Vol. 115, No. 13, October 23, 1992. 12 pages. View this issue
JACL put its questions to the three presidential candidates, and the answers filled the front page. George Bush, Bill Clinton and Ross Perot were each sent a questionnaire on 13 issues, including appointments, the Civil Liberties Act, trade, affirmative action, hate crimes and English-only laws. The Bush and Clinton campaigns replied with full answers, and Perot’s campaign sent biographies of Perot and James Stockdale instead. National Director Dennis Hayashi wrote in a commentary that voting mattered especially for Asian Pacific Americans.
Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa described how Japanese American farmers turned Ontario, Oregon into a major onion-growing area, and Judge Bill Marutani wrote about the Heart Mountain reunion. Page 3 reported on a Defense Department amendment from Sen. Daniel Inouye on discrimination, a new legal clinic in Gardena, and JACL’s choice of a firm to manage the Legacy Fund.
What’s in this issue
National
- For Asian Americans, Who’s Best? JACL Election Questionnaire to Presidential Candidates, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL sent a questionnaire to presidential candidates George Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot covering 13 key issues affecting Asian Americans, including appointments, the Civil Liberties Act, U.S.-Japan relations, trade, Wards Cove legislation, affirmative action, minority scholarships, the LA riots, hate crimes, English-only laws, bilingual education, and family leave. Their full responses are published to help JACL members and readers make informed voting decisions.
- George Bush’s Responses to JACL Questionnaire, by Dr. Kyo R. Jhim (submitted on behalf of George Bush), page 1. President Bush’s campaign detailed his record on Asian American appointments, support for the Civil Liberties Act and its 1992 amendments, views on U.S.-Japan relations and trade, and his opposition to English-only legislation. The response also covers his administration’s handling of the LA riots, hate crimes prosecution, affirmative action policy, and his alternative Family Leave Tax Credit proposal instead of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
- Bill Clinton’s Responses to JACL Questionnaire, by Bill Clinton, page 1. Governor Clinton pledged an administration of inclusion reflecting America’s diversity, citing his gubernatorial appointments record, and discussed his support for the Civil Liberties Act, restoring civil rights protections via the Wards Cove Workers Act, and opposition to English-only laws. He also detailed plans for urban enterprise zones, community development banks, hate crimes enforcement, and signing the Family and Medical Leave Act that Bush vetoed.
- Biography of Ross Perot and Running Mate James Stockdale, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rather than answering the JACL questionnaire directly, Ross Perot’s campaign submitted biographies of Perot and his running mate James Stockdale. The biography details Perot’s childhood, Naval Academy education, founding of Electronic Data Systems, POW rescue efforts, and numerous awards, alongside Stockdale’s distinguished Navy career and years as a POW in Vietnam.
- Nikkei Researcher Works on Viral Study, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Dr. Kathe Watanabe is part of a research team at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center studying how white blood cells can be cloned to fight viral infections. The research could have applications for treating AIDS and cancer.
- Inouye Hairdresser’s Charges of Sexual Misconduct, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sen. Daniel Inouye faced charges of sexual misconduct from his hairdresser, Ricky Kwock, in ads that identified her as his victim. Kwock described feeling overwhelmed and scared, though she said she didn’t initially consider the alleged incident serious because of her position working for him.
Commentary
- Voting Especially Critical for Asian Americans, by Dennis Hayashi, page 1. JACL National Director Dennis Hayashi urges Asian Pacific Americans to vote in the 1992 election, noting the community’s growing size and importance. He explains that JACL prepared candidate questionnaires for the first time to help educate voters on issues affecting Asian Americans and encourages everyone to participate, whether at the polls or by absentee ballot.
- Legacies and Visions, by Douglas Urata, page 9. Urata argues that Japanese Americans have achieved only
Military & Veterans
- Military Asked to Deal with Discrimination, by P.C. Staff, page 3. An amendment sponsored by Sen. Daniel Inouye requires the Department of Defense’s military academies and training institutions to certify they have taken action against discrimination. The amendment was a direct response to the Bruce Yamashita case, in which he accused the military of discriminatory treatment.
Community
- Asian Legal Clinic Opens in Gardena, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A new legal aid clinic sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center and the Hughes Asian Pacific Professional Association opened in Gardena, California, offering free legal assistance to low-income Asians. Services cover family law, immigration, housing, employment, and government benefits appeals, with interpreters available in several Asian languages.
- English Key to Integration for Vancouver Filipinos, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Filipinos in Vancouver, numbering an estimated 40,000, have integrated quickly since discriminatory immigration restrictions were lifted in the early 1960s. A community leader attributes this rapid integration largely to the widespread use of English in the Philippines.
- Sansei Retires at Age 29 in Wealthy Seattle Suburb, by Ed Suguro, page 3. Hunts Point, Washington, was named the second-highest per capita income community in the nation in 1989, home to former Microsoft vice president Scott Oki, who retired at age 29. The report notes the demographics of the small, wealthy community of 513 residents near Seattle.
- Lots of Nihongo on Waikiki Signs Draws Scrutiny, by Allan Beekman, page 3. Honolulu city planning director Ben Lee is seeking ways to make Japanese-language signage less conspicuous along Waikiki’s tourist boulevards, preferring education over enforcement. Local business figures debate whether the abundance of Japanese signs is problematic or simply serves visitor needs.
- Inouye Receives Family Memento, by Allan Beekman, page 3. A 1899 labor contract signed by Sen. Daniel Inouye’s grandfather Asakichi Inouye with the McBryde Sugar Co. was discovered in Hawaii Sugar Planters’ Association archives and presented to the senator at a ceremony in Koloa, Kauai. The contract, which includes a faded photo of his grandparents, will hang in Inouye’s Senate office.
JACL
- Investment Firm to Manage Legacy Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL’s Investment Committee selected an investment firm to manage the Legacy Fund and will conduct quarterly performance reviews with annual reports submitted to the National Board. The committee worked throughout the year to create Investment Policy Guidelines and a fund manager selection process.
In-Depth
- A Valley Blossoms: Japanese American Onion Farmers Transform Ontario, Oregon, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Japanese American farmers, many of whom settled in the Ontario, Oregon area after being recruited from WWII assembly centers, transformed the region into one of the nation’s largest onion-producing areas, generating roughly $90 million annually. Local leaders credit Japanese Americans with turning the town into a thriving agricultural community, setting the stage for a planned tribute to their contributions.
Incarceration & Redress
- East Wind: A Visit to the Heart Mountain Reunion, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Judge Bill Marutani recounts attending the Heart Mountain camp reunion near Seattle, where he discovered his own WRA internee number and viewed exhibits including camp artifacts and a slide show by Bacon Sakatani. He also learned why he was inaccurately assigned to Japanese language study at Ft. Snelling based on incorrect WRA records.
Arts & Entertainment
- Marriage, Japanese Style, by Nobuhiko Obayashi (translated), page 8. Film director Nobuhiko Obayashi recounts the story of his uncle who accidentally left his bride at the train station and completed their honeymoon alone, buying her souvenirs along the way. The anecdote reflects on how low-key affection and good humor sustained his aunt and uncle’s 50-year marriage, contrasting with younger generations in Japan today.
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