Redress funding, a fired teacher and a JACL budget gap

Vol. 91, No. 19, December 12, 1980. 12 pages. View this issue

Redress and the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians ran through the front page and the commentary. Congress sent President Carter a Justice Department bill with $1.5 million for the commission, though a school busing rider threatened a veto. John Tateishi reported that the National Committee for Redress chose to seek a remedy from Congress once the commission reports. Jim Tsujimura, JACL’s president, answered the controversy over passages from Michi Weglyn’s book in JACL’s Senate testimony, and George Kodama called for $37,000 in cuts to the 1981 JACL budget.

The front page also followed Mitsue Takahashi, a Livingston, California teacher fired as incompetent after 20 years, with Dexter Waugh’s report and a second story on page 2. Bill Hosokawa wrote from Washington on the incoming Reagan administration, and Bill Marutani proposed a better way to choose national convention sites. Elsewhere were a review of East to America, a story on Vancouver’s Japantown, and a plaque dedicated to Edison Uno.

What’s in this issue

National

• Busing Rider Delays Commission Funding, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Congress sent President Carter a Justice Department appropriations bill including $1.5 million for the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, but a school busing rider threatened a veto. JACL officials expected the funding delay to be temporary, with hearings possibly pushed into the 97th Congress.
• A Diligent Teacher Fired as Incompetent, by Dexter Waugh, page 1. Mitsue Takahashi, a Livingston, Merced County teacher for 20 years, was fired for incompetence after a panel ruled against her, the first such case of its kind in California history. Takahashi, a former WWII internee who later graduated from Stanford, denied accusations of losing control of her classroom and said she would appeal.
• Ethnic Studies Grants Offered, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The U.S. Department of Education extended its deadline to Jan. 8, 1981, for ethnic heritage studies grant applications of up to $175,000 per year. The grants support nonprofit educational institutions developing curriculum materials related to ethnic heritage.
• 35 Years Ago in the Pacific Citizen, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A retrospective column reprints news items from December 1945 editions of the Pacific Citizen, covering topics like WRA spending, violence against Japanese Americans, and ongoing deportation hearings for Tule Lake renunciants. It also lists historical naturalization law milestones affecting Asian immigrants.

Community

• New Director of Wash. State Asian American Affairs Picked, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Elizabeth Dunbar was introduced as the new director of the Washington State Commission on Asian American Affairs, appointed by then-Gov. Dixie Lee Ray, succeeding Diane Wong. Dunbar, a Tacoma-based Asian American Alliance director, plans to focus on commission status, economic development, and interracial family identity issues.
• AABC Bilingual Seminar Planned, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A bilingual education seminar sponsored by the Asian American Bilingual Center was planned for the Berkeley Unified School District and continued at Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu. Interested persons were directed to contact Saulin Tsang at AABC for applications.
• Why Such a Popular Teacher Was Fired, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Continuation of the Takahashi firing story detailing the superintendent’s and administrators’ perspective on the dismissal process. It describes the small-town dynamics in Livingston and community reaction to the controversial decision.
• Fluor Foundation Gives $25,000 to JACCC, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Fluor Foundation donated $25,000 to the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles. The donation continues Fluor Corp.’s philanthropic programs started in 1952.
• Eden Township AAYs Installation Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Eden Township JACL and AAYs held their annual installation dinner at Francesco’s Restaurant, with new officers installed by Vernon Yoshioka, National JACL Vice-President. A National JACL Silver Pin award was presented to John Fujimoto for his achievements.
• Vancouver’s Japantown Unlocking a Secret, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Vancouver’s historic Japantown along Powell Street faces tension between a proposed beautification program and ongoing social problems including public drunkenness and vandalism tied to nearby social service institutions. Merchants, residents, and city officials disagree on priorities, with some fearing the revitalization project ignores deeper community issues while others see it as a necessary first step toward restoring the area’s Japanese heritage.

In-Depth

• Original Siamese Twins: Chang and Eng Bunker Became U.S. Citizens in 1839, by Jim Brown, page 3. The article recounts the history of naturalization barriers against Asians in the U.S., highlighting the famous Siamese twins Chang and Eng, who became naturalized citizens in North Carolina in 1839. It traces the legal history of U.S. naturalization law as it applied to Asians, including rejected WWI Japanese veterans and the case of Joseph Heco (Hamada Hikozo).

Commentary

• ‘…Of Infamy’, by Dr. Jim Tsujimura, page 4. JACL President Jim Tsujimura addresses the controversy over plagiarized passages from Michi Weglyn’s ‘Years of Infamy’ in JACL’s Senate testimony, explaining the time constraints that led to the oversight. He details remedial actions taken, including published apologies, errata sheets, and purchasing copies of Weglyn’s book for officials who attended the hearing.
• On Strategy, by John Tateishi, page 4. The National Committee for Redress met in San Francisco to discuss strategies following the wartime commission hearings. The committee decided unanimously to pursue a legislative remedy through Congress once the commission’s report is submitted, rather than seeking court action.
• Letter: Stereotypes and ‘Shogun’, page 4. A reader born in Japan who lived there until age 23 writes to express dismay over criticism of Japanese stereotypes in a television production, arguing the depiction was accurate. The writer, whose wife is Nisei, notes growing American awareness and admiration of Japanese enterprise and personnel administration.
• Washington, D.C., by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa reports from Washington on the political transition following Reagan’s election and speculates about future U.S.-Japan policy. He notes that despite Japan’s importance to U.S. foreign policy and trade, Japan-related issues remain low priority amid more pressing domestic and international concerns.
• New Wine in New Bottles, by Bill Marutani, page 5. Marutani calls for a thorough review and revision of the process by which JACL awards biennial national conventions to chapters, criticizing the current haphazard selection method. He proposes establishing a national standing committee to create standards, a convention handbook, and a more deliberative decision-making process.
• Romaji Consonants in Japanese, by Jin Konomi, page 5. Konomi discusses the pragmatic Japanese use of certain kana to represent consonant sounds not covered by standard Hepburn romanization systems. The column cites historical examples including Hokusai’s name spellings and various scholars who deviated from traditional romanization.

Incarceration & Redress

• On Dec. 10, 1941, by Phil Jordan, page 4. The article tells the story of radio officer Grogan who intercepted mysterious signals believed to be from the Japanese Imperial Navy before Pearl Harbor while aboard the SS Lurline. The author suspects a cover-up by American officials to destroy evidence, possibly connected to the later internment of Japanese Americans.
• On Dec. 10, 1941 (continued), by Phil Jordan, page 11. The continuation of Jordan’s column further explores unanswered questions about the mysterious radio intercepts by Grogan before Pearl Harbor. The author argues there is no excuse for not continuing efforts to uncover what really happened despite the passage of time.

JACL

• $37,000 Cut in 1981 JACL Budget Required, by George Kodama, page 6. National JACL Treasurer George Kodama criticizes the National Board’s approval of $67,000 in new spending, including salary increases and a spousal membership discount, which created a budget deficit. He outlines the need for $37,000 in cuts to restore funding for national programs and contingencies.
• Sonoma County JACL Elects First Women Co-Presidents, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Patty Sue Nomis and Lucy Kishaba were elected co-presidents of the Sonoma County JACL chapter, the first women to head the chapter since its founding in 1934. New officers for 1981 were also announced for the chapter.

Arts & Entertainment

• Plaque Dedicated to Edison Uno, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A plaque in memory of Edison Uno (1929-1976) was unveiled at UC San Francisco’s Medical Center Milberry Union Plaza. Uno had worked there as assistant dean of students for five years.
• Wilson-Hosokawa Recital of Persecution Especially ‘Well Done’, by Robert D. Schulzinger, page 9. A book review of ‘East to America: A History of the Japanese in the United States’ by Robert A. Wilson and Bill Hosokawa praises its detailed account, particularly its depiction of WWII persecution. The reviewer notes the book is more academic in style than Hosokawa’s earlier popular work ‘Nisei: The Quiet Americans.’

Military & Veterans

• MIS Reunion Held in Seattle, by P.C. Staff, page 9. A reunion of Military Intelligence Service veterans was held in Seattle, featuring a speaker from St. Martin’s College, Lacey. The brief item notes details of the gathering.

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