Pacific Citizen Reflections on 9/11 As Honorees Gather for JACL Gala
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Newsstand: 25¢ $1.50 postpaid (U.S., Can.) / $2.30 (Japan Air) #30001 Vol. 137, No. 6ISSN: 0030-8579 National Publication of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) SEPT. 19-0CT. 2, 2003 Father of Japanese Sept. 11 Victim on 9/11 as Honorees Publishes Collection <;>f Poems Reflections JACL Gala Dinner Tribute By ASSOCIATED PRESS words in my head," he said in an Gather for interview with The Associated By CAROLINE AOYAGI Held two days fol lowing the went through in 1942." Press before leaving for New York TOKYO-In the days and Executive Editor second anniversary of 91 11, the Honda, who was honored by the weeks after his son was listed as to attend the second anniversary of dinner was an opportunity for the JACL for his lengthy career in missing in the attack on the World the Sept. 11 attacks. In an evening fi lled with trib honorees to talk about the changes education and politics. noted that Trade Center, Kazusada Sumi "I want the fa milies of the other utes, fanfare and congratulations that have OCCUlTed in this countlY in 1942, JAs were not considered yama was in agony. He went to victims to read it." to five stalwarts of the Japanese following the telTOIist attacks, and to be patriots, and thus 120,000 New York in hopes of finding Sumiyama's son was among the American community, the hon warned of the dangers of the community members were placed 24 Japanese killed in the attacks. some answers, but came back with orees took time to reflect on the· Patriot Act. in concentration camps dunng . nothing . He had been working for the New two-year anniversary of the 9/11 Since the horrors of 9/11 the World War II. York branch of Fuji Bank, which Back in To kyo, he would ride terrorist attacks and the eelie simi question of what is a patriot has "But we all went through our had 700 employees in the World the commuter train to and from his Imities between the World War II been brought up over and over stmggles as patriots," said Honda, office each day, anguish consum Trade Center. internment and the far-reaching again; said Honda, U.S. Rep. noting that members of the com Six Americans working for the ing him. powers of today's U.S.A. Patriot from San Jose, most notably in the munity chose to demonstrate their But then he began turning the bank died, along with Yo ichi and Act. government's U.S.A. Patriot Act patriotism differently, choosing to 11 other Japanese. images churning through his head In a capacity-filled room of which gives overwhelming serve in the armed forces or to SUmiyama, who at 66 recently into poems, convelting his pain more than 800people, Sen. Daniel authority to the U.S. government resist. "All of us were right, we and despair into vignettes that retired from a patent researchfir m, Inouye, Transportation Secretary over those it considers to be ten'or were all patriots," added Honda, helped him heal. said he had not intended to publish Norman Mineta, Reps. Robert ists. who as a child was sent to the To mark the passing of two his poems at first. Matsui and Mike Honda; and the "The [Patriot Act] has succeed- Amacl'le, Colo. , concentration But he decided to self-publish years since the death of his 34- late Rep. Patsy Mink were hon . ed in reducing privacy and liber camp with his fa mily. year-old son, Yo ichi, Sumiyama 1,500 copies - at a cost of ored at the JACL's national gala ty," said Honda, pointing to Honda commended JACL for $13,000 - because he wanted to this month put his traditional-style dinner Sept. 13 for their accom Section 215 of the act, which its decision to challenge the Patriot shOlt poems together in a collec share his feelings with other vic plishments, career firsts, and dedi increases the search powers of the Act in federal COLllt, calling It 'Jus- tion published as "Odes to the tims' families and to remind his . cation to the Japanese Amelican. FBI, as especially dangerous. "It Soul of Ground Zero." countrymen that the attacks were community. sounds like something some of us See GALA DINNER/page 2 "Feelings inside me started pop ping up. I began searching for See POEMS/page 9 Poll: Support for 'Racial Privacy Initiative' Drops Significantly By ASSOCIATED PRESS weeks before the election it rarely passes." SAN FRANCISCO-SuPPOlt The· telephone poll surveyed for a contentious ballot initiative 505 likely voters over five days. to ban state and local governments Its margin of elTor was plus or from classifying Californians by minus 4.5 percentage points. race has slipped enough that pro The initiative's chief sponsor ponents may not have time to sal University of California regent vage it before the Oct. 7 recall and anti-affirmative action icon election, according to a poll Ward Connerly - credited a con released Sept. 11. certed organizing effort by its California voters are becoming opponents, a group that includes more aware of Proposition 54 - . teachers, civil rights advocates and and more and more they don't like much of the medical community. what they hear, according to a new During an interview Sept. 11, PHOTO JASON STOM poll by the Field Institute. Connerly suggested the anti-54 (From left): Congressman Mike Honda, John iateishi, JACL executive director, Floyd Mori, JA L Likely voters were evenly split forces were distorting the initia national preSident, television anchor Wendy Tokuda, Congressman Robert MatSUI, Senator DanielC? - 40 percent said they'd vote tive's impact, particularly on Inouye and Secretery of Transportation Norman Mineta. "yes," 40 percent said they'd health care, to scare voters. oppose it. As recently as July, 50 "The opposition is using the percent of respondents to the Field classic political model when you Poll had said they'd support the are behind, which is to say, let's Fox's 'Banzai' Taken Off Air but APA initiative. create doubt," he said. "It's like "I think it's ominous for the asking 'Do you beat your wife? Groups Vow to Remain Vigilant 'yes' side," said poll director Mark Have you been beating her?' No After weeks of protests from the communications between the net 'Banzai,'" said Jennifer Kuo, pres DiCamillo. "Usually, when it gets Asian Pacific American commu works and the Asian Pacific ident of MANAA. "We wanted to this level this early - four See RACIAL PRIVACY/page 9 nity, FOX network has decided American communities which people to know how the Asian not to pick up a new season of the· would result in programming fea American community felt about controversial show "Banzai," turing Asian Pacific Americans in 'Banzai' and FOX and that the which saw low ratings and the loss a positive and responsible ·man network should be held account Inside the of key &ponsors. ner," said Ken Inouye, JACL v.p. able for their actions." Pacific Several organizations, including of public affairs. The website Modelmi- Citizen Media Action Network for Asian The APA groups note that FOX nority.com stUlted a boycott of all National News .....3-4 Americans (MANAA), the knew the series would be prob FOX shows until "Banzai" was Banbanzai internet group lematic in May when they pulled. "The executives at FOX Nat'l JACL Modelminority.com, and the screened a preview of "Banzai" at have consistently made it clear JACL, helpedto organize protests, a "Comedy Night" event for that they have no understanding of boycotts, and the withdrawal of Lodestone Theatre. Many Asian the experiences and perspecti ves Scholarships .... ... ..5 corporate sponsorships in an effOlt American audience members of Asian Americans who have to take "Banzai" off the air and to expressed their displeasure with been harmed by 'Banzai 's' stereo Sports .............7 raise awareness of negative APA the extreme ethnic images of the types," said Andrew Chin, co Modelminority.coll1. Column, poltrayals. clips. fo under of In July, after meetings with In July, MANAA and JACL "The boycott was designed to MANAA and JACL, FOX made held a protest In front of FOX's ensure that no matter what FOX Cartoon . ...... .....8 no significant changes to the pro . showcase of their fall lineup at the decided to do, it would not protit gram before its broadcast. 'The Tel evision Critics Association by airing additional episodes of Calendar . ..... ....10 fact that FOX decided to air this press tour. "After exhausting all 'Banzai.' program, in spite of community means of communications with Another internet group. 11 Obituaries .......... requests to FOX not to do so, I:0X and their executives, protest underscores the need for improved ing was the next step in fighting See BANZAI/page 9 2 PAC IFIC CITIZEN, SEPT 19-0cr. 2, 2003 GALA DINNER . 7J• . acUe . III . (Continued from page 1) ct . zen �e tified." "Our constitution didn't I·�� &6 Editor I 7 Cupania Circle, fail us [during World War II], it Monterey Park, CA 91755 was those who were supposed to Have the Veterans of Te l: 3231725-0083, 800/966- uphold it," he said, "so the kinds Ordering Books on Black Box Voting 6157, Fax: 3231725-0064 of things that happened to us In WWII Been Recognized? Camp Experience E-mail: [email protected] '42 doesn't happen again." The ovelwhelming majority of He added, "In a time of great With reference to the Sept. 5-18, At a recent all-Camp Seminar people don't know about the Executive Editor: national security we must hold 2003, issue of the Pacific Citizen, in San Francisco by the California potential problems associated with Caroline Y.