Arab Americans and the Persian Gulf, plus the Legacy Fund at $1 million

Vol. 112, No. 2, January 16, 1991. 8 pages. View this issue

Concern for Arab Americans ran through this eight-page issue. A national JACL statement from Bill Yoshino, National Director, warned that Persian Gulf tensions could bring scrutiny of Arab Americans like that faced by Japanese Americans in World War II. An editorial on page 4 made the same case, and page 6 reported on a committee formed to visit Arab American homes and businesses. The front page also announced that the JACL Legacy Fund reached $1 million on Jan. 2.

Other front-page stories covered the memorial design for Japanese American veterans, planned for Little Tokyo, and the Marine Corps’ decision to re-examine the case of Bruce Yamashita. Columns by Bill Hosokawa and Bill Marutani appear on page 4. Page 2 includes Glenn Horiuchi’s premiere of his ‘Poston Sonata’ in San Diego.

What’s in this issue

National

• National JACL Statement: On the Scrutiny of Arab Americans Due to Persian Gulf Tensions, by Bill Yoshino, National Director, page 1. JACL issued a statement expressing concern that the Persian Gulf tensions could lead to the singling out and scrutiny of Arab Americans, similar to what happened to Japanese Americans during WWII. The statement cited a 1983 federal court ruling and called for extreme caution to prevent racism and civil rights violations against the Arab American community.
• Greater State Access to Property Crime Aid Seen, page 2. An article discussing increased state access to the Federal Crime Insurance Program (FCIP), which offers affordable crime insurance underwritten and sold directly by the federal government. Details on how this expanded access benefits residents were included.
• Church Summit to Probe ‘Environmental Racism’, page 3. The United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice will convene its first National Minority Environmental Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. in October 1991 to address environmental racism. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis stated that minorities, including Asian Americans, are disproportionately affected by pollution and hazardous waste but excluded from policy discussions.

JACL

• Legacy Fund Tops $1 Million, page 1. The JACL Legacy Fund reached the $1 million mark on Jan. 2, with campaign chair praising the community’s support and gratitude for JACL’s redress efforts. The fund will be used to support JACL’s priorities, including combating anti-Asian violence and ensuring accurate depiction of Japanese American history in schools.
• JACL Pulse: Legacy Fund Update, page 6. A continuation of the Legacy Fund story detailing that the fund seeks support not only from redress recipients but from all members and non-Nikkei supporters as well. JACL leadership expressed appreciation for the broad-based support received and committed to continuing work with national organizations on shared concerns.

Incarceration & Redress

• Glitches Over Penalties in California Law, page 1. An article discussing issues arising from penalty provisions in a California law related to redress. Details on the specific glitches and their implications for those affected were outlined.

Military & Veterans

• Nation-wide Search Ends as Memorial Design for Japanese American Veterans Unveiled, page 1. A nationwide design competition concluded with the unveiling of the winning memorial design honoring Japanese American WWII veterans, to be located in Little Tokyo’s First Street North Plaza. The competition was sponsored by the 100th/442nd/MIS World War II Memorial Foundation, with actor George Takei presenting the winning design by an architect.
• Memorial Design for Japanese American Veterans Unveiled (Continued), page 3. The continuation of the memorial design story details the competition timeline, with entries accepted from January to April 1990 and the winning design chosen from 135 entries. The memorial, estimated to cost $2.5 million, features a black granite circle inscribed with the names of Japanese American WWII veterans, honoring their sacrifice.
• Marine Corps to Reopen Bias Case of Bruce Yamashita, by Bill Kaneko, page 3. The U.S. Marine Corps agreed to re-examine allegations of racial discrimination raised by Bruce Yamashita, who was expelled from Officer Candidate School in 1989. Yamashita claims he was singled out and harassed as a Japanese American, and the Japanese American Citizens League of Honolulu is raising funds for his legal defense.

Community

• Nihonmachi Legal Outreach Publishes Bilingual Booklet, page 1. San Francisco’s Nihonmachi Legal Outreach published a bilingual booklet aimed at helping community members understand legal rights and resources. The booklet addresses various legal issues relevant to the Japanese American community.
• Honolulu Officials Unveil Replica Bell for Pearl Harbor Anniversary, page 1. Honolulu city officials and a delegation unveiled a replica of a historic bell at the Civic Center for the Dec. 7 Pearl Harbor commemoration. The replica bell, costing $20,000, honors those affected by the attack on Pearl Harbor.
• Support Positive to Endowment Fund, page 2. The Sacramento JACL Endowment Fund solicitation received a very positive response according to chapter leaders Laura and Mike Iwahiro. The fund’s interest will help cover the chapter’s annual budget costs and support various chapter programs.
• Nisei Evacuees Who Attended College During War Called to Help, page 2. Nisei who attended college during WWII internment are being asked to help continue the legacy of the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund, which has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships since 1983. This year a Washington State group is coordinating efforts to award scholarships to Southeast Asian students in memory of the help Nisei students received decades ago.
• NCJA Senior Clubs Ready for 1991 Program, page 3. The Northern California Japanese American Senior Clubs, comprising 13 clubs in the region, prepared their 1991 program with new officer elections and a New Year luncheon at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple. New officers were named for the coming year.
• Arab-American Concerns Committee Formed, page 6. An Arab American concerns committee was formed to conduct visits to homes and businesses of Arab Americans, encouraging them to report incidents of discrimination or harassment. The committee aims to prevent a repeat of the historical injustices faced by Japanese Americans during WWII through community support and vigilance.
• Karen Tani and Sandra Gin Named to Positions, page 8. Karen Tani, a Sacramento native and USC graduate, was named project manager in the Research & Development Department at Template Graphics. Sandra Gin Yep, an award-winning TV news anchor, will be honored at a celebrity event before leaving her position at a local station to join a San Francisco channel, with proceeds benefiting the Asian Community Nursing Home.

Arts & Entertainment

• Jazz Pianist Horiuchi to Premiere ‘Poston Sonata’ in San Diego, page 2. Former San Diego jazz pianist Glenn Horiuchi will premiere his composition ‘Poston Sonata’ at the San Diego City College Theatre. The performance is funded in part by the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and features additional musicians from Los Angeles and San Francisco.

In-Depth

• Selected Papers of Sen. Matsunaga to Be in Japanese American National Museum, page 2. The Japanese American National Museum will hold its annual meeting in Los Angeles, featuring a reception honoring the late Sen. Spark Matsunaga and the donation of his selected papers to the museum. Trustee Elaine Yamagata announced fundraising efforts to complete Phase I of the museum’s development.
• 46 Years Ago in the Pacific Citizen, page 4. A historical retrospective column noting events from 46 years prior as reported in the Pacific Citizen, including Mike Masaoka’s return to JACL national headquarters after 18 months overseas and Minoru Yasui’s admission to the Colorado bar. The column highlights notable milestones for Japanese Americans during that era.

Commentary

• The Arab Americans, page 4. An editorial expressing concern about potential war in the Persian Gulf and the risk that Arab Americans could face racial prejudice similar to what Japanese Americans experienced during WWII. The piece calls for vigilance against a repeat of wartime hysteria and unjust targeting of any ethnic group based on the actions of foreign governments.
• Little Matter of Making Decisions, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. In his ‘From the Frying Pan’ column, Bill Hosokawa reflects on freedom of choice in American society by contrasting it with the constrained decision-making faced by people in authoritarian societies and prisons. He draws on the experience of Japanese Americans in WWII internment camps to illustrate how fortunate Americans are to have freedom of choice.
• The Early Bird, by Bill Marutani, page 4. In his ‘East Wind’ column, Bill Marutani discusses the rigorous Japanese education system, including extensive after-school tutoring (juku) that students undergo to gain admission to prestigious high schools and universities. He compares this demanding system to American education and reflects on cultural differences in academic pressure.

Obituaries

• Community Obituaries and Tributes, page 8. This page features multiple obituary tributes including George Sakioka, a former Kauai resident and Hawaii state Board of Education chairman who died at 61; George S. Hirakawa, a Penryn resident and Master Mason; and other community members with detailed biographical narratives. The tributes describe their education, careers, and contributions to their communities and JACL chapters.

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