Does race matter? Of course it does. That is why we are talking
about our political choices among ourselves as a racial minority with a
history with American racism and with similar interests on a number of
issues.

Race is why many are holding Barack Obama to a double standard ­ he
must do more than reject statements of his former pastor, he must
denounce the man, lumping his extreme statements with his teachings on
Christ and love. Is this fair? Consider the experience of racism in
America.

I am a Japanese American. My community was defined by our
experiences during World War II, as a group of citizens and lawful
residents (then barred by race from naturalization). We were
scapegoated for Japan’s attack on the U.S., thrown into concentration
camps losing most of our property. There were no trials and no evidence
of wrongdoing or even of the perceived inherent racial disloyalty. That
was what the U.S. Supreme Court held and it is still the law. It was
and is wrong.

The heroes of my community included both those who refused military
service while their families were incarcerated as a statement of civil
disobedience and of those that joined the American war effort knowing
that even after this they may have been rejected as Americans. The
No-No Boys refused to make the choice that the government forced. The
veterans went and faced higher casualty rates and more dangerous
assignments than white units, most notably the 442nd combat team’s over
800 casualties to save about 200 members of a Texas unit. My late
father in law joined the army to fight fascism. Yet when his parents
were placed behind barbed wire he refused to serve, even deserting
rather than accept unacceptable choices. The Constitution was violated,
but even the Supreme Court turned its back.

I am a civil rights lawyer today because of those who stood up
before the civil rights gains of the 1950s and 1960s. They taught
America about true patriotism. At the same time many, especially many
like the No-No Boys or my father in law, carried scars and enormous
anger because of what they saw as a betrayal of their rights. They
should never have had to make the choices that they had to, but I find
some of their statements harsh, divisive and sometimes unfair to the
white majority, only some of whom were alive when these awful decisions
were made.

Should I reject their decisions because of their scars? Should I
disown relatives who have taught me so much, yet went beyond what I
believe? Should we ever be forced to denounce human beings as opposed
to statements or acts? Can we see beyond a person¹s intolerance to see
their other qualities? Minorities, and frankly as Senator Obama pointed
out, whites also, do so. I have relatives that are among the most
loving in my family exhibit sometimes shocking racist attitudes,
sometimes against Blacks or against whites. Senator Obama talked about
his white grandmother, who raised him, using racial epithets and being
scared to be around a Black man on the street.

It is my history and my perspective as a Japanese American to say
no. Like the No-No Boys, I have heard African American ministers beyond
Rev. Jeremiah Wright that have spoken directly, loudly and dramatically
of the pain and injustice visited upon their community, but also of the
racism and hypocrisy that angered them. Their congregations don’t
always agree with everything, but the extreme is not seen as
eliminating that which is good. He is not rare nor is he alone. But in
the same sermon I have heard ministers preach forgiveness and peace. It
is fair to ask Senator Obama how he feels about those statements. It is
not fair to ask that he reject the people or their pain that this
intolerance often reflects. I remember my role model Mayor Harold
Washington of Chicago, pressed on similar issues saying, “I denounce
these vile statements and the ideas behind them. I do not denounce
human beings.”

Senator Obama is trying to show this country, and this is one of the
toughest divides that we may face, that we can reach across and accept
our differences. As a man of mixed race he observes in his family the
very divides that these issues reflect. Is America ready to show to the
world that we can lead on race relations as we have on military
strength? During the Cold War we cared how the world perceived us ­ one
of the few areas we were at a disadvantage was when the world saw the
violence and hatred visited on African Americans in the north as well
as the south. Can we acknowledge that history and move beyond it? Can
we show that those in Europe or the Middle East that cannot be at peace
due to their religions or ethnicities that there is a better way?

Perhaps not.  But I am enough a patriot that I believe that we can.  Yes, Barack, yes we can.

– Paul Igasaki