Vol. 141, No. 6, September 16, 2005. 12 pages. View this issue
Asian language schools and Asian sports leagues were the subject of the front-page feature by Lynda Lin, which asked whether activities that preserve heritage for young Asian Pacific Americans also foster an ethnocentric attitude. Alongside it, JACL Executive Director John Tateishi wrote about a court ruling allowing indefinite detention of Jose Padilla, drew parallels to the World War II incarceration (often called internment) of Japanese Americans, and announced that JACL will draft an amicus brief. Davis, Calif. was also considering naming an elementary school after Fred T. Korematsu.
Other pages cover the Tri-District conference in Irvine, Calif. and a board forum on membership, and JACL’s support for same-sex marriage. Harry Honda compared Hurricane Katrina to Executive Order 9066, while Topaz honored its veterans with a new monument. Sports include Hideki Matsui and Pat Hurst, and Amy E. Ikeda interviewed Katie Leung.
What’s in this issue
National
- Court Sides With Bush in Holding ‘Dirty Bomb’ Suspect, by Associated Press and Pacific Citizen Staff, page 1. A federal appeals court ruled that the Bush administration can continue to hold Jose Padilla indefinitely as an enemy combatant, reversing a lower court order. JACL, which had previously filed an amicus brief in the case, said it would consider filing another brief if the decision is appealed to the Supreme Court.’
- U.S. Monument Chinaman’s Arch to be Renamed Chinese Arch, by Associated Press, page 1. Utah county officials agreed to support a Chinese American group’s effort to rename Chinaman’s Arch at the Golden Spike National Historic Site to Chinese Arch. The formation is believed to be named after Chinese laborers who helped build the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s.
- AA Leaders Criticize State Rights Commission Task Force Report, by Anne Kim, Associated Press, page 3. Asian American students and community leaders criticized a Washington State Human Rights Commission task force report on WSU’s handling of a racial harassment complaint by student Nina Kim against two basketball players. Critics say the report unfairly blamed the victim, while the commission’s executive director defended the report as objective and fact-based.
- APA News Briefs, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Al Muratsuchi announced his candidacy for the Torrance Unified School District Board of Education; Sharon Inouye joined Harvard Medical School as director of the Aging Brain Center; and Roger Minami was named the first Asian American director of the DOT’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. Each briefs covers the career achievements of these Japanese American professionals.
Commentary
- The Case of Jose Padilla, by John Tateishi, page 1. JACL Executive Director John Tateishi discusses the 4th Circuit Court ruling allowing indefinite detention of Jose Padilla, arguing it threatens constitutional due process rights for all citizens. He draws parallels to the WWII internment of Japanese Americans and announces JACL will draft an amicus brief for the expected Supreme Court appeal.
- Letter: Re: Ben Kuroki, page 2. A reader from Canton, OH writes in response to an article about Ben Kuroki, expressing disappointment that his autobiography ‘A Boy From Nebraska’ was not mentioned. The reader suggests younger generations would find his family’s pre-war struggles of great interest.
- Hurricane Katrina: Haunting Shadow of E.O. 9066, by Harry Honda, page 8. Columnist Harry Honda draws parallels between the forced evacuation of Japanese Americans from Terminal Island after Pearl Harbor and the displacement of Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans. He recounts the 48-hour evacuation notice given to Terminal Island fishing families in 1942 and questions the government’s handling of both crises.
Community
- Keeping the ‘Old’ in School, Sports, by Lynda Lin, page 1. The article explores how Asian language schools and Asian sports leagues shape identity for young Asian Pacific Americans, examining both the cultural benefits and the risk of fostering ethnocentric attitudes in today’s growing ethnic enclaves. It features interviews with families and community members about balancing heritage and integration into mainstream American society.
- School May be Named After Civil Rights Legend, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. A new elementary school in Davis, Calif. may be named after Fred T. Korematsu, the civil rights pioneer who challenged WWII Japanese American internment. Community groups including JACL Florin chapter testified in support of naming the school after Korematsu, who died in March at age 86.
- Topaz Honors its Veterans, page 8. The Topaz Memorial Committee erected a new monument honoring approximately 350 veterans’ names, with plans to add newly submitted names. Those wishing to submit additional names were directed to contact the committee via email or mail.
- Mayor of Japanese Hero’s Hometown Visits Houston Exhibit, page 8. Mayor Shingo Akatsuka of Yaotsu Town, Japan visited Holocaust Museum Houston to view an exhibit honoring Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese diplomat who saved thousands of Jews during WWII by issuing visas against his government’s orders. Akatsuka presented the museum with 1,000 paper cranes made from copies of the visas Sugihara wrote.
JACL
- Women Take Center Stage at Tri-District, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. The PSW/NCWNP/CC Tri-District conference in Irvine, Calif. focused on honoring women’s accomplishments, careers, and community activism within JACL. ACLU Southern California executive director Ramona Ripston spoke about the ongoing fight for women’s rights as part of the conference’s opening events.
- Effecting Change in the Fight for Equal Rights, by Lynda Lin, page 1. The article covers JACL’s historic support of same-sex marriage as California became the first state legislature to pass a same-sex marriage bill, only to have Gov. Schwarzenegger announce he would veto it. Activist Ed Velasquez and JACL President Ken Inouye discuss the civil rights parallels and the ongoing fight for equal marriage rights.
- JACL Announces 2005 Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellow, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Michelle Sugi of Apple Valley, Calif. was named the recipient of the 2005 Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellowship, which will place her in Sen. Daniel Inouye’s office for three and a half months. Sugi, a UCLA public health graduate, plans to attend medical school after her fellowship.
- Members, National Board Engage in Forum Dialogue, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. At the PSW/NCWNP/CC Tri-district conference, JACL national board members addressed member concerns about declining membership and staffing during a forum moderated by former National Vice President Gary Mayeda. Topics discussed included the possibility of an annual convention, membership drives, youth engagement, finances, and the relaunch of the national website.
In-Depth
- Old School: Keeping Cultural Identity Through Language and Sports, by Lynda Lin, page 1. This in-depth feature examines how Asian language schools and Asian sports leagues like the CYC serve as cultural bridges for Asian Pacific American youth, drawing on interviews with families in Arcadia, Los Angeles, and San Jose. The piece explores concerns that these ethnic enclaves and structured activities, while preserving heritage, may also foster insularity that could hinder acculturation into more diverse settings like elite universities.
Sports
- Matsui Connects for No. 400 Combined, by Mike Fitzpatrick, AP Sports Writer, page 7. Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui hit his 400th combined professional home run on Sept. 7 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, adding to his totals from his career with the Yomiuri Giants. Matsui also hit a two-run double as the Yankees rallied to win the game 5-4.
- Report: Sumo Reaches its Limit for Foreign Wrestlers, page 7. A rule limiting sumo stables to one foreign wrestler each means there are currently no openings for new foreign wrestlers in Japan’s ancient sport. Foreign wrestlers have increasingly dominated sumo’s elite ranks, led by Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu, as Japan hasn’t had a Japanese grand champion since 2003.
- Big Island Long Distance Canoe Race Grows and Grows, by Karin Stanton, Associated Press, page 7. The Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Canoe Race, now considered the world’s largest long distance canoe race, has grown from a handful of Hawaii clubs in 1971 to over 240 crews from around the world including Hong Kong and California. Organizers and international paddlers say the sport is gaining global popularity and could eventually become an Olympic event.
- Hurst Wins LPGA State Farm Classic, by P.C. Staff and the Associated Press, page 7. Pat Hurst won the LPGA State Farm Classic on Sept. 4, beating Cristie Kerr by three strokes after finishing with a 2-under 70. The victory was Hurst’s fourth LPGA Tour win and first since 2000, coming just before she headed to the Solheim Cup matches.
Arts & Entertainment
- Katie Leung: Harry Potter’s Cho Chang, by Amy E. Ikeda, page 9. Scottish actress Katie Leung discusses landing the role of Cho Chang in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ after her father encouraged her to audition, and shares her experiences on set with the cast including Daniel Radcliffe. Leung talks about growing up as a child of Chinese immigrants in Scotland and her plans to pursue university studies alongside acting.
Obituaries
- Obituaries, page 11. This week’s obituary listings include tribute to Minoru ‘Doc’ Ota, a WWII-era veterinarian who served as a project veterinarian at Heart Mountain and was recognized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998 for his role in Nisei baseball. Numerous other community members are also listed among the deceased with their surviving family members.
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