Vol. 129, No. 12, September 17, 1999. 8 pages. View this issue
John Tateishi was named interim national director of the JACL, the National Board announced on Sept. 8. He will lead the organization on a temporary basis and help recruit a permanent director. Tateishi, who was evacuated to camp as a child during World War II, had earlier served as national chair of the JACL redress campaign. Also on the front page, Martha Nakagawa reported on the Manzanar advisory commission’s fundraising goal and its vote to reconstruct a guard tower, and Tracy Uba followed Jan and Ed Koda through their search to adopt.
The opinion pages on pages 6 and 7 carried several pieces on the JACL’s wartime record, the 442nd, the Heart Mountain draft resisters and the film Rabbit in the Moon, along with two reader letters. Elsewhere are a Las Vegas basketball tournament story by Steven Tanamachi, Census 2000 coverage, and a veterans cruise set for March 19-26.
What’s in this issue
National
- Tateishi Named Interim National JACL Director, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL National Board announced on Sept. 8 that it appointed John Tateishi as interim national director to lead the organization temporarily and assist in recruiting a permanent director. Tateishi, who was evacuated to camp as a child during World War II, previously served as national chair for the JACL redress campaign from 1978 to 1986.
- Women, Minority Unions Announce Joint Agenda, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Six constituency groups within the labor movement, including the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), announced a joint agenda focused on protecting immigrant and minority workers’ rights and retirement security. APALA president Guy Fujimura and other union leaders emphasized building coalitions to combat conservative attacks on affirmative action and immigrant rights.
Community
- Manzanar Asks Public’s Help in Fundraising, Creating Camp Cards, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. At an Aug. 27 meeting, the Manzanar National Historic Site advisory commission discussed fundraising efforts to raise $160,000 by year’s end and approved a recommendation to reconstruct a guard tower at Site 8, the location made famous by an Ansel Adams photograph. Commissioners debated alternative sites near the camp’s administration area and factory, but park superintendent Ross Hopkins noted staffing limitations made protecting a reconstructed tower from vandalism difficult at more secluded locations.
- Census 2000: Make Sure You Are Counted, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The article urges Japanese Americans to participate in Census 2000, noting that the Census Bureau has admitted the 1990 Census undercounted certain populations. Accurate counts affect government programs and representation for immigrant status, age distribution, and other demographic factors relevant to Japanese American communities.
- NJAMF Soliciting Honor Guard Nominations, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation is seeking nominations for an honor guard to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the National Japanese American Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 22. The U.S. Military District of Washington has arranged for the 3rd U.S. Infantry Color Guard, and interested nominees must submit a resume for consideration by the selection board.
- Manzanar Commission Approves Guard Tower Reconstruction, Discusses Budget and Future Plans, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Manzanar advisory commission passed a motion supporting reconstruction of a watch tower and other facilities, while Superintendent Ross Hopkins discussed the site’s $484,000 budget shortfall and plans for fence posts, signage, and fire hazard tree removal. The commission’s next meeting will be held Nov. 6 in Tucson, Arizona.
- Special Veterans Cruise Set for March 19-26, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A special 100th/442nd/MIS cruise endorsed by the 100th/442nd/MIS Memorial Foundation will sail from March 19-26 on the ship Elation, featuring private performances. All-inclusive cruise rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with special airfares for those flying in from other cities.
In-Depth
- One Couple’s Journey Through the Process of Domestic Adoption, by Tracy Uba, page 1. Jan and Ed Koda, a Los Angeles-area couple married for nearly a decade, endured years of costly and unsuccessful fertility treatments before turning to domestic adoption in hopes of having an Asian American or Hapa child. Their search has been fraught with obstacles, including a nearly-completed adoption that fell through over suspicious financial demands from a birth mother, leading them to seek help from Pact, an agency specializing in placing children of color.
- How Japanese Americans Fared in the 1990 Census, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The 1990 Census showed that U.S.-born Japanese Americans made up 67.6 percent of the population, with household income data showing significant portions in various income brackets. The article notes that Japanese American households often have multiple income earners due to higher costs of living in the areas where many reside.
Sports
- Las Vegas Basketball Tournament a JA Jackpot, by Steven Tanamachi, page 4. The 7th Annual Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament drew 176 teams and nearly 2,000 mostly Japanese American players and spectators to gyms and casinos around the city. The event, which started with 88 teams, has doubled in size and serves as both a competitive tournament and a reunion for friends across the community.
Commentary
- Reflections on Daikon Ashi and Changing Body Image, page 6. The columnist reflects on growing up self-conscious about having ‘daikon ashi’ (radish legs) and comparing herself to the slender Western beauty ideal, only to later appreciate the strength her muscular calves provided throughout her active life. She notes she never suffered serious injuries despite years of exercise, crediting her sturdy legs, and now aims to further develop them rather than resent them.
- JACL and 442nd Sacrificed Nisei Civil Rights for Acceptance, page 6. The writer argues that the JACL’s wartime leadership and support for the 442nd Regiment amounted to a white racist bargain that sacrificed Nisei constitutional rights in exchange for a path to citizenship and assimilation. The piece criticizes the JACL for not defending draft resisters and for prioritizing publicity over defending civil liberties during and after internment.
- No Mob Violence Greeted Heart Mountain Draft Resisters in Cheyenne, page 6. The author recounts that despite fears of wartime hysteria, no violent mobs or vigilantes confronted the 63 draft resisters from Heart Mountain during their trial in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the largest trial in state history at the time. The writer contrasts this calm reception with the harsh rhetoric used by JACL figures like Bill Hosokawa against the resisters.
- “Rabbit in the Moon” is a Disservice to the Nikkei Community, page 7. The author defends the JACL’s wartime stance of proving loyalty through service, arguing it reflected the community consensus at the time even if resisters took a different, constitutionally grounded position. The piece criticizes the film ‘Rabbit in the Moon’ for its portrayal of this history and for ignoring the JACL’s later civil rights efforts.
- Letter Writer Clarifies Statement on Constitutional Rights During Wartime, page 7. A letter writer from Fresno clarifies that he was misquoted regarding his views on the government’s right to suspend constitutional rights during wartime. He states he does not believe the government has such a right at any time, even though it has exercised that power historically, citing Supreme Court decisions in the Yasui, Hirabayashi, and Korematsu cases.
- Reader Objects to Offensive Language in Published Letter, page 7. A reader expresses concern about offensive language used in a previously published letter in the Pacific Citizen. The brief letter calls attention to the impact such language has on readers.
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