
So domo arigato, thank you very much, I hope you know this activist’s life you’ve touched.

:: Rick Kitagawa 9:55 AM [+] ::
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