2025 was the most tumultuous, frightening year in my whole life, and that is saying something as I’ve lived for many years. This was the year that we almost lost our democracy. I don’t think this is an exaggeration at all. Look at what’s happened. With Trump becoming president again, we began to see activity that was very reminiscent of what happened to us Japanese Americans during World War II — the reviving of the enemy aliens law that resulted in the rounding up of people, the building of detention centers to hold thousands of people and the raids in our communities that are scooping up people, non-citizens and citizens alike. In fact, this round-up is sending people into foreign countries and prisons, places that are not the country they came from. Trump says he is ridding the country of criminals, but it is obvious that most are not lawbreakers.

Then there’s the scapegoating of people of color, brown people this time, characterizing them as invaders and criminals, rapists and drug dealers. Trump is calling some groups garbage. He is appealing to the worst feelings of white people, stirring up fears that our country is turning into a majority non-white population. Fear is such a strong emotion and given how uneasy many Americans feel about their economic status, can quickly be utilized to blame others, to scapegoat groups that can be labeled threats.

But we non-whites all know this, and so we are confronted with the problem of trying to figure out how to counter the negative vibes that permeate our country. What can we do to counter the lies and hate that spews out of our president’s mouth? Here in early December, he is restricting anyone from “third world countries” from entry into the U.S., he is crippling the asylum seekers by firing a large number of immigration court judges and saying and doing things that should have provoked immediate outrage and calls for his resignation. His party should step up to stop these outrageous activities, but few Republicans seem to have the guts or the morality to fight for decency and for the rule of law.
To work to counter these poisons ruining our country is to get involved in politics and movements fighting for our basic beliefs. We need to show that we care enough about our country to get out and support those who believe in our basic democratic ideas and are willing to run for office. We need to understand that actively participating in politics is our basic way to create a better society. We need to show up for efforts like “No Kings Day” and all the protest activities that have sprung up all over the country. I hope the new year will be filled with “we, the people….” activities and that the “good guys and gals” win big in the midterm elections.

As to my own 2025, It was very full. I participated in politics, and many good things happened to make it a good year. My first great grandchild arrived, a boy named Kenji Mko (Potowatami for bear) Fritz, which reflects his mixed heritage of native American, Japanese, Jewish (and probably other) backgrounds. And my brother Scott almost perished with heart failure, but was saved by doctors who implanted a left ventricle assist device machine that helps the heart function.

I also went to Bismarck, N.D. to participate in the pilgrimage to the Snow Country Prison Memorial, commemorating the building of a monument to the Japanese American men imprisoned there during World War II in a Department of Justice camp. Now the United Tribes Technical College, it was a jointly sponsored event. I was awarded a beautiful Native American blanket at the ceremony and we all participated in the pow wow that took place on that weekend on that campus.

We had a wonderful two-day conference in Oakland called “Changing Perspectives on Japanese American Incarceration” in June, a gathering of scholars, community activists, artists, survivors, descendants. Tsuru For Solidarity conducted many activities, and has developed programs and activities that involved us in many issues like protesting detention centers, working for Black reparations, healing and repair work within our community and dealing with so much unfinished business connected to our camp history. The Wakasa Memorial Committee made some headway with a petition asking for more cooperation, and hopefully in the new year, this may happen.

My family had a two-week vacation in Japan and Korea in October, a very busy and marvelous trip. We went to Kumamoto to look around at the place where my father came from, but it is so urbanized it was hard to imagine the farms and rural life that was the homeland for so many of us.

And, as a topper for this year, I have been invited to attend the Rachel Maddow “Burn Order” event in Los Angeles on Dec. 14. By the time this column is published, that event will be history but I anticipate that “Burn Order,” a Maddow podcast, is making history. If you haven’t heard about Maddow’s podcast, please check it out: https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-presents-burn-order.

It is really great.

Chizu Omori, of Oakland, Calif., is co-producer of the award-winning film “Rabbit in the Moon.” She can be reached at chizuomori@gmail.com. The views expressed in the preceding column are not necessarily those of the Nichi Bei News.

Chizu Omori, Nichi Bei News

Chizu Omori, of Oakland, Calif., is co-producer of the award-winning film “Rabbit in the Moon.” She can be reached at chizuomori@gmail.com. The views expressed in the preceding column are not necessarily those of the Nichi Bei News.