Vol. 133, No. 3, August 3, 2001. 8 pages. View this issue
A forum in Los Angeles that compared the World War II experiences of Italian Americans and Japanese Americans led the front page, with reporting by Martha Nakagawa on remarks from Lawrence DiStasi, Dr. Gloria Ricci Lothrop and Lloyd Inui. Also on page one were an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in the Kato redress case under the Civil Liberties Act, and Tracy Uba’s report from the 2001 JACL National Youth/Student Conference in Seattle, with a column by Floyd Mori on tomorrow’s leaders.
Inside are two letters on the future of JACL and the Japanese American community, and Harry Honda’s review of new books touching on Topaz. A call to fund the Minidoka monument’s management plan, Brian Niiya’s column on Ichiro Suzuki, and notices for the SALUTE 2001 veterans event and the PSW awards dinner with Norman Mineta fill out the eight pages.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Discovering Similarities Between Italian American and JA WWII Experiences, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. A forum at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles compared the WWII experiences of Japanese Americans and Italian Americans, featuring speakers Lawrence DiStasi, Dr. Gloria Ricci Lothrop, and Lloyd Inui. Panelists discussed why Italian Americans avoided mass incarceration, citing FDR’s political need for their votes and their large numbers serving in the Army.
- Action Needed to Preserve Minidoka Internment National Monument, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Community members are urged to contact Congress to include $529,000 in funding for the Minidoka Internment National Monument’s management plan in the FY2002 Interior Appropriations Act. Despite designation as a national monument, the site risks continued disintegration without proper funding.
- APAs in the News, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This roundup covers appointments and announcements including Roger Chiang’s new role at the DNC, Matt Fong’s withdrawal from Under Secretary of the Army nomination, Lisa Hasegawa’s appointment as executive director of National CAPACD, and other notable achievements by Asian Pacific Americans including Glenn Kumekawa, Steven D. Ling, and Judge Sandra Otaka.
- Diablo Valley Chapter Hosts Annual Scholarship Luncheon, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Diablo Valley JACL held its annual scholarship luncheon at Tony Roma’s Restaurant in Danville, awarding scholarships to several local students including PK Fonsworth, Kenta Nakamura, Kazuyo Sanford, and Kimberly Yumi Takemoto. The recipients are heading to institutions including UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Samuel Merritt College.
- Vietnam Veterans Highway Dedicated, by Martha Nakagawa, page 7. Nearly 50 people gathered at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Hawthorne Boulevard in Torrance, California, to dedicate a new sign honoring Vietnam veterans. The event included California officials and veterans’ organization leaders.
National
- Human Rights Attorneys Seek U.S. Supreme Court Review of Redress Case, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Attorneys Dale Minami, Eric K. Yamamoto, and Natsu Taylor Saito filed a brief seeking Supreme Court review of Kato v. United States, involving Japanese ancestry internees denied hearings during WWII. The case includes Douglas Sadao Kato, Jane Yano, and the Ogura family, none of whom have received apology or compensation under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
- Students Say They Were Targeted Because of Race, by Associated Press, page 1. Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske apologized to a group of Asian American students who say they were racially profiled and stopped for jaywalking. The students, part of a youth leadership program, plan further action, alleging an illegal and unconstitutional stop by an officer who cited concerns for Japanese tourists’ safety.
- Wen Ho Lee Book Undergoes Government Review, by Associated Press, page 3. The autobiography of Wen Ho Lee, the Los Alamos scientist imprisoned for nine months over mishandling nuclear data, is undergoing government review before publication. Co-authored with Helen Zia, the book titled ‘My Country Versus Me’ tells Lee’s story from his Taiwan childhood through his arrest and controversial treatment in custody.
- National Newsbytes, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 3. This roundup covers Conan O’Brien apologizing for a racial epithet used on his show, the beating death of a Laotian man in New Hampshire under investigation as a hate crime, a Spokane man facing 25 years for sexually assaulting Japanese students, and the ‘Code Red’ worm defacing websites with anti-Chinese messages. Multiple incidents highlight ongoing racial tensions and cybersecurity threats affecting Asian communities.
JACL
- 2001 JACL Youth Conference Highlights Nikkei Community Beyond California, by Tracy Uba, page 1. The 2001 JACL National Youth/Student Conference in Seattle drew over 115 Nikkei attendees from across the country, emphasizing diversity beyond California with a large Utah contingent. The event, themed around leadership, identity and unity, featured workshops, speakers including Washington state representatives, and remarks from JACL leaders praising the youth’s initiative.
- Gen. Shinseki to Speak at ‘SALUTE 2001’ Event, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The SALUTE 2001 All-Nikkei Veterans and Family Event in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo will feature Gen. Eric Shinseki at an Aug. 4 luncheon alongside Sen. Daniel Inouye and Secretary Anthony Principi. The event coincides with Nisei Week and includes a Japanese American National Museum exhibit honoring 24 Medal of Honor recipients.
- Plans Underway for 50th Anniversary of JACL Jr. Olympics, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A committee chaired by Steve Okamoto is planning the 50th anniversary celebration of the JACL Junior Olympics in 2002, an event started in 1953 by the San Francisco chapter. Organizers are seeking former participants and donations to honor the milestone.
- Norman Mineta to Keynote 2001 PSW Awards Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 4. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta will keynote the JACL Pacific Southwest District awards dinner on Sept. 22 in Torrance. The event will honor several community figures including Sue Kunitomi Embry and Fred Y. Hoshiyama, with proceeds supporting youth leadership development.
- Youth Workshops Include HIV/AIDS Awareness and Tackling APA Stereotypes, by Tracy Uba, page 5. At the 2001 JACL National Youth/Student Conference, workshops covered topics including HIV/AIDS awareness within the APA community and overcoming decades-old racial stereotypes. Speakers discussed barriers to health education and the persistence of stereotypical media images of Asian Americans since the 1960s.
- Our Dynamic Community, by Ryan Ogren, page 8. A JACL board member outlines the organization’s support for legislation covering prescription drugs under Medicare, framing it as part of JACL’s broader commitment to combating discrimination in all forms, including age. The column provides instructions for members to contact their legislators via the JACL website.
Commentary
- Tomorrow’s Leaders, by Floyd Mori, page 1. JACL National President Floyd Mori reflects on attending bi- and tri-district conferences featuring a mix of generations and past national presidents. He praises the youth’s effort in organizing the national youth conference and their capability to lead without older members’ oversight.
- The Future of the JA Community, by Ed Sugino, page 2. A letter writer discusses the declining Japanese American population due to low immigration, low birthrates, and intermarriage, raising concerns for JACL’s future. He notes the disappearance of Nikkei institutions and newspapers and predicts the eventual fading of Japantowns and Nikkei organizations.
- Differences Shouldn’t Weaken JACL, by Tor Miyoshi, page 2. A letter writer reflects on the lasting divisions within the Japanese American community stemming from wartime choices, recalling a former classmate who was a ‘no-no boy’ killed in Korea. He urges the community not to let past differences weaken JACL as a civil rights organization responsible to future generations.
- Ichiro and Us, by Brian Niiya, page 6. Columnist Brian Niiya examines media conflation of ‘Japanese’ and ‘Japanese American’ identities in coverage of baseball star Ichiro Suzuki, drawing parallels to earlier coverage of Hideo Nomo. He contrasts this with the lack of similar attention paid to Japanese American athletes like Paul Kariya and Johnnie Morton, questioning assumptions about racial and national identity in sports journalism.
In-Depth
- A Summer Trip: Vacaville, Aratani, Lordsburg, Topaz, by Harry Honda, page 6. Harry Honda reviews several new books including ‘Omo i de: Memories of Vacaville’s Lost Japanese Community’ documenting an early Japanese labor camp, a biography of George Aratani, a booklet on the Lordsburg internment camp for Japanese nationals, and an anthology of Nisei women’s wartime writings titled ‘From Our Side of the Fence.’
Obituaries
- Death Notice: Hanako Heyano, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Hanako Heyano, 76, of Chicago passed away July 24 after being interned at Gila River, Arizona during World War II. She is survived by her sisters Sets Ando and Shigeru Heyano’s wife, along with several nephews.
Arts & Entertainment
- Ono and Furutani to Speak at Singles Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 8. David Ono and Warren Furutani will be featured speakers at the Ninth National JACL Singles Convention August 31-September 2 at the Torrance Marriott Hotel. Ono will discuss career success while Furutani will address passing on culture and heritage in a changing world.
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