Activism and backlash fears as the Iraq war began

Vol. 136, No. 6, April 4, 2003. 12 pages. View this issue

The start of the Iraq war shaped much of this 12-page issue. Caroline Aoyagi profiled Yuri Kochiyama, 81, who spoke to a capacity crowd at Pomona College about decades of civil rights work and her opposition to the war. Martha Nakagawa reported on community and law enforcement leaders in Southern California who backed a Homeland Security Pledge to head off a backlash against Arab and Muslim Americans. JACL Executive Director John Tateishi urged chapters to help targeted communities, drawing on the Japanese American experience of World War II incarceration (often called internment).

Elsewhere, Bill Hosokawa wrote about Rep. Mike Honda’s resolution to mark Feb. 19 as a National Day of Remembrance for Executive Order 9066, and Ei Sayama questioned the story of the 442nd RCT as an all-volunteer unit. Readers will also find news of the Go for Broke Monument name engravings in Little Tokyo, scholarship notices, sports, and book reviews including a memoir of Poston.

What’s in this issue

National

• Political Activist Yuri Kochiyama Still Going Strong at 81, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. At 81, longtime civil rights leader Yuri Kochiyama spoke to a capacity crowd at Pomona College about her decades of activism and her staunch opposition to the Iraq war. She reflected on her time in a WWII concentration camp, her friendship with Malcolm X, and urged Japanese Americans to support Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities facing discrimination today.
• Community Groups and Law Enforcement Agencies Back Homeland Security Pledge, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. Southern California community leaders, law enforcement officials and religious leaders joined together to support a Homeland Security Pledge aimed at preventing a backlash against Arab and Muslim Americans during the Iraq war. Speakers including Sikh, Muslim and South Asian community members shared personal accounts of harassment and hate incidents since 9/11 and called for solidarity and understanding.
• APA Lawyers Denounce Law Firm’s Racial Mockery, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association denounced law firm Dewey Ballantine after a racially offensive song mocking Asians was performed at the firm’s annual dinner. NAPABA is working with the firm’s New York affiliate to address the incident and improve racial sensitivity among the firm’s lawyers.
• California Gov. Davis Announces Hate Crime Prevention Guide, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Gov. Gray Davis met with Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and community leaders to announce a new publication, “Responding to Hate,” aimed at helping organizations assist hate crime victims. The guide outlines California’s Ralph Civil Rights Act protections and available remedies for victims of hate violence.
• APA Groups Urge Anti-backlash Support for Arab, Muslim Communities, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center urged support for Arab and Muslim American communities amid fears of a wartime backlash. JACL Executive Director John Tateishi directed chapters to proactively assist targeted communities and draw parallels to the Japanese American internment experience.
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. A roundup of national news briefs covers a hate crime case against a Brooklyn family who attacked Chinese American women, the induction of the late Rep. Patsy Mink into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and census data showing persistent income disparities between whites and minorities. Other items include Korean American business growth in Miami, a $3.5 million discrimination verdict for an LAPD officer, and Muslim community preparations for wartime backlash.
• Kochiyama (Continued), by Caroline Aoyagi, page 6. This continuation of the Kochiyama profile details her belief that the U.S. follows a pattern of demonizing enemies to justify wars, and her deep admiration for Malcolm X, whom she considered the most principled leader she ever knew. She recounts being present when Malcolm X was assassinated and reflects on lessons learned from her family’s WWII incarceration.
• Pledge (Continued): Community Leaders Sign Homeland Security Pledge, by Martha Nakagawa, page 6. This continuation covers additional testimonies from Sikh, Muslim and South Asian community members about hate crimes and harassment faced since 9/11 and during the Iraq war. Leaders called for religious calm, media sensitivity, and unity to prevent further backlash against these communities.

Commentary

• Spring Campaign: Why the Pacific Citizen Matters, by Ann Fujii Lindwall, page 1. A longtime community journalist and volunteer argues that the Pacific Citizen serves as a vital voice for the Japanese American community at local, regional and national levels. She cites ongoing projects like the Bainbridge Island Memorial and Minidoka Park as examples of work that depends on the paper’s continued existence.
• A Lousy Deal, by Ei Sayama, page 2. A veteran challenges the common narrative that the 442nd RCT was an all-volunteer unit, noting that a majority were draftees and citing high mortality rates among Nisei soldiers. He questions whether the sacrifice made through the 442nd RCT was truly worth it, calling the arrangement a “cynical and draconian contract.”
• Double Standard, by Aiko Uyeki, page 2. A letter writer points out that recent American spies caught by the government have all been white males, yet there is no call to intern all white men as a preventive measure. The writer questions the double standard applied to Japanese Americans during WWII compared to how white wrongdoing is treated today.
• Re: Mori Memo, by Unita, Riverside Chapter, page 2. A JACL member praises national president Floyd Mori’s leadership and his widely circulated ‘Mori Memo,’ calling it an effective recruiting tool for the organization. The writer urges JACL members to use the memo to attract both potential and former members during difficult financial times.
• Moralistic vs. Humanistic Perspective, by George Fukuda, Ph.D., page 2. A researcher describes a study examining how family upbringing influenced Nisei responses to WWII military service, comparing veterans and draft resisters. He found that veterans were raised in more authoritarian family structures while resisters came from more democratic households, suggesting a humanistic rather than moralistic framework could help reconcile the two factions.
• Hate Crimes, by Michael Matsuda, page 2. The writer condemns the racially motivated attack on an Arab American teenager in Yorba Linda as reflecting society’s tendency to demonize perceived enemies during wartime. He calls for proactive community outreach and partnerships between law enforcement, schools and organizations like CAIR to prevent further hate violence.
• Moats Around the Castle, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Marutani discusses the history of Japanese Americans reaching flag rank in the military, noting that Hawaii produced far more such officers than the mainland. He traces the historical barriers of racial exclusion that limited Nikkei military service and commissions, arguing that while progress has been made, full acceptance remains incomplete.
• Sweet and Sour — Our Aging Veterans Organizations, by Calvin Ninomiya, page 8. Ninomiya reflects on the declining membership of Japanese American veterans organizations as WWII veterans age, noting 68 such groups nationwide are struggling to survive. He honors the pride and legacy of these veterans while acknowledging their organizations are nearing the end of their existence.
• A Sad but Good Day to Remember, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa writes about Rep. Mike Honda’s resolution to designate Feb. 19 as a National Day of Remembrance for Executive Order 9066. He reflects on the pre-war discrimination faced by Japanese Americans and how far the community has come since internment, calling Feb. 19 both a sad and important day to remember.
• Fujii Lindwall (Continued): Spring Campaign, by Ann Fujii Lindwall, page 9. This continuation discusses Pacific Northwest community projects including the Minidoka monument and Bainbridge Island Japanese American Memorial, urging public input on their development. It also highlights recent JACL activism supporting detained immigrant families and airport workers facing discrimination.
• Long-term Care Answer Corner, by Karl Kim, page 11. Karl Kim answers reader questions about redress payment verification, Medi-Cal eligibility rules regarding redress funds, Medicare skilled nursing coverage, and asset transfer strategies to qualify for long-term care benefits. He clarifies common misconceptions about the look-back period and exemptions for Japanese American redress payments.

JACL

• JACL National and Honolulu Chapter Testify in Support of Native Hawaiian Bill, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL’s national organization and Honolulu chapter submitted testimony to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee supporting S. 344, legislation backing Native Hawaiian self-determination. The JACL has supported Native Hawaiian rights through multiple resolutions at national conventions since 1984.
• 442nd RCT to Hold 60th Anniversary Reunion April 3-6, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team are gathering in Honolulu for their 60th Anniversary Reunion, expecting over 1,500 attendees. The event includes a memorial service at Punchbowl, chapter activities, film screenings, and a banquet honoring Sen. Daniel Inouye and Sen. Daniel Akaka.

Community

• APIHR Launches Search for API Gay and Lesbian Spokespeople, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Asian Pacific Islanders for Human Rights announced a California-wide search for seven API LGBTIQ spokespeople for an anti-homophobia campaign launching in June 2003. The campaign will feature advertisements in seven Asian languages targeting both metropolitan and rural areas of California.
• JANM Unveils National Center for Democracy, by P.C. Staff, page 3. U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye spoke at the groundbreaking of the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in Little Tokyo. The center, set to open in fall 2004, will teach educators and students about democracy, freedom and diversity within the former Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple.
• April 18 Deadline for Name Engravings on Go For Broke Monument, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Family members of WWII veterans have until April 18 to submit names for engraving on the Go for Broke Monument’s In Our Heroes’ Footsteps in Little Tokyo. The engravings will be unveiled at the monument’s 4th Anniversary Tribute on June 14.
• MAVIN to Hold National Conference on Mixed Race Experience, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The MAVIN Foundation is sponsoring the 2003 National Conference on the Mixed Race Experience at Seattle University, marking its first time on the West Coast. The conference features tracks for students and for parents/professionals, along with speakers, workshops and a gala dinner.
• Greater L.A. Singles Chapter Announces Hana Uno Memorial Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Greater L.A. Singles JACL is again offering the $1,000 Hana Uno Memorial Scholarship for college-bound seniors of Japanese descent from single-parent families. The scholarship, established in 1992, honors Hana Uno Shepard, a longtime JACL member active in the redress movement.
• East Bay Nikkei Singles Offering Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 5. East Bay Nikkei Singles is offering a $500 scholarship for graduating high school students from single-parent Nikkei families in Northern California. The application deadline is April 15.
• California Supreme Court Justice Chin to Speak at Asian American Studies Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 9. California Supreme Court Justice Ming W. Chin will deliver the keynote address at a joint conference of NAAPAE and CTA-PAAC in Long Beach. Chin, a Vietnam veteran and former Alameda County Bar Association president, will speak at the conference banquet on April 4.

Arts & Entertainment

• ‘Spirited Away’ Director Says Oscar Win Tempered by World Events, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. Hayao Miyazaki, director of the Oscar-winning animated film “Spirited Away,” expressed muted joy over his win due to concerns about the ongoing war in Iraq. The film, which became Japan’s highest-grossing movie, tells the story of a girl trapped in a spirit world who must save her parents.
• East West Players Releases CD of Songs From ‘Manzanar’, by P.C. Staff, page 7. East West Players recorded a soundtrack from their original musical “Manzanar: Story of an American Family,” which will be distributed to California public libraries as an educational resource on Japanese American internment. The musical follows the Shimada family’s experience from Pearl Harbor through their relocation to Manzanar.
• Book Reviews: Geisha, Japanese Toys, Poston Camp, Five-Fold Happiness, by P.C. Staff, page 12. This roundup reviews several new books including Mineko Iwasaki’s memoir “Geisha: A Life,” a campy look at Japanese toy monsters in “So Crazy Japanese Toys!,” Jack Matsuoka’s revised illustrated memoir of Poston internment camp, and Vivien Sung’s exploration of Chinese cultural symbols in “Five-Fold Happiness.” Each book offers unique insight into Japanese and Chinese culture and history.

Sports

• Royals Acquire Agbayani From Reds, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. The Kansas City Royals purchased the contract of outfielder Benny Agbayani from the Cincinnati Reds, assigning him to their Triple-A club in Omaha. Agbayani, a former Hawaii Pacific University star, has played parts of four major league seasons with the Mets, Rockies and Red Sox.
• Baseball Cancels Season-Opening Series in Japan, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. Major League Baseball canceled the Seattle Mariners-Oakland Athletics season-opening series scheduled for Tokyo due to the outbreak of the Iraq war. Players including Kazuhiro Sasaki and Ichiro Suzuki expressed disappointment, as the games were rescheduled for Oakland instead.
• Wie Comes in Ninth at Kraft Nabisco Championship, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 7. Thirteen-year-old golf phenom Michelle Wie finished tied for ninth at the Kraft Nabisco Championship after an impressive third-round 66 put her in the final group. Patricia Meunier-Lebouc ultimately won the tournament, denying Annika Sorenstam a third consecutive title.
• Georgia Girl Wins in Southern State Qualifying Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Ten-year-old Brigid Mary K. McDonnell of Atlanta won the girls 10 & under 200 individual medley at the Southeast Section Southern Zone Age Group Championships. She is also the state champion in the 50 and 100 breaststroke and is the granddaughter of longtime San Diego JACL members.

Obituaries

• Death Notice: Bessie Nakashima James, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Bessie Nakashima James, 80, of Garden Grove, passed away March 9. Born in Long Beach and interned in Jerome, Ark., she is survived by her daughter, grandsons, siblings and many nieces and nephews.
• Death Notice: Angela Nakashima Kato, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Angela Nakashima Kato, 81, of Long Beach, passed away March 20. Born in Long Beach and interned in Jerome, Ark., she is survived by her sister, brother and many nieces and nephews.

In-Depth

• Nisei in Nebraska, by P.C. Staff, page 12. A new publication by Andrew B. Wertheimer documents the admission of more than 100 Nisei students to the University of Nebraska during WWII, one of the few universities to accept them during that era. The article includes historical photos and profiles war hero Ben Kuroki, a Nebraska-born Nisei turret gunner.

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