Vol. 155, No. 9, November 2, 2012. 8 pages. View this issue
Plans for the 2013 National JACL Convention in Washington, D.C. led the news. The July 24-26 gathering will mark the 25th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act, and the National Archives will bring Executive Order 9066 and the act together for a private viewing. John Tateishi’s column, “Where’s the Beef?”, took up the animosity some Japanese Americans still hold toward JACL and made the case for its record on redress. Another story, by the Associated Press and P.C. Staff, followed the viral photo of Frank Tanabe, a 93-year-old veteran who volunteered for the Army from Tule Lake, casting his final ballot.
Also inside: Poston Elementary School named a national historic landmark, Sen. Daniel K. Akaka honored by the Japanese American Veterans Assn., and Floyd Mori named interim CEO of APAICS. Nalea J. Ko wrote on undecided Asian American voters before the 2012 election. Community notices cover the Bridging Communities Program, with an overnight pilgrimage to Manzanar, and a one-day conference for Japanese American college students.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Bridging Communities Program Registration Now Open, by P.C. Staff, page 2. JACL, in partnership with Kizuna, CAIR and NCRR, is launching its fifth annual Bridging Communities Program to connect Japanese American and American Muslim youths through workshops on identity, culture, and civil rights. Sessions run on six Saturdays from February to June, including an overnight pilgrimage to Manzanar.
- Collegiate Japanese American Internship Announces One-Day Conference in November, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Collegiate Japanese American Internship program, sponsored by JACL Pacific Southwest District, will hold a one-day conference on Nov. 17 at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles. The event will feature workshops and panels on identity, AAPI issues, and activism, with keynote speaker Glenn Omatsu and panelists including Kathy Masaoka and Diane Ujiiye.
JACL
- National JACL Convention Will Celebrate 25th Anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act; National Archives Set to Display EO 9066, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The 2013 National JACL Convention, set for July 24-26 in Washington, D.C., will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. The National Archives will hold a private viewing reception bringing together Executive Order 9066 and the Civil Liberties Act for the first time.
- Jason Hata Is Awarded JACL Norman Y. Mineta Fellowship, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Jason Hata, a USC graduate and winner of this year’s JACL Minoru Yasui Oratorical Competition, was selected as the AARP Norman Y. Mineta Fellow. Hata is working in JACL’s Washington, D.C. office on leadership programming and public policy initiatives, continuing a family connection to JACL through his grandfather’s past involvement.
Commentary
- Where’s the Beef?, by John Tateishi, page 4. The author questions the persistent animosity some in the Japanese American community hold against JACL, addressing criticisms related to WWII-era decisions, elitism, and community disconnect. He argues that JACL deserves credit for its historic achievements, including spearheading the redress campaign, even as some legitimate criticisms remain.
- Beef (continued): JACL’s WWII Legacy and Legitimate Criticisms, by John Tateishi, page 8. Continuing his column, the author acknowledges legitimate JACL criticisms including its handling of Title II repeal, the Iva Toguri campaign, and a 1970s redevelopment fight in San Francisco. He argues that critics should also acknowledge JACL’s achievements, particularly its central role in the successful redress campaign.
National
- Photo of WWII Veteran Casting Vote Captures Hearts, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 4. A photograph of 93-year-old WWII veteran Frank Tanabe casting his final absentee ballot with help from his daughter went viral online before his death on Oct. 24. Tanabe, who volunteered for the Army from behind barbed wire at Tule Lake and served in the Military Intelligence Service, was determined to vote despite terminal illness.
- Poston Elementary School Named National Landmark, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Poston Elementary School Unit 1 at the Colorado River Relocation Center in Arizona was designated a national historic landmark by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. It is the only WWII Japanese American concentration camp that retains an above-ground complex of elementary school buildings.
- Sen. Daniel K. Akaka Receives JAVA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Japanese American Veterans Assn. for his accomplishments on behalf of veterans, receiving a framed citation and a replica Congressional Gold Medal. Akaka said he was determined to correct injustices done to Japanese Americans, particularly those who served in the military.’
- Floyd Mori Named Interim CEO of APAICS, by P.C. Staff and JACL, page 4. JACL National Executive Director Emeritus Floyd Mori has agreed to serve as interim president and CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. Mori will replace outgoing CEO Gloria Chan while a search committee seeks a permanent leader.
- Veteran’s Last Vote Recalled Amid Family Reflections, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 8. Barbara Tanabe described how her father Frank Tanabe, who volunteered for the Army from Tule Lake and served in the Military Intelligence Service, remained politically engaged until his final days. The family was gratified by the online attention his final vote received, noting that encouraging others to vote would have been the ultimate honor for him.
In-Depth
- Undecided Between Obama and Romney?, by Nalea J. Ko, page 5. A National Asian American Survey found that nearly one-third of Asian Americans polled are undecided between President Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney ahead of the 2012 election, with 43 percent favoring Obama and 24 percent favoring Romney. The article explores voting patterns among various Asian ethnic groups and highlights record numbers of AAPI candidates running for Congress.
Obituaries
- John Jiro Saito, page 7. John Saito, born and raised in Los Angeles, was interned at Poston before serving in the U.S. Army, and later worked with the LA County Probation Department and served as JACL regional director during the redress campaign. He is survived by his wife Carol Ann, children John, Mark and Jennifer, and other family members.
- Elaine Reiko Akagi, page 7. Seattle JACL co-president Elaine Reiko Akagi passed away on Oct. 18 in Silver Spring, Md., after a career of service that began with the Detroit Chapter youth council before she moved to Seattle in 1987. She was presented the JACLer of the Biennium Award at this year’s National Convention, and a celebration of her life will be held Dec. 8.
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