Day of Remembrance 2011: Camp memorials, civil rights and JACL’s name

Vol. 152, No. 3, February 18, 2011. 16 pages. View this issue

Day of Remembrance events led the news, with the cover pointing readers to page 7. The Livingston-Merced and Cortez JACL chapters planned a Feb. 19 gala to mark one year since the Merced Assembly Center Memorial was dedicated, and a California Assembly member introduced a resolution marking the 69th anniversary of Executive Order 9066. A street in Little Tokyo was named Toyo Miyatake Way, and the original water tank from Amache was found in good condition. Commentary by James Kumpel and Helen Kawagoe debated JACL’s mission and its proposed name change, while John Tateishi wrote about the PATRIOT Act vote.

Also inside: Christine McFadden’s piece on Ben Kuroki, Nalea J. Ko on a bedside ceremony for 442nd veteran Robert Masami Iso, and coverage of Hawaii civil unions and Arizona’s immigration law. Page 15 remembers writer Hisaye Yamamoto and Medal of Honor recipient Barney Hajiro.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Remembering JACL’s Non-partisan Mission, by James Kumpel, page 2. A New York JACL member criticizes the organization for issuing press releases that criticize conservative figures while ignoring inflammatory comments from Democrats, and for endorsing left-leaning causes without internal debate. He suggests JACL celebrate Ronald Reagan’s centennial in recognition of his role in signing the Redress bill.
• Keep JACL, by Helen Kawagoe, page 2. A former National JACL President voices support for other members’ opposition to a proposed name change for the organization. She argues a name change would not solve declining membership and could fracture the group’s unity.
• PATRIOT Act Tanks, by John Tateishi, page 8. Columnist John Tateishi examines the surprising Feb. 8 House vote that failed to extend PATRIOT Act provisions, as 26 Tea Party Republicans joined Democrats in opposition. He notes the unusual alliance between libertarian-minded conservatives and liberals who both object to government overreach, albeit for different reasons.

Community

• Little Tokyo Street Named After Toyo, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A street in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles was named Toyo Miyatake Way in honor of the Japanese American photographer who documented life at Manzanar using a smuggled camera. About 50 people gathered for the Feb. 10 dedication at Sakura Crossing, which also features a bronze relief of Miyatake.
• DOR Gala Marks Merced Assembly Center’s First Anniversary, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 7. The Livingston-Merced and Cortez JACL chapters will mark the first anniversary of the Merced Assembly Center Memorial’s dedication at their Feb. 19 Day of Remembrance gala. The chapters are also raising funds to complete a documentary about the memorial and the incarceration of over 4,600 Japanese Americans at the site.
• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. This roundup highlights notable Asian Pacific Americans including Jean Michiko Shiraki, who will be crowned Cherry Blossom Princess; George Kiriyama, honored with a Gardena school naming; Hermina Morita, named to lead Hawaii’s PUC; young philanthropists recognized by APCF; and Stewart Kwoh, who received a CAHRO leadership award. Each entry summarizes the individual’s achievement and recognition.
• Yuba College’s Japanese Garden to be Transplanted, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. A Japanese garden at Yuba College in Marysville, Calif., originally dedicated in 1963 as a gift from the Marysville JACL and designed by James Tomita, will be relocated during a planned library renovation. College officials and Marysville JACL members hope to preserve the garden’s historic integrity and rededicate it in its new location.
• JCCCNC Announces Inaugural Takahashi Youth Ambassador Fellowship Program, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California is launching a new fellowship program sending 8th-11th grade students to Japan for a 10-day trip in July. The program, named for Henri and Tomoye Takahashi, aims to help youth explore their Nikkei heritage and develop leadership skills.
• Community Leaders Encourage Involvement in Redistricting Process, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 12. APA community leaders are urging Asian Pacific Americans to participate in California’s 2011 redistricting process to avoid fragmentation of their political influence across districts. The Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans for Fair Redistricting is holding community meetings to gather feedback on district configurations.
• Vang Pao’s Family Urges Arlington Burial, by Garence Burke, page 13. The family of Gen. Vang Pao appealed to President Obama to overturn the Army’s denial of full burial honors at Arlington National Cemetery for the Hmong military leader who died Jan. 6. Thousands of mourners traveled to Fresno for an elaborate six-day memorial service honoring Vang Pao’s role aiding American soldiers during the Vietnam War.
• Japan-America Summit Calls for Applicants, by P.C. Staff, page 13. The Japan-America Grassroots Summit is accepting applications for its June 27-July 4 program in Kochi, Japan, with the Fresno JACL chapter helping recruit participants. The program includes homestays and highlights the historic friendship between Kochi native Nakahama Manjiro and American Captain William Whitfield.

National

• Hawaii Civil Unions Passes in Senate, Moves to Governor, by Nalea J. Ko, page 3. Hawaii’s Senate approved a civil unions bill 18-5, sending it to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who has pledged to sign it into law. JACL members Gary Okabayashi and Lenny Zimmerman, a same-sex couple together 33 years, discuss the bill as a matter of civil rights after a previous version was vetoed by former Gov. Linda Lingle.
• Iso Brothers Honored With Bedside Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony, by Nalea J. Ko, page 4. A planned bedside ceremony for ailing WWII veteran Robert Masami Iso grew into a 100-person gathering at the VA Menlo Park Community Living Center just days before his death on Feb. 6. Fellow veteran Lawson Sakai presented Iso, a 442nd RCT soldier wounded in Italy, with a framed copy of the Congressional Gold Medal legislation.
• Ariz. Gov. Countersues Federal Government on Immigration Law, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 5. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer filed a countersuit against the federal government, claiming it failed to secure the border and reimburse the state for costs of jailing illegal immigrants. Asian Pacific American groups, including the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, called the lawsuit a political stunt meant to distract from SB 1070’s constitutionality issues.
• Panel Backs Indiana Immigration Crackdown Bill, by Associated Press, page 5. An Indiana Senate committee approved a bill requiring police to check immigration status under reasonable suspicion, modeled after Arizona’s SB 1070, despite opposition warning of racial profiling. The bill’s business license penalty was softened, but debate continued over whether states should enforce federal immigration law.
• Calif. Assemblymember Introduces DOR Resolution, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A California Assembly member introduced Assembly Concurrent Resolution 16 to declare Feb. 19 as a statewide Day of Remembrance, marking the 69th anniversary of Executive Order 9066. The resolution calls for continued vigilance regarding civil liberties for all Americans.
• House Extends Key Provisions of Patriot Act, by Jim Abrams, page 8. The House passed a 10-month extension of three key Patriot Act provisions on Feb. 14 after an earlier attempt failed, with debate continuing over privacy and constitutional concerns. Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy planned to introduce a bill extending the provisions through 2013 with added disclosure safeguards.
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 10. This roundup covers a bill renaming an Idaho highway for Medal of Honor recipients, a California proposal to ban shark fin soup, a Hawaii restaurant’s mandatory tipping policy for foreign-language diners under civil rights review, a Wyoming same-sex marriage amendment, and a bingo measure for Hawaiian homelands. Each brief provides context on the respective legislative or regulatory actions.
• Census Estimates Show Big Gains for U.S. Minorities, by Associated Press, page 12. New census data shows racial and ethnic minorities accounted for roughly 85 percent of U.S. population growth over the last decade, with Hispanics and Asians as key drivers. Demographer William Frey notes minorities represented nearly all growth in the under-18 population in many states, a signal of future political shifts.
• Comcast, NBC Sign Landmark Agreement to Increase Asian American Representation, by P.C. Staff, page 13. Comcast and NBC Universal signed a memorandum of understanding with Asian Pacific American organizations, including JACL, committing to greater APA inclusion in media and corporate offices. The agreement includes launching a Cinema Asian America video-on-demand channel and dedicating at least $1 million over three years to APA programming.
• Historic Structure is Found in Good Condition at Amache, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 16. The original water tank from the WWII Camp Amache internment site, iconic in historic camp photographs, was discovered in a refuse pile at a nearby ranch in southeast Colorado. Researchers and preservation groups are working to restore the tank and its structural elements as part of efforts to rebuild interpretive features at the former camp.

In-Depth

• Ben Kuroki: The WWII Hero With ‘Lucky Ears’, by Christine McFadden, page 6. A new children’s biography, ‘Lucky Ears’ by Dr. Jean Lukesh, chronicles the life of Sgt. Ben Kuroki, the only Japanese American allowed to serve in combat in the Pacific theater during WWII. The book and interview explore his 58 combat missions, the racism he faced at home, and his visits to internment camps to recruit Nisei soldiers.
• New England JACLer Kenneth Oye Recalls Childhood Bond With Hiroshima Maiden, by Joseph Craig, page 10. As Kenneth Oye prepares to travel to Japan with the Japanese American Leadership Delegation, he recalls his childhood connection to Michiko Yamaoka, one of the ‘Hiroshima Maidens’ who came to the U.S. for reconstructive surgery and later babysat him. He also recounts an emotional chance reunion with Yamaoka years later at a museum in Hiroshima.

Arts & Entertainment

• Guitar Hero Record Holder Annie Leung Talks Gaming, by Nalea J. Ko, page 9. Annie Leung, a 26-year-old Irvine, Calif. resident, holds the Guinness World Record for the highest female score on Guitar Hero III and discusses her path to professional gaming. She talks about training routines, sexism faced by female gamers, and her hope to inspire more women to compete.

Obituaries

• Writer Hisaye Yamamoto Dies at 89, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Pioneering Asian American author Hisaye Yamamoto, known for short stories including ‘Seventeen Syllables’ and ‘Yoneko’s Earthquake,’ died Jan. 30 in Los Angeles at age 89. She was interned at Poston during WWII, wrote for various Japanese American publications, and was remembered by former poet laureate Janice Mirikitani as an inspiring figure.
• Flags Fly at Half-staff to Honor 442nd Hero, by P.C. Staff, page 15. Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie ordered flags flown at half-staff Feb. 12-14 in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Barney Hajiro, who died Jan. 21. Hajiro, a 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran born on Maui in 1916, was praised for epitomizing the dedication and courage of Japanese American WWII servicemen.

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