Today was a cool day. Our team took the day to participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, have lunch in Little Tokyo (LA), and spend some time at the Japanese American National Museum. The mother-in-law of one of our team members performed the tea ceremony for us which was a new experience and very cool to observe and participate in. One of the things I was perhaps most fascinated by a little bit of history I learned from Lucy, a fellow Epic staff member, and our director Tommy.
I was fascinated to hear that some believe now that there is evidence that this tea ceremony as well as a few other traditions may have been anchored in Christian symbolism, though this meaning has long been lost.
After a good lunch and discussion debriefing the ceremony and a few other culture issues, we went to the Japanese American National Museum. This was a tough experience because the pain that is captured in the museum is pretty sizable. I’m still absorbing so much of what I saw and heard.
So much of the museum centered on the WWII experience and the internment camps. I learned about internment in high school and remember even reading Farewell to Manzanar, but the picture of what happened seemed to be minimized significantly. I still can’t believe the leaders of our country allowed or led this process.
One of the most difficult times for me was reading a few sections of the Munson report, which was the analysis of the “threat” posed by Japanese Americans. The conclusion was that there was no threat and that Japanese Americans demonstrated immense loyalty as Americans. However, this report was kept secret and the government went about its business to its shame.
A few of us were talking afterwards about the leadership issues that led to this abuse of power and injustice. Leaders must realize that there actions, especially on that large of a leadership level, can affect people deeply – for generations to come. Our director challenged us to really consider what that event means even now for Japanese American college students.
The Munson Report fiasco reminds me that a lot of leaders just are unable to lead even when presented with strong logic, facts, and vision. They fall prey to their own anxiety and that of the culture at large and make decisions that way. This kind of leadership spells disaster for all, especially those that are underrepresented and don’t have power. The inclination to preserve power by leaders + heightened fear and paranoia = the abuse of the powerless.
Anyway, I may have more thoughts, but this was a day of sitting in the painful reality of what it has been like for one particular ethnic minority group in this country. It was also a day to experience firsthand the beauty and elegance that these people have managed to preserve through such trials. I really liked hearing some war stories about the 442nd from a WWII 442nd vet himself. Anyway, if you get a chance to visit the JANM, you should.
