The stamp campaign for Nisei veterans, and camp preservation

Vol. 148, No. 7, April 17, 2009. 16 pages. View this issue

A two-year grassroots campaign to honor Japanese American World War II veterans with a postage stamp had still not succeeded, and the front page asked why. Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reported that supporters including JACL and Rep. Mike Honda were pressing the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee to reconsider, after a rejection tied to an internal guideline against honoring individual military units. Floyd Mori wrote about congressional progress on preserving WWII incarceration sites, including funding for Manzanar, Minidoka and a Tule Lake study. An Associated Press story described a new $1 million National Park Service grant program for confinement sites, and P.C. Staff announced the 40th annual Manzanar Pilgrimage for April 25.

Elsewhere, Lynda Lin profiled 1st Lt. Dan Choi and the debate over “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and wrote about the anthology Secret Identities. Harry Honda looked back at JACL national conventions, and Lisa Hanasono invited readers to support the paper’s 80th anniversary Spring Campaign. News briefs covered marriage equality in Iowa and Vermont and a Texas lawmaker’s apology over Asian names.

What’s in this issue

Military & Veterans

• Working to Preserve the Lessons of History, by Floyd Mori, page 2. National Director Floyd Mori discusses recent congressional progress on camp preservation legislation, including funding for Manzanar, Minidoka, and a Tule Lake special resource study. He credits key congressional allies like Sen. Inouye, Sen. Feinstein, and Rep. Honda for securing funding and outlines future priorities for preserving WWII incarceration sites.
• ‘The Simpsons’ Got Their Own Stamp, Now What About the Nisei Vets?, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 3. A two-year grassroots campaign to honor Japanese American WWII veterans with a commemorative postage stamp has yet to succeed, even as the Postal Service issued a stamp honoring ‘The Simpsons.’ Supporters including JACL, Rep. Mike Honda, and campaign leaders are pushing the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee to reconsider the proposal, which was rejected due to an internal guideline against honoring individual military units.
• APA Iraq Combat Veteran Takes on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, by Lynda Lin, page 4. 1st Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran of Korean descent, publicly came out as gay on national television, becoming a central figure in the debate over the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy. His story highlights the personal and political stakes of the policy as Congress and the Obama administration consider its repeal, with JACL leaders reaffirming their long-standing support for ending discrimination against LGBT servicemembers.
• Senator Stalls Duckworth’s Nomination, by Kimberly Hefling, Associated Press Writer, page 7. Republican Senator Richard Burr delayed the Senate confirmation vote on Tammy Duckworth, an injured Iraq War veteran nominated as assistant secretary at the Veterans Affairs Department. Committee chairman Sen. Daniel Akaka called the delay a disappointing setback for the qualified nominee.

Commentary

• Honda Apologizes to Twitter Criticism, by U.S. Congressman Mike Honda, page 2. Rep. Mike Honda explains and apologizes for a miscommunicated Twitter response defending funding for San Jose’s Japanese American Museum against criticism from Sen. John McCain. He reaffirms his support for JACL’s efforts against racial slurs and for the Japanese American community.
• JACL Recognizes Two Millennium Club Members: Eddie Jonokuchi and Joe Uchida, by Tim Koide, page 2. JACL Membership Coordinator Tim Koide apologizes for omitting Millennium Club members Eddie Jonokuchi and Joe Uchida from a previous recognition page. He thanks them for their support of JACL’s mission and programs.
• The Common Thread: Keeping Our APA Communities Interconnected, by Lisa K. Hanasono, page 2. Lisa Hanasono describes how her students found Asian Americans underrepresented and stereotyped in mainstream media, contrasting this with the Pacific Citizen’s long history of covering AA community stories. She calls on readers to support the newspaper’s Spring Campaign as it celebrates its 80th anniversary.
• Highlights of Past JACL Conventions, by Harry Honda, page 8. Harry Honda recounts the history of JACL national conventions from 1930 through 2008, detailing host hotels and memorable moments including the internment-era relocation of the planned 1942 convention. He notes the organization’s shift to annual conventions beginning in 2011 after the 2010 Chicago biennial.
• The Writing is On … a Tiny, Pencil-Thin Device, by Peter Shigeki Frandsen, page 8. Peter Shigeki Frandsen reflects on the crisis facing print journalism amid declining newspaper revenues and the rise of digital devices like Amazon’s Kindle and Apple’s iPhone. He expresses hope that technology can help save print media rather than destroy it, allowing readers to stay informed through new platforms.
• Looking Ahead for Redress, by Lisa Hanasono, page 14. Lisa Hanasono reflects on the Pacific Citizen’s 80-year history of covering Japanese American community issues and invites readers to support the paper’s Spring Campaign. She highlights the newspaper’s recent website upgrades and plans for digitally archiving past issues.

National

• Texas Rep. Betty Brown Apologizes for Remarks on Asian Names, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 5. Texas State Rep. Betty Brown apologized after suggesting Asian American voters should adopt names ‘easier for Americans’ during a House Elections Committee hearing on voter ID legislation. Asian American groups, including JACL and OCA, had demanded an apology, saying her comments reflected insensitivity and a lack of understanding of Asian American cultures.
• Iowa Teen Who Took on School’s English Language Tests Wins First Victory, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. Lori Phanachone, a Laotian American honor student in Iowa’s Storm Lake School District, was reclassified as English proficient and reinstated to the National Honor Society after being punished for refusing an English language assessment test. Her attorney and JACL continue to seek further assurances and policy changes from the district regarding its language assessment procedures.
• Pain, Grief, Questions in NY Shootings Aftermath, by Associated Press and PC. Staff, page 6. Jiverly Wong, an ethnically Chinese immigrant from Vietnam, killed 13 people including several Asian immigrants before killing himself at a Binghamton, New York immigrant center, reportedly driven by depression over job loss and frustration with his English skills. Asian American community groups expressed condolences and urged the public to focus on victims rather than politicizing the tragedy.
• Marriage Equality is Won in Two More States, by PC. Staff and Associated Press, page 6. Iowa and Vermont became the third and fourth states to legalize same-sex marriage, with Vermont’s legislature overriding a gubernatorial veto. JACL, a longtime supporter of marriage equality, continues to await a California Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8.
• National Newsbytes, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 6. A roundup of national news briefs includes a court injunction halting development on Riverside’s historic Chinatown site, 442nd veterans celebrating their 66th reunion anniversary in Honolulu, an appeals court ruling on Guantanamo Uighur detainees, a bill to preserve JROTC in San Francisco schools, and ongoing tensions over English-only graduation speech policies in Louisiana.
• Iran Charges American Journalist with Espionage, by Associated Press, page 7. American journalist Roxana Saberi, held in Iran for over two months, was charged with espionage, a more serious charge than earlier accusations of working without press credentials. The Obama administration and U.S. officials expressed deep concern over her case as her trial proceeds under Iran’s Revolutionary Court.
• Bill Would Give Oversight to Hawaiian Ceded Land Sales, by Associated Press, page 10. Hawaii lawmakers are advancing a bill to require legislative review before the state can sell or transfer former Hawaiian crown land, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the state retains the right to sell such lands. Native Hawaiian advocates and lawmakers debate how best to protect the 1.2 million acres of ceded lands amid competing legal and political processes.
• Peru’s Fujimori Gets 25 Years for Death Squad Killings, by Associated Press, page 10. Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for death squad killings and kidnappings committed during his 1990s campaign against Shining Path insurgents. The ruling marks the first time a democratically elected former president was extradited and tried in his home country for human rights violations.

Community

• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 7. This roundup covers notable Asian Pacific Americans including 442nd veteran Bob Mizukami receiving a Bronze Star, actor Kal Penn joining the White House as a public liaison, the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation honoring Medal of Honor recipients, Margaret Masunaga’s new role in Hawaii County government, Karen Suzuki-Okabe’s appointment at the Japanese American Service Committee, and USC’s upcoming alumni awards gala.
• Celebrating the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival, by Mai Suzuki, page 12. Washington, D.C.’s National Cherry Blossom Festival opening ceremony featured tributes from Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki and former Secretary Norman Mineta, alongside performances by singer Jero and dancer Kenichi Ebina. The festival also included the 11th annual Cherry Blossom Freedom Walk at the National Japanese American Memorial, honoring JA WWII veterans and internment history.
• Japan PM Aso Meets with JA Leadership Delegation, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso met with the Japanese American Leadership Delegation, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Japan relations and the unique role of Japanese Americans in strengthening that alliance. The delegation, led by Irene Hirano, also met with other Japanese officials during their 10-day trip to Kyoto, Tokyo and Okinawa.

Arts & Entertainment

• Have No Fear! ‘Secret Identities’ is Here!, by Lynda Lin, page 9. A new anthology called ‘Secret Identities’ introduces Asian American superheroes, created by editors Jeff Yang, Parry Shen, Keith Chow and Jerry Ma to fill a longtime void in comic book representation. The collection features stories spanning WWII internment history to modern tales, aiming to spark dialogue about Asian American identity and heroism.

Incarceration & Redress

• New $1 Million Grant Program will Preserve, Spotlight History of ‘Tragic’ WWII Internment, by Associated Press, page 10. The National Park Service is accepting applications for a new $1 million Japanese American Confinement Sites grant program to help preserve and study over 50 historic WWII internment sites. The program, authorized by Congress in 2006 and funded in March 2009, will match federal money with non-federal contributions for preservation and educational projects.
• Manzanar Pilgrimage to Take Place April 25, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The 40th annual Manzanar Pilgrimage, sponsored by the Manzanar Committee, will be held April 25 at the Manzanar National Historic Site, followed by the Manzanar At Dusk program featuring a Ken Burns film. Bus transportation from Los Angeles will be available for pilgrimage participants.
• Former Nisei Internees to Receive Honorary Degrees, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The University of Puget Sound will award honorary degrees to Japanese American students whose studies were disrupted by WWII internment, honoring 39 students sent to relocation camps in 1942. Similar efforts are underway in California through Assembly Bill 37, which JACL National Director Floyd Mori has testified in support of.

JACL

• JACL NY/SC Announces Biennial Youth Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 11. JACL’s National Youth/Student Council will hold its 2009 biennial youth conference at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, themed ‘IMPACT! Your Community – Your Generation – Your JACL.’ The event, the last official JACL National Youth Conference, will feature workshops and networking opportunities for young members.
• Sign Up Now for JACL’s Project: Community!, by P.C. Staff, page 11. JACL’s Project: Community! summer program is seeking high school-age participants in Los Angeles and San Francisco to develop community leadership skills through discussions on identity, place, and grassroots organizing. The program, expanded from PSW’s 2008 launch, focuses on Japantown preservation and youth engagement.
• JACL Applauds Passage of Serve America Act, by P.C. Staff, page 12. JACL praised the passage of The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which aims to boost national service programs and volunteerism to help address economic challenges. National JACL President Larry Oda and National Director Floyd Mori expressed support for the bipartisan legislation’s potential to strengthen nonprofit capacity.

Obituaries

• In Memoriam – 2009, page 15. This obituary listing includes tributes to numerous Japanese American community members who passed away, including WWII veterans, MIS members, and 442nd RCT soldiers. Entries note survivors and, where applicable, military service history of the deceased.

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