Vol. 120, No. 11, June 2, 1995. 12 pages. View this issue
Racist imagery and its critics ran through this 12-page issue. JACL protested the caricatures of Judge Lance Ito in the book O.J.’s Legal Pad, and publisher David Rosenthal defended it as satire. A letter in the commentary pages apologized for the sketches. Also on page one, the Pacific Southwest District Council voted to support JACL National President Denny Yasuhara, and CBS golf commentator Ben Wright denied remarks about lesbians, with JACL recalling his 1991 slur against golfer Jumbo Ozaki.
Inside are Harry K. Honda’s report on the Pan American Nikkei Association convention in Lima, Peru, and his book reviews. Bill Hosokawa wrote about exaggerated camp memories, and Bill Marutani recalled Issei pea farmers. Other stories cover 91 Honolulu evacuees now eligible for redress, Peggy Nagae’s nomination to the redress education board, the Legacy Fund, and a summary of the National Board’s May meeting.
What’s in this issue
National
- Sportscaster Denies Remarks Against Lesbians, by P.C. Staff, page 1. CBS golf commentator Ben Wright has denied making derogatory remarks about lesbians in the LPGA, though he previously drew criticism in 1991 for referring to golfer Jumbo Ozaki using an ethnic slur. CBS Sports President David Kenin has stated he believes Wright and will support him despite JACL’s concerns about the earlier incident.
- Groups Protest Proposed Denial of Benefits to Legal Immigrants, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Asian Pacific Americans nationwide participated in a National Call-In Day on May 16 to protest Congressional proposals denying state and federal benefits to legal immigrants. The event was timed to coincide with a Senate vote on Sen. Alan Simpson’s immigration bill S. 269.
- Hearing Sought for Wang in ‘Friendly Fire’ Incident, by P.C. Staff, page 1. OCA and JACL are calling for a congressional hearing into the court martial of Air Force Capt. James Wang stemming from a 1994 friendly fire incident that killed 26 people in northern Iraq. Wang, the only officer facing court martial, believes he may be singled out due to his ethnicity.
- Peggy Nagae Named to Redress Education Board, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Peggy A. Nagae was nominated by President Clinton to the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund Board, completing the nine-member board’s nominations. Nagae served as lead counsel in Yasui v. United States and has extensive experience in diversity consulting and civil rights law.
- Rose Ochi Confirmed to White House Drug Agency, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Rose Ochi, former director of criminal justice for Los Angeles, was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as associate director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. ONDCP Director Dr. Lee P. Brown praised her extensive experience in drug policy and criminal justice.
Community
- Terry and the Pirates Cartoon Called Racist, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Asian American Network of Indiana has demanded the withdrawal of the revived Terry and the Pirates comic strip, calling its depiction of the Dragon Lady character anti-Asian, racist and sexist. Tribune Media Services said it had removed racist caricatures from the strip, which appears in major newspapers nationwide.
- Chapter Protests Haldeman Belief in WWII Nikkei Spies, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Members of the Contra Costa Chapter JACL protested a public television program in which H.R. Haldeman claimed Nikkei farmers spied for Japan during WWII. KQED’s program manager acknowledged the statement was erroneous and said it would be deleted if the series is rebroadcast.
- Personally Speaking: Tribute and Community Honors, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Grayce Kaneda Uyehara received Japan’s Order of the Sacred Treasure for her contributions to the Japanese American community, while several Boy Scouts earned Eagle Scout awards and students won national science competitions. The column also honors Jeffrey Matsui for his work with Koreisha Chushoku-Kai and other community members recognized for professional and civic achievements.
JACL
- PSW District Votes to Support Yasuhara, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. The Pacific Southwest District Council unanimously voted to support JACL National President Denny Yasuhara and the National Board following calls for peace and reconciliation within JACL. The resolution commended the ‘olive branch’ peace proposal presented at the Reno tri-district conference by Trisha Murakawa on behalf of several JACL leaders.
- PSW Fundraiser Earns $61,550, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Phyllis Murakawa, chair of the PSW fundraising dinner, reported preliminary earnings of $61,550, with half designated for National JACL. PSW also announced plans for leadership training sessions in August led by J.D. Hokoyama of LEAP.
- Results of Questionnaire, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Wayne Nagata reported survey results from 150 people at the PSW membership booth showing top interests in JACL benefits, activities and programs. The Pacific Citizen, JACL scholarships and cultural events ranked as top draws, along with civil rights programs.
- Completion Phase of Legacy Fund Set, by P.C. Staff, page 5. With the Legacy Fund campaign ending this year, chair Grayce Uyehara reported plans to the National Board to recognize donors through a registry and donor wall at JACL headquarters. The National Board approved a 1995 budget of $22,000 for the campaign, which has received over $4.6 million in contributions.
- JACL National Board Meeting, May 6-7, 1995: Summary of Motions, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The JACL National Board approved numerous motions including support for a congressional hearing on Capt. Wang’s case, opposition to H.R. 1214 welfare reform, and reaffirmation of support for affirmative action. The board also addressed personnel matters, the Legacy Fund budget, and search for a PSW Regional Director.
- Pacific Citizen Editorial Guidelines, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The JACL National Board reviewed and approved comprehensive editorial guidelines for Pacific Citizen at its May 1995 meeting, outlining objectives, responsibilities, and technical standards for the publication. The guidelines address accuracy, integrity, ethics, and specific submission requirements for news articles, letters, and other content.
Incarceration & Redress
- Honolulu Evacuees Eligible for Redress, by P.C. Staff, page 1. After an earlier rejection, 91 Japanese Americans evacuated from the Iwilei area of Honolulu during WWII are now eligible for redress following a Justice Department reversal. The Honolulu Chapter JACL and pro bono attorneys fought for years to secure the decision.
Commentary
- O.J.’s Legal Pad Publisher: It’s Not Racism, It’s Humor, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Responding to JACL protests over racist caricatures of Judge Lance Ito, Villard Books publisher David Rosenthal defended the parody book as satire protected by First Amendment rights. JACL President Denny Yasuhara countered that the depictions crossed the line into racist stereotyping reminiscent of WWII propaganda.
- Internment Exaggerations, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa criticizes Japanese Americans who exaggerate or fabricate personal memories of WWII internment camp hardships, arguing such embellishments give ammunition to revisionists who claim internment was benign. He urges accuracy in recounting the internment experience since the truth is powerful enough without exaggeration.
- ‘Dirt Cheap’, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Marutani reminisces about his youth on a farm where Issei pea farmers were paid mere fractions of a cent per pound, contrasting this with the modern cost of potting soil. He explores the etymology and definitions of the Japanese unit ‘rin’ used in the old pricing.
- Offended by Racism of ‘Legal Pad’ Sketches, by Senior Librarian, Japanese American WWII Electronic Library, page 8. A letter writer, an African American associated with the Japanese American WWII Electronic Library and defense witness for O.J. Simpson, apologizes for the racist caricatures of Japanese Americans in ‘O.J.’s Legal Pad’ and demands the publication’s removal. The writer argues such imagery reflects societal failure to move beyond offensive stereotypes.
- More Thoughts on Draft Protestors, by Fred Hirasuna, page 8. The letter writer responds to a PSWDC resolution apologizing to WWII draft resisters, arguing that while resisters who acted on constitutional principle deserve respect, JACL’s wartime cooperation decisions were made in good faith to protect the community. The writer contends military volunteers who served despite rights violations showed even greater courage and cautions against judging historical JACL decisions with hindsight.
- Reader Says JACL Is at Crossroads, by Ventura County Chapter, JACL President, page 9. The writer reflects on JACL’s founding in 1929 and questions whether the organization’s original driving motivation still applies in 1995. The letter calls for a new leader with the dedication to guide JACL into the future as previous generations did during incarceration and redress struggles.
In-Depth
- Peru Nikkei to Host PANA Convention July 5-9, by Harry K. Honda, page 7. Lima, Peru’s Japanese community is preparing to host the second Pan American Nikkei Association convention, expecting about 700 attendees from across the Americas. The five-day program includes forums on Nikkei identity, workshops, cultural seminars, and various social and recreational activities.
- About Used Books, by Harry K. Honda, page 9. Honda shares anecdotes about the rediscovery and value of used Japanese American history books, including a personally inscribed copy found by Dr. Homer Yasui and stories about collector Steve G. Doi’s efforts to preserve JA cultural materials. The piece highlights how camp yearbooks and prewar Nihongo materials have become rare and valuable historical artifacts.
Sports
- U.S. Team Competes in Feb. 9-12 Nikkei Lima, Peru, Sports Event, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A five-member U.S. team returned from the 14th Nikkei International Sports Festival in Lima, Peru with three medals including a gold won by judoist Jason Uno. Brazil swept the championship and will host the 1998 festival, which drew about 400 participants from seven countries.
Arts & Entertainment
- Books: Military History, Philosophy, Poetry, Children’s and Fiction Reviews, by Harry K. Honda, page 9. Honda reviews several new books including ‘Spy Catchers of the U.S. Army’ about Nisei intelligence officers, ‘Zen Speaks’ cartoon adaptations of koans, and various children’s books and novels touching on Japanese American and Asian themes. Reviews cover military history, poetry, and fiction including ‘The Frontiers of Love’ and ‘The Vanishing Sands.’
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