Vol. 142, No. 7, April 21, 2006. 12 pages. View this issue
Preserving the story of the Military Intelligence Service was the lead subject of this 12-page issue. Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reported on Harry Fukuhara and the new Friends of Presidio 640, who hope to turn the original MIS language school building at the Presidio into an interpretive center, with a longer feature on page 5. Lynda Lin covered the death of Mitsuye Endo, whose 1944 Supreme Court case challenged the World War II incarceration (often called internment), and the marches against the immigration bill HR 4437, which JACL joined.
Elsewhere, Aoyagi-Stom followed Nancy Sakakura’s search for a stem cell donor. Harry Honda wrote about fifty years of JACL work against the slur “Jap” in print, and Lin interviewed George Takei. The JACL national board passed its biennial budget, nominees for national office were introduced, and the national convention planned an auction for youth programs.
What’s in this issue
National
- Friends of Presidio 640 Work to Ensure the MIS Story Lives On, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. MIS veteran Harry Fukuhara and a new group called Friends of Presidio 640 are working to preserve Building 640 at the Presidio, the original site of the WWII MIS language school, and develop it into an interpretive center. The group hopes to raise $5-10 million and has already received $600,000 from the National Park Service toward the project.
- Mitsuye Endo, Ex Parte Who Challenged the Constitutionality of Internment, Passes, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 1. Mitsuye Tsutsumi (née Endo), whose 1944 Supreme Court case led to the end of Japanese American exclusion from the West Coast, died April 14 at age 85. Endo lived a quiet, private life in Chicago after the ruling, rarely speaking publicly about her role in history.
- APA Groups Rally Against Draconian Immigration Bill, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Thousands of Asian Pacific Americans marched in Philadelphia and other cities to oppose HR 4437, a House-passed bill that would criminalize illegal immigration and build a border fence. JACL joined the national opposition, with leaders calling the bill racist and vowing to continue advocacy efforts.
- APA Groups Rally Against Draconian Immigration Bill (Continued), by Lynda Lin, page 3. JACL Director of Public Policy Floyd Mori attended the National Mall rally in Washington D.C. with his family, emphasizing JACL’s history of fighting for immigrant rights. The article also details the case of Zhenxing Jiang, who miscarried twins while facing deportation, illustrating the human cost of aggressive immigration enforcement.
- Top Cancer Organizations Launch First Online Portal of Asian Language Cancer Information, page 8. AANCART and the American Cancer Society launched a searchable online database of cancer education materials in multiple Asian languages, funded by the National Cancer Institute. The resource aims to help Asian and Pacific Islander communities with limited English proficiency access critical information about cancer prevention and risk reduction.
Community
- JA Woman in Desperate Search for Stem Cell Donor, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Nancy Sakakura, 46, a Sansei mother battling MDS, has had two matching stem cell donors back out at the last minute, leaving her in urgent need of a new donor. Her family and organizations like AADP and A3M are working to raise awareness among Asian Americans, who are underrepresented on donor registries.
Arts & Entertainment
- Freedom of Artistic Self-Reflection: Barry McGee Defends Ray Fong Character, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Artist Barry McGee discusses the controversy surrounding his Ray Fong caricature, which Adidas used on a limited-edition line of shoes, sparking accusations of racism. McGee, who is half Chinese, defends the image as self-reflective art while critics argue it reinforces harmful stereotypes when placed on commercial products.
- George Takei: Mr. Sulu Talks Candidly About Life After Coming Out and His Equality Tour, by Lynda Lin, page 9. George Takei discusses his public coming out as gay, his 19-year relationship with partner Brad Altman, and his work with the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Tour advocating for same-sex marriage rights. He reflects on his childhood in WWII internment camps and draws parallels to the current fight for LGBT equality, while recounting a memorable on-air exchange with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
JACL
- JACL National Board Passes Aggressive Biennial Budget, by Lynda Lin, page 1. The JACL national board unanimously approved an ambitious 2007-08 budget featuring a dues increase, new fundraising measures like an annual gala dinner and golf tournament, and membership growth targets. The budget aims to fill vacant staff positions and reduce dependence on past deficit-driven cutbacks, pending approval at the June national convention.
- Auction to Benefit Youth Leaders at JACL National Convention, by Ted Namba, page 5. The 2006 JACL National Convention will host a silent auction at the sayonara banquet to benefit JACL youth programs, alongside a special performance of ‘The Camp Dance: The Music and the Memories’ featuring WWII-era songs and stories. Convention organizers are seeking donated auction items and highlighting the musical’s guest performers including Mary Kageyama Nomura, the ‘Songbird of Manzanar.’
- JACL Announces Slate of National Board Nominees, by JACL Nominations Committee, page 6. The article presents biographical excerpts and leadership statements from candidates for JACL national board positions including president candidates Kenneth Inouye and Larry Oda, and candidates for vice president and secretary/treasurer roles. Each nominee outlines their JACL service history, qualifications, and goals for the organization’s future.
Commentary
- Why We Need to Support the Pacific Citizen, by Nelson Nagai, page 2. NCWNP district PC board representative Nelson Nagai makes the case for readers to support the Pacific Citizen’s Spring Campaign, citing tax deductibility and the paper’s role as JACL’s primary media outlet. He argues that growing the PC’s readership and web presence is essential for the organization’s future communication needs.
- Words Have Power, by Jamana Doc, page 2. A reader recounts confronting use of the term ‘Jap’ in a workplace report at a large investment bank, and how she educated colleagues about the term’s offensive history tied to Japanese American incarceration. She reflects on the courage needed to speak up against casual racism despite risking professional consequences.
- Kansha, by Toshe To, page 2. The writer recounts learning about George and Irma Roth, a couple who sacrificed their careers and reputation for opposing Japanese American internment during WWII, as detailed in the book ‘In Good Conscience.’ The writer shares Irma Roth’s address so community members can send her cards in recognition of her sacrifices.
- Fujimori is No Hero, page 2. A reader criticizes columnist Harry Honda’s praise of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, detailing Fujimori’s 1992 auto-coup, international arrest warrant on charges including murder and embezzlement, and flight to Japan to avoid extradition. The writer argues Fujimori is no role model for Japanese Americans despite his Japanese-Peruvian heritage.
- Use of ‘Jap’ in Print Slowly Diminishing After 50 Years, by Harry Honda, page 8. Harry Honda chronicles five decades of JACL’s efforts to eliminate the use of the racial slur ‘Jap’ in newspapers, dictionaries, and public discourse, from 1952 campaigns against New York newspapers to Merriam-Webster’s 1958 acknowledgment of the term as disparaging. The piece traces numerous individual campaigns including Sandra Tanamachi’s recent Texas road-renaming effort and past incidents involving public figures like Spiro Agnew.
In-Depth
- Friends of Presidio 640: Preserving the MIS Legacy for All Americans, page 5. The article details the history of Building 640, built in 1921 and used as the first MIS language school before Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps, and the efforts of MIS veterans’ families to preserve it. Volunteers like Brian Fukuhara and Gerald Takano emphasize the urgency of completing the interpretive center while aging MIS veterans are still alive to see it.
Sports
- Super Bowl Star Hines Ward Meets Mixed Race Korean Children, page 7. Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward, who is half-Korean, met with mixed-race Korean children during a homecoming visit to South Korea, sharing his own experiences with discrimination growing up. His visit has sparked national conversation in South Korea about ending prejudice against mixed-heritage citizens, with media campaigns and potential legislation following his high-profile visit.
- Bulgarian Sumo Star Pushes Way Up Ranks of Japan’s National Sport, page 7. Bulgarian wrestler Kotooshu has risen to sumo’s second-highest rank of ozeki faster than any wrestler in history, becoming part of a wave of foreign-born fighters dominating Japan’s national sport. His success, along with other foreign champions, has caused concern within the Japan Sumo Association over declining Japanese competitiveness and falling ticket sales and TV ratings.
Obituaries
- Former PSW Governor Hiromi Ueha, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. Hiromi Ueha, 33, former PSW District Governor and national JACL Youth/Student Council chair, died of a pulmonary embolism on April 10. She was remembered for her leadership in organizing youth conferences and a national gala dinner honoring prominent Japanese American leaders.
- Former St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editor Dies, by Associated Press, page 11. William Woo, the first Asian American editor of a major U.S. newspaper and former editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, died at age 69 from cancer complications. Woo, born in Shanghai, later served as interim director of Stanford’s Graduate Journalism Program after a 34-year career at the Post-Dispatch.
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