Political Quotes

“4 years ago, Bruce Yamashita, a Japanese-American from Hawaii, was on the brink of earning his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps when he was abruptly discharged for leadership failure. However, tomorrow morning, Mr. Yamashita, who was born and raised in Hawaii, won his commission after proving that he was the target of vicious racial and ethnic harassment during his 10-week officer training program. According to Marine records, Marine Corps instructors taunted Mr. Yamashita about his heritage and at one point told him: ``We don't want your kind around here. Go back to your own country.'' This attitude of discrimination extends to the highest level of the Marine Corps. Last October, the Marine Corps Commandant, Gen. Carl E. Mundy told the TV news program ``Sixty Minutes'' that ``Marine Officers who are minorities do not shoot, swim or use compasses as well as white officers.'' Although General Mundy has apologized for his remarks, I am deeply troubled that a military officer of this calibre did not choose his words a little more carefully on this very sensitive issue.”