Resisters ceremony debate and the 60th anniversary of the removal orders

Vol. 134, No. 6, April 5, 2002. 12 pages. View this issue

A dispute over the JACL’s planned ceremony for World War II draft resisters ran through this issue. Letters from T. Tanaka and others took sides, JACL National President Floyd Mori explained the National Council’s vote at the 2000 Monterey convention, and Sus Satow questioned how the resisters have been portrayed. On the front page, more than 50 Democrats condemned Ann Coulter’s column about Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, and Bainbridge Island dedicated a marker for the 60th anniversary of Civilian Exclusion Order No. 1.

Other pages carry a report on hate crimes against Asian Pacific Americans after Sept. 11 and Bill Marutani’s column on profiling. The Manzanar Pilgrimage notice marks the 60th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, and Ryan Chin previews the Las Vegas convention keynote. Little Tokyo’s restored Far East Building, Michelle Kwan’s silver at the World Figure Skating Championships, and an obituary for Fred Okrand also appear.

What’s in this issue

National

• Japanese Scholar Looks for Nikkei Who Served in Japanese Army During WWII, by Martha Nakagawa and Harry K. Honda, page 1. Hiroshi Kadoike, a Japanese researcher, resigned his corporate presidency to study Nisei who served in the Japanese Imperial military during WWII after reading books about their experiences. He traveled to California to interview Nisei veterans like Frank Hirata and gather their untold stories for his research at Nagoya City University.
• Democrats Show Support For Secretary Mineta After Columnist Coulter’s Lashing, by P.C. Staff, page 1. More than 50 Democrats publicly condemned conservative columnist Ann Coulter after she blamed Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta for the Sept. 11 attacks and mocked his WWII internment experience. Lawmakers, led by Rep. Anna Eshoo, called on the White House to denounce Coulter’s column, while civil rights groups including JACL also criticized the piece.
• Professor to Call Off Asian Boycott of Nuclear Labs Over Wen Ho Lee Case, by Associated Press, page 1. Ling-Chi Wang, who organized a boycott urging Asian Americans not to apply to U.S. nuclear weapons labs after Wen Ho Lee’s firing, said he’s ready to end the protest if promised workplace changes are finalized. The Los Alamos, Livermore and Sandia labs submitted a plan to address hiring and promotion discrimination affecting Asian American employees.
• First Bainbridge Island Evacuees Honored, by Associated Press, page 1. Bainbridge Island residents dedicated a granite marker commemorating the 60th anniversary of Civilian Exclusion Order No. 1, the first forced removal of Japanese Americans during WWII. Survivor Frank Kitamoto and community members are working to build a larger memorial at the historic ferry landing site called ‘Nidoto Nai Yoni.’
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff, page 3. This roundup covers several national stories including a Denver college mascot controversy, birth of rare identical quadruplets, arrest of three teens for a hate crime assault against an Asian American store manager in Huntington Beach, and a Korean American’s lawsuit against a Japanese cement company over WWII slave labor. It also reports on Kamato Hongo of Japan becoming the world’s oldest living person at 114.
• Report Finds Post 9-11 Spike in Hate Crimes Against APAs, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium report documented nearly 250 bias-motivated incidents against Asian Pacific Americans, including two murders, in the three months following Sept. 11, a sharp increase from typical annual rates. The report recommends federal incentives for law enforcement diversity training and better hate crime data collection.

Commentary

• Re: 18 Nisei VFW Posts, by T. Tanaka, page 2. A letter writer harshly criticizes the Sacramento VFW Post and 18 other Nisei VFW posts for their campaign against honoring draft resisters, accusing them of misleading the public about Nisei KIAs and unfairly attacking former community members. The writer argues many resisters had legitimate reasons for their actions and calls for an end to the divisive dispute.
• Stop the Spin, page 2. The writer uses an analogy of two groups seeing a pencil differently to describe the ongoing controversy over the resisters ceremony, illustrating how both sides see only their own version of truth. The letter calls for all parties to stop arguing and move forward respectfully.
• Grateful to Be an American, page 2. The writer reflects on how Nisei loyalty during WWII, including sacrifices by family members who served in the Army, MIS, and as nurses, shaped his gratitude for being American. He suggests that had Nisei acted like the resisters, the outcome for Japanese Americans could have been very different.
• Managing Our Money, page 2. A JACL member raises concerns about the organization’s recent dues increase amid declining investment income, noting that JACL’s fund value has dropped 30 percent in recent years. The writer questions why the financial advisor is using only one money manager instead of diversifying across multiple managers to better protect JACL’s funds.
• Us Against Them, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Bill Marutani reflects on post-9/11 profiling by comparing it to the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans, describing his own experience of discriminatory treatment at a border checkpoint. He argues that profiling based on presumed guilt of an entire ethnic group violates fundamental principles of equal protection under the law.
• The Main Attraction, by Ryan Chin, V.P. Public Affairs, page 8. Ryan Chin previews civil rights attorney Morris Dees as keynote speaker for the JACL convention’s Sayonara Banquet, detailing Dees’ history founding the Southern Poverty Law Center and winning massive judgments against hate groups like the KKK. Despite facing assassination threats, Dees continues his civil rights work and agreed to speak at the JACL convention.
• Just Call Me H-APA, by Kristine Minami, Wash. D.C. Rep, page 8. Kristine Minami explores her complex relationship with the term ‘Hapa,’ a Hawaiian word describing mixed-race individuals, despite having no cultural connection to Hawaii herself. She ultimately coins her own term ‘H-APA’ (Half-Asian Pacific American) to better reflect her identity as a biracial Yonsei raised on the East Coast.
• Who Are the Resisters of Conscience?, by Sus Satow, page 9. Veteran Sus Satow challenges the portrayal of WWII draft resisters as principled figures, arguing that some resisters intimidated and harassed Nisei who volunteered for military service and that Fair Play Committee leadership included questionable figures. He criticizes JACL’s decision to honor resisters and calls instead for recognition of the 830 Nisei killed in action and 20 Medal of Honor recipients.

JACL

• Moving Onward, by Floyd Mori, JACL National President, page 2. JACL National President Floyd Mori addresses veteran concerns about the upcoming Resisters Ceremony, explaining that the JACL National Council voted by wide majority at the 2000 Monterey convention to hold the ceremony honoring draft resisters. He asks veterans disappointed by the decision to remain in JACL and support the organization’s future work despite disagreements over this issue.
• JACL Credit Union Building Named After Shigeki ‘Shake’ Ushio, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The JACL Credit Union renamed its Salt Lake City building to honor Shigeki ‘Shake’ Ushio for his 53 years of board service, including 42 years as board chairman. Ushio was instrumental in establishing the credit union during WWII when Japanese Americans faced restricted access to banking services.
• Medal of Honor Recipient Ted Tanouye Exhibit Unveiled at Torrance Historical Society Museum, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The city of Torrance honored posthumous Medal of Honor recipient Tech. Sgt. Ted Tanouye with a permanent display at the Torrance Historical Society Museum, recognizing his service with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Tanouye’s brother Isao attended the unveiling ceremony alongside city officials and Go For Broke Educational Foundation representatives.
• 2002 Min Yasui Oratorical Competition to Be Held June 28 in Las Vegas, by P.C. Staff, page 5. JACL will present the 2002 Min Yasui Oratorical Competition at the 37th Biennial National JACL Convention, with contestants addressing JACL’s future role amid changing community dynamics. The competition honors Min Yasui, who challenged wartime curfew laws and later led JACL’s redress efforts.
• Manzanar Pilgrimage to Honor Heart Mountain and Rohwer Camps, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The 33rd annual Manzanar Pilgrimage on April 27 will honor internees from Heart Mountain and Rohwer relocation camps while marking the 60th anniversary of Executive Order 9066. A groundbreaking celebration for the Manzanar Interpretive Center will precede the pilgrimage on April 26.

Community

• APAs in the News: Awards, Appointments, Announcements, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Rear Admiral Kenneth P. Moritsugu was named Acting Surgeon General following Dr. David Satcher’s departure, having previously served as deputy and assistant surgeon general. Judge Raymond Uno was honored by the Utah Judicial Council for his service as a senior judge and continues his community leadership as chair of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Reunion VIII.
• Florin JACL Holds ‘Time of Remembrance’, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Nearly 300 people attended Florin JACL’s annual Time of Remembrance program, where JACL Executive Director John Tateishi highlighted how the redress movement shaped America’s response to post-9/11 discrimination against Arab, Muslim and Sikh communities. The event included a candle-lighting ceremony and outstanding citizen awards to local civil rights leaders.
• Little Tokyo Building Restored, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A celebration marked the restoration of the historic Far East Building in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo, which housed the Far East Café that served Japanese Americans returning from internment camps after WWII. Family members including Sue Mar shared memories of the eatery’s role in the community during Nisei Week festivities.
• 2002 Marin Chapter Board Installed, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Kenji Treanor was installed as the new president of the Marin JACL chapter at a dinner in Sausalito, with Ebrahim Nana of the Islamic Center of Mill Valley serving as guest speaker. The new board includes several officers and members-at-large who will lead chapter activities for 2002.

Arts & Entertainment

• Uncommon Courage Documentary to Air on PBS, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The documentary ‘Uncommon Courage,’ exploring the history of Nisei who served in the U.S. Army’s Military Intelligence Service during WWII, will air nationally on PBS in May, marking the first national broadcast of the MIS story. The program received the Edward R. Murrow Award and organizers are raising $50,000 to fund the national broadcast.’
• Black Actors Reigned at Oscars, but What About Other Minorities?, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Denzel Washington and Halle Berry made Oscar history with their wins, but minority advocacy leaders say diversity must extend to Asian Americans, Hispanics and American Indians who remain underrepresented in Hollywood. Agent Chris Wang noted Asian actors still struggle to get significant roles compared to white actors.

Sports

• Kwan Settles for Second Behind Russia’s Slutskaya; Ina and Zimmerman Take Bronze in Pairs, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Michelle Kwan finished second to Russia’s Irina Slutskaya at the 2002 World Figure Skating Championships, marking her seventh consecutive medal at worlds, while Japan’s Suguri took bronze. In pairs competition, U.S. Olympians Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman won bronze, Ina’s first world championship medal in eight appearances.
• No. 2 Stanford Upset by Colorado, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. Stanford’s women’s basketball team lost 62-59 to third-seeded Colorado in the NCAA West Regional semifinal after a last-second three-point attempt by Lindsey Yamasaki missed. Yamasaki, who had an emergency appendectomy earlier in the tournament, scored 14 points in her final college game.

Obituaries

• Fred Okrand, Defender of Japanese Americans, Japanese Latin Americans, Passes at 84, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 11. Fred Okrand, longtime ACLU of Southern California legal director who defended Japanese American civil rights during WWII internment and later Japanese Latin American redress cases, died at age 84. He argued numerous cases before state and federal supreme courts and was remembered by colleagues for his courage, passion and commitment to justice for oppressed communities.

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