Patriot Act rulings, civil rights and JACL’s mission

Vol. 138, No. 2, February 6, 2004. 12 pages. View this issue

The USA Patriot Act led the news. A federal judge ruled that one section was unconstitutionally vague, a Justice Department review found no major civil rights abuses, and the Los Angeles City Council asked Congress to throw out parts of the law. Caroline Aoyagi reported on Asian American groups, including local JACL chapters, pressing a Philadelphia shop owner to drop a racial slur from his business name. Floyd Mori wrote about culture and the arts in JACL, and Al Muratsuchi argued for a new mission statement.

Also inside: a Day of Remembrance program in Los Angeles with a film on Ralph Lazo, who joined his friends at Manzanar, and a JACL teacher workshop pairing Japanese American incarceration survivors with Arab Americans. Go For Broke opened a resource center in Torrance. The sports page followed Yao Ming and Hideo Nomo, and chapter news came from the Twin Cities and Gilroy.

What’s in this issue

National

• Federal Judge Says Part of Patriot Act is Unconstitutional, Justice Department Finds No Abuses, by Associated Press and Pacific Citizen Staff, page 1. A federal judge ruled that a section of the USA Patriot Act barring ‘expert advice or assistance’ to designated foreign terrorist organizations is unconstitutionally vague, marking the first court decision to strike down part of the law. Meanwhile, a Justice Department investigation found no major civil rights abuses under the Patriot Act, though some mistreatment of Muslim and Arab detainees was noted.
• L.A. City Council Asks Congress to Throw Out Parts of Patriot Act, by Associated Press and Pacific Citizen Staff, page 1. The Los Angeles City Council approved a resolution criticizing portions of the USA Patriot Act, becoming the largest of more than 200 cities nationwide to oppose the law. The vote came a day after President Bush called on Congress to renew expiring provisions of the act.
• Bill Would Restore Race as Factor in Washington College Admissions, by Sarah Linn, Associated Press Writer, page 1. A Washington state Senate bill would allow public colleges to consider race, ethnicity and national origin in admissions, six years after voters banned such practices via Initiative 200. The bill draws on the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court ruling on University of Michigan admissions and faces opposition from I-200 sponsor Tim Eyman.
• Group Files Lawsuit to Block Michigan Race Ballot Drive, by Associated Press, page 1. Attorneys who defended University of Michigan’s affirmative action policies before the Supreme Court filed a lawsuit to block a petition drive that would let voters decide the future of affirmative action in the state. The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative needs over 317,000 signatures by July to reach the November ballot.
• NAPALC Applauds Daschle-Hagel Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill, by Associated Press and Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Senators Tom Daschle and Chuck Hagel proposed an immigration plan allowing undocumented workers to earn legal permanent residency through work, along with increased border security spending. The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium praised the bipartisan bill as an alternative to amnesty.
• Hearing Set for Former Army Chaplain Yee Arrested in Florida, by Associated Press, page 3. Army Capt. James Yee, the Muslim chaplain once suspected of espionage at Guantanamo Bay, faces charges including mishandling classified material, conduct unbecoming an officer, and adultery rather than spying. His preliminary hearing was delayed after a classified document was mistakenly included in evidence packets.
• Democrats Call for Renewal of President’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs, page 3. Democrats including Mike Honda and Nancy Pelosi urged President Bush to renew the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which expired last July. Bush is reportedly considering relocating the commission’s focus to economic development under the Department of Commerce.
• Karaoke Ban Angers Singers, But Police Cite Links to Crime, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 4. San Mateo, California imposed a temporary ban on private karaoke rooms after police cited their use for prostitution, drug use, and underage drinking. Critics say the ban is insensitive to Asian Americans who use the rooms for legitimate social gatherings.
• Reno Eighth Most Popular Destination With Asians, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 4. A national travel association survey found Reno ranks eighth among destinations popular with Asian American travelers, behind Las Vegas at number one. Officials credit gambling and Old West tourism attractions for the draw.
• Lingle Expanding Strategy to Gain Akaka Bill Support, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 4. President Bush signed legislation establishing a federal Office of Native Hawaiian Relations as Governor Linda Lingle plans to lobby Congress for the stalled Akaka bill. The Akaka bill would extend federal recognition to Native Hawaiians similar to that granted to American Indians and native Alaskans.
• Not All Hmong at Thailand Camp Eager to Come to the United States, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 4. Thousands of Hmong refugees at the Wat Tham Krabok compound in Thailand will soon have the opportunity to resettle in the United States, but Minnesota Hmong leaders say not all want to come due to anti-immigration sentiment. State Senator Mee Moua expressed concern about refugees’ uncertainty despite the alternative of repatriation to Laos.
• Lawmaker Wants Building Officials to Consider Feng Shui, by Associated Press, page 5. California Assemblyman Leland Yee introduced a resolution urging public building officials to accommodate feng shui, the ancient Chinese practice of arranging structures for harmonious energy flow. The non-binding resolution has drawn controversy and resistance from the building industry amid the state’s budget shortfall.

Community

• AA Groups Demand Name Change for Philadelphia Eatery, ‘Chink’s Steaks’, by Caroline Aoyagi, Executive Editor, page 1. Asian American community groups, including local JACL chapters, are pressuring the owner of a Philadelphia cheesesteak shop called ‘Chink’s Steaks’ to change its name, calling the term a racial slur. The owner has refused, citing business concerns, while receiving support from parts of the local white community.
• APAs in the News: Awards, Appointments, Announcements, page 4. This roundup highlights several Asian Pacific American achievements including Linda Carol Toyota’s YWCA Houston honor, Jason Higashi’s Sonoma County human rights appointment, Jeremy Lo becoming Notre Dame’s first Asian American student body president, Irene Hirano’s Kresge Foundation board chair role, Masato Muso’s California College Democrats position, and Michael Shoichi Leong’s Presidential Scholars nomination.
• A Trip to the U.C. Berkeley JA Culture Night, by Andy Noguchi, page 5. Students and parents from Florin, Marysville and Placer County JACL chapters traveled to UC Berkeley for the Nikkei Student Union’s first annual Japanese American Culture Night, featuring a student-written skit on JA history, taiko performances, and spoken word. The author recommends other JACL chapters organize similar trips to expose high schoolers to Asian Pacific American college experiences.
• L.A. Day of Remembrance to Recognize Fighters for Justice, page 5. A Day of Remembrance program on Feb. 21 in Los Angeles will honor civil rights fighters and premiere the film ‘Stand Up For Justice,’ about Ralph Lazo, a non-Japanese teen who voluntarily joined his friends at Manzanar. The event will also pay tribute to the late Bert Nakano and Linda Mabalot and mark the anniversary of Executive Order 9066.
• UCLA Hosts Inaugural Hitoshi ‘Moe’ Yonemura Scholarship Award Luncheon, page 5. UCLA’s Class of 1942 established a scholarship honoring classmate Hitoshi ‘Moe’ Yonemura, who was killed by a sniper in Europe during WWII after earning the Purple Heart and Silver Star. The inaugural luncheon on Feb. 8 will award the scholarship to recipient Matthew Foster, a former Army Ranger and ROTC cadet.
• Ogata Gets Purple Heart After 51 Years, by Associated Press and Pacific Citizen Staff, page 6. Kensei Ogata, 72, of Petaluma finally received the Purple Heart and other medals 51 years after being wounded in the Korean War, when his military records were lost during a hospital transfer. His son Sho, an Army veteran himself, pushed for the belated recognition through Rep. Lynn Woolsey’s office.
• Ikoi-no-tomo, San Mateo Japanese Senior Club, Closes, page 9. After 32 years, the Ikoi-no-tomo San Mateo Japanese Senior Club is closing due to declining membership, from an original 40 members down to a handful. The club, originally sponsored by JACL, provided weekly activities for non-English speaking Japanese seniors including crafts, dancing, and outings.

Commentary

• Mori Memo: Cultural Awareness, by Floyd Mori, Nat’l JACL President, page 1. JACL National President Floyd Mori reflects on New Year resolutions and JACL’s need to balance its civil rights mission with preserving Japanese American cultural heritage. He proposes a national standing committee on culture and the arts and highlights JACL’s growing relationship with the Ruth and Sherman Lee Institute for Japanese Art.
• Reassessing JACL’s Mission, by Al Muratsuchi, page 4. Former JACL regional director Al Muratsuchi argues that JACL should adopt an official mission statement describing itself as a civic organization rather than solely a civil and human rights organization. He contends this broader framing would better reflect JACL’s range of activities and appeal to young Nikkei who view rights advocacy as too political.
• Youth Forum: On Being Mistaken for a Samurai Expert, by Maya Yamazaki, page 5. JACL youth council chair Maya Yamazaki writes about being mistaken for a Japanese history expert after the release of ‘The Last Samurai,’ reflecting on the misconception that Japanese American and Japanese are synonymous. She discusses the challenge young Asian American youth face in defining their identity as both American and culturally Japanese.
• By the Board: Three-Steps for Marketing Success, by Ryan Chin, V.P. Membership, page 8. JACL Vice President of Membership Ryan Chin outlines a ‘three-step contact system’ for chapters to recruit new members, based on successful practices from the Portland and Washington D.C. chapters. He urges chapters to actively engage prospects at events, collect contact information, and follow up in a timely, personalized manner.

JACL

• JACL Teacher Workshop on Internment and Arab Americans, by Bill Yoshino and Patty Wada, page 3. A JACL teacher training workshop at the University of Michigan at Dearborn brought together Japanese American internment survivors and Arab Americans targeted after 9-11 to share their stories with Detroit-area teachers. The workshop, funded by a Chevron/Texaco grant, is the first of three planned sessions examining civil liberties during wartime.
• Twin Cities Chapter: Animator Iwao Takamoto Keynotes Chrysanthemum Banquet, page 6. Animator Iwao Takamoto, creator of Scooby-Doo, presented the keynote speech at the Twin Cities JACL chapter’s 57th Annual Chrysanthemum Banquet. Takamoto, who began sketching while interned at Manzanar, also gave a program for children demonstrating how animated characters are created.
• Greater L.A. Singles Chapter Installs Officers, page 6. The JACL Greater L.A. Singles chapter installed new board members and officers, honoring numerous past presidents at the ceremony. Past presidents recognized included Midori Watanabe, Tom Shimazaki, and Karl Noboyuki among others.
• Gilroy, San Benito County, and Watsonville-Santa Cruz Chapters Hold Joint Installation, page 6. More than 60 members and guests attended a joint installation banquet for three JACL chapters at San Juan Oaks Golf Course Lodge in Hollister, California. Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage spoke on the county’s financial crisis, and Superior Court Judge Joseph Biafore administered the oath of office as he has for 29 years.
• JACL and APPEAL Launch New Health Policy Fellowship, page 8. JACL and Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment and Leadership announced a new six-month Health Policy Fellowship for a young professional to work on public health policy and civil rights issues in JACL’s Washington D.C. office. The fellowship, funded by APPEAL, focuses on tobacco control and healthcare access issues affecting AAPI communities.
• Go For Broke Celebrates Opening of Resource Center, page 9. The Go For Broke Educational Foundation opened a Resource Center in Torrance, California dedicated to educating the public about Japanese American WWII military units including the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The center features a web-based Oral History Video Archive with 120 interviews of JA WWII veterans along with rare books and photo archives.

Sports

• Yao Ming to Start in NBA All-Star Game; Still Working on Becoming More Powerful Force, by Pacific Citizen and Associated Press, page 7. Houston Rockets center Yao Ming beat out Shaquille O’Neal for the starting All-Star center spot but is still adjusting to the NBA’s more physical style after years of finesse-based international basketball. Team officials and former players say Yao needs to become more aggressive to reach his full potential.
• Report: Yokohama BayStars Hoping to Sign Sasaki, page 7. The Yokohama BayStars are hoping to sign pitcher Kazuhiro Sasaki after he terminated his contract with the Seattle Mariners to return to Japan. Sasaki, Seattle’s career saves leader, wants to reunite with his family in Japan after being separated since last summer.
• Dodgers Pitcher Nomo Gets His Own Team, page 7. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo launched his own semiprofessional baseball team based in his hometown of Osaka, aiming to help sustain Japan’s struggling semipro league. Nomo said he was inspired by the charitable efforts of fellow major leaguers to give back to the system that launched his career.
• TNT Sports Announcer Calls Yao Ming ‘Chinaman’, page 7. TNT Sports announcer Steve Kerr referred to Houston Rockets center Yao Ming as ‘Chinaman’ during a broadcast, prompting an apology from TNT stating the comment was unintentional. Asian American organizations including OCA and JACL’s Florin chapter have been notified and are addressing the incident.
• Wie, 14, to Play in France, page 7. Fourteen-year-old golf prodigy Michelle Wie accepted an invitation to compete in the LPGA’s Evian Masters tournament in the French Alps this summer. Wie recently missed the cut by one stroke at the Sony Open, a PGA event in her home state of Hawaii.

In-Depth

• Commodore Perry and the ‘Black Ship Scroll’ Revisited, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Harry Honda recounts a visit to the Asian Art Museum’s exhibit on 150 years of U.S.-Japan relations, featuring the ‘Black Ship Scroll’ depicting Commodore Perry’s 1854 expedition to open Japan through Japanese eyes. He also references Oliver Statler’s book documenting the scroll’s scenes and shares a related historical mystery about a Japanese woodcutter known only as ‘Bismark’ in Tulare County.

Obituaries

• Kiharu Nakamura, Geisha and Consultant, Dead at 90, by Associated Press, page 11. Kiharu Nakamura, who wrote several books about her experiences as a geisha in pre-war Japan and later worked as a consultant on films and theater productions including ‘M. Butterfly,’ died at her Queens home at age 90. She had entertained notable figures like Charlie Chaplin and Babe Ruth and worked to change popular notions of what being a geisha meant.
• Death Notice: Frances Kaoru Niimi, page 11. Frances Kaoru Niimi, 89, a Yakima, Washington-born Nisei, passed away January 10 with services held at Rose Hills Memorial Park. She is survived by her sons Frank and Gerald, daughter Lillian Midori Mikkuriya, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and siblings.

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