MID-YEAR CAMPAIGN BI-DISTRICT'VALUES' CHOFUNNY CHANGING UVES You still can make an JACLers gather in Margaret Cho slays Musician Daniel Ho, impact. Support the ~~~~'I Portland for the PNWDC- onscreen, TV with her Kilauea Band play at JACL with a donation. IDC Conference. new show 'Assassin.' AADAP in Little Toky
Since1929 ______~ INSIDE West Oahu Ewa Beach's win gives Hawaii a first-ever ITIZEN Little League title. The National Publication of the Japanese American Citizens League PAGE 7
SEI)T. 11 RE1VIE.MHRANCE Voices of an Unheard Community By MASHOOD KHAWAR NAZEEFEBRAIllM NURE ELATARI ALADDIN ELAASAR Special to the Pacific Citizen
It's been almost four years since the terrorist attacks changed Americans forever, but one commu• nity still feels the stinging effects. In their own country, they are most affected, but least heard. Here in pen to be Muslim, does not mean else I have lived. their own words, some Americans that I do not love this country like Because Sept. · 11 th, probably who practice Islam talk about how any other American. affected Muslims more than any PHOTO: LYNDA LIN the events of Sept. 11 changed their I know that Islam is a beautiful other religious or ethnic group in MEMORIES: Don Shoji (foreground) and Duane Watari, both 55, lives arid how they plan to remem• religion that is followed by millions this country, let alone the world. It is reminisce abciut old times. 'Back then the Japanese and Chinese ber the tragedy. of peaceful people around the important for Muslims to show that socialized together a lot; said Shoji. world. The events of Sept. 11 they are peaceful, law-abiding citi• 'Every anniversary, I spend the day reflecting on how the bombings remind me that the actions of a few zens of this country that care for this have affected me personally... ' people can have a great deal of country, to dispel any wrong notions Baby Boomers Party On influence - unfortunately in this that other people have about Islam. At the Bi-District was the hot spot for APA commu• case - a vf;.ry evil influence. I know I have participated in moments of Conference, the first-ever nity activities, they were regulars that the decisions I make as an indi• silence, candlelight vigils and the Pacific Northwest Asian at social events. vidual are meaningful, and I can blood-drive our student oiganiza- . Baby Boomer Reunion 'We never went [to a dance] show people that my religion and tion hosts every year to commemo• was the place old friends together but we sure did dance my coreligionists condemn the rate Sept. 11. Every anniversary, I could share life stories, with each other a lot!" said Lee. actions of those 18 hijackers on spend the day reflecting on how the memories. They were among the approxi• Mashood Khawar, 21 Sept. 11. bombings have affected me person• mately 100 attendees to meet old I was directly affected by the There have been occasions, ally as well as how they have affect• friends at the first ever Pacific By LYNDA LIN bombings because, one, I am an where I have heard snide remarks ed the Muslim community and the Northwest Baby Boomer Reunion Assistant Editor American, and, two, because I am a from customers where I used to rest of the world. held in conjunction with the work. But I am very fortunate to live I do not feel that the Muslim Muslim. I was raised in this country PORTLAND, Ore-Alice Pacific Northwest · and in a city like Austin, where the com• American Arab American voice is since I was five years old. This is (Tsunenaga) Tanaka had not seen Intennountain Bi-District munity embraces all kinds of Conference Aug. 18-22. my culture and I consider myself an Marvin Lee since they .graduated ~orities, more so than anywhere See REMEMBRANCE/page 12 American, and just because I hap- from high school more than 30 For one night Aug. 19, the hall• years ago. Like many other Asian ways of a downtown Portland Pacific Americans growing up in hotel echoed with exclamations of Zheng Fights Deportation with Love 1950s Portland when Chinatown See BOOMERS/page 4 After he spent nearly 20 Smith. As a token of years in prison, Eddy their love, Zheng A Strong Sense of Justice Zheng's supporters, new made Smith an wife say he's paid enough origami ring. David Neiwert was a their personal stories of injustice. 'The timing felt for the crimes he commit• Seattle-based journalist One interviewee told a heart• perfect," said Smith wrenching story about having to ted at 16. when tales of the WWII in an e-mail to the internmerit grabbed his leave her dog behind as a little girl Pacific Citizen. "I caught in wartime hysteria. By AMY E. IKEDA heart and n~ver let go. want to spend my Another described' the feeling of Special to the Pacific Citizen life with him here in By LYNDA LIN returning home from the intern• the U.S. and if we Eddy Zheng's deportation hear• Assistant Editor ment camp only to find his child• cij.dn't get married Eddy's family with hood house tom down. ing took an unexpected tum when now, there would be almost zero Shelly Smith. only two days prior to his July hear• PORTLAND, Ore.-As a jour• These stories always stuck with chance of that happening." Eddy(right) mar• ing, Zheng exchanged wedding nalist, David Neiwert knows a Neiwert, who turned the newspa• Although exchanging vows ried Smith shortly per series into a recently published vows from behind prison plexiglas good story when he ~ears one. over a phone in divided rooms of before his depor• book, "StraWberry Days: How walls with U.S. Citizen Shelly tation hearing. While interviewing fonner Photo courtesy Japanese American internees in Intemment Destroyed a Japanese Shelley Smith the early 1990s for a series of arti• American ' Community." The .COMMENTAR Y the Yuba County Jail is not the typi• cles in a Seattle newspaper, book, which Neiwert talked about Redress: cal dream wedding, their marriage Neiwert was deeply affected by See NEIWERT/page 4 couldn't have been any timelier for The Strategy Zheng's fight against deportation. By JOHN TATEISID "Everyone is in the U.S., my fam• JACL Executive Director ily and friends," said Zheng in a let• ter to the P.e. "When I made the The Japanese American decision to fight against deportation redress cam• I went in with the mindset that I will paign was one make a miracle happen along with of the most my supporters. I am optimistic that r remarkable will win the case, at the same time grassroots cam• remaining realistic." paigns ever Zheng, who immigrated on a seen in this green card at 12 in 1982 to Oakland PHOTO: LYNDA LIN country. It was from China, has spent 20 years in HAUNTING IMAGES-David Neiwert interviewed many former a campaign that no one imagined jail for a robbery-hostage crime internees and their families living in the Pacific Northwest. He was could have succeeded, and yet it committed at 16. He now faces able to break the barriers of silence with reticent survivors because he was 'neutral: See TATEISHVPage 2 See EDDY ZHENG/page 5 2 VOICES/LEITERS PACIFIC CITIZEN, SEPT. 2-15, 2005 TATEISHI student at .UC Berkeley in the 1960s, JACL's campaign. mission concept as they sought the the days of the student movement, No other group in the JA commu• support of their friends and allies in PACIFIC CITIZEN (Continued from page 1) and more specifically, the Free nity believed in the commission bill. their communities. And ultimately, 7 Cupania Circle, did, and in so doing, changed histo• Speech Movement (FSM). It was Most were harshly critical and some it was the JACL that got the com• Monterey Park, CA 91755 ry. during FSM that I observed that stu• in fact tried to .obstruct the bill. It mission bill passed, the critical first Tel: 323/725-0083, dents, who normally had no power 800/966-6157 What made it so remarkable was . was the JACL membership that step in a ten-year struggle for Fax: 323/725-0064 that we were such an insignificant in a university setting, could gain stood alone in advocating the com- redress .• E-mail: [email protected] political force in the arena of power and truly make a difference if letters2pc@ aol.com American politics. Japanese enough of them came together Executive Editor: Americans constituted one-half of through a passionate belief in a Caroline Y. Aoyagi one percent of the American popula• cause. Assistant Editor: tion, did not represent big money, It was' the Nisei who had the pas• Lynda Lin voted mostly Democrat, and' apart sionate belief in the issue without Office Manager: respected, but also he was highly from our Japanese Americans the anger of the Sansei, and that was Calling All JA Brian Tanaka regarded by the profession and by Circulation: Eva Lau-Ting friends in the CO.ngress, had no .a critical factor in advocating the Korean War Vets the people for his artistry. political clout. On top of all that, in issue. What was important was to Publisher: Japanese As a Sansei and proud daughter Many of his friends and associ• the 1980s the U.S. was losing a sav• educate the public, and I knew the American Citizens League of a Korean War Veteran, I have ates in the Pacific Northwest are dis• (founded 1929) 1765 Sutter age economic trade war to Japan, Nisei could best do this because come to understand the phrase appointed that the reprint article Street, San Francisco, CA giving rise to a volatile' anti• they're wonderful storytellers, espe- failed to mention the Japanese 94115, tel: 4151921-5225 fax: Japanese senti- cially when it "Forgotten War Heroes." My father was in the Korean War American Historical Plaza located 4151931-4671, www.jacl.org ment throughout comes to person• JACL President: Ken Inouye and until recently I never knew what in Portland, Oregon. the United States. 'It was the Nisei al experiences. National Director: John It is a project that Robert Murase By all odds, the All they needed he did in the U.S. Anny. To this day, Tateishi who had the passion• he adamantly declares, "I did noth• was inspired to create after att~nd Pacific Citizen Board 'of redress campaign were the facts, ing important." I disagree. ing a Day of Remembrance event in Directors: Gil Asakawa, chair• should not have ate belief in the issue the tools, around Portland in 1979. It is a permanent person; Roger Ozaki, EDC; succeeded. Any without the anger of which to frame I am proud of his participation in Casey China, MDC; Grace memorial to the Issei pioneers; to gambler would the issue of the the Military Intelligence Service Kimoto, CCDC; Valerie the Sansei, and that the Japanese Americans who served have bet on the injustice, and (MIS) and I am eager to learn more Yasukochi, NCWNPDC; Ann in the Anned Forces of the U.S.; to other side. was a critical factor in then their per• about the different roles JAs played Fujii-Undwall, PNWDC; Larry the internment during WWII of peo• Grant, IDC; Alayne Yonemoto, So how did we advocating the issue. ' sonal stories anCalifornia State University, "Camps" and am now reading Permission: No part of this munities for support of the issue. ready for the fight. Fullerton "Nisei." Both books are very well publication ' may be reproduced As I launched the campaign from without express permission of That was how we would win con• o . written and full of information I did the publisher. Copying for other gressional votes oespite our small the Salt Lake City Convention, the not know. than personal or internal refer• numbers. JACL was strongly divided on the Re: Robert Murase .If there are any others like me, ence use without the express It was a strategy that depended on issue of reparations, reflecting the . tum off the TV and start reading. permission of P.C. is prohibited. We appreciate your reprint of the the Nisei because it was they who JA community's views. But two Associated Press report on the death POSTMASTER: Send address could best talk with true passion years later, President Jimmy Carter changes to: Pacific Citizen, c/o of Robert Murase, respected land• ~~ about their experiences during the signed the Commission on Wartime JACL National Headquarters, scape architect. Not only was he San Diego, Calif. 1765 Sutter St., San Francisco, war. It was a strategy that was Relocation and Internment of CA 94115. Ride along _ derived from my experiences as a Civilians Act, the result of the enclosed. PACIFIC CITIZEN r:-'" -- .... -. ... "'"',-.-..-. ....~ ...... '... ------...... -.-...... ----, 7 Cupania Circle JACL MEMBERS J~CL Monterey Park, ~A 91755 MID-YEAR CAMPAIGN ': fax: 323f72S-0064 Change of Address. I want to help support JACL.:s mission to protect civil rights e-mail: [email protected] education and promote cultural values and preserve the heritage [email protected] If you have moved, * Except for the National Director's and legacy of the JapaneseAmerican community. Report, news and the views please send information expressed by columnists do not nec• Enclosed is my/our gift of: D $100 0 $150 0 $200 Other to: ----- essarily reflect JACL policy. The NAME: columns are the personal opinion of National JACL . the writers. ~ ADDRESS: ______---.------,iE "Voices" reflect the active, public dis• 1765 Sutter St. Another reason cussion within JACL of a wide range of CITY: ______San Francisco, CA STATE: ___ ZIP: _____ ideas and issues, though they may not reflect the viewpoint of the editorial MEMBER 1.0.: why we're still' 94115 board of the Pacific Citizen. Allow 6 weeks for address I want to charge my contribution to my credit card. ~ E "Short expressions" on public needed. issues, usually one or two paragraphs, changes. CARDTYPE: ______~ ______should include signature, address and Write a letter daytime phone number. Because of CREDIT CARD NO. ___ :. - ____ - ____ - _ _ _ _ EXP. DATE: ____ To avoid intenuptions in reoeiving space limitations, letters are subject to your P.C, please notify your pest• SIGNATURE: ______to the ed itor abridgement. Alti:1ough we are unable master to include periodicals in to print all the letters we receive, we your change of address CUSPS Please return this form with your check, payable to Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) [email protected] appreciate the interest and views of Fonn3575) and mailed to: P.O. Box 45397, San Francisco, CA 941~397 those who take the time to send us Your donation is fully tax deductible. their comments. - L ______~------~ PACIFIC CITIZEN SEPT. 2-15, 2005 NATIONAL NEWS 3 NY Lantern Ceremony to Honor Victims of Sept. 11
Hundreds of traditional '.Japanese assisted in the water by the New floating lanterns will drift along York Kayak Company. Former Internees Get Diplomas 50 Years Late New York's Hudson River Sunday, The event is free - donations are . Sept. 11 to commemorate the lives appreciated - and open to the pub• By LAURA WIDES The Los Angeles resident said she representing your family today, this lost in the terrorist attacks. lic. For more information: 212/678- Associated Press Writer hopes the event gave her grandchil• is the unfolding of history right The event is sponsored by the 0305 or www.newyorkbud• dren insight into a chapter that for so before your eyes," sai:d Warren New York Buddhist Church, which dhistchurch.org .• LOS ANGELES-Amid tears long was a source of shame to many Furutani, board of trustee member continues the tradition for the fourth and their grandchildren's shouts of of her generation. for the Los Angeles COmllunity year. Sept. 11 WTC Memorial J glee, 58 Japanese Americans sent to "We both went to Nic's gradua• College District. The ancient custom of floating Floating Lanterns Ceremony J internment camps during World tion. That was a very special Jordan Maldonado, 14, of the lighted lanterns in the water is a 'When: Sun., Sept. 11., 6w9 I),tll.,11 War II received diplomas, fmally moment," she said. "I hope Nic will Fresno area, learned about the expe• symbolic way of respecting the lives Where:South Side of Pier 40 1I earning recognition from the com• feel this is a special moment." rience of her great-aunt Harriet that have gone before us. The cere• (W. Houston S1. & West St.) ~ munities they were forced to leave The diploma project is the result Shirakawa Ishibashi through the more than half a century ago. of legislation sponsored by state's California Nisei High School mony pays respect to the lives lost at VVbat .,.; 1! I the World Trade Center with a com• 6 ~'lJ- ...... " preparation of latJte~ . ; ~ j The honorees, wearing colorful Democratic Assemblywoman Sally Diploma project. mitment to building a peaceful leis and sashes, walked down the Lieber allowing school districts to After learning about the program wntmg loved one's name(s) I future. aisle of Los Angeles Trade bestow diplomas to students at her high school, Maldonado per• and/or message for peace Each year people in Hiroshima, Technical College's auditorium interned by the U.S. govemment suaded Shirakawa to get her diplo• 6:45 p.m. - Music Japan gather to float lanterns in Opening Aug. 21. Some needed canes, a few during World War II. ma and to begin talking about the remembrance of the victims of the 7 p.m. - Meditation.& prayer were in wheelchairs, and more than The government interned more family's past. Maldonado began atomic bombings and all victims of by religiouS'"leadcrs I a few had tears in their eyes. than 120,000 ethnic Japanese, most searching for all the Niseis forced to war. 7:10?,m; ":'Sutrachanting.& I The graduates represented the of whom were born in the United leave Fowler High School during The ceremony will be led by Rev. greeting ! I largest group of former internees to States, amid widespread anti• the war and found 58, 14 of whom T.K. Nakagaki, head minister of the 7:40 p.m. - Floating of ligAted t ever receive their diplomas at one Japanese sentiment, between 1942 received their diplomas this year. . New York Buddhist Church, and lanterns on Hudson River ' time. and 1945. Children went to school 'They were just so thankful that Takashi Hoshizaki, who should in the camps and received diplomas someone had taken the time to real• have graduated from Belmont High there, but not from \he schools they ize how hard it was for them," School in 1944, was one of two stu• were taken away from. Maldonado said. dent speakers. He told the crowd Since Lieber's legislation passed Tom Machida, 79, of how his education and life detoured last year, more than 400 people have Sacramento, said getting his diplo• Blue Shield of California when he was sent to the camps in received diplomas, some posthu• ma in June, along with the 800 grad• An Independent Member oftne Blue Shleldj\ssociation . Wyoming. mously. uating seniors at Elk Grove High "Some may consider a high In 1988, the U.S. government School, provided a long-awaited school diploma just a piece of paper, officililly apologized for the intern• sense of closure. but it's a symbol to me," Hoshlzaki ments and offered $20,000 to eligi• "I'd never had one before because told a crowd of several hundred. ble survivors, but the diplomas have I left the camps before graduation," . Toshiko Aiboshi, 77, accepted her helped survivors make their experi• said Machida, who was sent to a diploma while her grandson Nicolas ence relevant to the younger gener• camp near Poston, Arizona, and Echevestre, 23, accepted one for ations. later served in the U.S. Army. "I Aiboshi's husband, Joe, who died in "For all you young people who realize it's a symbolic gesture, but it 2001. are going to call out to grandma for felt so good." • Heart Mountain Interpretive Walk Gives Glimpse into Internment Life
The kiosk at the beginning of the walking tour pro• vides historic and geograhic informa• tion about the camp.
A $7 million learning center Mountain, where JUore than 10,700 Boy Scout troops and even a news• is slated to open in 2007. internees were forced to live during paper. the war. They were among some For its next project - an interpre• ByDANLEWERENZ 120,000 Japanese and Japanese tive learning center on the site of the for CalifQrni"a Associated Press Writer Americans forcibly removed from camp's former military police com• Washington state, Oregon, pound - the Heart Mountain, POWELL, Wyoming-Most of California and western Arizona arid Wyorning Foundation wants to JACL Members the buildings are gone. Many were sent to camps in the nation's interi• tackle the question of how citizens little more than tarpaper shacks or. treat each other in times of crisis. ~am~ when the fIrst internees arrived at So many were sent to Heart Dave Reetz, president of the foun• the Heart Mountain Relocation Mountain that the camp became dation, said he hoped to break ground on the $7 million center next plQn~ Center, a World War II internment Wyoming's third-largest city at the An affordable designed for the camp for Americans of Japanese time. - year, and hoped to open the center in ancestry. The interpretive walk consists of 2007. "next generation" of JACL member. The desolate landscape that so a paved loop runiling about 1,000 "We want exhibits that challenge harshly greeted new arrivals in the feet with an introductory kiosk and our thinking, that make us think Also choose from HMO and PPO plans. summer of 1942 looks much the eight information stations that about the deeper issues about the way \t did then, with a little more describe different aspects of life at intemment. There are constitutional Call the JACl Health Benefits Administrators at grass maybe, and a little less sage• the camp, from the injustices to the issues - what is the law? What did brush. successes. the law say? What were the civil lib• But the memories remain, pre• For example, white nurses work• erties involved here? We're going to 1.800.400.6633 served both by locals and by ing at Heart Mountain were paid basically focus on the overarching internees determined never to let $150 per month, while JA nurses issues." or visit this happen again on American soil. were paid $16 per month. Reetz said it's important that the Blue Shield A new interpretive walking trail Yet the internees managed to cre• center is fInished while former of CaWgm ia www.jaclhealth.org on this hardscrabble plateau gives ate a functioning community with internees are still around to pass f'l1 . ':d.Gper1del'lt Mf:"l1bp: ,,1,:p::tr:~~sP Amu! ililr. ot !~;eS:.a?St;ll~:d AdXIi.:llon !;:ti;:ef:'S Lp1gu~ visitors a glimpse into life at Heart self-government, farming, a school, along.their stories . • 4 NATIONAL NEWS PACIFIC CITIZEN, SEP'r, 2-15, 2005 BOOMERS Manzanar Guard Tower (Continued from page 1) ,Dedication Set for Sept. 17 "It's been years!" and "I haven't miles north of Lone Pine. seen y.ou in ages!" In the summer 1942, shortly after Richard Louie, 55, grew up in the 10,000 Japanese Americans arrived For more information on the suburbs of Portland but came to I, at Manzanar War Relocation Center, guard tower reconstruction and pro• Chinatown every weekeijd to meet the U.S. Army constructed eight 37- grams and projects at Manzanar, with friends he affectionately foot-high guard towers aroond the visit the NPS Web site at www.nps. referred to as "the kids." perimeter of the mile-square camp. gov/manz or call 760/878-2194 or "It was the thing you had to do. Each tower was equipped with a 760/878-2932 .• There were very few of us back then search light an,d machine gun ' and and you knew everybody and every• staffed by Military Police. body knew each other's parents," he Currently, the National. Park said. Service (NPS) employees are recon• "It was our generation." But over the years, the tight knit structing one of the towers in its his• toric location on the east boundary APA Chinatown community PHOTO: LYNDA LIN of the site. became decentralized and its resi• REUNION ORGANIZERs-{l-r) Frances Lee Perkins, Anne Wong Cohen dents moved their separate ways. and Robbie Tsuboi. The NPS and Friends of For Robbie Tsuboi, the only occa• Manzanar will host a dedication sions to see old fri~nds were during "Anyone on our Christmas list got and they need to know that they are event Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. near the funerals. called," said Wong Cohen. going to tum out as good as us," said guard tower. 'The last few years, we've been At the event, baby boomers from Tsuboi. Event activities include a reading all over the United States wen;: greet-' going to so many funerals with the Rich Iwasaki, a baby boomer and and book signing by critically parents and even people our age ed with old photos and familiar, PortLand chapter president said it acclaimed poet Lawson Fusao dying," said Tsuboi. "And we faces. They marveled over receding was important to have the reunion Inada, a Sansei who was interned thought we'd better stop seeing each hairlin~, admired family photos and during the Bi-District Conference other at funerals where we'd go 'Oh danced the night away. because many JACLers are baby with his family, and a demonstration hi. How are you?' and then we'd Don Shoji and Duane Watari, both boomers. of traditional Japanese bookbinding leave." 55, thumbed through a photo album "All of us in this age bracket want by studio artist Jennifer Anderson of "I want to see these people before and reminisced about old times. to see people that they haven't seen Hiromi Paper Int~mational. I die. I have a lot of good memories They attended high school together in awhile," said Iwasaki. "Reunions The event is ,free and open to the growing up with these peopLe and I and kept in touch through the years. are always fun." public. Manzanar National Historic don't want to see them at funerals," At the reunion, they got to meet The possibility of another baby Site is located along U.S. Highway added Tsuboi, a member of the other old classmates. boomer reunion is undetermined. 395, six miles south of "It's fun to see what our genera• JACL PortLand chapter. With more help Tsuboi, Wong Independence, Calif., and nine n was during a funeral that tion is doing," said Shoji. Cohen and Lee Perkins are musing Tsuboi, 56, first came up with the "It's all about renewing old friend• over the possibility of having it once idea to organize a reunion. She ships," said Wong Cohen. "Besides I every five years. . pitched the idea to her childhood want to see how some of these peo• At the event, Wong Cohen and friends, Anne Wong Cohen and ple turned out!" Lee Perkins reunited with some Frances Lee Perkins, whom she had The reunion was also a fundraiser members of an old Chinese dance not seen since high school. From for the Jr. JACL or Unite People. group. When the former dancers there, the search for old friends Tsuboi said it was important to set an found each other, they screamed in began. example for younger generations. excitement and struck a dance pose. They started a committee which The event raised $2,800 from raffle "I've been talking to people that I met once a month and launched an ticket sales and personal donations. haven't talked to in 30 years and just outreach blitz calling familiar "[The youth] are going to be car• because of this," added Lee Perkins. names in the phone book and send• rying out legacy and the things that 'There's a need for something like ing mas e-mail in ite . we started and what we fought for ... this." Blue Cross of California HEIWERT which was that they have all been In the book, he traces 30 years of indoctrinated in these Japanese anti-Asian sentiment from "the Alien (Continued from page 1) schools and they were all brought up Land Laws to the Yellow Peril. in a workshop at the Pacific for emperor worship and that they "You can't describe the whole of Northwest and Intermountain Bi• would never be American," said the internment without talking about District Conference Aug. 18-22, Neiwert. the racism," he said: "I tried to make focuses on the creation and destruc• 'They wanted nothing more than clear to everyone how it happened as tion of the JA community in to be considered American and yet almost an inextricable series of Bellevue, Seattle. here are all these people running incremental steps ... each one harm• "What drew me in initially was around and saying, 'They're not less or even logicat at the time, but the story. I thought, 'You know, I'm American.' You could just imagine with each step, it took us along this a journalist. This is a good story. I ... how that could be heartbreaking," path." like good stories. Especially stories he added. Neiwert sees similar steps being that tell us how we got to where we Neiwert, who calls the internment taken in the same direction since are now," said Neiwert. "What made "a slap in the face" of JAs living in Sept. II. Although the racism isn't as me tum it from a newspaper series to Bellevue and elsewhere at the time, overt in government policies as in a book was the people. I felt this worked on "StraWberry Days" the past, he noted the racial attitude powerful obligation to tell these peo• steadily for 13 years. expressed towards Muslim and Arab ple's stories because ... once you He interviewed former internees Americans and war detractors is realize the extent to which [the and chatted with their family mem• very much the same. internees] have been wronged and bers, who would often become emo• "Give us another terror attack or the extent to which their own ability tional when they talked about how two and I'll say all bets are off," he to heal have brought them back, to their parents were wronged. Those said. me that was something the rest of us who were usually reticent about their The author is also planning to had to think about." internment experiences opened up to issue a challenge to Michelle j. Growing up i~ Idaho Falls, Neiwert because he was "a neutral Malkin, author of the controversial Neiwert, 48, was always aware of source," but the tears would flow. He "In Defense of Internment," whom the internment, but a Seattle-based collected old pre-war family photos he calls "Balkin' Malkin" in his Web Since 1947 the JACL HEALTH museum display of the Minidoka of JA Bellevue farmers posing in blog because she allegedly keeps Camp inspired the journalist to dig never-ending stretches of farmland. dodging his challenges. TRUST has offered Health Care deeper. What he discovered during ''I'm just one of those people who Neiwert, who said he changed his excavation of historical events have a strong sense of justice," he "StraWberry Days" to directly coverage to JACL members were personal narratives that needed said. address post Sept. 11 sentiment, to be heard. Neiwert also penned ''Death on wants to debate Malkin. He doesn't Bellevue residents didn't feel as the Fourth of July," a non-fiction care where, when or how, so long as segregated or discriminated against account of a July 4,2000 hate crime it isn't on a conservative radio show. To protect you and your family from even common by their neighbors during WWII in Ocean Shores, Washington and To Malkin who argues that the accidents and illnesses the JACL HEALTH TRUST because most were farmers who "In God's Country," an exploration internment during WWII was a provides Blue Cross of California hea~h care coverage. tended to help each other, said of patriot extremist groups. He also patriotic duty to defend the country Neiwert. Almost 60 percent of the won a National Press Club Award in like present day war policies, Blue Cross of California has been providing hea~h Bellevue internees were involved in 2000 for his MSNBC.com article on Neiwert has definite dissenting coverage to Californians for over 65 years. Blue Cross is agriCUlture. domestic terrorism. ideas. committed to keeping you connected to But the cultural difficulties were What sets "Strawberry Days" "I think patriotism has to do with hea~h still as prevalent as in any other com• apart, according to the author, is its how strongly you tielieve in what it quality care services. munity. One former ' internee con• sequential timeline of events and means to be American," he said .• fessed that she had a ritual of pinch• policies that ' directly led to the ing her own skin to appear "more internment. "Strawberry Days: How Internment White." "I think people think of the intern• Destroyed a Japanese American "What made those stories striking ment as a sort of aberration," said Community" is available for pur• to me was what was being said about Neiwert. chase on amazon. com. the Japanese children at the time ... PACIFIC CITIZEN, SEPI'. 2-15, 2005 NATIONAL/ COMMUNI1Y NEWS 5 EDDY ZHENG system today':' said Victor Wong, earned his GED, became one of the Tri-Valley JACL Scholarship Winners president of the Asian American Bar few inmates in California to gradu- (Continued from page 1) Association. ''Zheng's having pled ate college from prison by earning deportation to China. Zheng's to charges as an immigrant juvenile his Associate's Degree and contin• lawyer Zachary Nightingale and having done time, he should not ued to take classes even after he requested that the hearing be post• be subject to a second round of pun• earned the highest available degree. poned to allow time for Zheng's ishment iIi the form of deportation. "Education is something that gave new wife to petition his residency. Eddy has clearly reformed [and] me strength as I embarked on the "We've had a relationship for a would be a contributing part of the journey of transformation," said long time," said Smith about their Asian American and progressive Zheng. "Also the people whom I relationship, which started in 1999. communities, and all of his family have encountered were progressive "I was prepared to testify in court ties are here in the U.S." radicals, revolutionaries and com• about the history of our relationship Zheng had a difficult childhood, passionate human beings. Their but the judge didn't require that." according to his supporters. He lived actions in donating their lives to After two decades in prison, in a two-bedroom Oakland apart• make this world a better place for Zheng's luck finally shifted when a ment shared by seven. In China his everyone inspired me." San Francisco immigration judge father had been in the military and Zheng circulated a petition to agreed to postpone the hearing until his mother was a government implement Asian American Studies Oct 24th. accountant but in America as non• into the prison system. Prison offi• "I know that I will have a better English speaking immigrants, cials then searched his cell and wrote The Tri-Valley JACL chapter awarded scholarships to three high chance due to the judge granting me Zheng's parents had to take low• him up for passing his poems and school students at their annual awards luncheon recognizing a continuance so I can process my income jobs. His father worked at a essays to be published in a San them for their scholastic and extracurricular achievements. This visa application," said Zheng. '''The local Burger King and his mother Francisco newspaper. He was also year, all three recipients are graduates of San Ramon Valley High first thing I will do if I am released worked as a live-in childcare punished by more than nine months School in Danville, Calif. The winners are (I-f): Frederick Matsuda, in America is take a deep breath of provider for another ' family, only in administrative segregation. With who will be attending UC Berkeley; Elysse Yoshizuka, who will be fresh air and yell at the top of my coming home once a week. the help of Victor Hwang of the attending Cal State Long Beach; and Ryan Suzuki, who will be lungs 'Freed at last.' I will spend the School was difficult for Zheng Asian American Bar Association, attending UC Irvine .• day with my family and friends cel• who was one of the few Chinese stu• Peter Kang and other lawyers who ebrating by 'eating, hugging, talking, dents at a predominately African fought adamantly for Zheng's free• "I worked with at-risk youth case. laughing and laughing." American junior high_ He often went dom of speech, he was able to appeal because I'd experienced the conse• "I think that we will be able to to hang out in Chinatown where he ' his violation_ quences of my destructive actions," convince the immigration judge that A Dark Past Left Far Behind befriended two older boys. "I fought for Asian American said Zheng. "At the same time I was Eddy deserves a waiver to avoid Once a skinny teenager with little In January 1986, Zheng and his Studies because I wanted to dispel able to rehabilitate myself despite deportation," said Nightingale. sense of consequence who ran with two friends robbed a Chinese immi• stereotypes and racism," said Zheng. growing up in an oppressive and "I've learned that the more I suf• a rough crowd in Oakland's grant family's home at gunpoint. "I wanted others to learn about Asian negative environment." fer the stronger I become, that's the Chinatown, Zheng, now 36, has The teens also drove to the family's culture and history as we learn Zheng has several job offers in the mantra of life, said Zheng. '''The abil• caught the attention of many sup• . store and stole cash and merchan• theirs." U.S. to work with at-risk youths. He ity to make a positive difference in porters who have been iillpressed dise, reported the East Bay Express. Zheng focused much of his energy wants to go on speaking tours to someone's life, in society and in this with his transformation including All three were arrested and Zheng on making a difference with at-risk share his experience. He also wants earth of human kind inspired me to California Gov. Arnold pled guilty to, 18 felony counts. He youth. He took public speaking to go back to college to further his do so many positive things. I realize Schwarzenegger, Assembly was tried as an adult and received a courses to participate in crime pre• education and one day write a book that my life is miraculous and I have Majority Leader Wilma Chan, sentence of seven years to life. vention programs for teens visiting about his life's lessons. the potential to save lives through Congressman Mike Honda, and the prison. He also created a curricu- . But his future is still undeter• my knowledge." • Assembly Members Leland Yee and Starting Anew Behind Bars lum for at-risk immigrant teens that mined. JudyChu. From the confmes of the San is used by San Francisco's A spokesperson for the U.S. For more 'information about Eddy "Eddy represents on many levels Quentin prison, Zheng stayed away Chinatown Community Immigration and Customs Zheng, visit: www.eddyz/leng.com. what is wrong with our immigration from drugs taught himself English, Development Center. Enforcement did comment about the
WeCanMakeA Difference In Your Life ® When you want an auto loan, come to National JACL Credit Union because financing is our spe• cialty. We offer you competitive rates and flexible terms that will help you drive a better bargain. We help you buy the right car at the right price by arranging the financing in advance. So before you go to buy that new or used car, come see our Loan Representatives for a deal that can make your dreams come true. Stop Dreaming... Start Driving! Our Car Loans New or Used at 4.6% APR.
.. "9 National JACL Credit Union
242 SOl th 400East • Saltlake City • UT 84110 • Phone: 800-544-8828
Equal Opportunity We CaqM:ake A, Difference In Your Life ® Lender 6 PNWDC-IDC BI-DISfRICf CONFERENCE PACIFIC CITIZEN, SEPI'. 2-15, 2005
Alice Sumida HONOREE: Former JACL National President Jim Attendees learned to make healthy sushi. Tsujimura (with wife Lolita Sakamoto Tsujimura) was recogniz9d with the JACL Distinguished. Service Award.
YOUNG LEADERS: (back; I-r) Adam Sandoval, Marc Stillman, (front, I-r) Mari Tanaka, Community leaders talked about effective methods of coalition building. (I-r) Oregon . Lindsay Yonetani and Tori Tadehara at the awards banquet. Commissioner on Asian Affairs Jim Hanna, Joy Shigaki, Seattle JACLer and Wing Luke Asian Museum capital campaign manager and Wajdi Said, executive director of Muslim Educational Trust.
FAMILY TIES: Portland JACL Chapter Pres. Rich Two generations of JACLers Henry Sakamoto (fore• Iwasaki grew up in 'the sticks' of Hillsboro. At the ground) and son Scott. Baby Boomer Reunion, he caught up with his 'city cousin' Marilyn (Mizote) Sholian.
JACL National President Ken Inouye, Tom Potter, Portland mayor and JACL Civil Rights Award recipient, and Emcee Henry During a workshop Micki Kawakami makes a list of Sakamoto. JACLS accomplishment.
(I-r) Robbie Tsuboi, Linda Tanaka and Linda Tamura model a clothing line from Sachiko Collection. Members of IDC, PNW and the National Board. PACIFIC CITIZEN, SEPl'. 2-15,.2005 SPORTS 7 Avoid the Terri Schiavo Mess LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES Download an Advance Health Care Directive ELK GROVETOYOTAISCION Free of Charee on leealbridee.com 9640 W. Stockton Blvd. Elk Grove, CA 95757 Memea's Homer Completes Comeback, Lifts Hawaii to Title RON NAKANO By GENARO C. ARMAS cheers from fans .. from a three-run deficit to tie it in Thomas N. Shigekuni and Associates I Sales Manager ~ssociated Press Writer "He got one up in the zone, It was the bottom of the sixth to set up the Attorneys at Law (310) 540-9266 I 1-800-243-3613 ------~ high and he took it over," Aliviado dramatic ending, Before the rally SOUTH WrLLTAM;SPORT, said with the winner's plaque sitting sent it to extra innings for just the (562) 598-9523 Pa.-Michael Memea got some on his lap. "I just jumped fotjoy." second time, Aliviado said he told Established 1965 ~ o ~_ 2.!i ,! encouraging words from his manag• Aliviado planned to give his team his team: "If you guys want it, let's @ Imperial Jewelry Mfg. Co. er just before he came to go get it." .. K. SAKAI COMPANY Fine Jewelry · Custom Designing· Repair the plate with the Little With runners on second 1656 Post Street 11072 Los Alamitos Blvd. League World Series title and third and no outs and . . San Francisco, CA 94115 Los Alamitos, CA 90720 Tel: (415) 921-0514 . game tied in extra innings. Hawaii trailing 6-3, Vonn "You know what? You Fe'ao scored from third on a are due for one," Hawaii bunt base hit by Ty Tirpak. 2005 UPCOMING ESCORTED TOURS manager Layton Aliviado Zachary Rosete then hit an JAPAN AUTUMN ADVENTURE (12 days) ...... •••...... OCT 19 told Memea, hitless in three RBI single to left close it to DISCOVER KYUSHU (13 days) ...... OCT 30 at-bats. 6-5, NEW YORl< CITY HOLIDAY (6 days, incl2 Broadway + Rockettes Xmas show)...... DEC 8 - CALL OR WRITE TODAY FOR OUR FREE BROCHURES - Aliviado's words proved Three batters and one out prophetic. later, Alaka'i Aglipay.!lit a TANAKA TRAVEL SERVICE WILL BE CLOSING ITS DOORS AT THE - Memea lined a pitch over bouncer to second that END OF DECEMBER. We would like to thank the Japanese American community for its support and patronage during our 55 years in business. the center-field wall in the looked as if it would be an It has truly been our pleasure to serve you. We will continue to make travel bottom of the seventh , easy double play, but he beat arrangements for travel completed by December 15, 2005. inning to give West Oahu out the throw to first, allow• We hope you can join us for our last 3 group tours. ofEwa Beach, Hawaii, a 7- ing Rose~e to score the tying Sincerely, the Tanaka & Lam Families 6 win over defending run. TANAKA TRAVEL SERVICE champion Willemstad, "We didn't expect them to 44. O'Farrell St., San. Francisco, CA 94102 Curacao, Aug. 28-the first come back like that in the (4.5) 474-3900 or (800) 826-252. game-ending home run in a sixth," Curacao manager CST #1005545-40 Little League fmale. Willemstad, Curacao, Netherland Antilles third Vernon Isabella said through "I knew it was gone," baseman Rudmichaell Brandao, 13, watches as an interpreter. Memea said aftetward, a Ewa Beach, Hawaii's Michael Memea heads Hawaii's runs in the sixth necklace made of candy home after hitting a walk-off game winning solo and seventh innings came american HotidCl\{1favel pieces strewn around his homer in the seventh inning of the Little League off reliever Christopher 2005 TOUR SCHEDULE neck. World Series Championship game. (AP Garia, who was entering his After the homer, Memea fourth inning of work when OKINAWA-KYUSHU HOUDAYTOUR ...... OCT 17-30 Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Naha/Okinawa, lbusuki/Kogoshima, Kirishima, Miyazaki. Beppu, rounded third with his right Memea came to bat in the Yufuin, Kumamoto, Nagasaki. Fukuoka. hand held high and he barreled some time to unwind before the seventh. SOUTH AMERICA HOLIDAY TOUR ... , . , , . , , . , , .. , ... , . , , , . , , , . NOV 10-22 toward jubilant teammates waiting flight back to Hawaii the day after "I knew he was tired, but I asked ARGENTINA-Buenos Aires; BRAZIL - Sao Paulo, Iguassu, Rio de Janeiro. CHILE - Santiago, Valparaiso/Vina del Mar, Meet local Japanese in for him at home plate. Later, he and the game, West Oahu became the him to go the ~xtra mile," Isabella Argentina/Brazil/Chile. PERU OPTION - Uma, Cuzco, Machu Picchu. his teammates took the traditional first team from Hawaii to win a said. "I didn't notice any flaws in his MUSIC CmES HOLIDAY TOUR ."., .. , .. ,", .. ,',., .. " .. ,.,'" .DEC 7-11 victory jog around the Lamade m~hanics Memphis, Elvis Presley's Graceland.Noshville, Little League World Series title. and the extra time in Ice Sculptures Exhibit Opryland Christmas Show. Stadium warning track, drawing And it took a stunning comeback between innings did not hurt us." • 2006 TOUR SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE) HOKKAIDO WINTER FESTIVALS HOLIDAY TOUR " , .. , .. ".,." .. " . .FEB 5-13 HOCKEY AFRICA SAFARI HOLIDAY TOUR """"""""" " "'" .', ... , ,MAR 9-21 JAPAN SPRING HOUDAY TOUR, , , , , , . , , ... , .. , , . , . , .. , .. , .. MAR 26-APR 6 Japanese Goalie Signs Deal with Kings MOZARrS MUSICAL CmES HOLIDAY TOUR " . , ...... , ... , .....MAY 17-27 GRANPARENTS/GRANDCHILDREN JAPAN TOUR , " •.. "., " ,JUNE 26-JULY 5 Yutaka Fukufuji's NHL dream is three, and had a 3.13 GAA. ALASKA HOLIDAY CRUISE. , , . , .. , . , , . , , .. , . , , . , , , . , , .. , , , , . , , , . , .. ,JULY coming closer to reality. The Fukufuji began playing hockey at BOY SCOUT JAPAN JAMBOREE TOUR . , . , , , , , , , , , , . , , , . , , ... , , , , , ,AUGUST Japanese goaltender signed a two• the age of nine. He prefen-ed it over JAPAN AUTUMN HOUDAYTOUR .. , ...... , .. " , , , . , .. , .'. ...OCTOBER AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAY TOUR ...•. , . , , . , , .. , . , , . , ,NOVEMBER year contract with the Los Angeles the other sports in which he was NEW YORK CITY GETAWAY TOUR ... , .. , .... " .. " ... , .... ," NOVEMBER Kings this earlier this month arid will involved. It wasn't until he was 11 attend rookie {;amp next month. . that he . switched to playing goal We can also assist you with: Low-cost airfares to Japan, Japan Individual Tour arrangements, Japan Railpass, Hotels, Cars, If the 22-year-old doesn't make it when asked by his coach. Individual Tour Packages, Cruises. with the Kings, he' ll likely be Other than the prospect of stop• For information and reservations, please write or call to: assigned to LA's Aill... farm team, ping a Mario Lemieux slap shot, AMERICAN HOLIDAY TRAVEL the Manchester Monarchs. Fukufuji says his biggest challenge 312 E. 1ST ST., #510, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Tel: (213) 625-2232; Fax: (213) 625-4347 "My goal 'is to play in the NHL," will be mastering English. Ernest & Carol Hida Fukufuji said at news conference. "I "I can't speak English very well CST #2000326-10 • know it will be tough but I'm ready but I'm working on it," said for rookie camp and I'm looking for• or soccer's Hidetoshi Nakata, the Fukufuji, who watches reruns of ward to taking on my rivals," soft-spoken goaltender says he's got "Seinfeld" to practise his English, The six-foot-one, 170-pound ' other things on his mind than being a The Kings open training camp Fukufuji was selected by the Kings pioneer. Sept. 14, Goaltenders Mathieu 238th overall in the 2004 NHL draft. "I'm not thinking about becoming Garon and Jason Labarbera are He played for the Bakersfield the first Japanese player in the expected to compete for the starting Condors in 2004-05 and posted 27 NHL," Fukufuji said. "Sure, if it job.• wins, with three shutouts and a 2.48 happens, I'll be happy but right now goals-against average while helping I've got a lot of work ahead of me." BADMINTON the team to the East Coast Hockey Fukufuji made his pro debut in League playoffs. North America on Feb, 7, 2003, with Gunawan, Bach Win While some have likened the Cincinnati Cyclones of the United States' First Fukufuji to baseball's Hidco Nomo ECHL. He won four games and lost World Badminton Title Tony Gunawan and Howard Bach won the United States' first The bank of no-fee equity accounts· Classified Ads world title in badminton Aug, 21 night at the World Badminton has no annual fee • EMPLOYMENT Have a job opening? Championships. offers competitive rates with no points or dosing costs GET ONTHE The pair, seeded 13th in men's Trying to sell your doubles, rallied in the final game for provides the freedom to use the futl amount now or tater RIGHT TRACK home? a 15-11, 10-15, 15-11 victory over Are Duty, Honor, and Country No. 2 Candra Wijaya and Sigit allows earty pay offs of balances without penatty more than just words to you? Are Call 800/966-6157 Budiarto of Indonesia, who were you looking for the right vehicle to leaves all the equity for the customer. a successful career and incredible and let the P. C. seeking their first world title since life experience? Call the California Classified section 1997. Invest in you' Army National Guard today (323) "I don't know about Howard but 721-6440 or visit www.1-800-GO• help you. I ran out of gas," Gunawan said. "I GUARD.com. just tried to concentrate and keep LOANS going, The crowd really helped a lot. That gave me more spirit, more HAVE YOU BEEN DENIED BY BANKS? motivation." • IS POOR CREDIT RUINING YOUR LIFE? Apply now for your no-fee. no polnts. no dosing costs equity account. WE CAN HELP! cau 1-866-UB-LO"'HS, or llislt ubo<.toni/toans. CALL TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION ·1M-PORTANTtHfORM1!nON .A.80UttiOfolE EQOITY: *«0 points. ~f fees.iUbe; charged to OPfn equity iCtounhfof amounts up to Sports Stories by $250.000. Aau..i out..of-pcd::et ~pM$tS tinging Irol'l'lln titJmated SlSO-S1200 or mor, will bt charged tot .u:counts greater thin 1-866-594-8680 ~~~~:n:~u:!~~~~u;~~~ :6s't:Z;v~~n:~= ~=me"tq~~~::~~~~~~~~!: MANY TYPES OF LOANS AVAILABLE: P.C. staff and the ::O~~J;:t!~::~~~~t=::~:=l~~~=5a~~:tJ,~rtPr:Jk~=:I~:fot:,t,~g;tfg~~ @ W~$~ngtoJl. Terms: and: tOf\dition$ subject to wnge. Sive- 0.2$" Oh the interest rite for the Fixed IIi-tic Option ~ wltn tNll HOME, PERSONAL, MORTGAGE, BUSINESS, DEBT CON., ETC. ~Oft \JI'I~1It kR-of~~. Associated Press JUlomatk::payments from i BaAk of CatiforntJdledcmg Of $a As I write this, I am currently in self-consciously aware of the fact a society where people of all races I being sponsored by Northrop sponsorships are still available. Okinawa, the southemmost i~land that I am a female racial minority in and backgrounds are bumping Grumman, United Parcel Service For more information about the of Japan, spending time with family a very predominantly white society. elbows and shoving each other for a and Union Bank of California. Tri-District Conference, Awards whom I haven't seen in nearly over As I enjoy this brief freedom to . piece of the representational pie? Following the dinner, PSW will Dinner or Casino Night, please con• a decade. I eagerly anticipated this be just another college-age girl Should we all simply assimilate host a Casino Night with Vegas style tact the PSW office at 213/626-4471. temporary foray out of the country without all the racial baggage of under one common culture, thus games including blackjack, let it • as a much-needed vacation from being a yellow-fever fantasy, model eliminating this sticky business of work and school; I didn't expect minority and ninja assassin rolled being racially marginalized? Or are that I would also be taking a break into one, all this new perspective all the collective burdens of being KOKUSAI-PACIFICA from my Asian American identity from abroad certainly makes me stereotyped and misunderstood by a as well. wonder. Has all the ethnic studies predominantly non-Asian society 2005 TOURS Just as how I shed unneeded lay• I've absorbed in college back home simply the price we must pay for ers of clothing to accommodate the made me so cynical that I've begun holding onto our cultural ties, Sept 22 America Once More - South-14 Days- 26 Meals - $2295 - By bus hot and humid weather, so I shed to see everything and everyone whether it be speaking Japanese LA to PostoniGila-EI Paso-San Antonio-New Orleans-Vicksburg, my Asian American-ness to accom• solely through the untrusting lenses with your grandparents or eating a JeromelRohwer-Amache-Santa Fe-Grand Canyon-Laughlin. modate the sudden change in geo• of racial politics? fresh batch of nattou over rice for Oct 10 Hokkaido & Tohoku ''Fall Foliage" ALMOST SOLD OUT graphical location. After all, it is This is not to say that I am so breakfast? Oct 17 - Uranihon "Otherside of Japan" - 11 Days -25 Meals - $3595 kind of pointless to assert your racially self-absorbed with myself I These are difficult questions that Tokyo, Sado Island, Toyama, Kanazawa, Fukui, Amanohashidate Asian upbringing when nearly suspect I am being objectified by certainly have no easy answers, and Kinosaki, Tottori, Matsue, Izumo, Daizen & Kyoto. ALMOST SOLD OUT everyone around you is the same every passing stranger on the street will not be concretely concluded Oct 31 Fall Japan Classic ''Fall Foliage" 11 Days - 24 Meals - $3295 or lose sleep over being an ethnic anytime in the near future. ethnic background anyway. Tokyo, Takayama, Nara, Kobe, Takahashi, Miyajirua, Hiroshima Who would have thought that minority every night. Like most . I do know, however, that on more Inland Sea Cruise, Shodo Island & Kyoto. ALMOST SOLD OUT having an ethnic identity could get people, I can get through the day than one occasion I was tempted to Nov 10 - Okinawa, Kyushu & Shikoku - 12 Days -28 Meals - $3695 - so cumbersome sometimes? without burning ulcers in my stom• stay in Okinawa and tum my back . 3 Days Okinawa, Nagasaki-Unzen-Kumamoto-Miyazaki-Saiki, What my extended family takes ach over how I resent the fact that I on all the turmoil of racial politics Kyushu - Ashizuri-Kochi-Takamatsu, Shikoku & Osaka. for granted on an everyday basis, I am being oppressed by The Man. that was going on back home. Why In 2006 eagerly soak up like an unexpected Still, certain moments - whether not just forget all this messy busi• March - Special- Best of China - Spring Japan Classic novelty: the ability to ride the it is the tingling, irritated feeling I ness of affirmative action, interra• April - Orient Deluxe - British Isles cial marriage, racial profiling and May - Mexico's Copper Canyon San Diego JACL Seeks Local whatever else, and move to Japan June - Great Southwest - Summer in Hokkaido where race isn't such a big deal July - Summer Japan Classic - Glacier & Canadian Rockies JA Veterans to Honor anyway? August - Eastern Canada with Niagara Falls September - Danube River Cruise - Russian River Cruise The San Diego J ACL is searching and fanlilies of the Nikkei veterans Truth be told, it is too late to de• October - Hokkaidoffohoku - Uranihon for local veterans of Japanese ances• will be able to join in the recognition Americanize my Asian American November - Fall Japan Classic - Okinawa, Kyushu & Shikoku upbringing. I miss my friends back try to honor at its Nov. 5 luncheon. event. December - Tahiti Christmas Cruise All San Diego area Nikkei veter• The San Diego Nikkei veterans home, and honestly, I kind of miss ans are urged to contact the San will be invited as special guests to a speaking English too. Late at night, "Early Bird savings - call for brochure" Diego JACL. Information sought celebration of their service, regard• after an entire day of eating. speak• INCLUDES - flights, hotels, sightseeing & MOST MEALS. .includes: name, address, phone and less of branch or years served. ing, and breathing all things e-mail, branch of service, rank and San Diego JACL is also inviting Japanese, I still feel compelled to KOKUSAI INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, INC. dates served. Family members may go online on my laptop and plow sponsorships from individuals and 4911 Warner Ave., Suite 221, Huntington Beach, CA 92649 through my obligatory checklist of submit this information on behalf of corporations. 714/840-0455 - FAX 714/840-0457 [1006444-10] deceased veterans so that their Please send veterans' information Asian American empowerment names can be incluped in the lunch• or contributions to San Diego Web sites (all nicely organized eon program. JACL, Attn: David Kawamoto, under a My Favorites folder labeled Kosakura Escorted Tours & Cruises The first-ever event to be held at 1031 25th St., Suite D, San Diego, "aZN") to make sure that I'm not "recipes for worry free trave/" the Doubletree Hotel will include CA 92102-2102. missinK anything important. It's been a nice vacation from Escorted Tours & Cruises for 2005 lunch, . entertainment, a slide-show For additiol'l:al information, please being an ethnic minOlity, but in the Sept. 22 Northern Japan - Hokkaido & Tohoku presentation featuring images of contact Robert Ito, Veterans end, there is still plenty of work to Oct. 6 Cruise Canada & New England + New York - Radisson Seven veterans living or deceased, and Luncheon C-chair, at (858) 560- Seas "Navigator" . get dope back home.• recognition of each veteran. Friends 5205 or [email protected]. • Oct. 7 Sumo in Las Vegas Oct. 15 Onsen of Hokuriku plus Seoul & Taipei Nov. 3 Southern Japan - Okinawa & Kyushu SAY_ WAS~'i T1-lERE. A Nov. 30 The Best of South America - "Brazil, Iguassu, Argentina & ' FAMOUS NUDE PAINTING Chile" Dec. 6 Holiday Season in San Antonio n . ~LLED "SEPTEMBER MORN ? · 2006 (Partiallisti;'.g of trips to come) Jan. 14 Discover New Zealand Feb. 7 Panama Canal Cruise plus Costa Rica & Caribbean on Crystal Symphony Mar. 30 Japan - Cherry Blossoms & Fuji-san YE"S ••. AND Apr. 13 China - Beijing, Xian, Yangtze River Cruise, Shanghai & Hong Kong I~PA/Nrl~A May Japan - Along the Japan Sea NEW VERSION ... June Canadian Capitals - Montreal, Toronto, Quebec & Ottawa plus Niagara Falls '5EPre~MOOFJ(' July 5 Alaska Cruise and Land Tour on Coral Princess July 17 Japan - Highlights of Japan Aug. 11 Treasures of the Rhine River Sept. 4 Istanbul to Athens on Radisson Seven Seas Navigator Oct. 5 New England - Fall Foliage Dec. Egypt - Land of the Pharaohs (Including Nile River Cruise) Note: Japan Tours in September, October and November Kosakura Tours and Travel 4415 Cowell Road, Suite 110, Concord, CA 94518 Tel: (925) 687-4995, Calif. Toll Free 1-800-858-2882 PACIFIC CITIZEN, SEPT. 2-15,2005 ENfERTAINMENT 9 Margaret Cho is willing to go there. . .. love story about a couple of mis• fit kids who leave hometown to go The half fonned idea gathering dust in the back of to New York to be on a reality TV show. It mirrors my'life a little. It your mind? She's already screamed it at the top of her would be what my life would be like lungs. With Cho, there is no bitten lower lip, just if I hadn't left home. I play . my unabashed, some times cringing candor. mother and myself very much. PC: What's difficult about "For me everything is fair of 'Assassin' is when you talk being in your first fiction movie? game," said Cho the morning after about being booked for a MC: It was a collaborative effort, the world premiere of her latest Republican hotel owners conven• which was difficult. I had to learn show "Assassin," which debuts tion. How does someone book how to create a vision with others, simultaneously on a gay television Margaret Cho and not know so that was an interesting thing. I network. In the show, she unleasJ'tes what they are getting? love the film. And there's always her frustration on the Bush adminis• MC: It's really alarming. I was the [difficulties] of financing tration, pokes fun at the media fas• really glad to do it. But they could• because it's not mainstream family cination over the death of the pope n't deal. I don't know how they did• film. It's so hard to Asian American ("No. He's not dead yet, but he may n't know. I think they looked at my film, but it's not hard at all to make be after this commercial break!") race and thought, 'Oh, she won't be an Asian film. I don't know why and tries to kill you with her one controversial: Of course, that's just that is. There's this love for Jackie good eye. Trust us, it's not pretty. specUlation, but that's the only thing Chan, but take the kung fu out ... I These are busy days for the I could think of. can't figure it out. comedienne. She just wrapped up PC: There are some really per• PC: Do you have political aspi• her "Assassin" show tour in July sonal moments too. Especially rations? and is planning to infiltrate our all when you talk about your mom's MC: I don't know. Not right now. our senses with her first feature film heart attack. Is she OK? It's not one of my priorities right "Bam Bam and Celeste" and a new ., MC: Yeah. She's OK now. That now. • book "I Have Chosen to Stay and happened before the beginning [of Fight." She takes a moment to the tour]. I was just very concerned spend some time with the pc., so about it and worried. I thought it Margaret Cho close your eyes when you read this was important to talk about it. . if you offend easily, but open your PC: Why do Asian moms stash The lady is al1 assassin ears because the lady has something money and goods in strange to say. places? Pacific Citizen: Your shows MC: I think it's because they 'She's so cute. I have become more political. have to mediate all these different What ticked you off? worlds. Asian moms have to juggle wish I could be Margaret Cho: I don't think it their female identity, American soci• like her. I want to was anything specific. It was a ety and family. They are switch• ~ 'Assassin' combination of things - the war in board operators trying to make a so delicate and Iraq and the gay marriages in San connection and it's very hard. IN THEAT~S SEPT. 21 less scary ... I'm Francisco - that were happening PC: Do you feel 'the burden of all at once and they were things I representation?' in having to CAUFORtM " sosca.ryr wanted to talk about. . speak for an entire race of pe0- , HoilyWooq Regent Showcase•..• .x :if." - on actress PC: Besides the usual suspect ple? 614 !'.I.la Brea ' Zhang Ziyi - Bush and Cheney - who else MC: It's such a weird identity. made y:ou angry? I'm not only speaking for this whole c~~ .~, Q'qr~~ .. Palm Desert Hwy 11 t . MC: It's the new conservative group, I have to live for this entire n840 By LYNDA LIN Assistant Editor kick ass American 'attitude about race and be the voice of this under• represented group looking for repre• . RoxiaTheater ", dominating the world but without t S125.H~th &'SMJose, any kind of reason or consideration. sentation. It's very strange and I try PACIFIC CITIZEN Like how we're looking at Iraq and not think about it. That's how I deal Qamera 7. Cinema not thinking about human beings with it. ". Campbell Pruneyani SI'! Professor of Japanese Studies Dies at 84 By Pacific Citizen Staff served as chair for the university's Center for Japanese Studies from UC Berkeley professor emeritus 1958-60 and later director of the East Don't let a serious accident or illness force you to dip into your savi'ngs to cover your and pioneer of post-war Japanese Asian Library. He retired in 1992. medical bills. Enhance your current coverage with JACL·endorsed Catastrophe Major studies in the US. Donald Howard Shively was born in Kyoto, Japan Medical Insurance Plan. The plan strengthens your current coverage, and includes Shively died in 1921. He Was Harvard educated convalescent home care, home health care, private duty nursing coverage and more. Aug. 13. He and served as a Japanese language was 84. ofticer in the Marine Corps during Shively World War II, where he later rose to died from the rank of major and received the For more information*, call complica• Bronze Star Medal. tions of Shy• In 1982, he was awarded the Drager syn• Order of the Rising Sun by the drome at a nursing home near his Japanese govemment. home in Berkeley. Shively is survived by his wife, He was an authority on kabuki Mary Elizabeth Berry, two sons drama and the Tokugawa period of Kent and Evan, two daughters, Anne Japan. He taught at many universi• and Catherine, two sisters and three ties including UC Berkeley where hc grandchildren .• 12 NATIONAL NEWS PACIFICCITIZEi~ , SEPT.2-15,2005 REMEMBRANCE lyon prayer and spiritual based Nure Elatari, 24 I will continue to reach out to the . impact of Sept. 11 and how it has negatively impacted the lives of (Continued from page 1) activities to give me a strong basis I was affected indirectly [by Sept. communities needs and help out as with which to deal with the 11] because I am an Arab Muslim much as possible. It is important to millions of people in the United heard enough in regard to Sept. 11th immense pressure placed on our woman who is very active in the remember because the people who States: Asians, Africans, Hispanic, remembrance events. communities. I also relied heavily community. It was frightening to go died have not died in vain. There Arabs, Muslims, citizens and non• The Muslim voice should be on conferences (for Muslim stu• out worry about being attacked or death has brought out something citizens, and immigrants. sought out in these Sept. 11 remem• dents) and discussion groups to discriminated against. bigger and better then just a mass This year, I'm planning to contin• brances because it was our religion build ·a broader understanding of . Now I had to defend myself. killing. We have grown to become a ue to raise awareness and educate that was hijacked and because I what our community was going Society had judged the Muslims to better nation and become more edu• the public about these issues have frequently heard other people through and how to deal with it. I be guilty before proven innocent. cated about religions. through the media. We need to saying, ''Why don't Muslims speak regularly speak at classes centered Against my will, I became a spokes• remember and learn so mistakes out?" around diversity and understanding. woman and a leader for something Nure Elatari is the program and will not be repeated, and also to We want to speak out, but no one ·1 do feel discriminated and target• that our community was not respon• media director of the Council for come together as a society and learn really asks us or seeks our voice. ed by the government. I have dealt sible for. American Islamic Relations in from each other. with many cases of studentS being Muslim Americans mourn Arizona. It's very important for the Mashood Khawar is president of deported, having their rights tram-· because we as human beings have Muslim American community to Muslim Students Association at the pled on. I myself am questioned lost people in our world. It is sad to , ... we lIeed to showcase ourselves participate in commemorative University of Texas in Austin. over my major, where 1 travel, who lose any human being no' matter activities and be out there and reach 'I think through interactions with my friends are, etc. I have had to what faith or ethnicity they may be out to the mainstream American the "others," we will be able to nor• justify to the government that I am apart of. It does not change the fact society and educate the public about malize ourselves ill their eyes.' . not a terrorist. Muslims are not that we are all human beings. at least the basic historical facts afforded the basic principle of We as a Muslim community lost about us because there's a great deal 'innocent until proven guilty. ' many people in the events of Sept. of misinformation, bad news, mis• However, I am against Muslims 11. It is pushed aside, but we must conceptions and ugly stereotypes having to constantly defend and jus• remember and make it aware that about this community out there. tify themselves. We don't find Asian Muslim Americans died as well. Aladdin Elaasar, 43 In order to counter that, we need Americans asked to condemn Not just people of other faiths. I was a victim of Sept. 11. I lost a to showcase ourselves and tell the actions in China; nor do we find Death is death, it has no' color or job right after Sept. 11. stories of ordinary Muslim Nazeef Ebrahim, 26 African Americans called to con• gender or ethnicity and we cannot A coworker refused to work with Americans who are working hard I was removed from the society I demn the actions of the Sudanese judge whether ones life is more me a verbally assaulted me. When I and contributing to this society had known my whole life. government. I think that Muslims important then another. complained, the administration daily.• Since that point, I became viewed are held to a different standard; I have been a part of many events decided to fire me. In another occa• as a Muslim by society rather than despite the fact that we have as a in remembrance and interfaith for sion, a neighbor lashed out at me for Aladdin Elaasar's book, "Silent an American. It brought many new global community spoken out Sept. 11. I have done interfaith parking my car near his lot. Victims: The Plight of Arab & questions to mind: how can I recon• against the aggressive stance of rad• events to bring together the two I consider my self a mixture of Muslim Americans in ' Post 9/11 cile being Muslim in America? Are ical groups. faiths and the people. I have been both worlds and cultures. I'm so America" can be purchased at these two conflicting identities? I think through interactions with very vocal on the .Islamic faith and comfortable in my skin, being www.authorhouse.com. .. Along with dealing this, there was a the 'others,' we will be able to nor• given speeches and talks to different bicultural and bilingual. I consider it huge vacuum that needed to be -malize ourselves in their eyes. organizations and schools. a privilege. I encourage people to Compiled by Lynda Lin filled - being representatives of More interest has been focused learn more about other cultures. In Islam to America and society at 'We have grown to become a better on Islam and what it means and my career, I used that: I'm a bilin• ...... '" large. The pressures of the personal lIanon and become more educate.d . . about religions. ' what brings people to do what they gual teacher, translator and a pub• and societal changes were very dif• do for the sake of the faith. I enjoy. lished author in both English and ficult to deal with. It cost me grades talking and educating those who Arabic. g!~~;:; in school, losing contact with old i i want to know. So I see that as a pos• I wrote articles that were syndi• : : friends, tough times with family etc. : E-mail: : itive and progress in.the right direc~ cated across the U.S. and overseas Personally, I started to rely heavi- : [email protected] : tion. in addition to a book about the i ~ 1.....•.....•.•...... , ...... •••••••••••••••••••. •. •.•...... ~ Now! Members have full access to a complete line ofmortgage loan programs with excepiional rates. Let us help you save money and build equity through homeownershijJ. • ~eed to consolidate·your debt? .. • Remodeling? • Seeking t Loans may be processed in AZ, CA, OR, NM and UT. Void elsewhere. Omni Funding Services is a DBA of Diablo Funding Group, Inc. ("#4") which is licensed in AZ as #0905547, in OR as licensee #ML-2397, and in CA as real estate broker #01 183856 by the Dept. of Real Estate. National JACL Credit Union membership requirements: The members or shareholders of this credit union shall be restricted to those persons who at the time of application ar ~ members of the National Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) or members living under the same household of the immediate families of members of this credit union and organizations of JACL with loans to such organizations not to exceed their shares and/or deposits. -•LENDER