Vol. 112, No. 4, February 1, 1991. 12 pages. View this issue
Leadership and civil liberties ran through this 12-page issue. On the front page, Fred Oshima reported on the joint installation at Fort Ord, where President Cressey Nakagawa called for strong support of the JACL Legacy Fund and its $10,000,000 goal. Beside it, Rep. Norman Y. Mineta warned that Arab Americans’ civil liberties could be threatened by FBI investigations during the Gulf War, drawing parallels to the World War II incarceration (often called internment) of Japanese Americans. An editorial on page 4 credited the redress campaign with raising awareness of wartime hysteria.
Inside are columns by Bill Hosokawa, on the film Come See the Paradise, and Bill Marutani, on being asked if he was Chinese. A profile covered Salt Lake Judge Raymond Uno, retiring after 14 years, and his family’s time at Heart Mountain. Several pages carry chapter installations, along with theater notices from East West Players and Pan Asian Repertory. A short note announced a new editor, Suenaga, for the Pacific Citizen.
What’s in this issue
JACL
- Nakagawa Calls for Strong Support for JACL Legacy Fund, by Fred Oshima, page 1. President Cressey Nakagawa said JACL is now positioned to provide strong leadership within the Japanese American community and broader American population. The Legacy Fund campaign aims to raise $10,000,000 to serve as a vehicle for JACL’s future work.
- Suenaga Appointed P.C. Editor, page 1. A new editor has been appointed to the Pacific Citizen. The brief announcement notes the appointment.
- Jon Kaji Elected a 5th Time to Lead Gardena Valley JACL, page 6. Gardena Valley JACL will hold its 52nd annual installation dinner, re-installing Jonathan Kaji as chapter president for a fifth term. The chapter will also recognize volunteers of the Conquer the Bridge Committee for organizing a race that raised $9,000 for area charities.
- Nat’l JACL Committee Chairs Appointed, page 7. National JACL Headquarters announced the chairpersons of national committees for the 1990-1992 biennium. The list includes national president Cressey Nakagawa and various committee leads such as Legal Counsel and Pacific Citizen Committee.
National
- Civil Liberties of Arab Americans in U.S. May Be Threatened by FBI, Mineta Warns, page 1. Rep. Norman Y. Mineta warned that Arab Americans face threats to their civil liberties from FBI investigations during the Gulf War, drawing parallels to the WWII internment of Japanese Americans. Mineta said a fine line exists between investigation and inquisition that must not be crossed, and cautioned against a new McCarthyism.
- Asian Americans Launch Voter Registration, page 2. A voter registration initiative targeting Asian Americans has been launched. The effort aims to increase Asian American political participation.
- Mineta Continued: FBI Interviews and Arab American Concerns, page 6. FBI Director William S. Sessions said interviews with Arab American business and community leaders have mostly been positive but the FBI will continue investigating roughly 3,000 Iraqi nationals with expired visas. David Najjab, an advertising photographer and co-chairman of the Arab American Institute, described his own experience being questioned by the FBI about the Arab American community.
Community
- San Fernando Valley Japanese School Plagued by Vandals; Racism Not Seen, page 1. A Japanese school in the San Fernando Valley has experienced vandalism incidents. Officials do not believe the vandalism is racially motivated.
- Selanoco JACL’s Silver Anniversary, page 2. Selanoco JACL celebrated its 25th anniversary with a ceremony featuring the pledge of allegiance led by two representatives to the 1991 Presidential Classroom for Young Americans. The event honored the chapter’s history and achievements.
- United Way Keeps Pace with Needs of L.A. Asian Community, page 2. United Way of Los Angeles reported that $2,916,147, or 7% of total funds, were used for services to Asians in the community. The report also highlighted increasing Asian representation on the Board of Directors, rising from prior years to 10% in 1989.
- Marysville Hears NCWNP Director Joy Morimoto, page 6. Joy Morimoto, newly appointed Northern California regional director, served as the installing officer at the Marysville JACL’s installation dinner. The event was chaired by Ray Kyono and Ray Fukui and emceed by Helen Manji.
- Hosokawa Addresses Japan America Society, page 6. Retired journalist Bill Hosokawa spoke at a dinner presented by the Japan America Society of Colorado and the Mile-Hi JACL, with about 150 people in attendance. The chapter continues preparing for the 1992 National JACL Convention.
- JACL Singles Convention at Denver Scheduled at Scanticon Hotel, page 6. The Denver Nikkei Singles Club will host the 5th biennial National JACL Singles Convention from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 at the Scanticon Hotel Convention Center. Organizers are planning activities for convention attendees.
- Joint Monterey Peninsula – Salinas Valley Installation, page 6. Shiro Higashi, Salinas Valley JACL president, and the Monterey Peninsula JACL president held a joint installation ceremony. Chapter leaders from both organizations participated in the event.
- Carson JACL in Search of Another Fund Source, page 7. Carson JACL’s board, chaired by 1991 president Agnes Hikida, discussed the need for a new fundraising source after local ordinances affected their fireworks booth operations. The chapter is exploring alternative fundraising methods.
- Florin JACL Installs, page 7. Florin JACL held its installation dinner with 100 members and friends attending, with NCWNP Regional Director Joy Morimoto installing new officers. Keynote speaker Martha Powers, chairman of the Sacramento City and County Human Rights/Fair Housing Commission, spoke on the importance of the civil rights movement.
- Fremont JACL 1991 Officers, page 7. Fremont JACL announced its slate of officers for 1991, led by president Alan Mika. Various vice president and committee chair positions were also filled.
- Berkeley JACL Officers Nominated, page 7. Berkeley JACL announced nominations for chapter officers for 1991. Co-presidents Ann and Ken Yamamoto were among those nominated.
Military & Veterans
- Caucasians Completing Studies Were Commissioned, but Not Nisei, page 2. A report reveals that at the Military Intelligence Service Language School, Caucasian graduates were commissioned as officers while Nisei graduates were not, based on a directive intended to prevent Japanese Americans from becoming officers. A wartime message from Col. Rasmussen assured the War Department that no AJAs would be commissioned upon graduation.
In-Depth
- Salt Lake Judge Raymond Uno: Calling It Quits After 14 Years on the Bench, page 3. After 14 years on the bench, 60-year-old Judge Raymond Uno is retiring, reflecting on his career as an attorney and judge who championed the underprivileged despite facing discrimination as a non-white, non-Mormon minority in Salt Lake City. Uno’s family was interned at Heart Mountain during WWII, where his father, a WWI veteran, died, and he later served in Korea before earning his law degree and becoming a prominent JACL leader.
Commentary
- The ‘War’ at Home, by P.C. Staff, page 4. An editorial praises Americans for largely refraining from bigotry against Arab Americans during the Gulf War, crediting the Japanese American redress campaign for raising awareness about wartime hysteria. The piece cautions that the situation could worsen if ground combat leads to heavy casualties.
- General Colin Powell, by P.C. Staff, page 4. An editorial highlights General Colin Powell’s role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War, noting that he is judged by his competence rather than his race. The piece suggests his performance may open doors for future African American leaders in prominent positions.
- Come See the Paradise, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa reviews the film ‘Come See the Paradise,’ expressing skepticism about its glowing advertisements. He critiques whether the film’s Japanese American actors can compensate for shortcomings in the production’s handling of the community’s wartime experience.
- Are You Chinese? (Or What?), by Bill Marutani, page 4. Bill Marutani recounts a personal anecdote about being asked if he was Chinese while dining at a Chinese restaurant, leading to a broader discussion about Asian American identity. The column reflects on the assumptions people make about ethnicity and background.
Arts & Entertainment
- Jude Narita in Lead Role for East West’s Opening to Ibsen Play, ‘Hedda Gabler’, page 9. East West Players’ production of Ibsen’s ‘Hedda Gabler’ stars Jude Narita in the title role, with Michael Paul Chan as her husband George Tesman. The play, directed by Dorothy Lyman, explores themes that were once considered controversial when the play debuted.
- ‘And the Soul Shall Dance’ to Be Staged, page 9. Pan Asian Repertory will stage ‘And The Soul Shall Dance,’ written by award-winning playwright Wakako Yamauchi, in Palos Verdes, Calif. The play is a notable work depicting Japanese American life.
Incarceration & Redress
- A WWII Story of Enemy Alien Issei, page 9. A book documenting the experiences of Issei internees arrested by the FBI as ‘dangerous enemy aliens’ during WWII has been translated from Japanese to English by the Konko Churches of North America. The internees were held in Department of Justice camps, including one in Santa Fe, N.M.
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