Vol. 73, No. 13, September 24, 1971. 6 pages. View this issue
The House passed Rep. Spark Matsunaga’s bill HR 234 to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act by a vote of 356 to 49, after rejecting the Ichord substitute. The Senate had passed it unanimously, and it now went to the White House. David Ushio’s Capital Scene column looked back at the debate. National JACL President Raymond Uno wrote about the joint EDC-MDC meeting at Seabrook, New Jersey, where many wartime evacuees, some from Heart Mountain, had settled.
Elsewhere in these six pages: the California State Board of Education delayed adopting textbooks after critiques cited distortions about minorities, and the Kenzo sweater label dispute flared again. Lee Ruttle profiled Yoshiko Uchida and her children’s novel Journey to Topaz. Bill Hosokawa wrote from Denver about autumn, and Vic Ogura answered a speech by Dr. David Suzuki.
What’s in this issue
National
- Matsunaga bill passes 356-49, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House overwhelmingly passed Rep. Spark Matsunaga’s bill HR 234 to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act, after a debate rejecting the Ichord substitute. The bill now goes to the White House for presidential signature, with the Senate having passed it unanimously.
- Nixon should visit Japan before Peking, page 1. Dr. Edmund Faison argued that President Nixon should visit Japan before traveling to Peking to address declining U.S.-Japan relations. He said such a visit would help correct a potentially damaging situation.
Community
- Kenzo label fuss reignited, page 1. A Lord and Taylor ad featuring Kenzo sweaters labeled ‘J.A.P.’ angered Japanese Americans after an earlier agreement to change the label. Local JACL leaders moved to contact Kenzo to clarify the reneged agreement.
- Nisei school trustees busy at Placer openings, page 2. Several Nisei were installed or newly elected to school boards in Placer County, including Kay Miyamura, Mits Domen, Tom Matsuda, and James Makimoto. All are active members of the Placer County JACL.
- National JACL Planning Commission, page 3. Planning Commission members at the Aug. 13-15 Burlingame session discussed Community Involvement Programs and whether JACL should get United Way funding. They considered having Nisei designate payroll deductions to Japanese community programs.
- Textbooks — Calif. State Board delays adoption, page 4. The State Board postponed textbook adoption over inaccurate portrayal of minorities and Japanese culture. The author argues JACL should keep attention on the California situation because the publishers distribute nationwide.
Incarceration & Redress
- Calif. State Board delays adoption of textbooks, ethnic distortions cited, by Hirano, page 1. The California State Board of Education postponed adoption of textbooks after critiques cited distortions and misstatements about minorities. Hirano noted the books must comply with state law requiring accurate portrayal of minority contributions.
Commentary
- U-No Bar, by Edison Uno, page 1. National JACL President Raymond Uno reflects on the EDC-MDC joint meeting at Seabrook, New Jersey, and on the value of diverse viewpoints within JACL. He argues that JACL must examine its programming carefully rather than revere antiquity.
- Bill Hosokawa: From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Columnist Bill Hosokawa describes the arrival of autumn in Denver and a poor mushroom season caused by drought. He then reflects on his visiting dog Jacques, whose youthful wonder reminds him of his own advancing age.
- No Slur Intended, by Idaho State Journal, page 6. An editorial reflects on the reader objection to the word ‘Chicano’ and the history of ethnic slurs in newspapers. It argues that media must continue to improve respect for diverse groups.
- Cynical Sansei, by Vic Ogura, page 6. A Montreal Nisei responds to Dr. David Suzuki’s speech, contrasting the Issei’s sense of duty with the Sansei’s cynicism. He recounts the failed attempt to form a unified Montreal Japanese community organization.
- Farm Labor, page 6. A letter writer argues that the secondary boycott forces farmers into UFWOC contracts without worker consultation. The writer defends labor contractors and challenges UFWOC’s claimed victories as state-regulated outcomes.
JACL
- Capital Scene: Communist Dupes??, by David Ushio, page 2. David Ushio reflects on the House debate over repealing Title II, finding many opponents’ arguments illogical and reactionary. He notes that Communist-influence charges against JACL were ultimately unpersuasive to the House.
Arts & Entertainment
- Yoshiko Uchida: Journey to Topaz, by Lee Ruttle, page 3. Profile of Nisei author Yoshiko Uchida, whose 17th book, Journey to Topaz, is a children’s novel drawn from her wartime evacuation experience. The article covers her career, family background, and research methods.
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