Guantanamo, redress at 20, and a feedlot near Minidoka

Vol. 147, No. 5, September 5, 2008. 16 pages. View this issue

Seven years after 9/11, Lynda Lin reported on Japanese American leaders drawing lines between the World War II incarceration (often called internment) and post-9/11 detention policy. Former Army chaplain James Yee, JACL leaders and descendants of Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi and Minoru Yasui called for rights for Guantanamo detainees. Another front-page story covered a Jerome County vote approving a 13,000-heifer feedlot near the Minidoka site in Idaho.

Redress ran through the issue. JACL announced honorees for its Washington gala marking the 20th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act, chapters held commemorations, and John Tateishi wrote on the strategy behind redress. Gene Doi’s work lobbying for the act was also profiled. Elsewhere: the LPGA English rule, “slant-eye” photos from the Olympics, JACL’s stand on Proposition 8, and a feature on filmmaker Wayne Wang.

What’s in this issue

National

• 9/11 Seven Years Later: APA Leaders Draw Parallels Between Internment and War on Terror Policies, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Five years after former Army chaplain James Yee was falsely accused of espionage and detained at Guantanamo, JA leaders continue to draw parallels between wartime internment of Japanese Americans and post-9/11 government policies. Yee, along with descendants of Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Minoru Yasui, and JACL leadership are calling for restoration of civil and human rights for detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
• Animal Feedlot Near Historic Minidoka Site Gets Commission’s Approval, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Jerome County Commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a controversial 13,000-heifer feedlot near the Minidoka Internment Historic Site in Idaho, reversing an earlier rejection following a judge’s ruling. Former internees and descendants, along with the National Park Service, oppose the facility due to concerns about odor, waste management, and airborne pathogens affecting the historic site.
• JACL Opposes Same-Sex Marriage Ban in California, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. JACL has joined the ‘No on Prop 8 Equality for All’ campaign opposing a California ballot measure that would restrict marriage to a man and a woman, overturning a state Supreme Court decision. JACL leaders and partner organizations emphasize marriage as a fundamental human right for all Californians including same-sex couples.
• Proposal Seeks to Strike Alien Land Law from Florida Constitution, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Florida voters will decide in November whether to remove an obscure alien land law provision from the state constitution that historically targeted Asian immigrants ineligible for citizenship. JACL National President Larry Oda and other APA groups support the proposal, calling the law’s roots racist and outdated.
• APA Groups Condemn Teams’ ‘Slant-Eye’ Photos, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Photos surfaced of Spanish and Argentinean Olympic teams making slant-eye gestures, prompting Asian Pacific American groups including JACL and NAPABA to demand a public response from the NBA regarding its players involved. JACL National Director Floyd Mori sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee condemning the gesture as racially offensive.
• Sacramento Cancels ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ Showing After Complaints of Anti-Asian Racism, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. The city of Sacramento cancelled a planned outdoor screening of ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ after Asian Pacific American groups protested Mickey Rooney’s stereotypical portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi. The city instead showed ‘Ratatouille’ after community members rejected a proposed disclaimer and edited version.
• Hollywood Thriller ‘Cellular’ Gets Chinese Remake, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. Warner China Film HG is remaking the 2004 thriller ‘Cellular’ as a Chinese-language film called ‘Connected,’ marking the first Chinese remake of a Hollywood movie. MANAA’s Guy Aoki commented on the trend and criticized producer Roy Lee for not using Asian American actors in his own American remakes of Asian films.
• National Newsbytes, by PC. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. This roundup covers several national stories including lawmakers responding to an immigrant’s death in ICE detention, the Hanford nuclear reactor’s designation as a National Historic Landmark, a University of Hawaii gay housing lawsuit settlement, an Ohio man sentenced for racially hateful letters, a Manhattan nightclub lawsuit over firing of minorities, and increased Asian representation in the NFL. Each brief provides details on the respective incidents and their outcomes.
• Report: High Family Conflict Leads to Higher Rates of Suicide in APAs, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. A UC Davis study found that interpersonal conflict in Asian Pacific American families significantly increases suicide risk, with nearly 3 percent of surveyed APAs having attempted suicide. Researchers Stanley Sue and Janice Cheng emphasize the need for further research into family conflict as a factor in APA suicide prevention.
• Minority Coalition Demands HIV/AIDS Nat’l Strategy From Presidential Candidates, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. Over 30 national organizations representing minority communities, including APAs, have united to demand that presidential candidates Obama and McCain support a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy. The coalition formulated a seven-point action plan addressing data collection, awareness, and prevention methods.
• 9/11 Seven Years Later (continued): Similar Experiences and JACL Action, by Lynda Lin, page 10. This continuation piece details how descendants of Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Minoru Yasui have filed amicus briefs supporting Guantanamo detainees’ rights, drawing parallels to WWII internment. It also covers JACL’s national convention resolution supporting detainee rights and interpreter Mahvish Khan’s account of visiting Guantanamo detainees.
• Minidoka Feedlot Approval Continued: Environmental Impact and Legacy, page 13. This continuation details Friends of Minidoka’s push for an environmental impact study on the approved feedlot near the historic site, and Commissioner Diana Obenauer’s dissenting vote against the project. The article also explores the legacy of Minidoka for Yonsei descendants like Emily Momohara and ongoing efforts by JACL and community groups to challenge the county commission’s decision.

Commentary

• Bridging the APA Divide, by Lynda Lin, page 1. The article explores derogatory labels like ‘FOB’ and ‘Twinkie’ that Asian Pacific Americans use to divide themselves into subgroups based on acculturation levels, which experts describe as a form of internalized racism. Sociologist Karen Pyke and various APA individuals share their experiences with these divisions across college campuses and communities nationwide.
• A Silver Lining to a Legacy of Leadership, by Brandon Mita, page 2. Brandon Mita reflects on JACL’s history of civil rights advocacy and urges support for a North Korean human rights resolution passed at the national convention in Salt Lake City. He describes the extensive youth-led campaign effort by the National Youth/Student Council to educate delegates and pass the resolution.
• Funds Should Go Towards Turlock Monument, by Stanley N. Kanzaki, page 2. A letter writer questions the plan to donate excess funds raised for a Turlock Detention Center monument to local JACL chapters rather than using them to enhance the monument itself. The writer suggests the money could be better used for a larger monument or beautification of the surrounding area.
• Replacement ‘Nihonmachi’ CDs are Now Available, by Soji Kashiwagi, page 2. A technical error was discovered on track 19 of the ‘Nihonmachi: The Place to Be’ original cast CD sold at the JACL national convention. Replacement copies are now available free of charge from the Grateful Crane Ensemble.
• Re: ‘Is it Too Late for Black Reparations?’, by Florence Dobashi, page 2. A letter writer argues that if Japanese American internment reparations are used as precedent for black reparations, advocates should note that JA reparations were only given to those alive when the law took effect. She suggests the same precedent should apply to black reparations.
• All-Japanese Girl, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 8. In this personal essay, Yumi Sakugawa reflects on her experience living in Japan and her evolving desire to be perceived as more authentically Japanese, a reversal from her childhood wish to be seen as more American. She explores themes of identity, language, and the ‘biracial middle’ of Japanese American identity.
• Liberty and Justice … for Whom?, by John Tateishi, page 8. John Tateishi reflects on the political strategy behind Japanese American redress, particularly the importance of securing both an apology and monetary compensation despite opposition. He draws parallels to Congressman Steve Cohen’s recent slavery apology resolution and John Conyers’ HR 40 reparations bill, suggesting JA redress may serve as a model for future civil rights movements including Muslim and Arab American redress.

Sports

• APA Groups Blast LPGA New Rule Requiring Intl. Players to Speak English, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 1. Starting in 2009, the LPGA will require international players to pass an oral English evaluation or face suspension, a policy critics say targets South Korean players who make up a large portion of the tour. JACL National Director Floyd Mori and other APA groups condemned the rule as discriminatory, while some players like Angela Park and Seon-Hwa Lee say it could benefit the tour.

Community

• In the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. This roundup covers APA achievements including Olympic decathlete Bryan Clay receiving his own day in Hawaii, WWII veteran Mas Odoi being honored as Pioneer of the Year, JACL Credit Union YouTube contest winners, Masaaki Tanaka’s appointment to JANM’s board, James Tanabe receiving a community service award, and Miles Nakahara being named Wildlife Officer of the Year. Each brief highlights individual accomplishments within the APA community.
• WWII Infantrymen May Apply for Bronze Star Medal, page 6. The U.S. Army Human Resources Command reminds WWII infantrymen who served in ground combat that they remain eligible to apply for a Bronze Star Medal under Army Regulation 600-8-22. Next of kin can apply for posthumous awards, and specific documentation requirements are outlined for applicants.
• Nisei Week Festival Pride, page 6. On the 20th anniversary of Redress, the Nisei Week Foundation honored JACL and the Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress with community service awards for their roles in the Redress Movement. The Nisei Week festival, established in 1934, is the longest-running ethnic festival in the United States.
• San Jose, San Francisco JACL Commemorate Passage of CLA, page 7. Two JACL chapters hosted events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act, featuring panel discussions with former Sec. of Transportation Norman Mineta and former JACL National Director John Tateishi. Speakers drew connections between JA redress and contemporary civil liberties issues facing Arab and Muslim communities post-9/11.
• Pasadena Honors Memory of WWII MOH Recipient Joe Hayashi, page 7. The city of Pasadena dedicated a plaque honoring WWII Medal of Honor recipient Joe Hayashi on what would have been his 88th birthday, marking him as the city’s only Medal of Honor recipient. Hayashi was killed in action in Italy in 1945 leading his squad in an attack, and his family was interned at Heart Mountain during the war.
• Doi Awarded Inaugural ‘Order of the Dogwood’ for Redress Efforts, page 7. Gene Doi received the first ‘Order of the Dogwood’ award from the Southeast JACL for her key role in securing the 1988 Civil Liberties Act, including persistently lobbying Georgia Rep. Pat Swindall for his crucial swing vote. Doi’s advocacy began as a teenager interned at Manzanar, where she wrote to President Roosevelt about poor camp conditions.

JACL

• JACL Announces Gala Honorary Committee, page 6. JACL announced its honorary committee for the second annual National JACL Gala Dinner in Washington, D.C., featuring numerous senators, representatives, and civil rights leaders. The gala will honor ‘Champions of Redress’ including Norman Mineta, John Tateishi, Grayce Uyehara, and the American Jewish Committee on the 20th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act.
• PSW Announces New Fellowship Opportunity, page 6. The Pacific Southwest JACL is seeking applicants for its new Mike Honda Fellowship Program, focused on advocacy and public policy for the JACL National Youth/Student Council. The fellowship is funded by a $25,000 grant from Southern California Edison and named after Congressman Mike Honda.

Arts & Entertainment

• The Return of Wayne Wang, by Lynda Lin, page 9. After years working on mainstream Hollywood films like ‘Maid in Manhattan,’ filmmaker Wayne Wang returns to independent and APA-focused filmmaking with ‘A Thousand Years of Good Prayers’ and ‘The Princess of Nebraska.’ Wang discusses his career trajectory since ‘The Joy Luck Club,’ his personal connection to themes of family, and his complex relationship with both Hollywood and the APA community.

Obituaries

• Alice A. Morita, page 15. Alice Morita, 80, passed away on Aug. 29, 2008, after a career as an elementary school teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District. She is survived by her daughter, son, grandson, brother, and sisters, with a memorial service held at San Fernando Holiness Church.
• Toru Shiraki, page 15. Toru Shiraki, 93, passed away peacefully on Aug. 22, survived by his wife Tatsuko, children Phillip and Evelyn, and brother Spud. A private funeral service was held at Kubota Nikkei Mortuary with Rev. William Briones officiating.

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