Vol. 76, No. 25, June 29, 1973. 6 pages. View this issue
A racial slur on a personalized license plate and a dispute over JACL’s Pan-Asian resolution were the main subjects of this six-page issue. JACL National Director David Ushio met with California DMV Director Robert Cozens about recalling the plates. The DMV said it could not act without a regulation, so JACL turned to the legislature or the courts. Katie Choy and Ben Takeshita reported on Asian American groups in San Francisco that challenged the resolution, and Ushio faced more than 100 people at Glide Memorial Church. Robert Takasugi covered the Asian Law Caucus declining a $2,500 JACL offer.
Also inside: a pilgrimage of about 25 Midwesterners to the Rohwer and Jerome camp sites in Arkansas, a column by Bill Hosokawa on Sansei graduates and college, Barry Matsumoto’s list of congressional bills, and S.I. Hayakawa’s criticism of a court ruling. Chapter news covers an Issei appreciation night and a graduates’ beach outing.
What’s in this issue
National
- Offensive Plates Recalled: JACL Seeks Help from Legislature or Court, If Not from Owner, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL’s David Ushio met with California DMV Director Robert Cozens to discuss recalling personalized license plates bearing an offensive slur. The DMV said it could not act without a regulation, so JACL is pursuing legislative or court remedies.
- Interim Board Actions Highlights, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL National Board’s June 20-23 interim session in San Francisco addressed chapter services, guidelines, and budget matters. The board considered several proposals affecting district councils and chapter programs.
- Pan-Asian Resolution Draws Heat, by Katie Choy, page 2. Asian American groups in San Francisco challenged JACL’s Pan-Asian resolution and its claim to be the only national Asian American organization. Critics argued JACL was overstepping by representing all Asian Americans without consultation.
- Asian Law Caucus Refuses JACL Offer of $2,500 Service Contract, by Robert Takasugi, page 2. The Asian Law Caucus of Oakland declined a $2,500 JACL offer to support its legal assistance services, citing its position paper. The dispute traces back to a 1972 convention proposal and the handling of the Endowment Fund.
- Pan-Asianism: Continued from Page 2, by Ben Takeshita, page 3. Ben Takeshita, editor of the Contra Costa JACL Newsletter, describes attending a San Francisco meeting of the Asian Coalition for Action that confronted JACL leadership. He discusses the criticisms raised about the Pan-Asian resolution and the gerontology project.
- Hayakawa Rips State Court Ruling on Demonstrators, by P.C. Staff, page 3. San Francisco State University president S.I. Hayakawa criticized a California Supreme Court decision overturning convictions of demonstrators from a 1969 campus riot. He argued the court’s ruling ignored the threat of violence on campus.
Community
- Eden Issei Center to Mark First Year, by Fred Nitta, page 1. The Eden Issei Center in Watsonville prepared to celebrate its first anniversary with a senior program. The center serves older Japanese Americans in the community.
- Challenge: Ushio Faces Asian American Coalition Demands, by P.C. Staff, page 3. At the Glide Memorial Church meeting, David Ushio faced over 100 Asian Americans who demanded JACL withdraw brochures claiming to be the only national Asian American organization. Ushio agreed to correct the brochure language and revise the gerontology proposal.
- Issei Day Celebration Honors Pioneers, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Contra Costa JACL held its annual Issei appreciation night at J.F. Kennedy High School in April, with nearly 900 attendees. The event honored the Issei and included entertainment and a sing-along.
- Graduates Honored at West Valley Beach Outing, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The West Valley JACL held a beach outing at Zmudowski State Beach in June that also honored graduating seniors. The chapter’s Ushio speech at its May meeting emphasized making JACL’s presence felt on civil rights issues.
Commentary
- Letters: Manzanar Plaque and Radio Talk Show Controversy, by Johnny Heater, page 2. A San Diego reader criticizes a KABC radio talk show host and her guest for remarks about Japanese Americans and Manzanar. The writer calls for the community to stop giving the program attention.
- From the Frying Pan: Sansei Psychology, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa reports on anxieties expressed by Denver Sansei graduates about entering college and facing racial prejudice. He reflects on how these concerns may be unfounded in some cases.
- Endowment Fund to Preserve Gains, by P.C. Staff, page 4. JACL urges members to remember the National Endowment Trust Fund in their wills and estate planning. The fund is described as a living memorial to Japanese Americans and a way to support future work.
- Washington Wrap-Up: Pan-Asian Community Concerns, by Ben Takeshita, page 5. A commentary covers continuing debate over JACL’s Pan-Asian resolution and the organization’s direction. The author calls for sincerity and a change of course from national leadership.
Incarceration & Redress
- Midwesterners Visit Rohwer Camp Memorial Day, by P.C. Staff, page 2. About 25 Midwesterners made a Memorial Day pilgrimage to the Rohwer and Jerome WWII camp sites in Arkansas. They attended services at the Rohwer monument, which honors Nisei GIs and the camp cemetery.
- Congressional Bills of Interest to Japanese Americans, by Barry Matsumoto, page 4. A compilation of federal bills affecting Japanese Americans covers civil service retirement credit, Social Security wage credits, and a Cabinet Committee for Asian American Affairs. Each entry lists the sponsor, status, and synopsis.
Military & Veterans
- Army ROTC Scholarships Offered to High School Seniors, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Army ROTC program advertised four-year scholarships covering tuition, books, lab fees, and a monthly stipend. Interested high school seniors were invited to inquire.
In-Depth
- The Nuremberg Fallacy: War and War Crimes Reviewed, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A book review examines Eugene Davidson’s The Nuremberg Fallacy, which questions the legal and moral basis of the war crimes trials after World War II. The review considers how the principles have been applied inconsistently since.
Arts & Entertainment
- Mochi Pounding and Celebration in Little Tokyo, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Community events in Los Angeles and San Francisco feature Japanese cultural activities including traditional dance, music, and art exhibits. Organizers invited the public to participate.
Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.