Spark Matsunaga

Spark Masayuki Matsunaga (Japanese: スパーク・松永) (October 8, 1916 - April 15, 1990) was a United States Senator from Hawaii. He was born in Hawaii and died in Canada. He was a Japanese American Democrat whose legislation as a United States Senator led to the creation of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. From http://bioguide. ... October 8 is the 281st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (282nd in leap years). ... Year 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... ... Seal of the U.S. Senate The Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral United States Congress, the other being the House of Representatives. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 km²)  - Width n/a miles (n/a km)  - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km)  - % water 41. ... Serving from 1999 to 2003, Army General Eric Shinseki of Hawaii became the first Asian American military chief of staff. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... Legislation (or statutory law) is law which has been promulgated (or enacted) by a legislature or other governing body. ... The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) was a group of people appointed by the U.S. Congress to conduct an official governmental study of Executive Order 9066, related wartime orders and their impact on Japanese Americans in the West and Alaska Natives in the Pribilof Islands. ...

He became a United States Army Reservist in 1941 and became an active member in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1962 and served there until 1976. Matsunaga went on to serve in the United States Senate from 1977 until his death at the age of 73 from prostate cancer in 1990. His portrait currently appears on US Series I Bonds in the $10,000 denomination. It has been suggested that United States Army values be merged into this article or section. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, hiking up a muddy French road in the Chambois Sector, France, in late 1944. ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is the lower of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. ... ... Treasury securities are government bonds issued by the United States Department of the Treasury through the Bureau of the Public Debt. ...

Sen. Sparky Matsunaga is also known for his sense of humor. One famous incident occurred at a reception for a visiting Japanese prime minister held at the White House in 1981 involving Sen. Matsunaga and Alexander Haig, Secretary of State at the time. Being an Asian American, Sen. Matsunaga was mistaken by Haig who thought Matsunaga was a member of the Japanese delegation; Haig asked Sparky if he spoke English. Sparky replied, "Yes, Mr. Secretary, I do -- and I had the honor of voting for your confirmation the other day.^[1]" Although this incident appeared to be a careless misunderstanding, many Asian American communities take the incident as an example of racial prejudice in the US society. Sen. Matsunaga became a well-known figure in Asia as the incident is often cited by Asian American and Asian media. ^[2][3] There is also a school in Maryland named after him. It is grades k-5. A prime minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... North façade of the White House, seen from Pennsylvania Avenue. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other persons named Alexander Haig, see Alexander Haig (disambiguation). ... In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ... An Asian American is a person of Asian ancestry or origin who was born in or is an immigrant to the United States. ...

Notes

1. ^ SPARKY: Warrior, Peacemaker, Poet, Patriot. A Portrait of Senator Spark M. Matsunaga, by Richard Halloran. Honolulu: Matsunaga Charitable Foundation, 2002, 259 pp., paper
2. ^ Committee of 100 and its relationship between China and Taiwan
3. ^ Being a grandfather of an American

External links

• Congressional biography
• Spark M. Matsunaga biography United States Institute of Peace.
• Spark M. Matsunaga's published biography Sparky: Warrior, Peacemaker, Poet, Patriot by Richard Halloran. ISBN 0-9720932-1-4.