Sunday, November 11, 2012

Hawaii's Vets: Proud Election Firsts

A  L  O  H  A  !
 


Article Six
 of the U.S. Constitution
 includes the guideline,
 "no religious test 
shall ever be required
 as a qualification
 to any office or public trust
 under the United States."

In 2006,  a Muslim, Keith Ellison, D-Mich.,
 and two Buddhists, Johnson, D-Ga.,
 and Hirono from Hawaii,
 were elected to the US House.

Mazie Hirono, 
my former Leutenant Governor,
and fellow University of Hawaii grad,
  has now been elected 
to be MY next US senator!
  
She will be the Senate’s first 
Japanese-born Asian-American,
 as well as the first Buddhist
 to hold that position.


 courtesy: MauiFeed

 Born in Fukushima Japan,
 the 65-year-old Hirono moved
 with her mother 
here to Hawaii
 as a shy eight-year-
 old speaking no English.
  Mother was escaping
 an abusive marriage;
  Her snug little barber shop,
 where Mazie did  homework, 
was a fixture for many years
 here in our Honolulu.


 Mazie attained US citizenship
 in 1959,
 the very year our Hawaii
 became a U.S. state.
 



 31-year-old 
female Iraq War vet 
Tulsi Gabbard 
will succeed Hirono in Congress,
 as one of 2 (see below)
  "first female combat vets"
  to serve as US Representatives.

 
Tulsi will also be 
the first Hindu 
in our Congress as well,
 likely to take her oath
 over the sacred Hindu text
 the Bhagavad Gita.


 Born in American Samoa
 to a Catholic father 
and a Hindu mother,  
Tulsi was brought to Hawaii 
at two years of age.

 
 In 2002, at age 21, 
she was elected
 to the Hawaii state legislature.

        The next year, 
she joined the Hawaii National Guard,
and in 2004 was voluntarily 
deployed to Baghdad 
as a medical operations specialist.

 After completing officers’ training 
she deployed to Kuwait in 2008 
where she trained counter-terrorism units. 

Tulsi was the first woman
 in the history of the 
Accelerated Officer Candidate School
 at the Alabama Military Academy 
to be designated a
 ‘distinguished honor graduate’
!
 

Her name 'Tulsi' 
 refers to a tree sacred to Hindus,
 and a healing herb.  

Embracing her mother's Hinduism
 as a teenager, Tulsi is a devotee
 of the Vaishnava branch
 [ believing in the Supreme Lord Vishnu,
 and his 10 primary incarnations.] 

 "Her primary scripture is the 
 Bhagavad Gita, 
whose themes include
 selfless action, 
spirituality, war, 
and serving God 
and humanity. "

Our new Congressional
 representative 
  hopes her faith will help
 to encourage stronger ties 
with India.

  'It is clear 
that there needs to be 
a closer working relationship 
 between the United States
 and India.
 How can we have
 a close relationship 
if decision-makers in Washington 
know very little, if anything,
 about the religious beliefs, 
values, and practices 
of India's 800 million Hindus?'

 Ms Gabbard quoted by: Religion News Service.

    TULSI GABBARD'S FAVOURITE VERSES FROM THE BHAVAGAD GITA:
 
        'That which pervades the entire body you should know to be indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul.' (2:17)

The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can he be burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.'(2.23).

 Gabbard said her faith
 helped her through military service in Iraq,
 where there were daily reminders 
that she could be killed any time, 
according to the Huffington Post.



 Newly elected US Representative
 Tammy Duckworth  (D-Illinois)
 was nominated by President Barack Obama
 to serve as 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
 Assistant Secretary and
confirmed by the Senate
 on April 22, 2009.

  Interestingly, she was sworn in
 by ANOTHER Hawaii guy, 
and favorite son:
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
 Eric Shinsek. 

A decorated and disabled
 combat helicopter pilot
 and veteran, 
Tammy is biracial, trilingual. 



She is also a Hawaii gal, 
graduating from McKinley High 
a mile away from where I write this
 in Honolulu!


For a tiny group of islands,
 once an independent kingdom 
that joined the USA 
under troubling circumstance,
Hawaii has contributed 
much to our nation!

Did you know 
that our President Barack Obama 
was born here in Honolulu, 
went to Punahou School here,
 buried his family members here, 
and brings the First Family
 'home' to this island 
every Christmas?

His re-election
has made me SO proud
of our country! 



God Bless America,
all our friends
ALL
 around the world;

Especially, Y O U!



How does this
make YOU feel?

Share in comments.

                               Warmly, cloudia 

34 comments:

the walking man said...

It makes me feel like we need about 500 more females in the congress so we can actually get some of the patriarchal bullshit out of the way.

Is this the secret Hawaiian plan to take over the government finally starting or were all of you born in Kenya...line up birth certificates and college transcripts in hand.

Dave King said...

Wow, what a magnificent post. Enough meat here to last a goodly while. Full of interest from start to finish. Thanks for.

Brian Miller said...

it is pretty cool how diverse we really are and that you are starting to see that now in who governs us...haha laughing at WMs comment on the take over...smiles.

aloha from va

ayala said...

A great post, thank you for sharing. :)

PerthDailyPhoto said...

It makes me feel hopeful and inspired Cloudia, brilliant post.

Adam said...

A good night for Hawaii and America.

TexWisGirl said...

i love the passion of these women and men to support their country - both in battle and in washington. i commend their strength and resolve. and God bless diversity (no matter what God you pray to).

rupam sarma said...

Great to read your post.Thank you.

Anonymous said...

That's a good idea from Walking Man: if only Hawaii could take over the mainland, there would be much more cooperation, diversity, and peaceful cooexistence. Seems more women voted in this election than men; maybe voter turn-out should determine the types of folks in Congress. Amazing Hawaii folks; mahalo for the education. Hooray for Barack! DrumMajor

Maude Lynn said...

Very, very cool!

Hilary said...

A wonderful tribute to your very fine people.. one and all.

Charles Gramlich said...

Good to see some variety getting elected, in the religious sense.

Teresa said...

Totally wonderful!! Hawaii rocks! And so do Hawaiians...

Anita said...

Cloudia Cloudia you are music in my ears!!XXX

what awsome poem from THE BHAVAGAD GITA:

'That which pervades the entire body you should know to be indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul.' (2:17)

The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can he be burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.'(2.23).

I mustread those poems!!!!

Iam or we are my county..so happy Obama won the election once again..It means tremendous for the whole world

Than for a wondrful post cloudia..big kisssxx

Filip and Kristel said...

Looks like a friendly senator with her two dogs.

Greetings,
Filip

Cloudia said...

Thank YOU my Brothers & Sisters of the heart

Full-On-Forward said...

YOU Friggin ROCK! And that is a great compliment!

Hugs Sis..

John

Anonymous said...

How very moving a country, where alike is possible, and happening.

Please have you all a good new week ahead.

Leovi said...

Exquisite composition, colors and textures in the first red delicious. Greetings.

Fireblossom said...

It's all about the "O".

*smirk*

Obama, of course.

Fram Actual said...

You have created an ambitious post, Cloudia. I have enjoyed my visit.

Lisa said...

So very interesting and my thoughts are don't mess with Hawaii! You are big.

SandyCarlson said...

This post has me in tears. THANK YOU for your time and effort in putting it together. YES! I was proud of our country on election day, too. Wept like a baby.

My African American students assumed I voted for Romney because he and I are white. So here's hoping all minds will open over the next four years.

Linda said...

Beautiful post, Cloudia.

Elephant's Child said...

I too am moved to tears. Thank yuou so much.

Bob Bushell said...

I don't believe in "god", but, I do believe in your president, he is truly a good man. And I do believe in the others that have Hawaiian as country. Well done in getting promoted.

Akelamalu said...

Great post Cloudia, so interesting.

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

I like Article Six!

21 Wits said...

It makes me feel so very proud that we have the right and power to get out there and put the right people in office! Keith Ellison born in Detroit- still in office right here in my State of Minnesota I've even been lucky enough to have met and spoken with him at the DFL in our State Fair! We can be proud of our country, and today we take time to honor our veterans as well. Happy Veteran's Day!

Betty Manousos said...

interesting post dear sylvia.

great work you put into it.

alohaa!!

Cloudia said...

Humans are AMAZING!

That includes YOU - thanks dear friends

Indrani said...

Very inspiring! Brave ladies! May our world have more of their kind!

Jenn Jilks said...

You were right. A wonderful tribute. These are wonderful times to be a woman!

Akannie said...

O, Cloudia....isn't it amazing ? Hawaii has certainly brought the best and the brightest to the table, and you should be so proud.

I am walking on air....