JACL reorganization and the Guinier withdrawal, June 1993

Vol. 116, No. 22, June 4, 1993. 12 pages. View this issue

JACL’s own future ran through this 12-page issue. At the IDC-PNW bi-district meeting in Spokane, Wash., reported by Gwen Muranaka, delegates debated reorganization and the search for a new national director after Dennis Hayashi’s departure. National President Lillian Kimura took questions and briefed members, and a grassroots page asked what people wanted in the next director. The front page also covered the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium and other civil rights groups criticizing the withdrawal of Lani Guinier’s nomination, with Phil Tajitsu Nash and Margaret Fung quoted.

Other front-page news included about 100 JACL members at the Memorial Day service at Arlington Cemetery, with Rep. Norman Mineta as speaker, and registration for the Military Intelligence Service reunion in Honolulu. A redress report covered payments and appeals, and commentary from Bill Hosokawa, Koji Uesugi, Karen Narasaki, Kip Tokuda and Jonathan Kaji appeared on pages 8 and 9.

What’s in this issue

National

• Asian Pacific Group Criticizes Withdrawal of Guinier Nomination, page 1. The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium joined other civil rights organizations in criticizing President Clinton’s withdrawal of Lani Guinier’s nomination for assistant attorney general for civil rights. Leaders including Phil Tajitsu Nash and Margaret Fung expressed concern over the loss of her expertise and the chilling effect on minority scholars.
• ALC Gets Grant for Immigration Education, page 7. The Asian Law Caucus received a grant from the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Hiring Practices to conduct educational outreach on immigration-related employment discrimination in the San Francisco Asian Pacific community. The project aims to inform both potential victims and employers about their rights and obligations under IRCA law.

Military & Veterans

• MIS Schedules 50th Anniversary July 7-10 in Honolulu, page 1. More than 600 veterans have registered for the Military Intelligence Service 50th Anniversary Reunion in Honolulu, featuring banquets, golf, a teahouse party, and memorial service. The article details the historic contributions of MIS soldiers as interpreters and intelligence specialists during WWII across the Pacific theater.

JACL

• JACL Members Attend Memorial Day Service, by Lily A. Okura, page 1. Approximately 100 JACL members and friends attended Memorial Day services at Arlington Cemetery, with Rep. Norman Mineta as principal speaker and Turner Kobayashi serving as chairman. Out-of-state Nikkei attendees included veterans and dignitaries who laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
• IDC-PNW Members Have Reorganization on Their Minds, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. The IDC-PNW bi-district meeting in Spokane, Wash. brought together old and new JACL leaders to discuss reorganization, the search for a new national director, and membership development. National President Lillian Kimura was on hand to field questions on these critical organizational matters.
• Tri-District Conference Set for Cleveland, Ohio, page 1. The Mountain Plains, Midwest and Eastern District Councils of JACL will hold a tri-district conference Aug. 19-22 in Cleveland, themed ‘The Real World of Asian Americans.’ Keynote speakers include Irene Natividad and JACL National President Lillian Kimura.
• Grassroot Voices: What Would You Look for in New National Director?, page 3. Following Dennis Hayashi’s appointment to a government position, Pacific Citizen asked participants at the IDC-PNW bi-district meeting what qualities they would want in a new JACL national director. Respondents including chapter presidents and board members emphasized people skills, grassroots understanding, administrative experience, and dedication to JACL’s civil rights mission.
• PC Board Outlines Financial, Administrative, Editorial Goals, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Pacific Citizen board met to discuss financial, administrative and editorial issues affecting the newspaper’s operation, including cash flow problems and the need for a separate personnel manual. The board also formed an editorial board to guide opinion articles and discussed a proposed magazine supplement funded by corporate grants.
• Kimura Briefs Members on JACL Activities, page 6. JACL National President Lillian Kimura updated bi-district conference attendees on the search for a new national director following Dennis Hayashi’s departure, as well as issues including the Lani Guinier withdrawal, the Wards Cove case, and the film Rising Sun. She also reported that JACL membership has grown to 25,000 members.
• Reorganization Debate: Districts Weigh In on JACL Structure, page 11. At the IDC-PNW bi-district meeting, delegates debated proposed changes to JACL’s organizational structure, including the elimination of at-large national board members and changes to committee terms. National President Lillian Kimura and district leaders discussed balancing power between national and local levels amid concerns over continuity and representation.
• PC Board Continues Discussion on Facility and Circulation Issues, page 12. The Pacific Citizen board discussed ongoing safety and facility problems at the Los Angeles office, including theft and damage to staff cars. Circulation manager Frances Okuno explained the subscription and mailing process to clarify misconceptions among JACL members about delivery issues.

Incarceration & Redress

• ‘Comfort Women’ Seek Compensation From Japan, page 1. Five elderly women in Tokyo described their experiences as wartime ‘comfort women’ and criticized the Japanese government for refusing compensation. They are part of a group of 60 women from South Korea and the Philippines suing for a total of $3.1 million.
• Redress Report: Latest Information on Cases, Appeals and Education Fund Presented, page 5. The Office of Redress Administration reported on the status of redress payments, including 4,082 letters of potential eligibility mailed for the final fiscal year disbursements. The report detailed thousands of appeal cases in various ineligibility categories and ongoing lawsuits regarding redress claims.

Commentary

• Reducing Waste: Are You Preventing Waste?, page 7. This piece offers a checklist of questions readers can ask themselves about reducing, reusing, and recycling to help the environment. It is attributed to St. Germain, a former Seattle JACL Chapter president who manages the Washington State Department of Ecology.
• In Flight, Service Is the Difference, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa reflects on his experiences flying on three different airlines’ Boeing 747s between the West Coast and Japan, noting the uniformity of food and cramped seating. He observes that one airline stood out for its attentive, gracious service, suggesting cultural traditions may influence airline cabin service quality.
• Clinton’s Unfulfilled Promise, by Jonathan Kaji, page 8. Kaji criticizes the Clinton Administration for failing to fulfill campaign promises to appoint qualified Asian Americans to key government roles. He contrasts this with the Bush Administration’s record of over 130 Asian American appointments, including Elaine Chao and Patricia Saiki.
• Letters: Needed, and Still Needs Help to Fight Racism in Texas, by Sandra Tanamachi, page 8. A reader from Beaumont, Texas describes her ongoing effort to get derogatory place names referencing Japanese people changed, and her frustration with delayed JACL national support. She expresses gratitude to Dennis Hayashi despite the communication issues.
• Letters: Verdict Shows Need for JACL, page 8. A letter writer commends the JACL for calling on the Justice Department to investigate whether federal law was violated in the death of Yoshihiro Hattori and the resulting verdict. The letter references past controversy at a JACL convention over whether the organization should address ‘Japanese’ versus ‘Japanese-American’ issues.
• A Racist Movie Message?, by Koji Uesugi, page 9. Uesugi expresses concern about the film Rising Sun, based on Michael Crichton’s novel, and its potential to reinforce negative stereotypes about Japanese people and fuel anti-Asian sentiment. He argues Asian Americans have a responsibility to speak out about negative media portrayals rather than remain silent.
• DC Notes: Rededication, by Karen Narasaki, page 9. Narasaki reflects on the poignancy of this year’s Memorial Day service at Arlington National Cemetery, organized by Turner Kobayashi in honor of his late father Key Kobayashi. She connects the JACL creed to Bruce Yamashita’s continuing fight for redress from racial harassment he faced in the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School.
• In the Grip of Violence, by Kip Tokuda, page 9. Tokuda discusses the growing problem of violence within Asian and Pacific American communities, including battered women and child abuse, following a tragic shooting death of an African American child by an Asian American youth. He calls for community dialogue and involvement to address the pervasive issue.
• Yes Sir, We Mean ‘No!’, by Ikuo Hirata, page 9. Hirata, writing for Nihon Keizai Shimbun, responds to President Clinton’s remark to Boris Yeltsin about Japan’s ambiguous ‘yes’ answers, arguing that American leaders are equally guilty of ambiguous diplomatic language. He cites examples including broken U.S. promises on deficit reduction and product liability law reform.

Obituaries

• Community Obituaries, page 10. This roundup lists several community members who recently passed away, including Terushige Ted Hara, a WWII veteran and Seattle native, and Yoshikatsu A. Harada and Yoshio Higashi of Gardena. Each entry includes birthplace, survivors, and other biographical details.

Community

• Community Briefs, page 10. This roundup covers several community items including a Peace Corps recruitment call for Asian Americans, a San Jose JACL newspaper recycling program, a new large-print Ohana Cookbook, and a resource guide for Japanese Canadian artists. Each brief provides contact information for readers interested in participating.

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