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This
special column was taken from excerpts of Homma Kancho’s
New Year speech given at Keiko Hajime (opening ceremony) at
Nippon Kan on January 3rd, 2005.
Between the Steps.
Setting the Direction for Nippon Kan AHAN Activities for 2005.
Facing one another, like statues of Rodin’s “The
Thinker”, the hallowed threesome sat together reflecting
deeply. Jesus, Mohammed and Buddha, each looked pensive as they
reflected on the events of the day. It was devastation unfathomable;
the South Asia Tsunami had overcome so many and the aftermath
had touched so many more…
This disaster, which has taken so many thousands of lives, has
brought many countries together in efforts of rescue and relief.
Civilian corps and military troops from many countries have been
mobilized to aid in relief efforts to recover victims, rescue
survivors and try to stop further loss of life to disease, starvation
and dehydration. Everyone with eagerness and good will have rushed
to help in repairing and rebuilding infrastructure lost as quickly
as possible.
Life, and death go on however in all parts of the world. With
the world’s eye turned with good reason to the tsunami
disaster, civilians and military causalities continue to mount
in places like Afghanistan, Irag and other places plagued with
domestic strife. There seems to be a difference in our reactions
however to life lost to natural disasters and life lost through
human conflict. It really should not matter, life is life but
the differences in circumstances seem to have different moral
implications that effect our reactions and actions.
In a war torn region, if innocent civilians lose their lives
to a bomb falling from the sky, the loved ones of those lost
curse the perpetrators. The loss becomes fodder for government
propaganda and political strategy. In the wake of the tsunami,
if innocent civilians lose their lives, the loved ones of those
lost might mount blame against insufficient warning systems or
faulty planning, but unlike the families of victims of war, there
is no one human being or country to curse or blame. Many countries
in the world have joined together to aid the victims of the tsunami,
and this is a wonderful thing. This time, there are no countries
to blame only countries to thank for their help.
Human nature interferes with the best of intentions at times,
and even in this colossal effort to render aid, there are reports
of politics and one-upmanship among donor nations, fraudulent
schemes to divert donations and cut-throat competition for rebuilding
contracts. Even with these unfortunate side effects, this will
be the largest rescue and aid effort in the history of the world,
and should be commended.
The people of South Asia most affected by this disaster are innocent
people of different religious and cultural backgrounds. Once
the initial need for food, water, medical care and other basic
necessities are met, I think that spiritual and psychological
comfort needs to be provided. Providing emotional and spiritual
security I think would be beneficial in healing those so horrendously
affected. Christ, Mohammed, Buddha and any other leaders of faith,
it is time to administer spiritual aid to the hearts and souls
of the survivors by rebuilding places of community worship.
We can’t forget however that at this same point in time,
people are dying as victims of war or internal strife in other
parts of the world. Aid is not so readily available to these,
and there is not enough food, water or medicine being sent here.
These people carry the added burden of the upheaval brought by
international politics and governmental instability. They bear
the burden of the labels and the hatred that war brings. There
are only a few organizations rendering aid and support here,
and when planes fly overhead, civilians on the ground below hide
in fear and resignation or think more about revenge than relief.
Wars are fought in many cases over who is right and who is just.
The definitions of righteousness and justice vary however and
are built in most cases on the religious convictions of those
involved. In our history there have been more wars fought over
religious convictions than anything else. I think we can all
agree that if we could somehow remove religion from conflicts,
wars would be over much sooner. We could use the help of Jesus,
Mohammed, Buddha and other religious leaders in trying to solve
this dilemma that has plagued mankind for centuries.
It is a wonderful effort that is being made to help the tsunami
victims, but with all of this energy focused on this tragedy,
I worry about the victims of ongoing wars and other domestic
strife that have faded from the headlines. Countries on the front
lines of political controversy seem to be hiding the conflicts
that have embroiled their citizens behind shiny new efforts to
aid in this most recent catastrophe.
This relief and rebuilding effort needs to be organized by the
United Nations, not one country alone with respect for the pace,
customs and needs of the countries in need; not built to suit
the goals of donor countries with even the best intentions.
In the United States after the tragic events of 9-11, donations
to the Denver Rescue Mission dropped off dramatically. Nippon
Kan has been serving meals to the homeless at the Denver Rescue
Mission for fifteen years and has witnessed first hand the community
support the mission receives. It was not only monetary donations
that declined but food and clothing donations as well. Everyone
understandably had turned their attention to the terrorist attacks,
but an unanticipated result was that many other people in need
were overlooked as all eyes turned to this monumental event.
It is somewhat similar during the holidays each year. Every December,
hundreds of turkeys are donated to the mission and there are
an abundance of volunteers to help with meal services. In January
however, private donations drop off, and for most of the rest
of the year, the mission survives on the donations of food distribution
companies. I fear that due to the efforts allocated to relief
for tsunami disaster victims, this year will be a difficult year
for those who depend on the Denver Rescue Mission for survival.
The victims of the tsunami well deserve our aid, but we also
need to remember and protect the other victims of domestic wars,
famine, and other strife plaguing other citizens of this planet.
After the news of the tsunami disaster reached us here in Denver,
a few of my students asked if AHAN could put on a special fundraising
seminar for victim relief. I answered, “I feel deeply for
and sympathize greatly with the suffering of these tsunami victims,
but I feel that AHAN’s place is to continue to support
the ongoing projects and activities in other parts of the world
that depend on our aid too. We are a very small organization,
and our limited resources need to be dedicated to those we care
for now. It is a great opportunity to offer support for the tsunami
victims, and I hope Aikido organizations that do not currently
support other humanitarian projects get involved to raise support
in their communities for this effort. Nippon Kan and AHAN are
a little different in that we have many humanitarian projects
in place and all of these projects are long term. It is not fair
I believe, to those we have made commitments to, to divert our
attention from them even for the short term. Our goals are not
to give aid only in the spirit of the moment, as I have seen
at holiday season at the Denver Rescue Mission. Our goal is to
support and monitor the growth of our humanitarian projects over
many years to come. Privately of course I think contributions
to the Red Cross or other reputable tsunami relief organizations
are a wonderful thing, and I too privately will make a donation.”
Nippon Kan AHAN activities are not measured in the end amounts
of money or materials raised for donation. Our main focus is
in the actions themselves on a consistent and long term basis.
One of our goals lies in our hope that other Aikidoka will follow
in our spirit of “Sharing and Caring”. The Founder
of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba taught that “Aikido is Love”.
At Nippon Kan we try to demonstrate this principle through our
actions and projects and hope to inspire others to do the same.
Anytime one Aikidoka or Aikido organization stands up themselves
for these principles and demonstrates their caring through projects
that help our community, AHAN’s purpose is fulfilled.
If Nippon Kan as a small independent dojo can do this, there
is no reason why large affiliated organizations can’t do
this as well. I fear that the only reason that they might not,
is that their leaders have forgotten that other people are hungry.
I feel it is my duty to continue to make my appeal to Shihan
and organizations with so much power that could be mobilized
to help others in need.
This South Asia Tsunami disaster is one of the largest disasters
in our history, and is a great opportunity for Aikido students
and instructors to take action. For Nippon Kan and AHAN, I feel
it is our place to walk between the steps that governments and
large organizations can take to lend their aid. Our job is to
take care of those that fall between the large step marks made
by others with continuity and vision for their futures. At this
time Nippon Kan will continue its care by supporting AHAN’s
ongoing projects. If you wish to donate to the tsunami relief
victims privately we encourage you to contact the Red Cross or
other reputable organizations. Thank you very much for your understanding
and your continued support in 2005.
Gaku Homma
Nippon Kan Kancho
Keiko Hajime Ceremonies
January 3rd, 2005
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