The 2006 midterms and the Watada debate inside JACL

Vol. 143, No. 10, November 17, 2006. 12 pages. View this issue

APA candidates and voters were the lead story after the 2006 elections. Lynda Lin reported that Mazie Hirono won in Hawaii as the first person born in Japan to serve in the House, bringing the total to seven APAs in the House and two in the Senate. The other major subject was 1st Lt. Ehren Watada. John Tateishi wrote twice about why he saw the case as a First Amendment issue, and Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reported the JACL national board’s 3-7 vote to keep its original statement of concern. Sebastopol’s City Council also voted to support Watada.

Elsewhere, Caroline Aoyagi-Stom profiled APA diabetics, and Lynda Lin covered Penn State students pushing for Asian American Studies. Raymond Uno wrote about Ogden’s Japantown, and Harry K. Honda described a multi-camp reunion for Amache, Poston, Topaz and Tule Lake survivors. The Sports page followed Daisuke Matsuzaka and the MLB sweep of Japan, and Lynda Lin interviewed filmmaker Ron Oda on page 9.

What’s in this issue

National

• APA Leaders Head Back to Congress with One Newly Elected Member, by Lynda Lin, page 1. The Asian Pacific American voting bloc flexed its influence in the 2006 midterm elections, reelecting established leaders and sending Mazie Hirono to Congress as the first person born in Japan to serve in the House. With Hirono’s win, there are now seven APAs in the House and two in the Senate, though APAs remain underrepresented compared to other groups.
• APA Diabetics Take Life Changing Journeys, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Anime producer Shin Kurokawa was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 35 after years of unexplained health problems, prompting him to learn everything he could about the disease. The article profiles several APA diabetics, including Kruoch, Wong, and Agbayani, highlighting the disproportionate impact of diabetes on the APA community and the importance of education and lifestyle changes.
• Penn State Students: I Want Some AA Studies!, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Penn State students have been fighting for two years to establish a permanent Asian American Studies program, with only one experimental introductory course currently offered. Despite strong student demand and full classrooms, university administrators cite limited resources and have not committed to expanding the program into a major.
• City Council Honors Watada as a ‘True American Patriot’, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Sebastopol City Council in Sonoma County unanimously approved a resolution supporting 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, citing his patriotism and calling the Iraq war illegal. Local JACL members and activists are organizing a Nov. 18 informational forum about the case since their chapter has not yet taken an official position.
• California Public Schools Leave APA Parents Behind, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A California State Auditor report found many public schools failing to meet language translation requirements for Asian Pacific American parents, despite the state’s large APA population. Advocacy groups are pushing for Assembly Bill 680 to strengthen state monitoring of language access compliance.
• API Caucus Launches Multilingual Web Site, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus launched an expanded multilingual website in Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese to improve language access for linguistically isolated communities. The initiative responds to demographic data showing high rates of limited English proficiency among API households in the state.
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff, page 3. This roundup covers several stories: nearly 800 newly discovered internment photographs by Dorothea Lange found in the National Archives; a $26 million Japantown development deal in San Francisco collapsed over land value disputes; Angel Island narrowly lost an online landmark preservation vote; Michigan’s affirmative action ban faces a court challenge; and a Yale student filed a discrimination complaint against Princeton.
• APAs in the News, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Japanese statistical mathematician Dr. Hirotugu Akaike and designer Issey Miyake received the 22nd Annual Kyoto Prizes for lifetime achievement. Additionally, Riki May Amano, president of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, announced her plans to retire by April 2007.
• APA Diabetics Learn on of Changing Lifestyles and Healthier Habits, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 4. This continuation piece profiles multiple APA individuals living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, including their diagnosis experiences and how they’ve adapted their lifestyles. Health experts emphasize that diabetes disproportionately affects the APA community and that education, diet, and exercise are critical to managing the disease.
• Penn State Students Continue Fight for AA Studies, by Lynda Lin, page 4. This continuation details student activism led by groups like the APA Caucus to pressure Penn State into permanently establishing Asian American Studies, including instructor Bao Ming Li’s uncertain course status. Students point to incidents of racism on campus and note that neighboring universities like Penn and Temple have long-established AA Studies programs.
• Applications for APAICS Fellowship Programs Now Available Online, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) has made applications for its 2007-08 fellowship programs available online due to high demand. The programs place graduate students in congressional offices, with applications due by Feb. 28, 2007.
• Watada Case Divides JACL Districts in Voting Results, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Various JACL chapter members debated the Watada case, with Honolulu and Berkeley chapters supporting increased backing while Portland’s chapter defended the current statement of concern as balanced. The U.S. Army announced it will proceed with a court martial against Watada, who faces charges of missing troop movement and conduct unbecoming an officer.
• APA Leaders Head Back to Congress with One Newly Elected Member (continued), by P.C. Staff, page 12. This continuation covers additional election results including John Chiang’s win for California state controller, Mike Honda’s reelection, and Doris Matsui winning her first full term in the House. It also covers Tammy Duckworth’s narrow defeat in Illinois and Sen. Daniel Akaka’s reelection to a fourth term despite an age-focused primary challenge.

Commentary

• A 1st Amendment Issue, by John Tateishi, page 1. JACL Executive Director John Tateishi explains that he urged the national board to support 1st Lt. Ehren Watada’s First Amendment right to express his moral convictions about the Iraq War. He describes how his views evolved over time to see the case as fundamentally about free speech rights for all Americans, including those in uniform.
• Future Leadership, by Larry Oda, page 2. JACL National President Larry Oda outlines the process for selecting a successor to Executive Director John Tateishi, describing the role of the national personnel committee chaired by Sheldon Arakaki. The position was posted in early November with a Nov. 30 deadline for applications, and the committee will recommend candidates to the national board at its February 2007 meeting.
• JACL Launches Annual Giving Campaign, by John Tateishi, page 2. JACL Executive Director John Tateishi reflects on the year’s challenges and successes as the organization launches its annual giving campaign, featuring a letter from former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. He thanks members for their continued support that enables JACL’s civil rights and educational work.
• An Innovative ‘Multi-Camp Get-Together’, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Harry Honda recounts a successful reunion for Nisei internment camp survivors from Amache, Poston, Topaz, and Tule Lake held in Sacramento, drawing 430 attendees. The event included a tour of Sacramento’s Japanese American history led by Gene Itogawa, covering figures like Manjiro and local Nihonmachi history.
• A First Amendment Issue, by John Tateishi, page 8. Tateishi elaborates further on his personal journey from writing JACL’s original ambiguous statement on Watada to becoming convinced the case represents a fundamental First Amendment issue. He argues that no American, including those in military uniform, should be denied the right to express moral conviction.

JACL

• JACL Nat’l Bd. Rejects Resolution to Increase Support for Watada; Current Statement of Concern Stands, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. The JACL national board voted 3-7 with 2 abstentions to reject a resolution that would have increased support for 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, keeping its original July statement of concern intact. The vote came as the U.S. Army announced it would proceed with a court martial against Watada for refusing deployment to Iraq.
• JACL Projects Year-end Surplus, by Lynda Lin, page 1. JACL board members meeting in San Francisco projected the organization will end the year about $80,901 under budget, largely due to unfilled staff positions. Board members outlined priorities for the coming year, including hiring new staff and better monitoring of grant-funded programs.
• JACL Calls for ’07 Scholarship Applications, by P.C. Staff, page 5. JACL announced that applications for its 2007 college scholarships, totaling over $50,000 across about 30 awards, are now available online. Freshman applications are due to chapters by March 1, 2007, while other categories must be postmarked by April 1, 2007.

Community

• Historical Society Looking for JAs Interned at Tujunga During WWII, by Paul Tsuneishi, page 2. The Little Landers Historical Society of Tujunga, California plans to place a plaque at a golf driving range honoring Japanese Americans who were imprisoned in barracks there during WWII. Organizers are seeking anyone with information about those who were held at the site.
• Japantown USA — Ogden, Utah, by Raymond Uno, page 5. Research into Ogden, Utah’s historic Japantown along 25th Street has uncovered a rich history of Japanese immigrant businesses and residences dating back to the railroad era. The history will be featured at the Wasatch Front North JACL’s 2007 Day of Remembrance event, which will include a keynote by basketball pioneer Wat Misaka and speaker Irene Hirano.
• Las Vegas Hosts Singles Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The 11th National JACL Singles Convention was held in Las Vegas Oct. 27-29 at the Plaza Hotel, featuring cultural and social activities including taiko performances, a dinner dance, and a sayonara brunch. Numerous JACL district governors and officials attended the event.
• Memorial Event to Remember All Veterans this Presidents’ Day Weekend, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Medal of Honor recipient Hiroshi ‘Hershey’ Miyamura will attend the All Veterans Reunion Feb. 16-18 in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo, which aims to unite Japanese American veterans from all wars. Proceeds will support construction of a new war memorial monument honoring JAs killed in conflicts after the Vietnam War.

Sports

• China’s Next Yao Ming Looks to 2007 NBA Draft, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Chinese basketball star Yi Jianlian, a 19-year-old forward compared to Yao Ming, received permission from his club to enter the 2007 NBA draft. He still needs approval from the Chinese Basketball Association and an exemption from age eligibility rules.
• Figure Skater Michelle Kwan Named Public Diplomacy Ambassador, by Barry Schweid, page 7. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice named figure skater Michelle Kwan, daughter of Chinese immigrants, as a nonsalaried U.S. public diplomacy ambassador. Kwan is expected to travel widely representing American values to young people and sports fans.
• Reyes Powers MLB Stars to Sweep of Japan, by Jim Armstrong, page 7. Jose Reyes hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to complete a five-game sweep of Japan by MLB All-Stars, the first such sweep in 72 years. Ryan Howard was named tour MVP with four homers and eight RBIs across the series.
• Matsuzaka Announces Intent to Go to Majors, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Star pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka had his release officially agreed to by the Seibu Lions, clearing his path to pursue a major league career. Known for his fastball and the mysterious ‘gyroball’ pitch, he has hired agent Scott Boras to negotiate with MLB teams expected to bid heavily for his rights.

Arts & Entertainment

• Telling ‘Asian Stories’: Ron Oda Battled a Tumor to Make an Asian American Film That Makes You Laugh, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Filmmaker Ron Oda made the dark comedy ‘Asian Stories, (Book 3)’ after surviving a brain tumor removal, wanting to create entertaining APA content rather than another historical drama. The film has launched the careers of actors James Kyson Lee and Kirt Kishita despite facing criticism from some in the APA community over its irreverent humor about race.

Obituaries

• In Memoriam — 2006, by P.C. Staff, page 11. This compilation includes tribute obituaries with narrative content for Theodore ‘Ted’ Ohashi, a star athlete at Stockton High and Cal who was inducted into the Stockton Athletic Hall of Fame, and Vick T. Okamoto, a youth counselor who worked with runaways in Sacramento before his death following a stroke. Both obituaries detail their life accomplishments beyond basic biographical listings.

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