Shedding light on the real history of WWII

Shedding light on the real history of WWII

Dr. Joseph Wong, Toronto ALPHA founder

(Following is the speech of Dr. Joseph Wong, Founder of Toronto ALPHA at the November 3 Fundraising Dinner “Metamorphosis,” attended by top educators and decision makers from the three largest school boards in the region. This speech is a summary of Toronto ALPHA’s work and achievements. With countless doors opened by supportive school boards, the only limiting factor is the availability of financial resources.)

“Good Evening, Honoured Guests, Colleagues, Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I want to express our gratefulness to all who are present here tonight.  Taking a valuable Sunday evening out of your very busy schedule shows your commitment to, and support of, Toronto ALPHA’s mission.  I would like to particularly thank the large representation of the Korean Canadian community who are here.  Thank you very much.

I would also take a moment to acknowledge the presence of many Chinese seniors who are among us tonight.  Despite language barriers, they still chose to be among us to show support.  On behalf of Toronto ALPHA, a big thank you.

Today’s weather reflects the progress of Toronto ALPHA.  In 2005, at our first fundraising dinner, the theme was ‘A Ray of Hope’, the hope brought about by the writing of the book by Iris Chang ‘The Rape of Nanking—Forgotten Holocaust of WWII’.

Today, the temperature is still a little cold, but there is broad sunshine.  From a ray, to broad sunshine, Toronto ALPHA has turned around the trend of obliterating the history of WWII in Asia.  Small steps led to bigger ones, and together with our partners in the school boards, significant changes in the classrooms of GTA have been made. What started with the lobbying of the Ministry of Education in 2005, resulting in the first western jurisdiction’s inclusion of the history of WWII in Asia into social studies and history curriculums, to the study-tours, to the world’s first conference on WWII in Asia targeting educators and students in Toronto in 2010, to numerous speaking engagements in high schools, colleges and universities, both at home in Canada and abroad. Through these steps, we have developed a healthy and trusting relationship with educators, schools, school boards and students in GTA, Canada, and internationally.  Close to 300 educators, most from Canada, but also from the US, Europe, Australia, Germany and Japan, have come with us to China, Korea, and Japan, to learn about this period of history from testimonies of victims, survivors, academics, lawyers and peace advocates.

Pictures of “comfort women” from Asian countries, on stage at Toronto ALPHA fundraising dinner.

As recently as last week, Toronto ALPHA, working together with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, TDSB, and TCDSB, invited a comfort woman victim grandma Lola Fidencia from the Philippines to come to Winnipeg and Toronto.  Over a thousand students listened to the Lola’s testimonials in two student assemblies in Toronto.  We are working with the newest national museum in Winnipeg, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, due to open a year from now, to develop exhibits related to the atrocities of WWII in Asia, particularly on the Rape of Nanking and the “Comfort Woman” Sexual Slavery system of Imperial Japan’s WWII.

Most amazing, even to us, is the transformation of young people, developing a keen interest and passion in the justice and preservation of this period of history, carrying on the torch to promote learning from mistakes of the past. We are particularly excited to know that these young people are taking initiatives to organize themselves, forming ALPHA clubs in high schools and universities, most recently at the University of Hong Kong.

The historic signing of an MOU this past Monday between TDSB and Toronto ALPHA is indeed a significant milestone in this partnership.  It is affirmation of our resolve to bring this history into the classrooms of Canada’s largest school board.  The document spells out areas of collaboration, from adding the history of WWII in Asia in existing courses, to creating new courses dedicated specifically to this history, to organizing students conferences, teacher training, study tours for educators, and for students as part of a credit course, writing, publishing and creating teaching resource handbooks, and audial-visual teaching aids, and a bold plan to build a museum and education centre on atrocities of WWII in Asia. We have also met with the new Director of the Toronto Catholic School Board, an ongoing partner and supporter in our work and mission, to move in the direction of an MOU as well. We continue to work with York Region and Dufferin-Peel public and catholic school boards who also pledge to work together with Toronto ALPHA.

Toronto ALPHA has a very special and unique mission. We are blessed to live in this city and in this country.  It is a place with rich ingredients in the soil for our mission to germinate, take roots, grow and flourish.  It is in this region that we have the most forward-looking, peace-loving, and social justice-minded people who work with Toronto ALPHA on this very important voyage. While this voyage may be in rough waters, with lots of obstacles and challenges, but it is a voyage that we cannot afford to fail.  Our success in the GTA, Ontario, throughout Canada, and internationally, is important to remind our young people that peace is not given.  We have to work to prevent senseless wars and future atrocities.

One of the biggest challenges that Toronto ALHPA is facing is the lack of financial resources.  We are at a historical juncture, a time that we can greatly expand our work and bring fruitful results towards our mission.  I want to thank our many dedicated volunteers, it is their sacrifice that brings hope to the mission.  Friends and colleagues, I appeal to you to take the next few minutes, to think of how you can support the mission financially and make a difference in this work.  None of the volunteers or staff or our relatives in ALPHA suffered greatly in this war.  We are not driven by hate.  We are driven by justice and our love of humanity.

Whether it is $10 or $10,000, it will encourage our volunteers and help Toronto ALPHA to further fulfil the work and the mission. We thank you for your unwavering support without which we cannot be here today.  Your contributions mean a lot to us.

Thank you very much.”

Support Toronto ALPHA by making an online donation, visit: http://torontoalpha.org/index.php/contact/support.