Celebrating Redress and the debate over affirmative action

Vol. 146, No. 4, March 7, 2008. 16 pages. View this issue

Redress and affirmative action shared the front page of this 16-page issue. Lynda Lin asked where Asian Americans stand as campaigns in five states aimed to put anti-affirmative action measures on November ballots, and she followed a University of Maryland student’s Facebook group on the topic. A series on Redress continued with Elaine Low’s interview of Bill Yoshino, JACL Midwest director, who described building the national campaign that led to the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. John Tateishi’s column compared broken promises to immigrant soldiers with the Filipino veterans denied benefits.

Also inside: Lynda Lin’s report on how JACL helped an Idaho Falls coffee shop owner who received threatening calls, a story on the premiere of the documentary Passing Poston, and Idaho’s seventh Day of Remembrance signing. Details of the July convention in Salt Lake City and a Redress-themed internship appear on pages 7 and 12.

What’s in this issue

National

• As Groups Are Poised to Expand Anti-Affirmative Action Measures, Where Do APAs Stand?, by Lynda Lin, page 1. A University of Maryland student started a Facebook group called ‘Asians Against Affirmative Action’ after observing admissions disparities, drawing nearly 1,000 members. The article explores a broader campaign led by Ward Connerly to place anti-affirmative action measures on ballots in five states in November, raising questions about the impact on underrepresented minority students.’
• Anti-Asian Column Becomes Rallying Cry for Colorado Student Community, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. A racist opinion column by student editor Max Karson in the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Campus Press sparked outrage among Asian American students, prompting a peace rally and demands for the chancellor’s action. Students are pushing for resignations and economic sanctions against the publication despite apologies and promised diversity training.
• Still No Suspects Two Months After Beating of WSU Korean American Student, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Nearly two months after Korean American WSU student Kyle Descher was beaten and had his jaw broken, no witnesses have come forward despite the attack occurring in a crowded bar. The incident has prompted a reward fund, a campus rally against hate crimes, and city efforts to crack down on violence in the College Hill neighborhood.
• Bill Contesting One-Mile CAFO Testimony Rule Heads to Trial, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 3. An Idaho bill that would expand who can testify at public hearings on confined animal feeding operations advanced out of a Senate committee, inspired partly by a proposed feedlot near the Minidoka Internment National Monument. Supporters argue the current one-mile testimony radius unfairly restricts affected property owners from speaking at hearings.
• Senators Ponder Bill to Award Benefits to Filipino WWII Veterans, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 4. Sen. Barack Obama voiced support for S. 1315, a bill to award pension benefits to Filipino World War II veterans who fought under the U.S. flag, while Republican Sen. Richard Burr opposes the measure. The bill seeks to address decades of denied benefits stemming from the 1946 Rescission Act.
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. A roundup of national news briefs covers a candlelight vigil for artist Michael Cho who was shot by police, California’s Supreme Court hearing on gay marriage, a Vietnamese American naming dispute in San Jose, honorary degrees for interned UW students, and Congressional criticism of CNN and MSNBC’s lack of APA coverage.
• APAs Stand? (continued coverage on affirmative action ballot measures), by Lynda Lin, page 11. The article continues coverage of the ‘Super Tuesday for Equality’ campaign to place anti-affirmative action measures on ballots in five states, detailing legal challenges in Oklahoma and a failed legislative attempt in Nebraska. It highlights divided opinions within the APA community about whether affirmative action helps or harms Asian Americans.

Community

• Idaho Falls Business Owners, JACL Come Together to Fight Hate, by Lynda Lin, page 1. A coffee shop owner in Idaho Falls received threatening phone calls with mock Asian accents and a bomb threat, traced to two adolescent boys. The JACL got involved after the owner reached out, pushing for a more culturally sensitive investigation despite police calling it random prank calls rather than a hate crime.
• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. This roundup covers the reinstatement of a Seattle arts center director after racially charged remarks, changes to the national JACL board including new appointments, Judge Raymond Uno receiving a lifetime achievement award, Ted Yoneda’s induction into a baseball hall of fame, and Akemi Kikumura Yano’s appointment as JANM’s new CEO.
• Workshop Brings WWII JA Experience Into Classrooms, page 5. Educators from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. took part in the first East Coast teacher training workshop on the WWII Japanese American experience organized by the Go For Broke National Education Center. The workshop covered the internment, the 100th Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and encouraged classroom visits to the National Japanese American Memorial.
• Indian Tribe, Former Internees Attend Premiere of ‘Passing Poston’, page 5. Members of the Colorado River Indian Tribe and former Poston internees gathered for the world premiere of the documentary ‘Passing Poston’ in Parker, Arizona. The film features testimonials from four former internees discussing the difficulty of reconciling their wartime incarceration experiences.
• Idaho Governor’s Office Holds 7th Day of Remembrance Signing Ceremony, page 5. For the seventh consecutive year, the Idaho Governor’s office held a signing ceremony proclaiming Feb. 19 as a Day of Remembrance, with about 40 attendees including former internees, veterans, and JACL members. Gov. Butch Otter was represented by senior staff member Bob Wells, and the Boise Valley JACL hosted a luncheon following the ceremony.

JACL

• Scholarships Offer Financial Relief, Insight Into Community — Legacies, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Two new JACL memorial scholarships, honoring the late Deni Uejima and Grace Andow, aim to help students facing rising college costs. Scholarship recipients describe how the financial and symbolic support has eased their academic burdens.
• Committee Approves Illinois State Resolution Supporting Nisei Veterans Stamp, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. An Illinois House committee unanimously approved a resolution urging the U.S. Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp honoring Nisei WWII veterans, following similar resolutions in Hawaii and California. The national campaign hopes to see the stamp issued as early as 2010.
• PSWD Announces ‘Project: Community!’, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Pacific Southwest District of JACL and the Nikkei Federation’s Rising Stars program launched ‘Project: Community!’ to empower youth voices in Little Tokyo through interactive workshops. The program runs weekly sessions for high school students over the summer, also engaging parents in discussions of identity and community preservation.
• Start Planning for the Minoru Yasui Oratorical Competition, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 7. JACL districts are encouraged to begin promoting the Minoru Yasui Oratorical Competition ahead of the national convention in Salt Lake City in July. The competition, named for civil rights activist Minoru Yasui, challenges youth participants to address issues of ethnic and generational diversity within the JA community.
• JACL to Hold 40th Biennial Convention in Salt Lake City, page 7. Utah JACL chapters will host the organization’s 40th biennial convention, themed ‘Legacy of Leadership,’ from July 16-20 in Salt Lake City. The convention will feature workshops, a Redress-themed plenary session marking the 20th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act, youth activities, and the Minoru Yasui Oratorical Contest.
• New JACL Internship Is Named After Redress Icons, page 12. JACL will unveil the Grayce and Hiroshi Uyehara Legislative Internship Program at its national convention, honoring the Philadelphia community leaders who played major roles in the Redress campaign. The national board voted to implement the previously authorized but never-launched internship, which offers a 10-week summer placement in JACL’s D.C. office.

Commentary

• Another Reason for Decline in Membership, by Kuni Takayama, page 2. A reader criticizes JACL’s support for Ehren Watada, arguing it has damaged the organization’s reputation among Nisei veterans and contributed to membership decline. The writer urges JACL to stay neutral on the ongoing legal battle between Watada and the U.S. Army.
• 25th Anniversary of D.C. Leadership Program, by David Kawamoto, page 2. The writer reflects on the JACL Washington, D.C. Leadership Program, marking its 25th anniversary and noting its role in producing many JACL leaders including new Membership Coordinator Tim Koide. The piece credits John Tateishi and Ron Ikejiri with founding the program in the 1980s.
• 442nd Vet Continues to Support Watada, by Eiji Suyama, page 2. A 442nd veteran voices support for Lt. Ehren Watada’s legal and moral challenge to the Iraq War, framing it as consistent with defending one’s country even against government wrongdoing. He acknowledges many Nikkei view Watada’s actions as an embarrassment but stands behind his courage.
• A Debt of Gratitude to Ted Tsukahara, by JACL Investment Policy Committee, page 2. The JACL Investment Policy Committee honors Ted Tsukahara for his years of service as chair, crediting his financial expertise with stabilizing JACL’s investment portfolios. The tribute highlights his commitment to mentoring new board members and encouraging new leadership within the committee.
• Be Informed, by Floyd Mori, page 2. National Director Floyd Mori responds to complaints that JACL members are not kept informed, pointing to the Pacific Citizen newspaper, JACL website, action alerts, and a new national blog as available resources. He encourages members to use these channels to stay updated on organizational news and issues.
• Education Efforts in JACL CC District, by Bob Taniguchi, page 6. The Livingston-Merced JACL chapter describes the success of teacher training workshops that brought Nisei internment survivors into classrooms to share their experiences with students. The initiative has grown into over 120 classroom visits and inspired a local group to create a permanent museum exhibit and book on the JA experience in Merced County.
• Empty Promises … Once Again, by John Tateishi, page 8. John Tateishi draws a parallel between unfulfilled promises to immigrant soldiers seeking citizenship after Iraq service and the decades-long failure to compensate Filipino WWII veterans stripped of benefits by the 1946 Rescission Act. He criticizes Congress for allowing the Filipino Veterans Equity Act to languish despite the veterans’ advancing age.
• Root Finding, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 8. A recent UCLA graduate teaching English in Japan reflects on her quest to find her cultural roots by living with extended family, and the complicated emotions that arose from the reality versus the idealized fantasy. She concludes that alongside finding one’s roots, it’s equally important to grow up and look forward.

In-Depth

• ‘We Owe Them a Great Deal of Gratitude’, by Elaine Low, page 3. JACL Midwest Director Bill Yoshino reflects on his key role in the Redress movement, working alongside John Tateishi to build a national campaign that led to the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Yoshino recounts the difficulty of the decade-long effort and credits the Nisei generation’s resilience for inspiring the fight for redress.

Arts & Entertainment

• Let’s Dance!, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Olympic figure skating champion Kristi Yamaguchi is competing on ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ balancing an intense rehearsal schedule with her partner Mark Ballas. Family and friends express confidence in her competitive spirit despite the technical challenges of transitioning from ice skating to ballroom dance.

Sports

• Americans Go 1-2-3 at Junior World Figure Skating Championships, page 10. American skaters Rachael Flatt, Caroline Zhang, and Mirai Nagasu swept the medals at the junior world figure skating championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, marking the second consecutive year of a U.S. sweep. All three had placed highly at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships but were too young to compete at the senior worlds.
• South Korean-Born Player Says He’ll Walk On at Nebraska, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 10. Seung Hoon Choi, a South Korean-born offensive lineman who didn’t start playing football until his sophomore year of high school, has been invited to walk on to the University of Nebraska football team. Standing 6-foot-2 and over 320 pounds, Choi overcame language barriers and shyness to become a standout player known for his exceptional strength.

Obituaries

• Johnnie Carr, a Leader of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Dies at 97, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 15. Johnnie Carr, who joined childhood friend Rosa Parks in the Montgomery bus boycott and later led the Montgomery Improvement Association, died at age 97 after a stroke. JACL leaders including National Director Floyd Mori and National President Larry Oda praised her lifelong civil rights activism.
• Hawaiian Music Icon Aunty Genoa Leilani Keawe Dies at 89, by Associated Press, page 15. Genoa Leilani Keawe, a beloved and enduring voice in traditional Hawaiian music, died in her sleep at home at age 89. She recorded more than 20 albums and 150 singles over a career that began in 1939 and took her performances across Asia, Canada, Europe, and beyond.
• Albert Yoshitaka Nakai, page 15. Albert Yoshitaka Nakai, a pioneering Bay Area flower grower who was incarcerated at Poston during WWII, died at age 90 in Redwood City. He was active in the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple and the Sequoia JACL chapter, and is survived by his wife Sally and extended family.
• Margaret H. Kawaichi, page 15. Margaret Himeko Kawaichi, the 1938 Nisei Week Queen, died peacefully at age 93 after a life that included raising a family in Wichita, Kansas following WWII and remaining active in her church and community. She is survived by three children, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

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