There was a day in my parents’ lifetimes when U.S. citizens of Japanese descent were locked away in camps by their own government. This action is universally considered wrong today. And we know it’s wrong because as a society and a citizenry we’ve come to understand that the actions of a few — even when those folks wage war against us — don’t taint an entire nationality or ethnicity.
We aren’t as good at eliminating racism or stereotyping from our outlook on current events though. Which is why it’s great to get reminders, such as this week’s sister city visit by Mayor Takeshi Hamano and Assemblyperson Takenobu Honda of Shinagawa, Japan, to Portland. They showed up last week with a whole delegation of visitors to celebrate the 25 years they have felt familial ties to Maine’s largest city.
We don’t think of this visit as a courageous step bridging a great divide between two former enemies. No, we celebrate this exchange of customs and opportunity because of the financial and cultural benefits it yields to the people of Shinagawa and of Portland, as well as further cementing the healthy relationship that now exists between all the freedom-loving people of the United States and Japan. Every step we get closer together erases a little bit of our angry past. It’s hard to believe, really, after the nasty taste Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima left in our respective mouths.
When the Empire of Japan surrendered on Aug. 14, 1945, the U.S. prepared to take over and began occupation of the island nation two weeks later. As conquerors, we transitioned the Japanese from warring dictatorship to our democratic ally. Formal hostilities ended with the Treaty of San Francisco signed exactly seven years later on Aug. 28, 1952.
The Russian Federation is experiencing many of the transitional growing pains that Japan had post-World War II. Because the Soviet Union collapsed under the weight of its own mistakes, it has the role of vanquished and victor all at the same time. No external force can claim credit for or dominion over the newly evolving nation as it makes the transition to a more Western way of life.
While they rebuild and evolve into republicans and capitalists, we, as their old enemies, have the opportunity to reach out to them in friendship and accept their alliances when they are offered — not as occupiers — but as prudent global neighbors.
In 2009, Mayor Vacha Gadae of Starye Atagi, a city in Chechnya, reached out to find a sister city in the U.S. Mayor Gadae believes a sister city bond would help his community stabilize and grow economically and democratically stronger.
Chechnya is a state in the Russian Federation. It is roughly the size of Aroostook County, and like Maine it is rich in natural resources. Because volunteers at the University of Southern Maine collected blankets and warm clothes for the “Committee for Refugees” in the Caucasus Mountains where Starye Atagi is located, Mayor Gadae got to know University of Southern Maine professor Barry Rodrigue who promised to find a U.S. sister city that would be willing to be the very first sister city to any Chechen community. A document establishing such a relationship was delivered — signed by Mayor Gadae — by a Chechen envoy to the Augusta City Council in January.
Sadly, that envoy returned to Russia on Sunday without a signed agreement from Augusta or any other Maine community. But professor Rodrigue and the mayor have not given up hope. It is still possible that Augusta will sign the document and befriend the people of Starye Atagi even as they grapple with democracy and capital-ism. And if they don’t, it is my hope that another Maine community will jump at the chance to be leaders in diplomacy and mentor this small community.
I’m not sure what’s keeping Augusta’s leaders from applying the finishing touches to a historic alliance between their city and Starye Atagi, but if Japan can overcome A-bombs and the U.S. can overcome sneak attacks to cement friendships, then I believe some Maine community can make this happen. And if another municipality would like to jump at this chance to make history, it can do so by e-mailing professor Rodrigue at rodrigue@usm.maine.edu
Pat LaMarche of Yarmouth is the author of “Left Out In America: The State of Homelessness in the United States.” She may be reached at PatLaMarche@ hotmail.com.