Eric Shinseki and the Go For Broke dinner, plus the 2004 elections

Vol. 139, No. 10, November 19, 2004. 12 pages. View this issue

Former Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki was the subject of the front page, after he spoke at the Go For Broke Educational Foundation’s dinner honoring Japanese American World War II veterans. Caroline Aoyagi reported on the evening, and a second story on page 6 covered it again. The elections were also a major thread: Asian Pacific American candidates made gains, Van Tran won a California legislative seat, and Paul Igasaki wrote from Columbus, Ohio, where he volunteered during the presidential campaign.

Other stories looked at Judge A. Wallace Tashima’s warning about civil rights and the war on terror, new markers in Richmond that tell the story of the wartime incarceration, and the renaming of “Jap Rock” in Florida. Lynda Lin interviewed actress Zhang Ziyi. Sports pages covered Yuta Tabuse and Timmy Chang, and JACL named Maya Yamazaki its Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellow.

What’s in this issue

National

• Former Gen. Shinseki Honors Men of Go For Broke, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Former Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki, whose warnings about troop levels in Iraq became prophetic, has stayed largely out of the media spotlight since retiring. He served as keynote speaker at the Go For Broke Educational Foundation’s dinner, honoring Japanese American WWII veterans and reflecting on the sacrifices of JA soldiers.
• Asian Pacific American Politicians Make History in Recent Elections, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 1. Several Asian Pacific American politicians achieved historic victories in the 2004 elections, including Jimmy Meng becoming New York’s first Asian American legislator and Van Tran becoming California’s first Vietnamese American legislator. Exit polls indicated APAs voted in unprecedented numbers, though many still faced language access obstacles at the polls.
• Match Found for Woman Trying to Recruit South Asian Cell Donors, by Krista Larson, page 3. Pia Awal, a New Jersey woman battling leukemia, found a matching bone marrow donor in the United Kingdom after a nationwide campaign recruited over 12,000 new South Asian donors. Awal and her fiancé Tim Dutta started the South Asian Marrow Foundation to help future patients find matches and afford treatment costs.
• Army Cancels Orders for Kauai Veteran, by Associated Press, page 3. Persian Gulf War veteran David Miyasato sued the Army after being ordered to report for duty 13 years after his honorable discharge, arguing he had fulfilled his military obligations. Shortly after filing suit, the Army granted him an administrative delay, sparing him from immediate deployment.
• Judge Tashima Says War on Terror Threatens to Trample Civil Rights, by Associated Press, page 4. Federal appeals Judge A. Wallace Tashima, who was interned during WWII, warned at a civil rights conference that the government’s war on terror is threatening democratic values by incarcerating people without charges. He compared current detentions to the WWII internment of Japanese Americans, while other attendees noted key differences between the two eras.
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. Brief news items include a lawyer charged with attempted murder of a rival Korean American attorney in Seattle, Senator Daniel Inouye’s wife recovering from cancer surgery, and former Miss Hawaii USA Tiffini Limahai pleading guilty to drug offenses. Each item covers a distinct legal or personal development within the community.
• Elections: APA Candidates Make Gains Amid Obstacles, page 6. Van Tran became the nation’s highest-ranking elected Vietnamese American official after winning a California legislative seat, while Bobby Jindal became the only Indian American in Congress. Despite record APA turnout, NAPALC reported ongoing problems including lack of required language assistance and discriminatory treatment at polling places.
• Go For Broke Foundation Dinner Honors Shinseki and JA Veterans, page 6. Former Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki spoke at the Go For Broke Educational Foundation’s third annual dinner, reflecting on the heroism of JA WWII soldiers and drawing parallels between WWII and the current war on terror. He noted a Pentagon mural honoring the 100th Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team will be placed behind his official portrait.

Community

• Outcry Over TV Show Reveals Community Fracture Lines, by Lynda Lin, page 1. A Vietnamese American cable show, VAX TV, was pulled off the air after airing images of the Communist Vietnamese flag and Ho Chi Minh, sparking protests from older community members. The controversy exposed deep generational divides between older Vietnamese refugees and younger English-speaking Vietnamese Americans, though the show was eventually reinstated on a different channel.
• Publisher Hopes to Unite AAs in Wisconsin with New Magazine Venture, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Heidi Pascual is launching Asian Wisconzine, a magazine aimed at unifying the diverse and often segregated Asian American communities in Wisconsin, set to debut in January 2005. Despite the risks of the ethnic publishing market, Pascual has received enthusiastic support from the community during brainstorming sessions.
• New Sculptural Signage Tells Stories of WWII, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The city of Richmond dedicated eight new sculptural markers along the Richmond Bay Trail tracing World War II history, including the incarceration of Richmond’s Japanese American community. The markers, part of the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, were unveiled alongside a meet-and-greet with hometown historians including a 442nd veteran.
• ‘Jap Rock’ Receives New Name, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Highland Beach, Florida officials voted unanimously to rename the surf spot known as ‘Jap Rock’ to ‘Yamato Rock,’ responding to new state legislation and JACL criticism of the offensive name. The new name honors Japanese farmers who founded a colony in the area 100 years ago.
• Commemorating Colorado Issei Pioneers, page 4. Issei families recruited from Stockton, California in 1925 transformed agriculture in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, and their legacy is now being commemorated through a historical archive at Adams State College and a planned Japanese garden. Fundraising is underway to raise $35,000 for the garden, with dedication anticipated in spring 2005.
• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. A roundup of notable Asian Pacific Americans includes Mas Inoshita receiving an Ageless Heroes Award for sharing his WWII internment experiences, architect Yoshio Taniguchi designing Houston’s new Asia House, and two queens crowned for the first time at University of Washington’s Homecoming. Also featured are George Takei and George Nakano receiving Japanese government honors, and new appointments of Gordon Aoyagi and Jones Moy to homeland security and police chief positions respectively.

Obituaries

• JA ‘Giant’ William M. Marutani Passes, Leaves Behind Civil Rights Legacy, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 1. Retired Pennsylvania Judge William M. Marutani, the first Asian American presiding judge of a court of general jurisdiction outside the Pacific Coast states, died Nov. 15 at age 81 after battling Parkinson’s disease. He was remembered as a pillar of the Japanese American community for his civil rights work, including serving as JACL’s national legal counsel and on the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians.
• Author Iris Chang Found Dead From Self-Inflicted Gunshot Along Calif. Highway, by Associated Press, page 11. Best-selling author Iris Chang, known for ‘The Rape of Nanking’ and ‘The Chinese in America,’ was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound near Los Gatos, California at age 36. Chang had suffered a breakdown and depression while researching her fourth book about WWII soldiers in the Philippines.
• Obituaries, page 11. This issue’s obituary listings include detailed tributes to community members such as WWII veteran Kobe Shoji of the 442nd RCT and WWII veteran Eugene Marcehito Sugiyama, along with numerous other Japanese American community members who passed away. Survivors and family details are listed for each individual.

Commentary

• The ‘True’ Face of Asian America: Representation in the Media, by Alexis Hisaka, page 5. A journalism student argues that Asian Americans remain trapped in early stages of media representation, burdened by persistent stereotypes rooted in immigrant history. She calls on the AA community to encourage careers in media and arts to help shape more authentic portrayals of Asian American identity.
• More Important Than Winning: Report from Ground Zero in Ohio, by Paul Igasaki, page 8. The author recounts volunteering for a week in Columbus, Ohio during the 2004 presidential election, canvassing and phone banking for the Kerry/Edwards campaign alongside other Asian Pacific Americans. Despite the Democratic loss, he reflects that the effort to fight voter suppression and civic disenfranchisement was worthwhile regardless of the outcome.

JACL

• JACL Launches Into Cultural Preservation with the Clark Center, page 5. JACL’s national board passed a resolution to support the Ruth & Sherman Lee Institute for Japanese Art and Culture at the Clark Center in Hanford, California, expanding cultural preservation efforts from chapters to districts. A new Cultural Preservation/Heritage Committee will develop educational programs using the Clark Center’s renowned collection.
• JACL Announces Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellow, page 8. Maya Yamazaki was named the 2004-05 Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellow and will work in Rep. Robert Matsui’s Capitol Hill office in Spring 2005. Yamazaki, a University of Washington student, has been active in JACL leadership and co-founded the youth civil rights organization Kaizen Group.

Sports

• Diminutive Point Guard First Japanese Player to Make NBA Team, page 7. Yuta Tabuse, a 5-foot-9-inch point guard, became the first Japanese-born player to make an NBA roster with the Phoenix Suns. Japanese media covered the milestone extensively, comparing Tabuse’s fame in Japan to that of baseball star Ichiro Suzuki.
• Chang Now Chasing Another WWII NCAA Passing Mark, page 7. Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang broke the NCAA career passing yards record previously held by BYU’s Ty Detmer, receiving a standing ovation and presenting the game ball to his father. Chang also broke the career completions record and has his sights set on the career touchdown passes record next.
• Ice Hockey Finds Unlikely Home in Tropical Thailand, by Associated Press and Pacific Citizen Staff, page 7. Despite Bangkok’s tropical climate, ice hockey has developed a dedicated following among expats and locals, including an amateur league and national team. The sport overcame early struggles including venue closures and violent rivalries between Thai and expatriate players before finding a permanent home at a new ice rink in 2003.

Arts & Entertainment

• Zhang Ziyi Reveals Her Softer Side, Giggles and All, by Lynda Lin, page 9. In an interview, actress Zhang Ziyi discusses her rise from an unknown actress in China to an international star known for films like ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ and ‘Hero,’ as well as her upcoming controversial role in ‘Memoirs of a Geisha.’ Ziyi addresses casting controversies and discusses balancing action roles with more dramatic films like ‘Purple Butterfly’ and ‘2046.’
• Early Holiday Shopping Ideas … Books!, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 12. This book review roundup covers several new titles including ‘Millicent Min, Girl Genius,’ ‘Altered Lives, Enduring Community’ about the psychological effects of Japanese American incarceration, and ‘The Colonel and the Pacifist’ about Karl Bendetsen and Perry Saito. Also reviewed are ‘The Chinese Americans: Revised Edition’ and ‘Being Buddhist in a Christian World’ about Korean American Buddhist identity.

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