Vol. 118, No. 22, June 10, 1994. 8 pages. View this issue
The National Board’s decision to endorse same-sex marriage ran through most of this 8-page issue. The front page reported that JACL legal counsel Allen Kato resigned because he could not support the endorsement. Bill Hosokawa wrote about the 10-3 board vote, Reid Tateoka explained why the Mt. Olympus chapter rejected it, and about eight letters from readers and a district governor took sides. A related story covered a $75,269 JACL deficit for 1993, with President Lillian Kimura’s column on Asian American appointments close by.
Redress also made the front page: about 100 Japanese Americans evacuated from Oahu will receive payments under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Inside, Karl K. Nobuyuki wrote about JACL’s youth program, and Jin Konomi wrote about studying Japanese. Scholarship news from Sacramento and Arizona closed the issue.
What’s in this issue
National
- JACL Legal Counsel Resigns Over Same-Sex Issue, page 1. Allen Kato resigned as JACL legal counsel because he could not support the National Board’s endorsement of same-sex marriage, citing his Christian beliefs that it is a moral rather than civil rights issue. He said the board should expect unqualified support from legal counsel, which he could not give.
- Dealing with Deficit, page 3. Board members debated the causes and handling of JACL’s budget deficit, with Peggy Liggett questioning Jonathan Kaji about the 1993 shortfall and future projections. Other board members discussed potential fundraising efforts, membership recruitment, and reviewing the Life Trust membership program to address revenue shortfalls.
- JACL Applauds Nikkei Appointment to Civil Rights Office of Attorney General, page 4. President Clinton appointed Stuart Ishimaru as counsel to Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval Patrick, a move praised by JACL and other civil rights organizations. Ishimaru has an extensive civil rights background, having worked on the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and other landmark legislation.
- Same-Sex Marriage Resignation Details Continued, page 4. The article continues details of Allen Kato’s resignation letter, explaining his view that laws requiring recognition of same-sex marriage as valid violate religious freedom, distinguishing between anti-discrimination laws and mandatory recognition laws. Kato cited the First Amendment and historical religious persecution as context for his position.
Incarceration & Redress
- Evacuated Oahu Residents to Be Granted Redress, page 1. About 100 Japanese Americans evacuated from the Waiau area of Oahu, Hawaii during WWII will receive redress payments under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 after the Department of Justice reversed its earlier position. The Honolulu JACL chapter worked with the Office of Redress Administration to document the evacuation circumstances.
- Remaining Redress Eligibility Issues to Be Addressed, page 1. JACL representatives met with Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval Patrick in Washington, D.C. to discuss remaining eligibility issues for redress payments, including the Waiau evacuees, children sent to Japan during the war, and claimants from Latin America and the Glendale/Phoenix area. ORA continues reviewing about 450 other claims.
JACL
- JACL National Secretary/Treasurer Announces $75,000 Deficit for 1993, Projects Further Shortfalls, by Gwen Muranaka, page 1. Jonathan Kaji announced at the May 22 National Board meeting that JACL faces a deficit for fiscal year 1994 and projected further deficits for the 1995-1996 biennium, following a $75,269 deficit in 1993. The board discussed a revised budget calling for dues increases from $36 to $40 to address the shortfalls.
- Board Votes Down PC Right to Subscription Money, page 1. A motion that would have allowed the Pacific Citizen to directly receive the $12 JACL subscription fee from each subscribing member upon receipt at National Headquarters was defeated 8-5. The vote reflected ongoing tension between PC and National over funding and financial control.
- Yasui Speech Contest Set, page 2. The Minoru Yasui National speech contest is scheduled for the 1994 JACL national convention in Salt Lake City, with each district selecting a representative competitor. Topics focus on civil rights issues facing youth, student involvement in JACL, and collaboration within the civil rights community.
Community
- Fashion Show, page 2. Kanojo, USA fashion firm will present its premiere 1994 collection showing in the Pacific Northwest on June 25 in a joint collaboration between the Seattle JACL Chapter and Seattle Adult Buddhist Association. The event will feature Seattle City Councilwoman Martha Choe and State Representative Velma Veloria among other community figures.
- Sara Hutchings Clardy Award Given, page 8. The Arizona JACL recognized scholarship recipients including Jill Yano, who won the Sara Hutchings Clardy award named for a teacher remembered for her friendship to Japanese Americans during the war years, and Conrad Diven, who won the Dr. Herbert Jensen scholarship. Both awards were $500 each.
Commentary
- On Asian American Appointments, by Lillian C. Kimura, page 3. JACL National President Lillian Kimura writes about President Clinton’s appointment of Stuart Ishimaru as counsel to Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval Patrick, and other pending Asian American appointments and nominations. She also highlights the formation of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and Norm Mineta’s election as its first chairman.
- Out of Touch, Out of Bounds, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa critiques the JACL National Board’s 10-3 vote to support same-sex marriage, arguing it represents a shift away from the organization’s founding purpose of advocating for Japanese American civil rights. He notes geographic voting patterns among district governors and warns of a growing rift that could threaten JACL’s unity and credibility.
- Studying Japanese, by Jin Konomi, page 5. Konomi discusses the challenges of learning Japanese, particularly the difficulty of kanji, and Japan’s lukewarm response to increased global interest in the language. He highlights the revival of ruby (phonetic guide characters) in Japanese publishing as a positive development for language learners.
- Chapter Rejects National Board’s Same-Sex Marriage Support, by Reid Tateoka, page 5. The Mt. Olympus JACL chapter president writes that his chapter’s board overwhelmingly rejected the National Board’s resolution supporting same-sex marriage, arguing it is a personal choice issue rather than a civil rights issue. He urges National JACL to let the full membership decide the issue at convention rather than the board unilaterally.
- ‘Youth of All Ages?’, by Karl K. Nobuyuki, page 6. Former JACL national director Karl Nobuyuki responds to Berkeley Chapter’s comments on JACL’s youth program, arguing that the National Youth program has been chronically underfunded and under-supported. He urges JACL to guarantee a fixed percentage of its budget to youth programs and treat youth development as a top national priority.
- Member Outraged at Board’s Same-Sex Move, by Bart Shibata, page 6. A letter writer expresses outrage that the National Board did not poll the general membership before taking a position on same-sex marriage, arguing it is a moral rather than civil rights issue. He calls for the JACL Constitution to be changed if it mandates supporting this position and urges members to speak up against the board’s actions.
- Reader Seeks Clarification on Same-Sex Marriage, by Dimmy Kanaga, page 6. A retired colonel writes questioning the implications of same-sex marriage support, suggesting sarcastically that it could reduce population and various societal problems. He frames his letter as seeking clarification on the issue.
- ‘Extremists’ Running JACL, Reader Says, by Wes Doi, page 6. A letter writer criticizes younger ‘liberal’ JACL leaders for pushing the organization toward positions like same-sex marriage support without broad membership consent, contrasting them with older generations who fought for Japanese American civil rights. He warns this trend risks bankrupting the organization and dividing its financial supporters.
- Let’s Think, Not Just Feel, About Same-Sex Issues, page 7. A letter writer argues that the gay/lesbian same-sex marriage debate should be examined intellectually rather than emotionally, questioning whether gay individuals are acting in an antisocial manner. The writer calls for calm, rational discussion rather than reactionary opinions.
- ‘Liberal Clique’ Is Running JACL, page 7. A letter writer criticizes what he calls a liberal activist clique steering JACL toward becoming a broader civil rights organization without proper membership consent, citing the 10-3 National Board vote on same-sex marriage. He expresses concern that all JACL vice presidents voted uniformly, suggesting a lack of independent thought within leadership.
- PSW Gov. Mizobe Comments on Remarks, by Ruth I. Mizobe, page 7. PSW Governor Ruth Mizobe issues an apology for a remark quoted in a previous Pacific Citizen article regarding district voting power, clarifying her comment was about national officers voting alongside district governors on policy matters. She expresses disappointment with how her comments were reported and characterizes the discussion of the same-sex issue as more complex than depicted.
- Reader Apologizes for Earlier Letter, by Beans Sogioka, page 7. A reader apologizes for questions asked in a previous letter, acknowledging they were inappropriate, while maintaining his original concern about whether JACL should be involved in the same-sex marriage controversy. He asks whether rank-and-file members are expected to simply agree with the National Board’s decision.
- Reader Offers View on Teacher’s Suspension, page 7. A letter writer discusses the case of teacher Reiko Obata of Santana High, suspended over the ‘Zoot Suit’ film issue, noting the school board cites unspecified personnel issues rather than censorship. The writer argues the school board owes the public an explanation despite claiming privacy concerns.
Obituaries
- NSRCF Honors Asian Scholars, page 8. The Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund awarded $500 scholarships to 25 Sacramento area Asian high school graduates, continuing a tradition established in 1979 by Nisei who were assisted during WWII incarceration to complete college studies. This year’s distribution focused on the Greater Sacramento Valley area.
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