Heart Mountain photos, citizenship drives and tiger parenting

Vol. 153, No. 8, October 21, 2011. 16 pages. View this issue

Frank and George Hirahara’s photographs of Heart Mountain were the front-page story of this 16-page issue. Nalea J. Ko wrote about Patti Hirahara’s donation of more than 2,000 images to Washington State University, and about other former incarcerees who have since offered memorabilia. Ko also reported on groups working to raise U.S. citizenship numbers among Asian Pacific Islanders, and Christine McFadden asked young adults how they felt about being raised by “tiger parents.” In commentary, John Tateishi wrote about Japanese American farmers and the World War II incarceration (often called internment).

Elsewhere, the Senate’s apology to Chinese Americans for past discrimination is covered, as is JACL’s search for a new national director after Floyd Mori’s departure. A gala in Washington, D.C., and a SALDEF award for Mori are reported too. Veterans appear as well: a Legion of Honor for 442nd Regimental Combat Team member Masao Tamura, and a new education center on Maui for Nisei veterans.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• JACL National Board Seeks Director Applicants, by Gail Sueki, page 2. JACL Vice President Gail Sueki outlines the process for hiring a new national director following Floyd Mori’s departure, detailing key skills identified by the national board including program planning, fundraising, and financial management. The process involves three steps: identifying qualities, organizing the personnel committee, and spreading the word, with applications due Nov. 14, 2011.
• JACL Holds Successful 2011 National Gala, by P.C. Staff, page 2. JACL held its fifth annual gala Sept. 29 in Washington, D.C., honoring individuals who broke barriers in athletics including Wat Misaka, Don Wakamatsu, and Cappy Harada. Norman Mineta served as honorary chairman, and numerous sponsors and JACL board members attended the event themed ‘Salute to Champions.’
• JACL’s Mori Receives SALDEF Award, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Floyd Mori, JACL national director, received the Dorothy Height Coalition Building Award at the SALDEF National Gala in Washington, D.C. for his civil rights coalition work, while other honorees included Lakhwinder Singh Sodhi, Naindeep Singh, Norman Mineta, and Sen. Dick Durbin.

In-Depth

• Hirahara Collection of Heart Mountain Photos Worth a Thousand Words, by Nalea J. Ko, page 3. Patti Hirahara donated over 2,000 photographs of Heart Mountain internment camp taken by her father Frank and grandfather George to Washington State University, forming what is believed to be the largest such collection. The donation has inspired other former internees to contribute memorabilia and help identify people in the photos before an online database launches in October 2012.
• Asian American Groups Work to Boost U.S. Citizenship Numbers, by Nalea J. Ko, page 4. Organizations like the Asian Pacific American Legal Center are holding free citizenship workshops in California to help the 800,000 eligible Asian Pacific Islanders become naturalized U.S. citizens. The article follows individuals like Cindy Fernando and Army Pfc. Vinh Nguyen through their naturalization journeys, highlighting barriers such as cost and confusing paperwork.
• Offspring of ‘Tiger Parents’ Sound Off, by Christine McFadden, page 5. Following Amy Chua’s controversial book on ‘tiger mothers,’ several Asian American young adults reflect on growing up under strict parenting styles and their own plans for raising children. While some criticize the intensity of tiger parenting, others like Chris and Ronan Sato say they would adopt similar methods themselves.

National

• Senate Apologizes to Chinese for Past Discrimination, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 6. The U.S. Senate passed Resolution 201 apologizing for discriminatory laws against Chinese Americans, including the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, though the bill faces uncertainty in the House. Rep. Judy Chu, whose grandfather faced these laws, sponsors a companion House bill, while JACL’s Floyd Mori called the apology a significant historical acknowledgment.
• Bilingual Voting Ballots Ordered in 25 States, by Associated Press and Pacific Citizen, page 6. The federal government is requiring 248 counties to provide bilingual ballots ahead of the 2012 elections, with new language assistance extended to Indian, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, and Bangladeshi communities in various states. The mandate under the Voting Rights Act aims to reduce language barriers to voting despite pushback from some Republicans over cost burdens on local governments.
• Former Governor Joins U.S. Senate Race in Hawaii, by Kevin Freking, Associated Press, page 7. Former two-term Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle announced she is entering the state’s Senate race for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Daniel Akaka. Lingle, the state’s first female governor, is seen as able to appeal to moderate Democrats in the upcoming election.
• Groups Propose ‘Unity Map’ for NYC Redistricting, by Cristian Salazar, Associated Press, page 7. Civil rights groups representing Black, Latino, and Asian American communities unveiled a ‘unity map’ proposal for redrawing New York state legislative districts to reflect demographic growth, particularly the rise of Asian Americans to 13 percent of the city’s population. The groups submitted the maps to the state task force responsible for redistricting, hoping to ensure fair representation.
• Calif. Governor Signs Bill Requiring Accurate Collection on Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1088, requiring California state agencies to disaggregate data collection on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ethnic groups to prevent masking of specific community issues. The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Mike Eng and complements a resolution recognizing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander contributions to California.
• Marine Suicide Sparks Hazing Inquiry, by Audrey McAvoy, Associated Press, page 10. Marine Lance Cpl. Harry Lew, nephew of Rep. Judy Chu, died by suicide in Afghanistan after alleged hazing by fellow Marines who punched, kicked, and forced him to exercise for falling asleep on watch duty. Three Marines face charges related to the incident, and Chu has called for accountability from the military justice system.
• National Newsbytes, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 10. Brief news items cover a legal setback for gay West Point graduate Dan Choi, a $2 million grant to the University of Illinois at Chicago to help recruit APA students, a Colorado bias case decision, and a Honolulu ceremony honoring Japanese American WWII veterans including Sgt. Shigeo ‘Joe’ Takata. Each brief provides context on ongoing civil rights and community issues.
• California Governor Signs Ban on Shark Fin Trade, by Judy Lin, Associated Press, page 11. Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB376 banning the sale, trade, and possession of shark fins in California despite objections that the fins are used in a delicacy soup in some Asian cultures. The bill split the Asian delegation in the legislature, with critics calling it racist while supporters cited declining shark populations as justification.
• NY to Provide More School Help to NYC Immigrants, by Michael Gormley, Associated Press, page 11. New York state approved a plan for NYC schools to expand bilingual education programs and support services for English language learners, including 125 new bilingual programs over three years. The plan comes amid low graduation rates for English language learners, though advocates say more administrative action is still needed.
• 442nd Veteran to Get France’s Legion of Honor, by Associated Press, page 16. Kauai resident Masao Tamura, 88, a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, was awarded France’s Legion of Honor for his role in liberating two northern French towns during WWII. The Honolulu ceremony included visitors from the sister city of Bruyeres, France, honoring the historic bond formed between the communities since 1961.

Commentary

• Japanese American Farmers and WWII, by John Tateishi, page 8. John Tateishi recounts a university discussion about the devastating economic impact of internment on Japanese American farmers, who lost crops and livelihoods just before harvest despite being told to plant as usual. He reflects on how family farms once sustained small-town America and how the loss of Nihonmachi communities during WWII paralleled the disappearance of these agricultural roots.
• Asian Americans and Higher Education, by James Kumpel, page 8. James Kumpel critiques affirmative action policies that hold Asian American students to higher admissions standards than other groups, and argues that subsidized higher education has driven tuition costs to unsustainable levels. He contends that government subsidies create incentives to overconsume, drawing parallels to the housing and healthcare crises, and calls for market-based solutions.
• Remembering 9/11 – We Will Never Forget, by Sharon Hayashi, page 13. Sharon Hayashi describes volunteering to coordinate Santa Cruz County’s 9/11 tenth anniversary memorial event, which featured artist Randy Soard’s ‘Faces of the Brave’ artwork honoring fallen first responders. The ceremony drew 3,000 attendees and included a flag display, 21-gun salute, and testimonies from survivors and first responders across the county.

Arts & Entertainment

• Funnyman Randall Park Talks Seriously About Comedy, by Nalea J. Ko, page 9. Actor Randall Park discusses his new short film ‘Siamese Dad,’ screening at the San Diego Asian Film Festival, and his journey from a shy childhood to a career in comedy and film writing. Park reflects on how his upbringing as a minority in a diverse Los Angeles community informs his often off-beat, socially conscious comedic work.
• Sei Fujii Film Begins Filming, by P.C. Staff, page 12. ‘Lil Tokyo Reporter,’ a short film about Issei newsman Sei Fujii starring Chris Tashima, began filming in Little Tokyo, dramatizing Fujii’s 1935 struggle against corruption and injustice during the Great Depression. Director Jeffrey Chin hopes the film will help establish respect and understanding for the Asian American community through media representation.

Community

• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. This roundup covers Rep. Mike Honda receiving the President’s Award from the Asian American Justice Center, three Arizona JACLers receiving community awards, JACCC Executive Director Chris Aihara stepping down after 25 years, and Christopher Lu becoming the new WHIAAPI co-chair. Additional appointments to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are also noted.
• Clinton: U.S.-Japan Remains a Cornerstone Alliance, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 12. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton affirmed the U.S.-Japan alliance as a cornerstone relationship during the annual U.S.-Japan Council conference, citing American disaster relief efforts after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Community organizations were recognized for their fundraising and rebuilding contributions, including the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California and GlobalGiving.
• San Fernando JACL Co-Sponsors ‘Honor thy Children’ Program, by Patricia Takayama, page 13. Al and Jane Nakatani spoke at a tolerance event in Little Tokyo about losing their three sons, two to HIV/AIDS and one to a hate-motivated altercation, and the cultural silence that distanced them from their children. The event also featured speakers Marsha Aizumi and Kristel Yoneda discussing experiences of transgender and LGBTQ youth in the Japanese American community.
• Nisei Veterans’ Center on Maui Gets New Facility, by Associated Press, page 16. The Nisei Veterans Memorial Center on Maui is building a new Education Center to display WWII Japanese American veteran memorabilia and preserve their history for future generations. The $1.9 million project, on land donated by Alexander & Baldwin Inc., still needs about $470,000 to complete its fundraising goal.

Obituaries

• Nisei Civil Rights Activist Was ‘Epitome of Generosity’, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 15. George Katsumi Yuzawa, a Nisei civil rights activist who spent over 40 years fighting discrimination and organizing Japanese cultural events in New York City, passed away Oct. 8 at age 96. He helped launch campaigns against racial stereotyping in media and fashion, and was instrumental in organizing 1981 redress hearings in New York City.
• George O. Yasukochi, page 15. George O. Yasukochi died peacefully on September 29, 2011 at age 92, remembered as a free spirit with a love for golf and life. He is survived by his wife Yasuko Martha Yasukochi, his children, grandchildren, siblings, and many nephews and nieces.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.