Vol. 68, No. 8, February 21, 1969. 6 pages. View this issue
Plans for the Japanese immigration centennial led this six-page issue. James Murakami reported on a California State historical landmark dedication at Coloma on June 7, with a banquet in Sacramento that evening, while the 25 chapters of the NC-WNDC district council approved quotas to raise 40 percent of the JACL budget of $147,000. National JACL President Jerry Enomoto wrote about understanding striking students at San Francisco State. Ray Uno was named to direct the civil rights program for JACL.
Elsewhere, Fred Korematsu spoke to an Asian American ethnic studies class at UC Berkeley about resisting the forced removal and his Supreme Court case. Spark Matsunaga wrote on peace, Bill Hosokawa on Denver’s sister city tie to Takayama, and Karen L. Sumida on courage. Inside are also bowling tournament news, scholarship and fellowship notices, and a public apology on Gardena statistics.
What’s in this issue
Community
- Centennial Dedication Set for Coloma June 7; Banquet to Follow in Sacramento, by P.C. Staff, page 1. James Murakami reported on the Japanese immigration centennial plans, including a state historical landmark dedication at Coloma on June 7 and a banquet in Sacramento that evening. The California legislature and Governor Reagan both recognized the centennial year.
- NC-WNDC Chapters Approve Quotas to Raise 40% of JACL Budget of $147,000, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 25 chapters of the Northern California-Western Nevada JACL District Council adopted national JACL budget quotas at their first quarterly meeting in Stockton. The council also approved a district budget and a 30-cent per member assessment for 1969.
- Public Apology on Gardena Statistics, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Citizen apologized for a prior headline claiming one in four Gardena High Sansei were arrested on narcotics charges, which misread statistics cited by Mas Fukai. The correct statistic was that one in four Gardena students arrested for narcotics was Japanese American, and Fukai had actually praised Gardena Sansei achievements.
- East LA JACL Awards Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Jo Ann Miyamoto received the East Los Angeles JACL scholarship at the Roosevelt High School honors assembly. She plans to study home economics at East Los Angeles College.
- JACL Bowlers to Hear Patsy Mink at Award Dinner, by Phil Matsumura, page 2. The 23rd National JACL Bowling Tournament will be held at Futurama Lanes in San Jose, with an awards banquet featuring Rep. Patsy Mink. The article previews the tournament format and events.
- San Francisco JACL Members Volunteer as Grade School Tutors, by P.C. Staff, page 2. San Francisco JACL’s tutorial project with Glide Tutoring Service has assigned several volunteers to third and fourth grade students at John Swett and Emerson Elementary schools. More volunteers are needed and training courses are offered.
National
- Understanding Students, by Jerry Enomoto, page 2. Enomoto defends his earlier support for Acting President Hayakawa’s efforts at San Francisco State and calls for understanding of striking students’ legitimate demands. He argues that complex campus issues must be addressed without simplification and that Nisei activists deserve a hearing.
JACL
- Ray Uno Named to JACL Staff to Direct Civil Rights Program, by P.C. Staff, page 2. National JACL President Jerry Enomoto appointed Raymond S. Uno of Salt Lake City as a part-time retainer staff member for the civil rights program. Uno, a Utah attorney and former Salt Lake JACL president, will assist chapters pending selection of a full-time staff person.
- Time to File for JACL-JAL Fellowships, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Japan Air Lines is offering four fellowships for study at Sophia University for a third straight year, with applications open to JACL and Jr. JACL members. Chapters must nominate semi-finalists by May 2.
Incarceration & Redress
- Sansei Hear Fred Korematsu, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Fred Korematsu spoke to the Asian American ethnic studies class at UC Berkeley about his personal experiences resisting the Japanese American evacuation and his Supreme Court case. A panel including Gordon Hirabayashi, Kenji Fujii, and others also discussed evacuation and JACL’s role.
Military & Veterans
- Army G-2 School to Dedicate Nisei Hall, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Defense Language Institute at Monterey announced it will dedicate a building in honor of Nisei who served as linguists in the European and Pacific theaters during World War II. The dedication recognizes their contributions to intelligence work.
Commentary
- Peace at Home and Abroad: Prime 1969 Objective, by Spark Matsunaga, page 3. Rep. Spark Matsunaga argues that violence and the desire for peace dominate contemporary issues, from campus unrest to foreign conflicts. He calls for peaceful democratic change and proposes a federal Department of Peace.
- The Deeds of Men, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa reflects on Denver’s sister city relationship with Takayama, Japan, which originated through Tamotsu Murayama’s initiative. He reflects on how the efforts of individuals can have lasting effects on communities.
- Dining Together Bridges the Generation Gap, by Gloria Sakamoto, page 4. The Chicago YJAs hosted Dr. Thomas Yatabe and Shig Wakamatsu, who recounted JACL history and urged members to maintain its legacy. The dinner meeting helped young members understand their heritage and responsibilities.
- Courage, by Karen L. Sumida, page 5. Sumida argues that true individuality requires courage to face life’s obligations, rather than rejecting social responsibility in the name of freedom. She contrasts the sacrifices of the Issei and Nisei with the attitudes of some young people today.
- Youth Concern: Perspectives, by Alan Kumamoto, page 6. Kumamoto reflects on reader feedback about the Pacific Citizen’s commentary columns, addressing criticisms about trivia and preaching. He argues that columnists must express their own views and that communication between generations remains essential.
- Respect in Watsonville, Bigotry in Salinas?, by Watsonville Register-Pajaronian, page 6. An editorial contrasts JACL’s honor from Watsonville with a letter in the Salinas Californian repeating false wartime accusations against Japanese Americans. It also notes that Salinas renamed Urabe Park after a donor of Japanese ancestry during the war.
- Young Housewife in South Vietnam Expresses Feelings, by Jim Henry, page 6. A Saigon housewife describes the hardships of war, rising living costs, and resentment toward foreign troops. She calls for foreign withdrawal and negotiations to unify Vietnam peacefully.
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