ELYSIUM AND DANIEL KEN INOUYE
Elysium (or the “Elysian Fields”) is a place or a realm of the Greek afterlife as portrayed in some of its
philosophical/religious belief systems. It would be somewhat analogous to the “modern-day”, Christian
“Heaven.”
(The principal views of the “afterlife” are derived from religion, esotericism, and metaphysics. The
“afterlife” is the concept and/or the realm in which an “essential part” of the individual’s identity or
consciousness, ether physical or transcendental, continues to reside after the individual’s death.
And, the belief in the “afterlife” is in contrast to the belief in the “eternal oblivion”: that is, the belief
that the individual ceases to exist “permanently” [i.e. at death]. Thus, the concept of “eternal oblivion”,
by definition, would exclude such beliefs, concepts and/or realms such as “Haven”, “Purgatory”, “Hell”,
etc.).
“Elysium” was a place, initially separate from the realm of the “Underworld” (i.e. “Hades” or “Hell”), in
which “entrance” was “reserved for mortals related to the ‘gods’ and for their heroes.” And, with the
passage of time, the “admission” into this “special place” was “expanded” to include those who were
chosen by the gods (i.e. the “oligarchs”), those who were the righteous (i.e. the “true believers” of a
noble class), and those who were heroic (i.e. warriors and warrioresses): the global many were
specifically excluded, in general, because they were conceived as less than insignificant and/or as
“soulless.”
The great Greek, epic poet, Homer (ca. 8th century BC), in his grand work, Odyssey, states that “Elysium”
is a place “where life is easiest for men. No snow is there, nor heavy storm, nor ever rain, but ever does
Ocean send up blasts of the shrill-blowing West Wind that they may give cooling to men” (4, 560-565).
In “Elysium”, the “selected ones” were to “live” a blessed and happy existence by indulging in the things
that they enjoyed in life. And, according to Homer, “Elysium” was located “on the western edge of the
earth by the stream of Okeanos.”
(The “Okeanos”, a global body of water, is the “pseudo-geographical feature” believed to be [by the
ancient Greeks and the ancient Romans] the divine personification of the “World Ocean”: that is, an
enormous river encircling the earth.)
Daniel Ken “Dan” Inouye (1924-2012) was the highest-ranking, Asian-American politician in United
States history. He was a member of the Democratic Party from 1959 to 2012: he was a member of the
U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii’s At-large district (1959-1963); he was an U.S. Senator from
Hawaii (1963-2012); and, he was President pro tempore of the United States Senate (2010-2012).
“Dan” was born on September 7, 1924, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was born to “Japanese immigrant”
parents. And, relative to his parents and by Japanese tradition, he was considered to be a “Nisei” or
“second generation” American: “Dan’s” parents would have been designated to be “Issei” or “first
generation” Americans. Finally, his children are considered “Sansei” or “third generation” Americans”:
all these “designations”, “ichi”, “ni”, and “san”, are taken from the counting numerals of the Japanese
language.
(The four largest populations of Japanese, outside of Japan, may be found in “Brazil”, the “United States
of America”, “Canada”, and “Peru.”
The “misguided” and “discriminatory” Executive Order 9066 of “FDR” [issued on February 19, 1942]
authorized the “Secretary of War” [Henry Lewis Stimson, from 1940 through 1945] to establish areas in
the nation as “military zones.” This “Order”, eventually, “justified” the relocation of thousands of
Japanese-Americans and Japanese citizens [living in the United States] to “War Relocation Camps.” And,
the “internment” of Japanese Americans was applied unequally throughout the nation: of those
imprisoned, 62% were American citizens. Also, German [over 11 thousand] and Italian [over three
thousand] Americans were imprisoned because of these racist, federal actions. The number of “Jewish”
refugees [in America] who were imprisoned is unknown due to the “lack of accurate record keeping” by
those involved. Notable Americans who opposed the “Order” were J. Edger Hover [1895-1972] and the
great Anna Eleanor Roosevelt [1884-1962].
In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed measures which indicated that “their” past, legislative actions were
based upon “race prejudice, war hysteria, and failure of political leadership.” Eventually, the federal
government disbursed more than 1.6 billion in “reparations” to the 62% or to their heirs” for its
“unconstitutional” [although the 1944 SCOTUS upheld the “constitutionality” of such “governmental
misbehavior”] and “dehumanizing”, federal actions.)
After the “Battle of Pearl Harbor” (or “Operation AL” as it was named by the “Imperial Japanese Navy”)
on December 7, 1941, many “restrictions were placed on Japanese Americans which included “Executive
9066” and other “irrational and “unconstitutional”, governmental actions. From 1941 to 1942, “Dan”
was a medical volunteer at Pearl Harbor. In 1943, he was allowed to enlist (i.e. the “enlistment ban” on
Japanese Americans was ended by “FDR”) in the U.S. Army.
“Dan” served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1947: that is, during and after the Second World
War (1939-1945). Among other combat awards, Captain Inouye was the recipient of the “Distinguished
Service Cross”, the “Bronze Star Medal”, and the “Purple Heart” (twice). His “Distinguished Service
Cross” was “upgraded” to the “Medal of Honor” in 2000 due to the fact that his actions on April 21,
1945, in the vicinity of San Terenzo, Italy, warranted such an upgrade: the “incorrectness” of the initial
award was due to the insidious, “yellow” and “black” racism (towards “non-white”, U.S. soldiers who
were viewed as “soulless”) within the U.S. Army at the time of his service. That is, only “white” soldiers
could be brave enough to receive such a prestigious “Medal”: say, like the “crazy” courageous, “Medal
of Honor” recipient, the remarkable (Major) Audie Leon Murphy (1925-1971) of the Second World War.
(See e-article “95” on this website for a brief history of “black” bigotry which existed within the U.S.
Armed Forces before, during, and after World War II.)
And, “Dan”, after a successful congressional career, died on December 17, 2012 at “Water Reed Medical
Center” of respiratory failure, 67 years after “FDR’s” passing.
The American many stated that “Achilles of the Achaeans” was present at “Dan’s” passing in order to
help transport him to the “Fields of Elysium”: the “oligarchs” ridicule this story because they realize that
“Elysium” is only for the privileged of human kind.
And, the “oligarchs” were heard to say the following at “Two Silver Dollars” passing:
“Imagine, this ‘yellow skinned’ Hawaiian wanting to dwell in ‘Elysium!’”
“Remember, this Japanese-American wished to have that “yellow-skin”, Colleen Wakako Hanabusa,
appointed to in the U.S. Senate just before his death. We fixed that! Our ‘front’ person, Governor Neil
A. ‘He does as he is told’ Abercrombie, appointed Brian Schatz, his Lieutenant Governor [of Hawaii].
Does he not remind you of our dearest Lesesne?”
(For the sake of clarity, General John “Lesesne” DeWitt’s (1880-1962) reference point for all JapaneseAmericans was that “A Jap was a Jap.” He was an active supporter of imprisoning all Japanese, American
or otherwise, during World War II.
As far as it is known, “A Jap was a Jap” never lived in an “internment camp” against his will.)
Post Script:
The American many relate the following story of “Two Sliver Dollars”:
In a conversation among “Medal of Honor” recipients within “Elysium” on December 17, 2012, “Crazy”
Courageous Murphy was heard to say that “Two Silver Dollars” Inouye will be coming momentarily.
“For those of you who may be unaware of him and his ‘battle’ deeds, I will relate the following account
of his actions”:
“’Two Silver Dollars’ directed his platoon through a hail of automatic weapon and small arms fire on
April 21, 1945, nine days after the death of the great ‘FDR’ (which occurred on April 12, 1945). In a swift
enveloping movement that resulted in the capture of artillery and mortar post and which positioned his
men to within 40 yards of a hostile force, he, with complete disregard for his personal safety, crawled up
a treacherous slop to within five yards of the nearest machine gun and hurled two grenades. After
hurling the grenades, he, amazingly, stood-up and neutralized a second machine gun nest with his small
arms fire. Although wounded by a sniper’s bullet, he continued to engage other hostile positions [at
close range] until an exploding grenade shattered his right arm. Despite his injuries and intense pain, he
refused to evacuate, and he continued to direct his platoon until enemy resistance was broken and his
men were evacuated.”
“His men called him ‘Two Silver Dollars’ because he was “very, very lucky”: while leading his platoon in
a combat mission in Italy, a rifle bullet struck him in the chest directly above his heart. But, the bullet
was stopped by “two silver dollars” which he did NOT remember putting into the “right” pocket of his
shirt. And, at a much later time, ‘Two Silver Dollars’ admitted that the coinage in his pocket was not
even American.”
“Even on the day of his passing, he stated that he did not put those ‘two silver dollars’ in his pocket.”
“And, he was correct about this fact although no one really believed him.”
(The great “Achilles” of the ten-year “Trojan War” (and dweller of “Elysium”) was responsible for this act
of “intervention.” He hated the “senseless and arbitrary” control of the Greek “gods and goddesses” of
Olympus upon the destiny of “man.”
[“Achilles” was the son of the nymph, “Thetis”, and the son of the king of the “Myrmidons”, “Peleus.”
The “gods and goddesses” of Olympus, the Olympians, were despised by him.]
Parenthetically, “Zeus”, the “Father” and “Ruler” of the Olympians, defeated his father, the Titan leader
“Kronos”, with the help of his brothers and his sisters. And, “Athena” was one of his daughters.
The Olympian goddess, “Hera”, who was the “Consort of Zeus” and the “Enemy of Heracles”, made
“Two Sliver Dollars’” weakness on the “right” side of his body, just above his heart, at the bidding of the
Olympian goddess, “Athena.” Thus, “Achilles”, with his stolen, Trojan sliver, was attempting to prevent
what happened to him: that is, from another one of “Athena’s” interventions.
[In the Trojan War of Homer’s Iliad, she had given her “poisonous arrows” to her favorite, the Trojan
Prince, “Paris”, in order to protect him from the invincible “Achilles.”].
“Athena” is the Olympian goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, and “just
warfare.” In one version of Greek mythology, she is the daughter of the Olympian god, “Zeus”, and the
Olympian goddess, “Metis.”
“And, ‘Athena’ is now a forever “welcomed and frequent” visitor to ‘Elysium.’”
“Audie’s” story telling was suddenly interrupted by extreme shouting outside the ‘Fields of Elysium.’
Apparently, General DeWitt was upset and positioned his WW II carbine towards ‘Achilles’ for
transporting another inferior to ‘Elysium.’ This time, the inferior was one of those “yellow shinned”
Hawaiians: the ones that he so much enjoyed imprisoning in “life.” After all, was he not, now, the
‘Guardian’ of this place?”
“Some say that ‘Achilles’’ spear travelled well over a thousand yards before “downing” the great
General. Still, others say, that the faraway sound of ‘Crazy’ Courageous’ M16 rifle was heard
somewhere in the background before the spear hit the General through his exposed throat.”
“And, “they all say that true “combat” brothers and sisters are extremely protective of each other! The
end result of their fighting hatred is always “eternal oblivion.”
“The next ‘Guardian of the Fields’ was rumored to be a Neil A. Abercrombie of Hawaii. They say that he
also believes that ‘A Jap was a Jap.’ So, why should he honor a “yellow skinned” Hawaiian’s dying
wish?”
“And, ‘Athena’ was heard to say that it is ‘difficult to find and keep good help.’ She feels that ‘He does
as he is told’ will not last that longer than the racist General. Still, she feels that it is necessary to have
“frequent and realistic” target practice with the spear and with the ‘thunder’ stick.”
“Athena” shouted with the volume of an Afghan warrioress that she was a strong advocate of improving
‘combat’ skills through constant practice with the true “inferiors” of her Father’s universe, the privileged
classes.
“And, the sound of the laughter of the heroic was so loud that they could not hear each other for a
moment in eternal time.”)
“Athena” knows, now, that “poisonous arrows” should not be given to cowardly boys like the privileged
“Paris.” And, she also knows that “Achilles” has a long memory for the evil actions of the privileged
classes toward the “helpless and disenfranchised.” Will he ever forgive her for her “infatuation” with
that hansom, Trojan prince of the Trojan War?
Over endless time, “Athena”, daughter of “Zeus”, has learned to appreciate the silent humor of this son
of “Peleus.” She now likes him very, very much. He is the person that she will take “into the fire” along
with his two friends, “Crazy” Courageous and the quiet “yellowed skin” from the Kingdom of Hawaii,
“Two Trojan Silver Dollars.”
To hell with the “oligarchs” (the Titans [Cronus], the Olympians [Zeus], the American few, and the
Japanese few) and their “familiars” (“just warfare”, Hera, the “young” Athena, Paris, POTUS, Executive
Order 9066 and the like, Stimson, “War Relocation Camps”, DeWitt, the U.S. Congress [especially from
1940 to 1945], SCOTUS [1944], Abercrombie, Schatz, and all those who stand by and watch as the
Constitutional rights of “the others” are systematically violated by the American and global privileged
classes: of the past, of the present, and, hopefully, NOT of the future),
Fromoneofthemany