JACL membership decline and a debate over a Chinese burial ground

Vol. 146, No. 3, February 15, 2008. 16 pages. View this issue

JACL’s falling membership ran through this issue. Lynda Lin reported that the organization was losing more than 1,500 members a year, a decline board members called worse than their worst-case projections, and she followed it with coverage of the February board meeting. A letter on page 2 supported renaming JACL the Asian Pacific American League. Lynda Lin also reported on the debate in Boyle Heights, where human remains found near Evergreen Cemetery led an MTA committee to vote for reburial while some historians argued for study. Caroline Aoyagi-Stom covered a Tule Lake barrack listed on eBay, and the Chicago Cubs’ use of the Rising Sun flag in ads featuring Kosuke Fukudome.

Elsewhere, JACL announced plans for the 20th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act and Redress. A Senate committee approved a special study of Tule Lake, and the owner of a proposed feedlot near Minidoka was negotiating to sell the land. Tad Nakamura’s short film about Manzanar, Pilgrimage, went to Sundance, and a California Nisei veterans stamp resolution passed.

What’s in this issue

Community

• For Sale on eBay: A WWII Internment Barrack, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. A Klamath Falls couple is selling a historic barrack from the former Tule Lake Segregation Center on eBay for $5,000, sparking criticism from Japanese American community groups who see it as an attempt to profit from history. Tule Lake Committee leaders say the barrack is in poor condition and not worth the asking price, while historians emphasize the importance of preserving such artifacts with their stories intact.
• JACL Names New Membership Coordinator, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. Tim Koide has been hired as the new membership coordinator at national JACL headquarters, replacing Lotchana Sourivong. Koide previously worked with the Mike and Maureen Mansfield Foundation and in JACL’s Washington D.C. office on Japanese Latin American issues.
• Chan Appointed to VA Panel on Minority Veterans, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. Navy veteran Alexander Y. Chan was appointed to the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The committee, chaired by retired Army Reserve Major General James H. Mukoyama Jr., advises on issues affecting minority veterans.
• Calif. Governor Appoints a Slate of APAs, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. California Governor appointed several Asian Pacific Americans to state positions, including Hayakawa to the Orange County Fair Board, Martin Hoshino as executive officer for the Board of Parole Hearings, and Gary Nakamura to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Each appointee brings extensive professional background to their new roles.
• Sen. Inouye, JAVA Honored by New Hampshire Diversity Council, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. The New Hampshire Cultural Diversity Awareness Council recognized Sen. Daniel Inouye and the Japanese American Veterans Association for their efforts promoting diversity. The award highlighted JAVA’s leadership in advancing diversity values associated with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In-Depth

• Remnants of a Lost Pioneering Community Continues to Stir Debate, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Human remains and artifacts discovered during MTA Gold Line construction near Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights have reignited debate over how to honor a segregated Chinese burial ground from the early 1900s. While an MTA committee has voted for reburial, some historians and community members argue the remains should be studied to preserve a rare glimpse into segregated Chinese American history.
• Senate Committee Approves Special Study on Tule Lake, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 6. A Senate committee approved a special study to determine whether the historic Tule Lake Segregation Center could become part of the National Park System. Sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the bill could grant Tule Lake National Historic Site status, though it still requires full Senate and House approval.

JACL

• JACL’s Membership Decline is ‘Worse Than the Worst-Case Scenario’, by Lynda Lin, page 1. JACL is experiencing a severe membership decline that board members describe as worse than their worst-case projections, losing over 1,500 members annually. Leadership changes, including the resignation of the vice president of membership, have compounded the crisis as JACL looks toward pan-Asian programming and youth engagement to revitalize the organization.
• Mori New NCAPA Chair, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. JACL National Director Floyd Mori was elected as the new chair of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), succeeding Lisa Hasegawa. NCAPA works to advance the well-being of Asian and Pacific Islander American communities through a national pan-ethnic coalition promoting civil rights and civic participation.
• JACL Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Redress, by Debee Yamamoto, page 3. JACL announced a series of programs commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act, including a redress-themed plenary at the national convention in Salt Lake City and a Washington D.C. gala honoring Redress champions. The Pacific Southwest District will also host an awards dinner honoring the heroes of the Redress movement.
• JACL Board Meeting: Membership Decline and Financial Outlook, by Lynda Lin, page 11. At the February board meeting, JACL leaders discussed the organization’s steep membership decline alongside a slim budget surplus of $5,938 for 2007, the fifth consecutive year of surplus. Leaders including National Director Floyd Mori emphasized the need to embrace a ‘new JACL’ with more youth focus, pan-Asian programming, and alternative funding sources like corporate sponsorships.

National

• Purdue University: We Got Our Very Own Asian American Studies, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Purdue University has established an Asian American Studies program and undergraduate minor, allowing students to enroll starting next semester after years of advocacy efforts. The program addresses a gap in AA Studies at Midwest universities, joining other Big Ten schools working to bring ethnic studies into their curricula.
• Chicago Cubs Unveil an Ad Campaign Featuring Fukudome and Militaristic Rising Sun Flag, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 3. The Chicago Cubs’ new ad campaign featuring Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome uses an image of the militaristic Rising Sun flag, which many Asian Americans and veterans consider offensive due to its wartime associations. Despite criticism from bloggers, columnists, and JACL members, the Cubs organization defended the ads as unintentional and continued running similar campaign ads.
• Owner of Proposed Feedlot Near Minidoka Plans to Sell Controversial Land, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. The owner of a proposed 13,000-heifer feedlot near the Minidoka Internment National Monument is negotiating to sell the controversial property after county commissioners rejected his feedlot proposal. Neighbors and civil rights groups, including the JACL, had opposed the feedlot due to concerns over pollution and its proximity to the historic site.
• California Senate Joins House in Supporting WWII Nisei Vets Stamp, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. The California State Senate and Assembly unanimously passed resolutions urging the U.S. Postal Service to approve a commemorative stamp honoring Nisei soldiers who served in WWII. California and Hawaii have now passed such resolutions, while Illinois and Washington are considering similar measures.
• Salesgenie.com Apologizes for Use of Ethnic Stereotyping in Super Bowl Commercials, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. InfoUSA chairman Vinod Gupta apologized for Salesgenie.com’s Super Bowl commercials featuring ethnic stereotypes, including animated pandas with exaggerated Chinese accents. Despite the apology, the offending ad remained on the company’s website, drawing criticism from OCA and other Asian American advocacy groups.
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. This roundup covers several national stories including a Louisiana hate crime case involving nooses, Trader Joe’s removing some Chinese food imports, Warren Furutani’s Assembly election win, Sen. Inouye’s engagement to Irene Hirano, UCLA’s new endowed chair on U.S.-China relations, and a Chinese espionage case involving stolen military secrets.
• Inouye Casts 15,000th Vote in U.S. Senate, by Associated Press, page 5. Sen. Daniel Inouye cast his 15,000th vote in the U.S. Senate on Feb. 6, becoming only the fourth lawmaker in history to reach that milestone. Inouye, 83, is serving his eighth Senate term and recently announced his engagement to Irene Hirano of the Japanese American National Museum.
• U.S. House Passes Legislation to Expand Educational Services for Low-Income APIA Students, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. The U.S. House passed HR 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, to provide grants expanding college services for low-income Asian and Pacific Islander American students. The legislation aims to counter the model minority myth by acknowledging disparities within the APIA community regarding income and education.
• AALDEF: Northeast APA Voters Favor Clinton, McCain, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. An AALDEF exit poll of Asian Pacific American voters in New York and New Jersey found strong support for Hillary Clinton among Democrats and John McCain among Republicans in the Super Tuesday primaries. The poll surveyed 700 APA voters across nine polling locations in both states.

Commentary

• In Support of a JACL Name Change, page 2. A letter writer supports renaming JACL to the Asian Pacific American League (APAL) to better reflect the organization’s broader mission of representing the entire APA community. The writer argues that the current name’s exclusivity contributes to declining membership and a sense of stagnation within the organization.
• Why We Joined Hawaii JACL, page 2. Two Hawaii residents describe how they turned to the Honolulu JACL chapter for help correcting historical inaccuracies in a film shown at the USS Arizona Memorial that implied Japanese sabotage in Hawaii. They pledge continued JACL membership as long as the organization advocates for equal justice for all regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, and financial status.
• Is the Iraq War Legal?, by Milo Yoshino, page 2. The author examines the legality of the Iraq War in the context of Lt. Ehren Watada’s refusal to deploy, tracing UN Security Council resolutions from the 2003 invasion through subsequent authorizations for multinational forces. He concludes that while the initial invasion may have been illegal, subsequent UN resolutions likely made the continued military presence legal, meaning Watada’s order to deploy was likely lawful.
• Our Third Encounter With ‘PC’, by Harry Honda, page 8. Columnist Harry Honda reflects on his cruise through the Panama Canal, weaving in historical anecdotes about Asian connections to the Canal’s construction, including Chinese laborers, the 1860 Japanese Grand Embassy’s crossing, and WWII-era Japanese ships avoiding the canal. He also recalls Nisei soldiers who served in the Canal Zone during WWII.
• Say Your Piece of Mind, by Cheryl Watamura Martinez, page 8. Living in Germany as the only Japanese American she knows, columnist Cheryl Watamura Martinez shares reader correspondence spanning topics from German customs to Nikkei identity and Buddhism’s status in Germany. She also recounts a reader’s WWII internment story and her efforts to establish a foundation supporting young ballroom dancers.

Arts & Entertainment

• From Community Son to Sundance, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Filmmaker Tad Nakamura, son of documentarians Karen Ishizuka and Robert A. Nakamura, had his short film ‘Pilgrimage’ selected to screen at the Sundance Film Festival out of over 5,000 submissions. The film uses hip-hop music to tell the story of young JA leaders in the 1960s who transformed Manzanar into a symbol of solidarity, reflecting Nakamura’s own journey from sports to filmmaking and community activism.

Sports

• Collision Clears Way for Apolo Anton Ohno in 1,000, by Associated Press, page 10. American speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno won the 1,000 meters at a short-track World Cup event in Utah after a collision between two other skaters cleared his path. Ohno, who moved to Utah to train, also placed third in the 1,500 meters the previous day.
• Police Arrest Trainer, Three Wrestlers in Sumo Death, page 10. Japanese police arrested a former sumo trainer and three wrestlers in connection with the death of a 17-year-old wrestler who was allegedly beaten during a training camp. The trainer admitted to striking the victim with a beer bottle and forcing him to train excessively before his death.
• Japan’s Ancient Sport of Sumo to Stage Tour of Mongolia, page 10. The Japan Sumo Association announced its first promotional tour of Mongolia, scheduled for August, featuring Mongolian grand champions Hakuho and Asashoryu. Sumo has previously toured Europe and North America, and the sport’s elite division currently includes seven Mongolian wrestlers.
• Miyazato Makes 2008 Debut at Royal Pines, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 10. Japanese golfer Ai Miyazato began her 2008 season at the ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia, working to improve on her steady but not spectacular LPGA Tour performance since turning pro in 2003. Despite 14 international victories, she has yet to win an LPGA Tour event and continues working on her game and English skills.

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