Vol. 135, No. 8, October 18, 2002. 12 pages. View this issue
Mary Waki Kawakami, 89, and her husband Charlie, 99, both longtime JACLers, faced a bulldozer on their American Fork, Utah property, and Martha Nakagawa reported their fight to keep land they have held for over 60 years. Congress also voted to authorize force against Iraq, and every Asian Pacific American elected official voted against it. Their statements are excerpted inside. JACL Executive Director John Tateishi wrote about the organization’s financial crisis and asked members to give and recruit.
Other pages cover the 2002 JACL National Scholarship winners and excerpts from their essays on youth membership. In-depth, Rodney Kawakami, Peggy Nagae and Dale Minami wrote about the coram nobis cases of Hirabayashi, Yasui and Korematsu. BART’s board rejected Tanforan in a station name, and Harry K. Honda looked back at a series called Japan and America. This 12-page issue also carries sports and arts news.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Utah JACLer Faces Bulldozer to Save Her Property, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. Mary Waki Kawakami, 89, and her husband Charlie, 99, longtime JACLers, faced off against a bulldozer that began destroying their fence and trees without notice on their American Fork, Utah property. A developer claims clear title to the disputed land needed for a shopping mall access road, and a lawsuit has been filed as the Kawakamis fight to keep their property of over 60 years.
- Supporters Rally to Save Bowling Landmark, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Holiday Bowl, a historic multicultural gathering spot in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles that served Japanese American and African American communities since 1958, has been closed for two years amid redevelopment plans. Community members, former patrons, and preservation groups are fighting to save the bowling alley from being replaced by a Starbucks and Walgreens.
- JACL Chapter News Briefs, by P.C. Staff, page 5. News briefs cover the Arizona JACL’s teacher-training workshop on WWII internment camps, the Monterey Peninsula JACL’s help with a Maritime Museum exhibit on Japanese fishing history, and the Sawtooth chapter’s commemoration event and response to hate speech in local newspapers. Various California and national APA appointments and honors are also noted, including Wilma Chan, Judy Chu, Scott Kawasaki, Dr. Gloria Kumagai, John Liu, and John Hideki Sugiyama.
National
- APA Congressmen All Vote Against War Resolution, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Congress voted to authorize President Bush to use military force against Iraq, with the Senate passing it 77-23 and the House 296-133. Every Asian Pacific American elected official, including Sen. Akaka, Sen. Inouye, Rep. Honda, Rep. Matsui, and Rep. Wu, voted against the resolution.
- Hawaii Holding Special Election to Fill the Late Rep. Mink’s Seat, by Associated Press, page 1. Hawaii officials decided to hold a special election in November to fill the congressional seat of the late Rep. Patsy Mink for just five weeks, as required by the U.S. Constitution. Gov. Ben Cayetano defended the costly election, saying representation cannot be denied to save money.
- BART Rejects ‘Tanforan’ in Station Name, by P.C. Staff, page 3. BART’s board rejected a request by San Bruno officials to include ‘Tanforan’ in the name of a new station, despite the site’s history as a WWII assembly center holding 7,600 Japanese Americans. Some officials opposed the name due to its dark historical stigma, while others saw it as a missed educational opportunity.
- Chinatown Cultural Center Proposed, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A proposal for an Asian cultural and performing arts center modeled after Lincoln Center could be built in New York’s Chinatown at a state-owned building on Worth Street. The $50 million project aims to serve community needs and is expected to be funded largely by the Lower Manhattan Development Corp.
- Muslim Woman’s Murder May Be a Hate Crime, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Police and FBI are investigating whether the murder of Boise Muslim woman Angie Abdullah, whose house was set on fire after she was killed, was a hate crime. Her three children escaped unharmed, and investigators are also looking into recent vandalism at Boise’s Islamic Center.
- APALA Urges Community to Contact Bush to Re-nominate Igasaki to EEOC, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance is urging community members to press President Bush to re-nominate Paul Igasaki to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Igasaki, the first APA to serve at this level, remains employed at EEOC but has lost his authority as commissioner since his term ended.
- Statements from APA Representatives on War Resolution, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Excerpts from statements by Sen. Daniel Akaka, Rep. Mike Honda, and Rep. Robert Matsui explain their opposition to the Iraq war resolution, emphasizing the need for multilateral diplomatic efforts before military action. All argued that force should be a last resort after exhausting United Nations options.
Commentary
- Facing Hard Times, by John Tateishi, page 1. JACL Executive Director John Tateishi describes a serious financial crisis facing the organization, caused by declining membership revenue and investment market losses. He calls on members to support the annual giving campaign and recruit new members to secure JACL’s long-term fiscal health.
- An Unhealthy Atmosphere, by Potsumi Ozaki, page 2. A letter to the editor criticizes President Bush’s accusation that the Senate was uninterested in American security, arguing this fosters an unhealthy climate of mistrust. The writer questions whether Asian Americans will need to demonstrate exaggerated patriotism to avoid suspicion.
- An Edifying Series Uncovered: ‘Japan and America’, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Harry Honda reflects on a collection of Asahi Evening News tearsheets from 1971-72 given to him by the late Dave Hoshimiya, covering topics like Japanology scholarship, the 1949 Japanese swim team’s triumphant visit to Los Angeles, and American ignorance about Japan. The columns illustrate the complexity of U.S.-Japan relations through decades of reporting on cultural and political misunderstanding.
JACL
- Scholarship Recipients, by Ryan Chin, V.P. Membership, page 5. JACL’s national board is working to reconnect with past scholarship recipients who did not maintain their membership, hoping to re-engage them with the organization. A list of past winners was compiled and mailings were sent out, with plans to make this outreach effort more regular in the future.
- 2002 JACL Scholarship Winners: Freshmen and Undergraduate Divisions, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Pacific Citizen presents excerpts from winning essays of national JACL scholarship recipients in the freshman and undergraduate divisions, addressing how to encourage youth membership and involvement in JACL. Winners include students from universities such as Harvard, Brown, Stanford, UCLA and others proposing programs like youth conferences, online newspapers, cultural exchange trips, and mentorship programs.
In-Depth
- The Coram Nobis Cases, by Rodney Kawakami, Peggy Nagae, and Dale Minami, page 9. This detailed account describes the 1980s coram nobis legal proceedings that overturned the WWII convictions of Gordon Hirabayashi, Minoru Yasui, and Fred Korematsu, based on newly discovered evidence of governmental misconduct in the original Supreme Court cases. The attorneys reflect on the lessons of these landmark cases for civil rights and government accountability in times of crisis.
Obituaries
- Tooru Joe Kanazawa: Author, Journalist, WWII Veteran Passes at 95, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Author and journalist Tooru Joe Kanazawa, who wrote ‘Sushi and Sourdough’ and ‘Close Support,’ passed away in Malibu at age 95. He served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team’s Cannon Company during WWII, earning a Bronze Star, after his family was interned and his brother died in a Department of Justice camp.
Sports
- Bonds Ball Dispute Headed for Trial After Mediation Fails, by P.C. Staff, page 12. A mediation attempt failed in the legal dispute over Barry Bonds’ 73rd home run ball, sending the case between Alex Popov and Patrick Hayashi to trial. Both men claim ownership of the historic ball, which remains held in a safety deposit box under court order.
- JA Sports Hall of Fame to Be Inaugurated, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California will inaugurate the Japanese American Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 2 at Pacific Bell Park, honoring five inaugural inductees including Kristi Yamaguchi, Wat Misaka, Wally Yonamine, Tommy Kono, and Ann Kiyomura Hayashi. The event will also present Community Sport Hero Awards and raise funds for the JCCCNC’s Nikkei Youth Sports Scholarship fund.
Arts & Entertainment
- Producers Guild to Honor Lee, by P.C. Staff, page 12. The Producers Guild of America announced a ‘Celebration of Diversity’ event in Beverly Hills honoring filmmakers including director Ang Lee, known for ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ and other acclaimed films. Other honorees include Danny Glover, Moctezuma Esparza, Marian Rees, and the producers of ‘Six Feet Under.’
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