[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 131 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING ISAIAH CASINTAHAN

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                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 11, 2015

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to 
congratulate Isaiah Casintahan on his essay, ``The Day that Launched a 
Better Future,'' published in the 70th Anniversary of the End of World 
War II program for recognition of the Japanese surrender documents 
signing on the deck of the USS Missouri, I was honored to be a member 
of the Bipartisan Congressional Delegation led by Congressman Randy 
Forbes and Congressman Joe Courtney of Connecticut to Pearl Harbor.
  September 2, 2015, commemorates the 70th Anniversary to the end of 
hostilities between the United States and Japan. Over the past decades, 
Japan and America have built a strong relationship of trust and 
continue to work together to ensure a more peaceful world. 
Congratulations to Isaiah for discussing the history of this important 
relationship between our two nations.

  Battleship Missouri Memorial's September 2nd Essay Contest Winner: 
Isaiah Casintahan, James Campbell High School ``The Day That Launched A 
                            Better Future''

       On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was taken by surprise as 
     hundreds of Japanese planes attacked the area. ``A date which 
     will live in infamy,'' as said by President Franklin 
     Roosevelt in the wake of the attack. Following the tragedies 
     of Pearl Harbor, the war continued where in August, 1945, the 
     United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; 
     the first and last instances of nuclear weapons in war. About 
     a month later, the war was brought to an official end when 
     ``Japanese officials (had) signed the act of unconditional 
     surrender,'' aboard the USS Missouri, anchored at Tokyo Bay. 
     The ship now sits moored in Pearl Harbor, facing the USS 
     Arizona, as one of the bookends of that war. This year 
     commemorates the 70th Anniversary to the end of hostilities, 
     and though 70 years have passed, it is still of great 
     relevance today. As peace was made on September 2, 1945, it 
     is indeed ``the day that launched a better future'' between 
     our nations.
       But what exactly does an `better future' entail for us? 
     What has it meant for our nations? In past times, friction 
     and distrust were present as our countries were at war, or 
     dealing with the traumas thereafter. Both of our nations 
     suffered from a great deal of losses as we endured the 
     consequences of war. The attack on Pearl Harbor took the 
     lives of over 2,500 people and wounded as many as 1,000 
     others. The bombing of Hiroshima ``wiped out 90 percent of 
     the city and immediately killed 80,000 people,'' thousands 
     later dying of radiation exposure. The n `better future' that 
     we live in today is a world no longer at war, but one 
     enduring the peace between us.
       Since the end of World War II, the United States and Japan 
     have relied on each other as allies to recover from the 
     repercussions of war. Over the past decades, we have worked 
     together in order to mend the once frayed relationship 
     between our nations and have built a stronger foundation for 
     peace. For example, after Japan's defeat the United States 
     ``led the Allies in the occupation and rehabilitation of the 
     Japanese state. Between 1945 and 1952, the U.S. occupying 
     forces, led by General Douglas A. MacArthur, enacted 
     widespread military, political, economic, and social 
     reforms.'' These reforms improved economy by setting 
     democratic standards to help those in poverty and implemented 
     a new constitution that would improve the social and 
     political systems by the same standards. Though some changes 
     were reverted back after the Americans left, most are still 
     in effect and support the peace between our nations today.
       In addition our nations trust has been heavily reinforced 
     since peace was rooted between us 70 years ago. Our trust for 
     one another continues to evidently grow, as in recent news, 
     the United States and Japan have proposed a new military 
     agreement, in which Japan's military will have a more active 
     role in global defense, bringing our nations closer. The 
     proposal would allow Japan, ``To defend regional allies that 
     come under attack, a change that means Japanese missile 
     defense systems could be used to intercept any weapons 
     launched toward the United States.'' In other words, Japan 
     could be taking part in aiding our defense. This is a big 
     jump in Japan's military relations, as their military powers 
     were limited under the new constitution implemented after 
     World War II. It is found in Article 9 of their constitution 
     that, ``renounces war and prohibits Japan from maintaining 
     the war potential.'' Though changes were already made so that 
     Japan could maintain their defense, the new proposal 
     demonstrates the ample amount of trust that our nations now 
     share and how our nations are moving forward through mutual 
     respect.
       In conclusion, since the end of World War II, our nations 
     today have secured a strong relationship that has brought us 
     into better days. The day that has launched us into our 
     future, September 2, 1945, has allowed our nations to endure 
     peace, no longer a World at War. The site of Pearl Harbor 
     where we faced sorrowful losses, and the site of the USS 
     Missouri, where we established peace, remind us why we must 
     safeguard our peace, free from the tragedies of war.

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