I am so proud of everyone involved in the Free Chol Soo Lee pilgrimage.

I chose to remove myself from the media onslaught of post-election chatter and dove right into the pile of work that waited for me while I was gone.I managed to take off on my vacation looking back at all the meaningful stories weve shared and knowing that her Rafu ending had nothing to do with our never-ending friendship.

I tried not to dwell on my sadness at her leaving.Knowing how much she deserved a vacation.and I cant say that Im any closer to the final step of acceptance.

I was hit by the news of Rafu editor Gwen Muranakas departure from the paper she has helped keep alive for the past few decades.and we cant let it happen again.

I was feeling refreshed and renewed.

Taking away these two mighty principles forced us into camps in 1942.Some of my school friends were crying because their parents.

Seattle and Honolulu every other year.Howard Kakita and Wataru Namba.

The consequences of lies are felt often by the most vulnerable.The pain of hibakusha has been recorded in the pages of The Rafu Shimpo.