Anti-immigrant billboards, Lt. Watada and a Fresno dentist in Iraq

Vol. 143, No. 4, August 18, 2006. 12 pages. View this issue

Immigration and the Iraq war ran through the front page. Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reported on the ‘Stop the Invasion’ billboards spreading across the country, and on 71-year-old Col. Richard Asami, a retired Fresno dentist who returned to service and spent 90 days in Iraq. Reader letters on page 2 continued the debate over 1st Lt. Ehren Watada’s refusal to deploy, and the Associated Press reported that the Army had rejected his offer to resign. Page 12 carried the response of Asian Pacific American advocacy groups to the billboards.

Also inside: rare color film of the Poston camp, found at the Arizona Historical Foundation, and Harry Honda’s look back at JACL conventions from 1960 to 1978. Lynda Lin wrote about Asian stereotypes in video games and interviewed director Rich Wong about his musical ‘Colma.’ The sports page followed Wang Zhizhi and Hines Ward.

What’s in this issue

National

• Retiree Heads to Iraq: Dr. Richard Asami Comes Out of Retirement to Serve, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Col. Richard Asami, a 71-year-old retired dentist from Fresno, volunteered to return to service and spent 90 days in Iraq providing dental care to soldiers of the 34th Infantry Division. He reflects on the death of a fellow soldier, the lack of APA representation among troops, and his willingness to serve again despite his family’s initial concerns.
• Coming to a Neighborhood Near You: Anti-Immigrant Billboards Spread Across Country, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Billboards reading ‘Stop the Invasion’ sponsored by Grassfire.org are spreading across major U.S. cities, targeting immigration sentiment aimed not just at Latinos but also at Asian Americans. The article explores how AA immigrants, many of whom are undocumented, are often overlooked in the immigration debate despite being significantly affected by it.
• Rare Color Footage of Poston Discovered, by Associated Press, page 1. An archivist found rare 16-millimeter color film footage of the Poston relocation center being built and receiving its first Japanese American internees during World War II. The propaganda-style footage, discovered at the Arizona Historical Foundation, is being digitized and may be posted online, though survivors note it masks the harsh realities of camp life.
• Army Refuses 1st Lt. Watada’s Offer to Resign, by Associated Press, page 1. The Army rejected 1st Lt. Ehren Watada’s offer to resign instead of facing court-martial for his refusal to deploy to Iraq, which he believes is an illegal war. Watada faces a pretrial hearing and could face over 7 years in prison if court-martialed on charges including missing movement and conduct unbecoming an officer.
• Rhode Island’s V-J Day Holiday Called Discriminatory, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 1. Rhode Island remains the only state to officially celebrate Victory over Japan Day, a holiday critics including JACL Executive Director John Tateishi say is discriminatory since no similar holiday marks victory over Germany. Past legislative attempts to rename or eliminate the holiday have failed due to strong opposition from veterans groups.
• Two Charged with Racist Attack on Asian Youths, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Two men, aged 19 and 20, were charged with hate crimes after allegedly ramming a car and beating four Asian youths while shouting racial slurs in New York. The attack left victims with lacerations and a possible skull fracture, and the defendants face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
• Poll Shows Akaka Leads Case in Race for Democratic Nomination, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. A poll of likely Democratic primary voters in Hawaii shows Sen. Daniel Akaka with a large lead over Rep. Ed Case for the Senate nomination, 55 percent to 35 percent. However, a broader poll of all Hawaii voters shows the race much closer.
• Pakistani Born Pilot Sues JetBlue, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Faisal Baig, a U.S. citizen raised in Yonkers, is suing JetBlue Airways for discrimination after the airline allegedly rescinded a job offer, telling him he was considered a ‘security risk’ because of his name and religion. He is now living in North Carolina, still seeking work as a pilot.
• Councilmember Liu Sued by Disc Jockey, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Queens Councilmember John Liu faces a $55 million defamation suit from radio DJ Troy Torain after Liu called him a pedophile. Torain was previously fired and arrested for making sexual and racist remarks about a rival DJ’s young daughter.
• Inouye Receives High Honors from DND, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Sen. Daniel Inouye received the Department of Defense’s Outstanding Achievement Award for his continued advocacy for Filipino World War II veterans’ rights. Inouye is also lobbying to grant special immigrant status to children of Filipino WWII veterans.
• In Japan, Nagasaki and Hiroshima Observe 61st Anniversary of Atomic Bombings, by Chisaki Watanabe, Associated Press Writer, page 3. Nagasaki Mayor Itcho Ito marked the 61st anniversary of the atomic bombing by criticizing world nuclear powers for stalled disarmament efforts and warning about North Korea’s nuclear threat. Ceremonies were held in both Nagasaki and Hiroshima, with survivors expressing fear that the tragedy’s memory will fade as survivors pass away.
• MANAA Upset Over Racial Slur in Movie ‘Night Listener’, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Media Action Network for Asian Americans criticized a scene in Robin Williams’ film ‘Night Listener’ where a racial slur against Asians is used casually, arguing such language would never be tolerated if directed at other minority groups. Miramax and ABC declined to publicly address the controversy after MANAA’s complaints.
• Immigrant Shift Seen in Alaska Job Market, by Associated Press, page 3. Anchorage, Alaska has seen a dramatic and diverse wave of immigration over the past 20 years, ranking highly per capita for Pacific Islanders, Asians, and mixed-race populations. Immigrants like Maureen Swartwood, a Fiji native of Indian and Muslim background, are drawn by job opportunities and greater religious tolerance.
• Video Games Continued: Reading Into a Pastime, by Lynda Lin, page 4. This continuation of the video game stereotype story details reactions from gamers and industry representatives, including 3D Realms defending ‘Shadow Warrior’ as parody. Student Artie Lee offers a counterpoint, arguing games balance stereotypes across multiple ethnicities and don’t foster racism among players.
• Anti-Immigrant Billboards Draw Criticism from APA Advocacy Groups, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 12. APA advocacy groups including the Asian American Justice Center and NAKASEC criticize the ‘Stop the Invasion’ billboard campaign as inflammatory and rooted in bigotry, noting that Asian Americans make up a significant portion of undocumented immigrants despite being overlooked in the debate. The article details ongoing legislative battles over immigration reform and efforts by NCAPA to elevate APA voices in the national conversation.

Arts & Entertainment

• In Video Games the Bad Guys Come in All Shades of Stereotypes, by Lynda Lin, page 1. University of British Columbia student Robert Parungao’s honors thesis examines pervasive Asian stereotypes in video games like ‘Shadow Warrior,’ ‘Grand Theft Auto 3,’ ‘Kung Fu’ and ‘Warcraft 3.’ His research has sparked mixed reactions from gamers and industry representatives, with some defending the games as parody and others questioning whether racism truly exists in the medium.
• Sound of Music: Rich Wong’s ‘Colma’ Surprises Audiences, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Director Rich Wong discusses his debut musical film ‘Colma: The Musical,’ co-created with H.P. Mendoza, which portrays recent high school graduates in a small town outside San Francisco. Wong reflects on the challenges of reviving the musical genre, incorporating authentic teenage language, and how the film relates to Asian American identity despite not being explicitly themed around race.

Commentary

• Readers Continue to Debate Watada, by Various Letter Writers, page 2. Multiple readers write in with sharply divided opinions on 1st Lt. Ehren Watada’s refusal to deploy to Iraq, with some praising his courage and comparing him to Chiune Sugihara and WWII draft resisters, while others call him a disgrace to Japanese American veterans. The letters reflect a broader community debate about loyalty, honor, and civil disobedience.
• Thank You Arizona Chapter!, by JACL Executive Director, page 2. A letter thanks the Arizona JACL chapter for successfully hosting the 2006 national JACL convention without any issues. The writer praises the chapter’s dedicated volunteers for their hard work and commitment.
• A New Leadership, by Jakasume, Berkeley, CA, page 2. A letter writer argues that with John Tateishi’s retirement, JACL should select a young, fresh leader such as a Yonsei woman law school graduate rather than someone with longstanding JACL connections. The writer calls for new, fearless leadership to revitalize the organization’s civil rights mission.
• ‘Swing For Justice’ in October, by Mas & Marcia Hashimoto, page 6. The authors promote the 3rd Annual National JACL Golf Tournament, ‘Swing for Justice,’ to be held at Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, with proceeds supporting JACL’s civil rights mission. The tournament includes tribute holes honoring Mike Masaoka and Judge Kathleen Akao, along with a $10,000 hole-in-one prize sponsored by John Morey.
• Highlighting 10 More Past JACL Conventions (1960-1978), by Harry Honda, page 8. Harry Honda continues his historical retrospective of past JACL biennial conventions from 1960 to 1978, detailing key events, controversies, and figures including the murder of a delegate in Chicago, redress proposals from Henry Miyatake, and Sen. S.I. Hayakawa’s controversial remarks against reparations. The column references key JACL histories and highlights the organization’s 50th anniversary convention in Salt Lake City.

Community

• Spokane JACL Honors the Takaokas, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. The Spokane JACL honored Hiroshi and Michiko Takaoka at a luncheon celebrating their 16 years of support to the chapter and community. The couple, affiliated with Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute, received a framed picture of Spokane as a token of appreciation.
• CJACLC Receives $14,000 Grant from Union Bank of Calif., by P.C. Staff, page 5. Union Bank of California Foundation donated $14,000 for the seventh consecutive year to the California Japanese American Community Leadership Council’s Nikkei Community Internship program, which helps college students engage with Japanese American community organizations. This year’s interns hail from schools across California and beyond, including UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Yale.
• Nisei Investment Club Disbands, by P.C. Staff, page 5. After 50 years, the Anzen Investment Club, formed in 1956 by 14 Los Angeles Nisei men, is disbanding and distributing its funds to members. The club evolved over the decades from an investment group into more of a social club, with members’ children eventually joining as the tradition passed down generations.

JACL

• New Membership Benefits, by Edwin Endow, National V.P. of Membership, page 6. JACL National V.P. Edwin Endow announces new discount prescription drug and dental programs available to JACL members not covered by Medicare Part D, with no income restrictions or medical tests required. He also provides a membership scoreboard update comparing chapter growth in 2006 versus 2005.

Sports

• Wang Deals With More Tough Luck as World Championships Approach, page 7. Chinese NBA player Wang Zhizhi, the first Chinese player in the NBA, faces a torn knee ligament ahead of the World Championships after years of estrangement from China’s national team following a refusal to play for them. Despite his rocky career, Wang hopes to still have a future in Chinese basketball and possibly the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Sumo Fitness DVD On Sale in Japan, page 7. The Japan Sumo Association released ‘Sumo Health Exercises,’ a fitness DVD featuring professional sumo wrestlers demonstrating stretches and exercises that showcase their surprising agility despite their large body mass. The DVD also includes tips for making chanko nabe, the traditional sumo stew.
• South Korea’s Lee Could Be Bound for Majors, page 7. South Korean slugger Lee Seung-yeop is having an outstanding season with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan’s Central League, leading in home runs and other categories, and is reportedly drawing interest from MLB teams including the New York Yankees. Lee previously set the Asian single-season home run record and led South Korea to the semifinals of the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
• Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward Still One of Hardest-working Steelers, page 7. Despite being a four-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl MVP, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward continues to work harder than ever at training camp, staying after practice to perfect his technique. Now 30 and the Steelers’ all-time leading receiver, Ward remains highly competitive despite his accomplished career.

Obituaries

• Sunny Isao Nishimoto, page 11. Sunny Isao Nishimoto, 84, a businessman, philanthropist, and WWII MIS veteran, died August 2 in Fresno after a life of community service in Madera, California. He was honored with a school named after his family and served as VFW post commander, and is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
• ‘Auntie’ Lily Misono Culver, page 11. Lily Misono Culver, 75, who experienced WWII internment in Arkansas as a child, passed away unexpectedly one day after being diagnosed with cancer. She had a long career at UC Berkeley and was known for her passion for the arts, community involvement, and vibrant personality, and is survived by four sisters and numerous nieces and nephews.

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