PACIFIC CITIZEN The National Publication of the '"n"ln .. "..

{ IND.EPtH ~ ~ ~ ~ 2 JULY 3-16,2009 LElTERS/ COMMENTARY/ SPRING CAMPAIGN PACIFIC §! CmZEN

... ~ ...... ~ . ~ · ":=IBJ LETTERS T'O THE EDITOR .. PACIFIC II C?mZEN HOWTO REACH US E-mail: [email protected] Online; www.pacificcitizen.org p.e. is Only Connection to Re: Prop. 8 Decision Tel:(800) 966·6157 Fax: (213) 620-1768 Other APA Communities In regards to the article, "Same-sex Couples Struggle to Mail: Find Meaning After Prop. 8 Decision" in the June 5-18 250 E. First Street, Suite 301 Los Angeles, CA 90012 I've gotten e-mails and phone calls from recip• issue of the Pacific Citizen, evidently, they are a dedicat• STAFF '.· ients of the latest Pacific Citizen (June 5-18). I ed and devoted couple among the same-sex society. To Executive Editor appreciate the issue, not just the article on the assuage the majority, why not reserve the term "marriage" Caroline Y. Aoyagi-Stom Depression ('From Depression to Recession: to be a union of a bride and groom? Assistant Editor APA Survivor Stories Have New Significance'). As for the "marriage" of the same-sex group, why not . • Lynda Lin But generally the issue is current, relevant and use some other appropriate tenn such as "same sex wrion" : Office Manager well written. For some JAs the P.e. might be the or some other appropriate term that is meaningful and at Vacant only connection to APA communities outside of the same time requires a license. This way, the couple Circulation their own. Thanks for your excellent worle! may enjoy all the same benefits as a married couple. Eva lau.Ting Correspondent AYAMEDRUD LEO H. HOSODA Leslie Tamura . Aya Medrud in 1930. Boulder, Colo. Roseville, CA : · ...... •...... •.••...... •...... The Pacific Citizen newspaper (ISSN: 0030-8579) is published seml-moothly NAT'L DIRECTOR'S REPORT (except once in December and •. ....January) by the Japanese Altterican JACL is at the Table in D.C. Citizens League. INSIDE JACL By FLOYD MORI 1765 Sutter St. San Francisco, CA 94115 JACL President: Larry Oda The most asked question that I get these days is: National Director: Floyd Mori "What is it like being in D.C. with the new Administration?" There is considerable curiosity as to Pc. BOARD OF DIRECTORS whether or not the President has brought the "change" Margie Yamamoto, chairperson; Paul Niwa, EDC; Lisa Hanasono, MDC; that he promised. Is the federal government beginning Kathy Ishimoto, CCDC; Judith Aono, to reflect what the "real" America is today rather than NCWNPDC; Justine Kondo, the elitist perception that has prevailed in the recent PNWDC; Jeff Itami, IDC; Ted Namba, past? PSWDC; Naomi Oren, Youth There is no question that there is an atmosphere of enthusiasm and a feeling of inclusion in the Asian SUBSCRIBE American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. My AAPI colleagues have Get a one-year subscription to the Pacific Gilizen newspaper at: commented that we've been to the White House. more times in the past five www.pacificcitizen.org or call months than in the past 10 years. ' (800) 966-6157 It is important to note that the White House meetings have not been restricted to ceremonial events but to substantive discussions on policy and ADVERTISE personneL We have met with high-level officials, including the president and To advertise in the Pacific Citizen, the first .lady, on issues from fatherhood to Sotomayer and from health care call (800) 966-6157 or e-mail: [email protected] reform and public service to the White House Initiative on AAPIs. A critical fact is that there are AAPI faces on the other side of the table. PHOTO: KRIS PRICElSEIU LEGAL Processes continue to exist, and this causes anxiety waiting for a final deci• Calling for Passage of the DREAM Act No part of this publication may be repro• sion. Vetting, legal definitions and political posturing continue to exist,' and duced without the express permission of Students across the nation hold 'DREAM' graduations. JACL and other APA the Pacific Citizen. See MORVPage'1~ groups urge lawmakers to pass the bill that would allow undocumented Editorials, news and the opinions students the chance to achieve the American dream. expressed by columnists other than the nalional JACL president or national Saving History Identity Neurosis director do not necessarily reflect JACL policy. Event and products advertised in APA groups are rundraising to pay for a Columnist Yumi Sakugawa tackles the the Pacific Citizen do not carry the legal battle over Minidoka. Page 3 double bind of being APA. Page B » » implicit endorsement of the JACl or this publication. We,reserve the right to' edit S.F.'s Nihonmachi Getting to Know Soo ' articles. J·town merchants worry redevelopment Jack Soo is the most famous Nisei actor plans will erode culture. » Page 4

Say YOU're Sony . A Calif. lawmaker wants an apology for you've moved, please past mistreatment. » Page 5 send new information to: National JACl Help for ElLs 1765 Sutter St. WWII Women pilots could receive An Iowa school changes its language San Francisco, CA learner procedure. » Page 7 highest civilian honor. » Page 11 94115 Allow 6 weeks for Congratulations Helen Kawagoe! address changes. Carson JACLer and former national JACL president Helen J!:J\ Kawagoe is the winner of the 2009 Spring Campaign ,,~ avoid interruptions Sweepstakes! She won a voucher for a Mexican cruise! in delivery, please your postmas• Check out the P.C.'s online 'Wall of Fame' for other Voucher donated by Nafl JACL Credit Union include periodi• important donors. Thank you forall your support! www.jadcu.com in your change address (USPS ~ ). VIDEO: Watch the P.C.'s Kat Hirayanag! tell Helen she won! Form 3575) WWW.PACIFICCITIZEN.ORG PACIFIC !iii CmzEN TOP STORIES JULY 3-16, 2009 3 Preservationists Continue to Resist Feedlot Near Minidoka A coalition, which includes the JACL, has been fighting the feedlot. Now, the need is to raise money for the legal expenses.

By LESLIE K. TAMURA P.C. Correspondent

Stepping outside his house at night and looking up at the sky, Dean Dimond says he feels like he can touch the stars: ''That's one of the neatest things about living out where I do," he said. "But if they come and build this big [Confined Animal Feeding Operation, CAFO] ... your attention won't go to the stars." Dimond is a fourth-generation farmer. Since 1994, he has been working the land near the site of the former Minidoka War Relocation Center in Jerome County, Idaho, raising grain, barley, hay and com. "We love it out here," he said. "We're out here kind of by ourselves. We've got good neighbors. It's open country, fresh air." Dimond and his neighbors - including the recently named Minidoka National Historic Site - are up in arms along with several other organizations, however, as a new neighbor threat• ens to move into the area: a 13,OOO-animall60-acre dairy feed• PHOTO COURTEY OF DENSHO lot. Children in front of a Minidoka internment camp barrack, c. 1943 ''I'm not anti-agriculture at all," Dimond said. "Everybody has a few cows, but they're talking 13,0Q0 animals, and any be more traffic and pollution because of the feedlot, there'd Sky Farms feedlot has several options as to where it can build time you take that many animals and shove it into that small a also be more jobs and increased market value for the area. its CAFO, says Tebbutt, and there is "no particular reason" for space, there's a lot of odors and flies and crap like that, that I In September 2008, a coalition of organizations protested the constructing a feedlot so close to the Minidoka site and to other don't want to live in it." CAFO's proposed site. The coalition includes the Friends of local farms other than "it's affordable land." Litigation against the feedlot has been ongoing for three Minidoka, Preservation Idaho, the JACL, Idaho Concerned years. Currently attorneys are in the preliminary phase of set• Area Residents for the Environment, the Dimond family, the Remembering Minidoka tling the record of the case, collecting 'information about Idaho Rural Council, and the !'q'ational Trust for Historic One of the largest intemment camps during World War n, Jerome County's decision-making process in approving the Preservation. the Minidoka War Relocation Center was once the temporary construction of the proposed factory farm. Since then, attorneys for the various organizations have been home for about 13,000 Japanese Americans who hailed from Although the County Board of Commissioners initially trying to settle the record as coalition members have organized Washington, Oregon, Califomia and Alaska, according to the denied the permit application, it reversed its decision in 2008 environmental impact studies, public information efforts and NPS . . approving the construction of the feedlot within 1.5 miles of rallied me~bers against the feedlot. ''The Minidoka National Historic Site is an important place the national historic site. "We believe that there were some serious mistakes made by in our nation's history," Tebbutt said. "It's not a pleasant place Dimond and others worry that the proposed CAFO will have the Jerome County Board of Commissioners in the hearing in United States history for everyone, but it reminds us of our environmental, public health, cultural and economic conse• process that they went 1brough before reaching their decision," own frailties and prejudices." quences, among others. Carlson said. "We're trying to get the court to consider evi• Not much remains of the camp located in south central "Placing facilities like this is a critical decision," said dence of some of the serious mistakes that occurred in the Idaho. Although it was designated a National Monument in Richard Carlson, legal counsel for the Idaho Rural Council and process of making their decision." 2001 and a National Historic Site in 2008, there are no visitor the Dimond family. "If they're going to put [the CAFO] some• The lawsuit, which challenges Jerome County's approval of facilities or services currently available. There are some rem• where, they should put it someplace where they're not going to the CAFO and the constitutionality of the county's zoning nants of former internment camp buildings, however, such as impact the residents of the area, the visitors, or those who have ordinance limiting those who can testify, will likely stall feed• an entry guard station and waiting room. some kind of important connection with the Minidoka historic lot construction until 2011. Still, predicting the litigation time• According to the site's general management plan, the NPS is site." line is ')ust about impossible," Cli!lson added. working to restore some of the original barracks to the site so Litigating to Save lfistory At the end oOune 2009, attorneys for the coalition will have visitors can have a better understanding of the internment Legal efforts began in December 2006 to try and block the flled a motion to supplement the record with agenda, meeting experience as well as the local history. development of this facility. Big Sky Farms had proposed the minutes and other correspondence discussing the deliberative Threatened by the CAFO development and poor public pol• feedlot, advocating the significant economic benefits of a process of approving the CAFO permit, according to Charlie icy, the Minidoka camp was placed on the National Trust for CAFO for the area. Although it did not receive its initial per• Tebbutt, legal counsel for the Western Environmental Law Historic Preservation's 11 Most Endangered National Histori<::. mit, after an appeal in July 2008, a judge ruled in favor of the Center. Sites of 2007 list. CAFO. "We hope that the commissioners will take a hard look at the Within the coalition doing its part to get the CAFO permit When the decision returned to the Jerome County overall impacts," Tebbutt said. "Placing a huge livestock facil• reversed, the JACL is activating its members in opposition to Commissioners, however, no testimony was allowed. ity near a national monument makes no sense; it shows disre• the factory farm development, in an attempt to preserve the Commissioners did not hear comments from the National Park spect to those interned, area residents, and other national his• Minidoka National Historic Site. Service (NPS) and other organizations regarding the health, toric sites." "At this juncture, the most pressing need right now is· to con• environmental and safety hazards associated with a CAFO 'This isn't your normal farm," Dimond said of the CAFO vey to our membership the need to raise money for the legal located next to a national historic site. Idaho state laws pertain• factory farm. ''These are big rich people who are just coming expenses to fight the CAFO," Karen Yoshitomi, PNW region• ing to CAFOs limits testimony about permit applications to in, trying to get richer." al director, wrote in an e-mail. residents within one mile of the proposed site; this factory farm Forced out, sold and consolidated, many family farms are Having lived and worked in Jerome County for about 20 is just outside of that one-mile marker. lost to larger CAFOs according to the National Trust for years, Dimond says he appreciates the solitude, the quiet of the In a 2-to-l vote, the commissioners approved the CAFO per• Historic Preservation. As small farms shut down, local busi• area. mit. nesses suffer as factory farms choose to employ fewer people ''The monument is some- Commissioner Charlie Howell's primary concerns when he and purchase feed and supplies from outside sources. thing that's going to be here On the Web: approved the permit, he said, were the rules and regulations of "It's a business decision," Tebbutt added, "a poor business forever," he said, ''I'm hoping Jerome County. . decision because of the [historic] interest of the particular that if they want this [nation• www.jacl.org "I can't say there won't be an impact; I don't know," Howell area." al] park to succeed, they need www.minidoka.org said. But Howell did say he predicted that although there may South View Dairy, the new owners of the permit for the Big to shut this CAFO down.". 4 JULY 3-16, 2009 TOP STORIES PACIFIC B CrnZEN S.F. Japantown Merchants_Gain Time Before Redevelopment

Traditional mochitsuki (traditional rice pounding) is part of the annual Obon festivities in San Francisco's Japantown (left).

The concrete five-tiered peace pagoda (above), the centerpiece of S.F.'s Japantown, was designed by Japanese architect Yoshiro Taniguchi.

The WWII internment and redevelopment in Besides proposed aesthetic repairs, city officials said other ren• malls were sold to 3-D Investments. Currently the entire center the 60s and 80s are still open wounds from many ovations are necessary to make buildings structurally sound. has multiple owners. community members. The garage in Japan Center is seismically unsafe, said Ten sites within Japantown have been identified by the BNP Rosemary Dudley, lead planner with the San Francisco historic resource survey as historically significant to the By NALEAJ. KO Planning Commission. Construction repairs to the commercial ''Nikkei culture" and are eligible for the historic register. Places Reporter portion of Japan Center and the parking garage are estimated to like the Nichiren Buddhist Church and the Sokoji-Soto Zen cost $45 million. Buddhist Temple made the list. Former first lady Laura Bush Sakura Sakura store owner Stephen Jordan and his wife Storeowners say they fear their rents will increase after the designated San Francisco's Japantown as a Preserve America Mariko have operated their women's apparel and accessory renovations are completed, concerns city officials say they can• Community in 2008, recognizing it as a culturally significant, shop in San Francisco's Japan Center for about 10 years, sell• not dispute. natural heritage site. ing items like yukatas and obis. Over the years, Jordan said he ''I don't know [if rent will increase] because the scenarios 'The whole [past] redevelopment was seen as the second has seen the community change and he is concerned about city that are studied are not moving forward at this point. However evacuation of Japantown," said Paul Osaki, executive director plans to redevelop the area. 1 would be surprising if they didn't go up. The previous owner of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern "Japantown should be a shining light in the city and not just of the mall was not collecting rent on a regular basis," Dudley California. ''I see this plan as a last chance to correct 67 years another condominium or tourist site." Jordan continued, "If this said. of bad planning. And if we fail on this third time around, I think becomes a condominium I don't know if it's conducive to busi• Merchants in Japantown said increasing the rentm this econ• it's strike three and we're out." ness." omy would further negatively ,impact business. "Our family has Most want more time to gather further community input and Sakura Sakura is located on the ground floor of the Kintetsu been here for over 100 years," said Nob Mihara, owner of the ensure that historical buildings are preserved. Mall in the Japan Center, a part of San Francisco's Japantown. Paper Tree in Japantown. "I am hoping that the plan will be for "At this point in the draft plan process - none of the deci• Jordan's store is one of many retail stores that would be impact• the benefit of the community." sions this week will result in construction changes because we ed by the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan, or BNP, which Jordan said he has experienced a monthly increase of about do not have the environmental study," said Dudley. Before any proposes redevelopment of the area. The city is recommending $500 in his common area dues since the change of ownership. construction begins, an environmental study will need to be "interior upgrades" and "exterior improvements" to the Japan Retailers like Jordan also do not know where they will relocate completed and is estimated to cost $500,000. It is not financial• Center buildings, among other things. to when redevelopment begins since city officials do not have a ly feasible to begin any development until the next four to five Jordan says he welcomes improvements to the community, secured relocation site. years, said Dudley. but said he is worried that the plans could possibly alter the 'There's a concern that this is going to make changes tomor• landscape he has become accustomed to for the past decade. Japantown's History row, and what we've been trying to say is there is a lot of addi• 'The way I'm looking at it right now, I see that there is a draft There are three Japantowns in California including sites in tional analysis - as well as ongoing changes before anything and it's very inclusive of all parties. I think that iast draft is very Los Angeles, San Jose and San Francisco. San Francisco's gets implemented." Dudley added, "I would imagine that once inclusive of everybody." Jordall continued, "As a merchant I Japantown has had a complex history, making concerns about we get funding, it would take at least one to two years just for care about my business, but I also care about Japantown as renovations more palpable, said Kitashima, who was raised in the environmental analysis." whole." the city. A petition sponsored by the Concerned Stakeholders of Others in the area echoed Jordan's sentiments, asking for "With only three remaining Japantowns in the United States, San Francisco's Japantown had gathered 366 signatures as it is important to preserve all of them as best as possible," he of June 26. Petitioners are also more time to draft a ''fair'' plan. The San Francisco Planning GET INVOLVED Commission members voted June 25 to not endorse the BNP, said. "While the consensus of the community is to reject or asking the city for more time to which will give everyone in the community more time to voice delay the plan, it's a terrible sight to see when the community review the current plan. For more information their concerns. The commission staff will continue to rework 'leaders' want to rush this plan without any real consideration Jordan did not sign the peti• about the Japantown the plan, collecting feedback from the community. of the general population." tion because he was unsure BNP, visit the San Jordan said repairs are needed to the buildings, indicating that Kitashima noted the Japantowns in the United States have about who authored it. He said Francisco Planning there are leaks and heating and cooling problems. Community experienced "racist" polices in the past, with the internment of he hopes that there will be open Department members hope the revised plan will ultimately preserve the dis• Japanese Americans and past redevelopment plans. communication about any (http://www.sfgov.orgfsit tinctive character of Japantown. Internment camps became a reality for JAs during World War future plans. efplanningjndex.asp?id "What's sad is the plan suggests raising the height limits of IT but by 1945 many Nikkei had retumed to San Francisco's "I feel that the draft plan =57149 ). the Japan Center malls, and if all the legal prOCesses go through, Japantown. Then in the 1960s to the 1980s families and busi• seems to be about as fair as they Or to sign the petition, it would let the developer demolish the site and the city-owned nesses were displaced under the redevelopment plan, said com• can get," Jordan said. "But visit the Care 2 Petition 'garage below it," wrote Aaron Kitashima, a San Francisco• munity leaders. Planning for the current redevelopment plan nothing is going to happen if Site (http://www,thepeti• based blogger, in an e-mail to the Pacific Citizen. was hastened in 2006 when the former Japanese owners of you do not have the cooperation tionsite.comf1/against• There are various scenarios proposed in the BNP. The "tallest Kintetsu Corporation went public about seeking new buyers for of San Francisco. Change is japantown-plan) . scenario" proposes a 25-foot tower at Geary and Webster Street. its Japantown properties. In 2007 the Kintetsu and Miyako always hard." • PACIFIC iii CITIZEN NATIONAL NEWS JULY 3-16, 2009 5 Calif. Legislator Seeks Redress For Chinese Immigrants

By Associated Press and P.e. Staff become naturalized citizens. The Chinese started coming to SACRAMENTO, Calif. -California's California in droves during the Gold Chinese immigrants helped build ships, levees, Rush in the niid-1800s, hoping to irrigation systems and the transcontinental rail• strike it rich and return home. Many road. They worked in farm fields and mines settled and more came, working in and helped develop the abalone and shrimp the mines or taking other jobs, industries. including helping build the transcon• For their efforts, they were rewarded with tinentalrailroad.Tens of thousands of special taxes, forced out of towns and denied Chinese immigrants were recruited the rights to own property, marry whites and to labor on the railroad. In 1882, the attend public schools. They also were subject• Chinese Exclusion Act then derailed ed to violence, intimidation and denied equal other immigration efforts. protection by the courts. '1t was a double standard all the State Assemblyman Paul Fong, a Cupertino way," until the mid-20th century, Democrat whose maternal grandfather was Fong has said. ''They couldn't marry subjected to immigration restrictions, thinks it who they wanted. They couldn't buy is time the state and the federal governments property until the 1950s. Asians formally apologize for the mistreatment of the couldn't become (naturalized) citi• Chinese. zens." ''To move forward and become a stronger Eddie Wong, executive director of state, we need to recognize our mistakes," the Angel Island Immigration Station reward." Fong said at a recent news conference. Foundation, said Chinese. immigrants made Fong has introduced a reso• It is not the first time state lawmakers have "tremendous contributions to building society, lution in the Assembly that sought to make amends for past mistreatment building the economy of California. That cites the contributions made by to Chinese Americans. should be recognized along with an apology." the Chinese and expresses In May, State Assemblyman Mike. Eng and Wong said in an interview with The Mercury California's deep regrets for the several. civil rights organizations designated News - a San Jose, Calif.-based newspaper discrimination. The measure is Dec. 17 as the Day of Inclusion. The day car• - that he hopes to raise public awareness scheduled to be considered this ~arks ries significance because it the date in - about past mistreatment more than anything. week by the Assembly which the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was "It's a point of respect," he said. 'Tm not Judiciary Committee, the first repealed. The Magnuson Act, or the Chinese discounting the need for redress, but if the his• step in winning approval from Exclusion Repeal Act, was signed in 1943 and tory and contribution are acknowledged in the Legislature. allowed Chinese Americans in the country to textbooks and pop culture, that's the ultimate Fong said he also planned to Angel Island Immigration Station (top photo) once housed hun• seek an apology from the feder• dreds of Asian Americans who were kept in detention barracks al government and some form like the one pictured above. of reparation, such as a contri• .Blue Shield of Californi bution to maintain the Angel A:hlhdependent Member ofthe.Blue$hieldASsoclii Island Immigration Station in San Francisco News. She wrote "American Dreams: The ·8~' .. Bay, which housed Chinese immigrants Emergence of an American People," in 2001. between 1910 and 1940 as they tried to prove The author said without any apology Chinese they were eligible to enter the U.S. -immigrants would "go missing in history." Angel Island was dubbed the "Ellis Island of Fong's maternal grandfather experienced the West" because it served as a quarantine and discrimination firsthand in California. When immigration station. The island is a state park. he arrived in the United States in 1939, he that could be closed as a result of Gov. Amold spent two months on Angel Island undergoing Schwarzenegger's state budget recommenda• questioning to determine if he was eligible to tions. enter the country, Fong said. Historically Congress has rarely apologized He was not eligible, under the immigration for government mistreatment and reparations. restrictions that allowed Chinese to immigrate In 1988, Congress apologized for the intern• if they were members of certain professions, ment of Japanese Americans during World were the children of immigrants in tpose pro• War II and offered $20,000 payments to sur• fessions or were the children of Chinese vivors. It also issued an apology in 1993 to Americans who were citizens because· they native Hawaiians for the unlawful overthrow were born in the U.S. of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Legislation is pend• Fong's grandfather paid about $2,000 for ing in Congress to apologize for slavery, and fake identification papers and took a new for years of mistreatment to Native American name of Chan Share, becoming a "paper son." Indians. The term referred to immigrants who pur• Fong and a resolution co-author, chased fake identification papers from the Assemblyman Kevin De Leon, D-Los Chinese who claimed they were citizens and Angeles, said it has drawn some negative and wanted to help their children in China to "very racist" reaction in reader comments on immigrate to America. The practice became newspaper Web sites, but they predicted it popular after the 1906 San Francisco earth• would pass the state Legislature. quake that destroyed many birth records. Health Plans fQr California A spokeswoman for state Senate Minority -:His grandfather settled near San Ma:teo and Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Temecula, became a flower grower, later becomiIig one JACL Members said he had no cornment <;>n the proposal. of the founders of the Chinese Bay Area Many in the Chinese American community Chrysanthemum Growers' Association. Call the JACL Health Benefits 'Administrators at said an apology is long overdue. ''There were discriminatory laws on the 1.800.400.6633 "A bill like this would recognize that history books at the time, and he had to get around or visit www.jaclhealth.org and acknowledge what happened," said author them," Fong said. ''That was the way they did ;'..r;~~'t. Ar.'"... r:,~,:'l l~l : m· ; ;·, ~ ~~~:l~ Helen Zia in an interview with The Mercury it." • 6 JULY 3-16,2009 NATIONAL NEWS PACIFIC II CITIZEN JACL, APA Groups .Say High Court's Decision National N ewsbytes to Preserve Voting Rights Act is Vital ByP.C.StaffandA~iated~ .

Husband of Jailed Reporters Speak at Calif. Vigil 'Studies clearly show tf)at minority voters are SAN FRANCISCO• The husband of an often disenfranchised American journalist of their constitutional jailed in North Korea says his wife sounded . right to vote and here scared during a recent is where the fACL phone call and described her confinement as \falces strong "bearable." agreement with the lain Clayton, the hus• band of Laura Ling, said Supreme Court ... ' his wife recently called EUNALEE LAURA LING him. He said although she tried to be strong on the phone, he could tell she was worried. - Floyd Mori, JACL national Clayton spoke after a vigil at San Francisco's Academy of Art University director, about the Supreme for Ling and Euna Lee, the other American reporter jailed in North Korea. Court decision in Northwest Lee and Ling have been sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for allegedly Austin Municipal Utility District entering the country illegally in March and engaging in "hostile acts." Number One v. Holder. Clayton also says Ling's medical condition has deteriorated and Lee has developed a medical problem. Ling reportedly suffers from an ulcer. Senate Sends Race-Gender Measure to Ariz. Ballot By P.C. Staff and A~iated ~ Asian Pacific American populations including Texas and PHOENIX-Arizonans will vote next year on a proposed state constitu• Arizona, according to the Asian Pacific American Legal tional amendment to generally prohibit state and local governments from dis• Asian Pacific American groups are calling the Center (APALC). crimination and preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity and sex. Supreme Court's decision to preserve the Voting Rights ''With Section 5 in place these past decades, there has Senate passage with a 17-11 vote Junt< 22 without debate sent the measure Act an affinnation of the continued need to protect been some progress toward equality in our voting sys• championed by Republican legislators and California activist Ward Connerly minority rights. tem," said Stewart Kwoh, APALC president and execu• to Arizona's November 2010 ballot. The Supreme Court justices, on June 22 in an 8 to 1 tive director. "However, much work still needs to be The measure is a retooled version of an initiative proposal that failed to ruling, issued a decision in Northwest Austin Municipal done and this work cannot be accomplished without this qualify for Ariwna's 2008 ballot because it lacked valid signatures on peti• Utility District Number One v. Holder that leaves in necessary provision." tions. place Section 5, a central provision of the Voting Rights But critics of the law said the court made clear that it If Arizona voters approve the amendment, the state would join four other Act that requires some states and local governments to may not take such a restrained approach the next time a states - California, Nebraska, Michigan and Washington - that have seek federal permission before changing their voting voting rights challenge comes it way. approved versions. procedures. But the court did not rule on the question of The Voting Rights Act, first enacted in 1965, opene4 Section 5's constitutionality. the polls to millions of min~rities. In 2006, the Some Guantanamo Detainees Reject Palau Move "Studies clearly show that minority voters are often Republican-controlled Congress overwhelmingly KOROR, Palau- disenfranchised of their constitutional right to vote," said renewed the part of the law which provided for the Several Guantanamo JACL National Director Floyd Mori, "and here is where advance approval requirement for 25 years and President detainees from western the JACL voices strong agreement with the Supreme George W. Bush signed it. China are uninterested in Court in that there are jurisdictions that require federal The Austin utility district, backed by a conservative moving to Palau, the oversight to deal with the problem of ongoing voting dis• group opposed to the law, brought the court challenge. It country that agreed to crimination in covered jurisdictions." said that either the district sh()uld be allowed to opt out resettle them after their JACL had ' signed onto the amicus brief for the or the entire provision should be declared unconstitution• upcoming release, because Northwest Municipal District Number One case. al. it is located too close to ''We signed on to educate the court about the Japanese The Austin utility district is in the heart of Canyon their homeland. American experience and its relation to the case at hand," Creek, an affluent suburb of about 3,500 residents that The Uighurs (pronounced WEE' -gurs), from China's far western region of said Larry Oda, JACL national president. didn't break ground on its first house until the 1980s. Xinjiang, are considered separatists by Chinese authorities. The U.S. refused The Voting Rights Act has been the government's About 80 percent of residents in Canyon Creek are to send them back to China because of concerns the men would be immedi• chief weapon against racial discrimination at polling white, according to the 2000 census. ately arrested. places since the 1960s. As recently as 2002, voters in Canyon Creek used a Palau consented to President Barack Obama's request to take the Turkic After arguments in late April, it appeared the court's neighbor's garage to cast their ballot in their utility board Muslims as part of plans to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center in conservatives could have a majority to strike down part . elections. The board wanted to change the polling loca• Cuba. The men were captured in Afghanistan and Pakistan. in 2001, and the of the law as unnecessary in an era marked by the elec• tion to a school, but first had to seek federal clearance. Pentagon determined last year that they were not "enemy combatants" - but tion of the first African American president. The community got it, but Canyon Creek's board felt that the men have since been stuck in legal limbo. But with only one justice in dissent, the court avoided needing approval from Washington was an unnecessary the major questions raised over the section of the voting obstacle in a tiny neighborhood with no history of minor• Senate Apologizes For Slavery, Segregation in U.S. law that requires all or parts of 16 states - mainly in the ity voter discrimination. WASHINGTON-The Senate has unanimously passed a resolution apol• South and with a history of discrimination in voting - APA leaders disagree. ogizing for slavery and racial segregation in the U.S. and sent the measure to to get Justice Department approval before making '''The historic accomplishments of the Voting Rights the House. changes in the way elections are conducted. Act are irrefutable," said Tuyet Le, executive director of Democrat Tom Harkin first introduced the measure years ago but wanted Months after Barack Obama became president, Chief the Asian American Institute. '''The Voting Rights Act is it passed on the eve of Juneteenth, June 19, a day of celebration commemo• Justice John Roberts said the justices decided not to vital to our democracy and our nation, and this decision rating the end of the Civil War in 1865 and the release of African Americans determine whether dramatic civil rights gains means the preserves the law." • from slavery. advance approval requirement is no longer necessary. The Senate has passed such nonbinding but highly symbolic resolutions That larger issue, Roberts said, "is a difficult constitu• On the Web before, apologizing for such things as the internment of JAs during World tional question we do not answer today." www.jacl.org Warn. Section 5, which was reauthorized by Congress for 25 www.apalc.org The resolution includes a disclaimer saying that nothing in it supports or years in 2006, covers several jurisdictions with emerging www.aaichicago.org authorizes reparations . • PACIFIC iii CmzEN NATIONAL NEWS JULY 3-1620097 Iowa School District Agrees to New Ap<"· ..· .. , . w ··J·s·~ , ~ .;. '. in the English Language Classification Policy News Lori Phanachone, the student who took a By Pacific Citizen Staff stand against the policy, said she is 'glad.'

Sequoia JACL Awards Scholarships By Pacific Citizen Staff

Lori Phanachone is no longer an English Language Learner, according to the Storm Lake School District, which has reclassified the Laotian American student as En~lish proficient and created a comprehensive new ELL policy. The policy change is seemingly the end of the contro• versy involving the Iowa high school and Phanachone, an honor student who in February protested the school's classification by boycotting a yearly ELL test. She received a three-day suspension and had her National Honor Society membership and extracurricular privi• Phanachone (above, left) leges revoked. and a Storm Lake official On June 26, Phanachone and Storm Lake officials sign a memorandum of At its recent scholarship reception, the Sequoia JACL recognized seven out• signed a memorandum of understanding. understanding on the standing students who demonstrated high academic achievements and exten• "I'm glad my taking a stand has led Storm Lake to school's new ELL policy. sive community involvement, improve its ELL classification policy," said Phanachone This year's recipients are: (l-r) Jaime Antonio,.Bo Yi, Mario Alvarido · r in a statement. "Now, other students who were misclas• Kacyn Fujii, Bryan Yasukawa and Leslie Harnachi. sified under the old policy will have a chance to be national director. "Lori Phanachone is to be commended reclassified as English proficient." for the high value she places on her cultural heritage and Hama to Receive Comic Book Award Storm Lake will retroactively apply the new policy, also for her persistence in motivating the district to Comics pioneer Larry Harna will receive the Henry Y. Kiyarna Award which sets forth clear steps for identification and classi• reevaluate their discriminatory policy. Courage has many at the First Annual Asian American ComiCon July 11 in New York fication of ELL students. About 1,000 ELLs are current• faces and Lori has exemplified the kind of courage that Hama is best known as a writer and editor for Marvel Comics. Among oth• ly enrolled in Storm Lake public schools. brings pride to the Asian American community." ers, he wrote the licensed comic book series "G.I. Joe, A Real American "We believe it is a role model policy that can be fol• With the help of the Asian American Legal Defense Hero." lowed across the state," Dr. Paul Tedesco, Storm Lake and Education Fund (AALDEF), Storm Lake agreed to Kiyama's 1931 breakthrough book 'The Four Immigrants," is considered superintendent, told KMEG 14. reclassify Phanachone as English proficient, lift all disci• the first original graphic novel published in America. The school district worked with the US. Department plinary consequences from her record, and restore her of Justice and the Commission on the Status of Iowans . National Honors Society membership. Hirahara's Latest Novel Receives of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage. "We are heartened by Storm Lake's willingness to Youth Literature Award In March, Storm Lake drew criticism from communi• improve its ELL classification policy. Moving forward, "1001 Cranes," Naomi Hirahara's latest novel, was awarded honorable ty groups for wrongly classifying Phanachone, 18, as an we will monitor how Storm Lake applies this new poli• mention for youth literature by the AsianlPacific American Librarians ELL. Phanachone was bom in California to immigrant cy to 'current students who -like Lori Phanachone - Association. parents. She has a near perfect grade- point average and may have been misclassified as ELLs," said Khin Mai The award recognizes literary and artistic merit in an effort to promote has excelled academically in all subjects including Aung, the AALDEF staff attorney representing APA culture and heritage. English. Phanachone . • Hirahara, a former editor of The Rafu Shim po newspaper, is also the writer JACL issued a statement criticizing Storm Lake's of the Edgar Award-winning Mas Arai mystery series. actions against Phanachone. On the Web: "While language is critical for communication, it is www.jacl.org. East West Players' Honored Twice also a reflection of culture," said Floyd Mori, JACL www.aaldef.org by James Irvine Foundation Tim Dang, producing artistic director of the Los Angeles-based APA the• ater East West Players, was honored with a 2009 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award for increasing understanding of and appreciation for High Court Calls for a Ne\V Look California's diversity and creating new opportunities for APA artists. Dang is the second arts recipient to rec6ive this honor since the inception at Arizona's English Progral11 of the Leadership Awards in 2006. The James Irvine Foundation also renewed its grant to EWP in its contin• JACL had signed onto the amicus brief for "Language should not be a barrier for being a full cit• ued support of the theater's literary programs. This grant provides EWP with Home v. Flores. izen of the US.," said Floyd Mori, JACL national direc• $300,000 over the next three years. tor. By P.e. Staff and Associated Press ELL advocates say the high court's ruling underscores Pan Becomes First APA Judge in D.C. a "rampant lack of ELL assessment and services, inade• The Senate has confirmed Florence Pan as an associate judge for the The US. Supreme Court has handed a partial.victory quate interpretation and translation, insufficient teacher . District of Cobnnbia Superior Court making her the first ever APA to serve to Arizona officials, ruling that the state is entitled to a training and certification, and general curricular inequal• as a judge in D.C. . fresh legal review that could lift a court order requiring ity across the country," said AALDEF in a statement. ]>rior to her appointment, Pan served D.C. for over a decade as assistant changes in how schools teach children learning English. "We hope lower courts will apply the new factors the US. District Attorney and then Deputy Chief of the Appellate Division for On June 25 the justices, in a 5-4 vote, reversed an high court set forth to preserve ELLs' rights to continued the D.C. US. Attorney's Office. appeals court ruling in a 17 -year-old lawsuit intended to funding and support," said Khin Mai Aung, AALDEF close the gap between students in Nogales, Ariz., who staff attorney. Koh is Confirmed as State Dept. Legal Adviser are learning to speak English and native English speak• Justice Samuel Alito, in the majority opinion, said a Former Yale Law School Dean Harold Hongju Koh is the new State ers. federal District Court judge in Tucson must take another Depru:tment legal adviser. New York-based Asian American Legal Defense and look at the program to see whether the city now is "pro• The Senate confirmed his appointment June 25. Education Fund (AALDEF) submitted an amicus brief . viding equal opportunities" to ELLs. Koh,'who has been on the Yale Law School faculty since 1985 and dean for Home vs. Flores. JACL, citing the parallel experi• Alito, joined by his conservative colleagues, was high• for the past five years, will be on leave from the law school during his time ences between the Issei and English Language Learners ly critical of the 9th US. Circuit Court of Appeals in San in Washington. He will return to teach when his public service ends. (ELLs) of today, signed onto the amicus brief. Francisco that have kept Nogales and, more recently, Koh previously served as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor in the Clinton Administration.• See ARIZONA'S ENGLISH PROGRAMlPage 13 8 JULY 3-16, 2009 VOICES PACIHC Ii: CmZEN MEMOIRS OF A NON-GEISHA Identity Neur2!I~ ,

BY JOHi'J TATEISHi

Perspective is an interesting thing. Two, peo• the voters would stand and declared the legality ple can see the exact, same thing and come to of Prop. 8, which disallows all future same-sex completely different conclusions depending on marriages in the state. It seems to me that Prop. their perspectives. Obviously, it depends on 8 only delayed the inevitable because it's only a what you bring to an issue, what your experi• matter of time before most states in the union ences are, what you believe. And thus it is with will join Iowa, Connecticut and Massachusetts important issues that face the JACL from time to in legalizing same-sex marriages. time. Just as Bob Dylan's song, '''The TImes They Two such cases that have more or less been are a-Changing" became the anthem for the resolved will, I suspect, probably linger for social revolution that took place in the 1960s, years within the JACL's rank and file: Ehren echoes of those sentiments are true today. The Watada and Proposition 8. Both issues evoke times are changing, and young people today strong personal reactions; both have real rele• don't think twice about people being gay. It's a Last Friday, I went to a screening of a movie called "Amreeka" at vance for the JACL. Watada because he's JA; "so-what" issue for them. the Los Angeles Film Festival. Prop. 8 because the JACL is the only national ' A half century ago, there were still misce• civil rights organization that has a public, affir• genation laws in this country, and people stared It follows the story of Muna, a (AAlfeminist/gay etc.) before your main mative position on same-sex partnerships. at mixed-race couples, usually with condemna• Palestinian woman who moves to America task as a storyteller (theater/author/artist In May, the Justice Department dropped its tion more than curiosity (especially if it was a with her 16-year-old son Fadi to stay at her etc.). An individual artist may begin feel• appeal of an earlier court ruling that a retrial of black male-white female combination). Today, sister's family home in Illinois. Ashamed ing pressured by the community to express Watada would constitute double jeopardy, thus it's an accepted fact and non-issue. There are of the fact that she accidentally lost her their stories or views within strictly bringing to a close the main charges against even commercials on TV that show mixed-race entire life savings at U.S. customs, Muna defined parameters, as certain characteriza• Watada. And in June, the Califomia Supreme couples, and how much more mainstream can secretly takes a job at a local White Castle -tions or opinions become more acceptable Court upheld the decision of the state's voters to you get than that? hamburger joint. Meanwhile, Fadi takes than others. ban same-sex marriages in the state, bringing to The hypocrisy of race has shifted in part to cues from his more Americanized and Amy Tan expressed this concern in one a close that particular battle for equality for . the hypocrisy of sexual orientation in today's rebellious cousin Salma on how to adjust essay as she recalls certain AA college stu• same sex partners. world, but like racial issues, this too will change. to his new American high school. dents who felt personally offended when The Watada issue raised the ire of Nisei vets It's inevitable~ I loved this movie. But even more than they read her novels involving abusive and others in the JACL's membership because it And as time passes, historians will no doubt that - I felt an immense sense of gratitude male characters who are Chinese. She was felt he was bound by his military oath to find the courage to reveal the facts that lie and relief. much preferred to identify herself as an obey the orders of his commander-in-chief. But behind the deceptions that led this nation into a "Oh, thank God," I remember telling my American writer, instead of an AA one. the conundrum Watada created was the moral war that had no relevance to the truth. And when boyfriend as we walked out of the theater, Artist Adrian Tomine also explores this question of whether a soldier should obey orders that happens, perhaps the moral stance taken by 'This was a movie about cultural identity, issue in the opening to his graphic novel based on what he considers deceit and illegali• Watada will be viewed in a different light. I and it was actually good!" "Shortcomings": a Japanese American ties. His was the ultimate moral question, should hope so because he deserves better than he's We then rattled off the list of things we male sits completely miserable through the a soldier follow orders regardless of any other gotten. were so thankful the movie didn't do: closing screening of an AA film festival considerations even if he thinks those orders are It was exciting to be part of, and live through, melodramatic death scenes, overly done his JA girlfriend helped organize. An argu• immoral? the great social revolution that was the Civil stereotypes, shameless plugs for local eth• ment ensues between them on the drive In presenting the JACL's public position, I Rights Movement. The social changes taking nic-American bands, didactic and long• home. The woman wishes he would be raised the question of Nuremburg and the My place today are more subtle; the paradigm winded monologues about race. more supportive. The man doesn't under• Lai slaughter of innocents with the "soldiers evolves rather than shifts. I hope those younger My neurosis relating to identity and art stand why he should ever have to support only following orders" rationale. My personal in our society keep pushing that evolution probably comes from being the former co• movies he doesn't like. view which I later argued with the board was toward meaningful changes that make us a bet• producer of an Asian American college After the "Amreeka" screening, a Q&A that his was a First Amendment issue and one ter society. theater group. One running joke is that took place between the first-time director• imbued with deep moral convictions. But now And if we should stumble in the process, I every new school year, at least one group writer Cherien Dabis and the rest of the his refusal to deploy is no longer an issue with hope the JACL will have the courage to be meeting is dedicated to answering the audience. Someone asked her what the withdrawal of the govemment's appeal. 1\vo involved in the debate to help set the course in impossible question of what it means to be inspired her to make this movie. Dabis lesser charges still stand, and it's up to the Army the future .• an AA theater group. Are we an AA theater said that many of the plot points in the to decide if they'll press forward on those. group, or are we a theater group with movie were based on her experiences as an Prop. 8 in California was settled by the state's John Tateishi is the immediate past JACL AAs? What do we do if we start having Arab American girl growing up in rural Supreme Court when it decided that the voice of national director. more non-Asians than Asians in our America against the backdrop of the Gulf group? War. Our discussion goes in circles and, of She also said, "I wanted to make some• A HAPPV TWInER FOURTH! course, no satisfying conclusion is ever thing honest without being heavy-handed reached. or didactic." And there was the issue of what to put This is why movies like "Amreeka" in our shows. "I noticed," someone from give me gratitude, relief and joy. Though an AA student group once told me with the storyline may explore cultural and disappointment, "that lately your shows racial issues relating to the Palestinian don't really deal with Asian American immigrant experience, I am not constantly issues." conscious of the fact that I am watching a An AA theater show that explores no Palestinian American movie directed by a AA issues smacks of misleading advertis• Palestinian American filmmaker. I am too ing. And yet, the second scenario - to busy being swept away by the strange and force a creative requirement on the writers wonderful human truth that shines through to always have AA themes in their scripts in every scene.• - feels even worse. This is the strange double bind you fall Yumi Sakugawa writes from Los into when you begin placing your identity Angeles. PACIFIC iii CrnZEN ENTERTAINMENT JULY 3-16,20099

Public Defender By Day, Filmmaker By Night

Jeff Adachi hopes more people will get to know ill a time of oppression and discrimination, Soo represented roles of APA men in movies. Tha,t's when he came across Soo's Jack Soo through his new documentary. hope. story - a JA actor who changed his name to pass as Chinese "For my parents' generation, Frank Sinatra and Joey Bishop American. By LYNDA LIN were like gods and standing right next to them was Jack Soo," Adachi grew up watching "Barney Miller," the television Assistant Editor said Adachi. "He was the kind of entertainer that broke all comedy series where Soo played Nick Yemana. '1 remembered boundaries." his face mostly, those droopy eyelids." To make "You Don't Know Jack," his new docwnentary on But questions about Soo's past kept haunting him. Why the legendary Japanese American actor Jack Soo, Jeff Adachi would he change his name? The lawyer decided to find out. borrowed a theme straight from comic books. Some thought Soo changed his name because of "Flower Drum By day, he protected the poor as San Francisco's public Song," while others thought the film's director Gene Kelly defender and late at night he worked to immortalize the story of insisted on it. the most famous Nisei actor you've never heard of. The truth is much simpler and pemaps more tragic. During Adachi, 49, will be the first to admit that it wasn't always a wwn, Soo was allowed out of camp to perform at nightclubs. seamless transition. He didn't rush out of his office unbuttoning Adachi found an original letter that said one nightclub owner his shirt to reveal a costUme with a big "S" (or would it be ''PD'' feared there would be a backlash if Soo went by his Japanese for California's only publicly elected public defender?). name, so Go.ro Suzuki became Jack Soo. 'lt was karmic how it came together." But the actor was proud of being JA, said Adachi. Every time The art of filmmaking is difficult to refine with a fulltime job, Soo did a major interview, he talked about his ethnicity and he said Adachi, but it had to be done. Because as the film's title took; a stance against playing stereotypical roles. suggests, people don't know Jack, the actor best known for his ''What's different about Jack is that you get the sense that roles in the 1961 Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical, ''Flower t1!rough the ups and downs, he was still determined," said Drum Song," and a long list of television shows including Adachi. ''Barney Miller" and "Valentine's Day." He embodied the historical experiences of the JA communi• '1 wanted to tell the story of a man that would have otherwise ty - from the darkness of the internment to the height of fame. been lost," said Adachi by phone from his public defender's But within the larger community story lies individual stories office. ''His legacy is th~re, but the details of his life would've like Soo's that up until now haven't been documented. faded away." '/ wanted to tell the stOI}' . Here, the usually unflappable public defender shows a So the Yonsei filmmaker decided to color in the lines and fill moment of vulnerability. in the blanks of Soo's life. "You Don't Know Jack," reveals the ofa man that would have When Adachi scompleted the docwnentary using testi• life of an extraordinary man born Goro Suzuki, who broke free otherwise been lost. '. monies, images and rare video footage to reconstruct Soo's life, from the World War IT barbed wire internment camps to he wondered if it captured the essence of the man. become a groundbreaking actor and the first Asian Pacific "I wasn't sure what I captured was who he was." American signed to Motown ~ecords. Adachi has always said that his family's internment history The people who knew Soo best, including his daughter, said Soo's friends called him the first APA hipster, who rubbed was the driving force behind his career - he wanted to give a Soo poured out of every elbows with Joey Bishop and other Rat Pack members, and the voice to the defenseless. He's a public defender first, he said. frame. APA Bing Crosby, partially because his singing voice melted Filmmaking is a hobby - one that took about a year to com• And if Soo had seen the butter, but likely also because of that crooked smile and the irre• plete. And when asked about the budget, the lawyer in him film, Adachi is sure he pressible twinkle in his eyes. emerges. would've downplayed his 'You Oon'tKnow Jack' The film also reveals the patriotic side of Soo, who as a "A film like this takes $50,000," he said about the funding achievements. July 21 teenager won a JACL award for his essay on being American. that came from family, friends and his own pockets. "He was not a person Asian Film Festival of Dallas Adachi never met Soo, who died of cancer in 1979, but they But being a filmmaker, Adachi insists, is very much like who would feel superior. Info: http://2009.~ffd;org share a common family history - along with thousands of being a trial lawyer. Skill sets include piecing a story together He was a regular guy. He other JAs who were swept up in wwn hysteria and placed in and making sure the facts presented are true. was just Jack." • July 25 desolate internment camps. Soo was taken to Topaz, where he "It's like solving a mystery," he said. Asian American Inf! Film entertained internees with songs and skits. Adachi's parents Three years ago, Adachi's first foray into filmmaking result• On the Web Festival- New York were in Poston and Gila River. ed in 'The Slanted Screen," a docwnentary that examined the www.jacksoo.com Info: ~.aaiff.0f9.12009 10 JULY 3-16,2009 NATIONAL NEWS PACIFIC iii CrnzEN APA Groups Call On Congress to Pass DREAM Act

Students from across the country staged mock graduation ceremonies to call staged mock graduation ceremonies attention to the plight of about 65,000 undocu• to call attention to the plight of the mented students who graduate from high undocumented. schools every year but often find that their legal status prevents them from attending college. Students from New York, Florida, Texas, By P.e. Staff and Associated Press Wisconsin, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Washington wore caps and gowns Calling the DREAM Act an important piece of comprehensive immigration reform, Asian and marched to state buildings. Pacific American groups are urging Congress Studies have shown that undocumented stu• to pass the bill that would make it easier for dents have the potential to proVIde the country undocumented students to pursue higher edu• with a boost in the workforce, according to the cation. Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC). A bipartisan group of legislators have rein• troduced the Development, Relief · and '''The DREAM Act can make an overwhelm• EducatioJ.? for Alien Minors (Dream) Act in the ingly positive impact on both our youth and our House and the Senate. In 2007, a similar meas• economy," said Stewart Kwoh, APALC presi• ure failed in the Senate. dent and executive director. If passed, the DREAM Act would allow "Many of the estimated 1.4 million undocu• undocumented students a conditional path to mented Asian Americans are students who have come to America as young children and citizenship. More than 500 students from across '''The Japanese American cornmunity has now have hopes of becoming fully active the country took part in a symbolic always recognized the value of an education in members of society." graduation ceremony in D.C. June creating an informed electorate, which is the President Barack Obama has said his admin• fuel of our form of government and our market istration is committed to working with 23 to urge Congress to support the economy," said Floyd Mori, JACL national Congress to pass a comprehensive U.S. immi- DREAM Act. The National DREAM director. "Immigrant values are what ignites gration reform. . Graduation ceremony was hosted by that fuel into productive energy, which the He said there still are differences on how to labor organizations, education, faith, Dream Act will allow." implement changes, but said all sides agree that business, immigrant and civil rights Depending on the state, undocUl)lented stu• the current system is broken "and needs fix• groups through the United We ing.". dents mayor may not qualify for financial aid Dream Coalition. for their college education. For more information: On June 23, students from across the country www.dreamact.info PHOTOS COURTESY OF KRIS PRICE!SEIU

Ne~ Native Hawaiian Bill Gets Airing ' Great Rate with Rewards By KEVIN FREKING that a long line of legal cases have granted Associated Press Writer indigenous populations a special recognition and relationship with the U.S. They said that Earn rewards with JACL credit Union's VISA@Platinum WASHINGTON-Granting Native Native Hawaiians are the only indigenous Hawaiians the chance to form their own gov• group of people in the country without their ernment, like those established by many of the own governing entity. nation's 562 American Indian tribes and The legislation allowing for a Native Alaska Natives, would break new ground and Hawaiian government passed the House on eventually be ruled unconstitutional, critics of two occasions, including most recently in the proposal said June 11. October 2007, but it routinely has stumbled in Hawaii's congressional delegation has the Senate. The Bush administration opposed fought for much of the past decade for a bill the bill. Obama's support has changed the . that would allow for the reorganization of a political dynamic, however, and some support• Native Hawaiian government and federal ers say they believe the bill can be passed recognition of that government. Their before the year's end. prospects for success have never looked better The bill would not automatically establish a with President Barack Obarna saying he sup• Native Hawaiian government. Rather, it would ports the measure, which a House panel provide a roadmap for how Native Hawaiians reviewed June 11. could organize such a government. Once Rep. Doc Hastings of Washington, the rank• established, the new government would nego• ing Republican on the House Natural tiate with the state and the federal government Resources Committee, said legal precedent over which assets the new. government would "cast a larger shadow than ever before on the own. Currently, the state administers 1.2 mil• doubtful· proposition that Congress can and lion acres of former monarchy land, and some should extend recognition to a governing enti• of that land could revert to-the new Native ty for Native Hawaiians." Hawaiian government. Also, Gail Heriot, a member of the U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, said it Commission on Civil Rights, said that granting would allow Native Hawaiians a chance to ethnic Hawaiians tribal status for purposes of manage land and assets as they see fit. forming their own government would be com• "When the land wasn't worth anything and (800) 544-8828 • www.jaclcu.com parable to letting Chicanos in the Southwest or there was no money, nobody cared," Cajuns in LoUisiana gain that same recogni• Abercrombie said. tion. "Now that the land is worth a considerable National JACL Supporters of the bill, including members of amount of money, now all of a sudden, every• Credit Union the state's Congressional delegation, argued body is interested." . PACIFIC iI CITIZEN COMMUNITY NEWS JULY 3-16,200911 APA Group Wants Outstanding Recognition Near for WWII WASP Pilots

Woman Nominations By P.e. Staff and Associated Press The Asian Sisters Participating in Reaching For most of her life, Maggie Gee Excellence (ASPIRE) is calling for nominations wanted to fly. The 86-year-old from for its "Outstanding Woman of the Year" award. Berkeley, Calif. remembers taking The award will celebrate a young Asian Pacific trips to the local airport to watch air• American woman who is a role model for their planes take off. During World War community. Last year the Boston-based organiza• II, when Gee was attending college tion, which works to empower Asian Pacific and working as a welder, she American high school and college girls, presented achieved her dream. the award to Mihiri Uthpala Tillakaratne, a Harvard University student who Sl;1e became a member of the worked to build schools in Sri Lanka. Women Air Force Service Pilots "TIns year, we ho~ to recognize another young Asian American woman (WASP). who contributes to the community and sets an example of someone who is "It's something about being passionate in reaching excellence for not only herself, but those around her," alone," said Gee in an earlier inter• said Vienne Cheung, ASPIRE interim executive director. view with the Pacific Citizen. "It The award will be presented at the Oct. 3 Asian American Women in While the men were away, WASP pilot Maggie Gee took to the skies. was the feeling of disassociation Leadership (AAWIL) Conference in Boston. with the Earth. It felt like up there all The winner will received an all-expense paid trip to Boston to attend the your problems were gone." 1942, more than three-quarters have the u.s. military. conference where she will spend a day with an APA female mentor of her Now Gee and about 300 living died. The program was disbanded in choice from ASPIRE's network. The winner will also be featured on WASP members may soon be hon• The women held stateside flying December 1944 as men returned ASPIRE's Web site.• ored with the Congressional Gold assignments left vacant by men who from the war and the need for Medal. Both the House and the were on combat duty, according to female pilots decreased. But it was• To submit a nomination, go to www.girlsaspire.org/award. Senate have passed a bill to recog• Air Force records. The WASP towed n't until 1977 that Congress passed All entries must be received by July 31. nize the women pilots of WWII. It targets for Air Force pilots' shooting a bill that made the women pilots now awaits the president's signa• practice, transported cargo and flew eligible for veterans benefits. ture. planes from hangar to hangar for the Now, the unsung heroes ofWWII KOKUSAI-PACIFICA If the measure is approved, the Air Force. They also trained men may receive the lrighest civilian U.S. Mint will design and create who would later fly combat missions. award in the United States. 2009-2010 TOURS individual gold medals to honor the About 25,000 women applied for the "We women pilots were the fore• accomplishments of the WASPs. program, and 1,830 were accepted. runners of the great women pilots of The medals will be given to all the Though the WASP were not in today," said Gee. • Jun 29 Summer Japan Family Tour - SOLD OUT pilots and to the families of those combat roles, they often faced dan• ger: 38 women died wlrile serving, For a related story on the APA Aug 1 NCL· ScandinaviaIRussia Cruise - 14 Days who have died. Window $3,783 - REDUCED TO $3.389 - SOLDOUT Of more than 1,000 women in the including Hazel Ymg Lee, the first women ofWWII: Balcony $4,133- Reduction $464 - REDUCED TO $3,669 group, which started in Houston in Chinese American woman to fly for www.pacificcitizen.org Londou-Copenhagcn-Warnemunde, Germny·Tallinn, Estonia· St. Petersburg, Russia-Helsinki, Finland-Stockholm, Swedeb. Aug22 NeL ·West Mediterranean Cruise-1S Days Window $3219 - Reduction $170- REDUCED TO $3.049 Balcony $3769 - Reduction $110 - REDUCED TO $3.598 London-Lisbon, PortugalNigo, Seville, GranaQa, Spain-Gibraltar Sardinia-Naples-Rome·Livomo, Italy-CanneS,France-Barcelona. Oct 12 HokkaidolToboku - 11 Days $4195 - Sapporo-Sahara - Ainu· Lake Toya - Hakodate Aomori - Hachimantai - Matsushima - Sendai - Tokyo. Oct 19 Uranihon"Otherside of Japan"-ll Days $t09S - Tokyo-Japan Sea-Sado Isle-Kanazawa-Ama.no• hashidate-Kinosaki-Matsue-Izumo-Mt. Drusen-Kyoto. 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KOKUSAI INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, INC. 4911 Warner Ave., Suite2ZI, Huntington Beach, CA 92649 114/840-04S5 - tt01J64M..10) 12 JULY 3-16,2009 COMMUNITY NEWS PACIFIC is CrnZEN Call Issued for Heart Mountain Memorabilia As part of ongoing efforts to expand its today. archival collection, a call is being issued by In 1943, 38 internees volunteered for U.S. the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation for military service. The following year, hun• memorabilia associated with the World War IT dreds of others were drafted. Some however internment camp experience at Heart resisted the orders, believing their rights Mountain, Wyoming.' should be reinstated before complying. Photographs, diaries, letters, documents, Before the end of wwn, over 800 men and crafts, paintings, furniture, news articles, women from Heart Mountain would serve in books and other artifacts will serve as an edu• Europe and in the Pacific. Fifteen were killed cational resource and reference for the par• in action, and. two soldiers from Heart tially completed Interpretive Learning Center Mountain were recognized with the Medal of currently under construction at the original Honor, our nation's highest award. internment camp site between Powell and A Progress Party reception will be held Cody, Wyoming. after the Collection Day at the Heart Former internees, their families and friends . Mountain site. Featured will be Sen. (ret.) may bring their memorabilia to a special Alan K. Simpson and former Sec. of Heart Mountain Collection Day and Progress Transportation Norman Y. Mineta. The two Party at the site of the future Interpretive met and became friends at Heart Mountain Learning Center on Aug. 15. Volunteers will as Boy Scouts. Years later, they were reunit• be on hand to record oral histories and scan, ed in Washington, D.C., when each was copy and catalog donated items. elected to national office. Mineta served in Shirley Ann Higuchi, chair of the HMWF the House of Representatives from 1975, board of directors, expressed gratitude to for• A young man sits dejected as and Simpson was elected to the Senate in mer internees and their families who have he faces the reality of World 1978. already contributed to the Heart Mountain War II intemment (above). Those interested in donating their memo• collection. Among them are the Hirahara and rabilia to the Interpretive Learning Center Sugiura families and others, who have donat• During WWII the Heart should contact LaDonna Zall, HMWF act• ed photographs and artifacts, including a Girl Mountain internment camp (left) ing curator at 307/754-2400 or bye-mail to Scout handbook, trumpet, Japanese doll, housed 11,000 Americans of lzall @wir.net. • handmade jewelry and much more. Japanese ancestry. Also contained in the growing collection . Heart Mountain Collection Day and are complete sets of The Heart Mountain Progress Party: Sentinel, camp newspaper, including one set lessons it holds for all of us." single-room barracks. With only bare walls Where: site of the future Interpretive Learning contributed by the late veteran joumalist Bill The Heart Mountain Relocation Center in and tarpaper to protect them from the Center on Road 19 off the 14A Highway Hosokawa and another seAt donated by northwestern Wyoming opened its gates on Wyoming wind, internees shivered in the between Powell and Cody, Wyoming Nomako Murakami. Aug. 12, 1942, and soon housed 11,000 winter and sweltered in the summer. Armed When: Aug. 15, between 10 a.m. and 3 pm. 'There are countless stories, and these internees, making it Wyoming's third-largest sentries peered from guard towers. Cost: Free items are essential to help illustrate how the city for the next three y~ars. Of that number, Remarkably, despite the suspension of their internees lived and worked," said Higuchi, 6,000 were from the Southern California civil rights, the internees persevered. They Dinner to Follow: whose parents met at the camp. "Heart area, and 3,000 were from San Jose and other developed a functioning system of democrat• Where: Cody Holiday Inn Mountain remains a significant chapter of parts of Northern California. About 1,100. ic self-government, organized sports teams Time: 6 p.m. American history, which is why Wyoming originated in the Seattle area. and classes, and harvested more than 1,000 Cost: $25 citizens, former internees and so many others Conditions at Heart Mountain were harsh. acres of crops, while adding three mile to an Reservations: Contact HMWF Treasurer Pat have united to help preserve the site and the Whole families were moved into unfurnished irrigation canal that continues to water fields Wolfe, 307(754-2689 or [email protected] Young Historian is Seeking Autographs, Memorabilia from APA Veterans

There are 50 many peopJe my age who don't fuJIy Kyle Nappi, a high school stu• overall, I am trying to .obtain as them." understand the magnitude (of what) the veterans dent from Ostrander, Ohio has col• many autographs/stories from vet• For college, Nappi, of course, lected autographs and stories from erans as I can to ensure their stories plans to incorporate history.. ... did for our country. ' over 2,000 veterans in 20 countries. are not forgQtten." "I would like to pursue my inter~ His oldest autograph is from a vet• His efforts have landed him on est in military history and turn it eran who is now 112 years old. television - last August" PBS into a career, something along -the Now Nappi wants to add auto• interviewed him. lines of a military historian," he graphs and biographies of Asian His passion to keep history alive said. "I am also considering a mili• Pacific American, including is evident. Nappi's bedroom has tary career." • Japanese American, veterans of all been turned into a museum of sorts. wars. He has lined his walls with histori• HELP KYLE NAPPI 'The more stories I have, the cal photos, military medals, patch• more I learn about our history and es and pins and other memorabilia. 100th, 442nd, MIS, 1399th the brave men and women who "I'm running out of room," Engineers Battalion, Korean fight to protect our way of life," Nappi said. War, Vietnam War, and Gulf War said Nappi, a senior at Buckeye At supermarkets and other public veterans and other Asian Pacific Valley High School. places, he approaches elderly per• American veterans are He recently sought help from the sons to ask q"eshons about their enceuraged to contact Nappi, Japanese American Veterans veteran status. a budding military historian. Association (JAVA). "Some people suspect I am stalk• Address 'There are so many people my ing them and become suspicious," 1890 Warren Road age who don't fully understand the he joked. "When veterans are con• Ostrander, OH 43061 High school student Kyle Nappi, of Ohio, has collected autographs and stories magnitude (of what) the veterans vinced that my interest is genuine from over 2,000 veterans in 20 countries. Now he's trying to collect autographs ... did for our country," wrote they respond positively and fully. I E-mail of Asian Pacific American veterans of all wars. Nappi in an e-mail to JAVA. "So respect them and am grateful to [email protected] PACIFIC !iii CmZEN NATIONAL/ COMMUNIlY/ COMMENTARY JUNE 19-JULY 2,200913 ARIZONA'S ENGLISH. PROGRAM

Manzanar's Children's Village housed over 100 children, including these two orphans in 1942. ------~- --- ELL programs statewide under federal court passed by Congress in 2002. Manzanar School Reunion to Feature Children'S Village supervision. State Superintendent of Public illstruction ill 2000, a since~retired federal judge found Tom Home, one of the state officials who Organizers of the upcoming Manzanar included a nursery and dormitories. Over 100 that the state had violated the Equal defended the current system and asked for it to School reunion are hoping to shed light on the children, according to the NPS, were housed at Educational Opportunities Act's (EEOA) be freed from the oversight expressed confi• stories of some of the youngest victims of the the Children's Village. requirements for appropriate instruction for dence that the state can demonstrate compli• World War II Japanese American intemment Reunion events will include a mixer night ELLs. A year later, he expanded his ruling ance. - the orphans. . with an open mike session for former statewide and placed the state's programs for "It's a major victory for the principle of self• At the Aug. 11-13 school reunion, four for• internees to share stories and comments .• non-English speaking students under court govemment," Home said of the ruling. mer residents of the Children's Village orphan• oversight. Arizona's 143,000 English-learning stu• age will speak about their experiences living REGISTER NOW ill accordance with AALDEF's brief, the dents, or 13.2 percent of the state's total enroll• behind barbed wire. Manzanar School Reunion high court affirmed EEOA's continuing rele• ment, follow four-hour daily classes in English Keynote speaker Dr. Catherine Irwin, assis• August 11-13 vance. that were implemented a year ago under a 2006 tant professor of languages at the University of California Hotel in Las Vegas (rooms are Arizona has more than doubled the amount law. The state Department of Education, which La Verne and author of '''I\vice Orphaned: still available) of funding that schools receive per non• is overseen by Home, announced June 24 that Voices from the Children's Village of Bus pickups will be available from four English speaking student, and taken other steps 28.6 percent of the program's students passed Manzanar," will also talk about her efforts to locations: Gardena Buddhist Church, the prescribed by the No Child Left Behind Act, a proficiency test, up from 12 percent two preserve some of the oral history of fonner res• Maryknoll Catholic Church in Los Angeles, the broader education accountability law years ago .• idents of that orphanage. the Venice JA Center in Venice and The ill 1942, seeing that Manzanar's barracks San FernandO Valley JA Community Center were unsuitable for young children, evacuees in the Valley CJmerican HOlidQ\{1favel built three new one-story buildings with run• For registration forms or information: Ray ning water, baths and toilets, according to the Kawahara 714/521-4036, Sam Ono 2009 Tour Schedule National Park Service. 310/-327·5568, Cherry Uyeda 818/981-2629 The Children's Village was located near the ALASKA HOLIDAY CRUISE ...... JUL 26-AUG 2 or Victor Muraoka 818/368-4113 Seattle, Glacier Bay, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Victoria City. HOLLAND AMERICA Westerdam Ship. hospital in the firebreak east of Block 29. It JAPAN OBON FESTIVAL TOUR ...... AUG 5-16 Tokyo (Tsukiji Oben Festival), Gujo Hachiman (Summer Odori Festival), Kyoto, Jozankei Onsen Sapporo, Kilami (Tsubetsu Obon Festival). EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN/GREECE HOLIDAY CRUISE ...... AUG 22-SEPT 4 MORI the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill would . Venice, Croatia, Athens, Istanbul, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Santorini, Olympia. HOLLAND AMERICA Oosterdam Ship. be passed soon and go to the president for his HOKKAIDO-TOHOKU HOLIDAYTOUR NEWTOUR •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••SEPT 9-20 (Continued from page 2) Lake Akan, Abashiri, K~ami, Sounkyo, Sapporo, Noboribetsu, Lake Toya, Hakodate, Aomori, signature. We expressed our concerns about Lake Towada, Morioka, Matsushima, Nikko, Tokyo. Senate confirmation votes do not occur as due process and immigration policy. We urged PANA CONVENTION SOUTH AMERICA TOUR •..•...... ••...•...... •..... : •....•SEPT 7-23 PANA Convention· Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil. Option to Peru. quickly as desired. We do see a strict adher• timely confirmation of key administrative and NEW ENGLAND HOLIDAY TOUR WAITLIST ...... OCT 2-9 ence to ethics standards. Some good people judicial appointments. Leader Reid and Boston, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire. Day trips on historic trains: Maine Narrow Gauge ...... have been passed by because of past lobbying Senators Leahy, Specter, Levin, Durbin, and Railroad, Conway Scenic Railroad, Green Mountain Flyer Railroad, Essex Steam Train. OKINAWA-KYUSHU HOLIDAY TOUR WAITLIST ...... OCT 11-23 work. Stabenow were among the senators who sat at Naha, Kagoshimallbusuki, Miyazaki, Nobeoka, Takachiho, Mt. Aso, Beppu, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Fukuoka. The ethics bar is set higher, and the table with us. CANYONLAND GETAWAY HOLIDAY ...... NOV 8-13 Laughlin, Grand Canyon, Valley of Fire Park, Mesquite, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon, Las Vegas_ this has impacted how agency and So to answer the question at Congressional staff interact with hand, yes, there is much more opti• 'It is indeed c:1 COMING FOR 2010: HOKKAIDO SNOW FESTIVAL TOUR FEB the pUblic. When a friend was mism and encouragement in the SEDONA & GRAND CANYONS HOLIDAY MAR good time for Early Bird Discount Ends Aug. 31, 2009 [maliy confirmed to be an assis• AAPI cominunity in Washington JAPAN SPRING TOUR MAR tant secretary in a cabinet agency, the JACL to be today. At the same time, this is cau• OUR NATION'S CAPITAL & WILLIAMSBURG TOUR APR my wife and I invited him out to visible in the tious optimism as we face the real• FUNTASTIC FLORIDA HOLIDAY TOUR MAY ities of recession and budget con• SOUTH AMERICA & PERU HOLIDAYTOUR MAY dinner to welcome them to D.C. GRANDPARENTS/GRANDCHILDREN JAPAN TOUR JUN ill thinking nothing of it, we paid natio,! 's capital cerns. for dinner. Theri he presented us and to beat It is refreshing that AAPIs are We can also assist you with: with a check to cover their portion the table,' often found "at the table" of pol• Low-cost airfares to Japan, Japan Individual Tour arrangements, icy discussions .on the critical. Japan Railpass, Hotels, Cars, Cruises, Hawaii arrangements, Individual Tour of the bill because he wanted to Packages, Organizations/Clubs/Family group tours and cruises. adhere completely to the strict issues of the day. There are many For information and reservations, please write or call to : ethics rules. areas where we need to see AMERICAN HOLIDAY TRAVEL The same attitude of inclusion has spilled improvement, but the momentum is in the 312 E. 1 ST ST., #510, Los Angeles, CA 90012 over to Congress. Just this past week, the right direction. The unity of AAPI coali• Tel: (213) 625-2232; Fax: (213) 625-4347 CST #2000326-10 JACL was one of a handful of organizations tions is being strengthened. It is indeed a [email protected] that took part in a round table discussion with good time for the JACL to be visible in the Ernest and Carol Hida the Senate leadership. We were promised that nation's capital and to be at the table .• . 14 JULY 3-16,2009 CALENDAR PACIAC a CITIZEN

or Aiko Ebihara, 4401775-4435. Fundraiser tours, show slides, and share colorful SACRAMENTO stories such as "Grandeur Once JACL Potluck Dinner Fri., Sept. 11 Denied." Guided tours, 11 a.m . Slide CINCINNATI, Ohio. 5:30 p.m. shows all weekend , 1:30 p.m. and 3 Sun., Aug. 23 Sacramento State Alumni Center p.m. Free and open to the public. 4 p.m. The Asian Pacific Community Info: 760/878-2194, Ext. 2710. Hyde Park Bethlehem Methodist Counseling will be honoring Martelle Church Tsukamoto, president of Florin JACL. 69th Annual Nisei Week Cincinnati JACL annual potluck din• Also featuring John Christgau, author LOS ANGELES ner. Guest speaker Jim Kariya has of "Kokomo Joe: The Story of the Aug. 15·23 been the recipient of a Mansfield First Japanese American Jockey in Themed "A Year of Celebrations," the Fellowship for study in Japan and the United States." .- festival showcases free has worked collaboratively with Tickets are $40/person with compli· ~ Japanese cultural Japanese scientists. Also featuring mentary wine drink ticket. events, activities, and the Sakura Ladies Chorus and Bon Info: Effie Shum , 916/383-6784 ext. exhibits, with entertainment, food and Odori. 135. fun for all ages. Info: Nisei Week office, 213/687-7183 Flower Drum Song JACL Spaghetti Dinner or www.NiseiWeek.org ST. PAUL STOCKTON Sat., July 11 Sat., Sept. 19 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. McKnight Theatre · Stockton Buddhist Temple Gym National Singles Convention 345 Washington St. Eat for a good cause! The proceeds LAS VEGAS David Henry Hwang's adaptation of benefit Stockton JACL Education Sept. 18·20 the Rodgers and Hammerstein clas• · Fund. Tickets are $7/adults, $4/chil• Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling sic; tickets $22; Info: Joanne : dren (10 and under). Hall Kumagai, 763/420-6639 or joanneku• · Info: 209/476-8528. The 12th annual singles convention [email protected]. will include a golf tournament (if suf• JACL IDC-PNW Conference : NJAHS Presents New Exhibit ficient interest), welcome reception, ONTARIO, Oregon .r.m;"'ll , ~ntAl"..~:ntlllll.j""';"":""'; ••T.."'I"?"i"'-' : SAN FRANCISCO workshops, gala dinner-dance and July 3D-Aug. 2 · Through Dec. 31 Sunday brunch $160/full registration; Bon Odori The National Japanese American hotel $89.99/night, single or double .foinJellow JACl..ers at the bi-district, 'Atarashii ilajimari .. . A OLYMPIA Historical Society announces the occupancy. Ne.v Beginning. 'Events will include fun workshops, speakers Sat., Aug. 8 arrival of traveling. Info: www.jaclsc.com or Yas Tokita, like Rep. Patrick Takasugi and a round of go?l at the Idaho's 5 p.m. 1m exhibit "From Our 702/866-2345 or Muriel Scrivner, Scotch Pines Goll Course. The deadline to register is July 16. Between 5th Ave. & Legion St. on Land," focused on 702/496-3763. Info. and registration forms are available at: www.jacl.org. Water St. exploring Japanese Featuring food, martial arts demon• American rural legacies. stration, obon dancing and a peace Gallery hours: Mon.-Fri., 12 p.m.-5 For more information: observance at Capitol Lake at 9 p.m. p.m., first Saturday of the month, 12. Janet Komoto, 208/739-2777 or [email protected] Info: Bob Nakamura, 360/556-7562 p.m.-5 p.m. ______' or [email protected].

,'" j.iB~;N=ii~1tn.i::jg. National tures on Buddhism will also be avail• .~·~'N;i~Ur.};ijFi. JACL MDC/EDC Conference able. Hank Umemoto at Manzanar CINCINNATI Free admission JA Baseball Heritage Night MANZANAR July 24·26 Info: 703/239-0500 or www.ekoji.org STOCKTON Jul. 3·5 ~ "Partnering for Change: Fri., Jul. 10 Manzanar National Historic Site ~ Building Bridges in our 6:30 p.m. Join former internee Hank Umemoto Communities" at the The Stockton Ports will be honoring as he returns to Manzanar to lead Cincinnati Marriott River Center will JACL·CJAF Grad Celebration Satoshi Hiroyama, their first feature workshops, speakers and SOLON, Ohio Japanese baseball player who went NISHI HONGWANJI activities. Registration is $130, hotel Sun., July 12 on to play for the Nippon $119/night. The registration deadline 12:30 p.m. Professional League: is July 5. Shinano Restaurant, 28500 Miles Rd. Limited MVP seating for $9/person. Info and registration: Bill Yoshino, Luncheon recognizes its 2009 gradu• Info: Aeko Yoshikawa, 209/463-6060 [email protected], 773/728-7'J70 or ates; $18/person, $15/student, non• by June 25. OBON www.jaclmdc.org. graduates. • RSVP: Keith Asamoto, 216/921-2976 APCC Dragon Reception and JACL Gala Dinner JULY 11 a 12 WASHINGTON, D.C. 3:80 pm .. 10:00 pm Thu., Sept. 17 REVERSE MORTGAGE "A Salute to Japanese American Call for a fuf. illformation package 815 E. 1ST ST. lOS ANGELES, CA 90012 Veterans"; J.w. Marriott Hotel. TEL: 213·680 ~ 9130 Info: www.jacl.org or 202/223-1240. If you are 62 or older and own your house, a Reverse Mortgage may benefit YOU!. MAYFLOWER TRANSIT LLC • Turn Home Equity into Tax Free Cash ...... Obon Festival • You keep title to your home .\ . '· ·i • No Monthly Mortgage Payments . .... ~ ...... A portion of each move FAIRFAX STATION, VIRGINIA is donated to JACL HQ. Sat., JuL 11 • Safe FHA Program Designed for Seniors Ekoji Buddhist Temple "/ pledge to provide excellent customer service Call Today for a Free Featuring music, bon-odori dancing, with the highest standard of ethics" Competitive Quote. games and crafts, food, and taiko by 25+ Years Experience as a Financial Professional Please mention JACL Nen Daiko. Tours of the temple, David C. Miyagawa Chee 800-392-3596 memorial candles in the Garden of Certified Public Accountant 1-800-967-3575 the Three Treasures, and short lec- CA Dept. of Real Estate - Real Estate Broker #01391106 PUC CAL T-182,288; USDOT #125563; TX DOT #636711 PACIAC ill CrnzEN OBITUARIES JULY 3-16,200915 COMMENTARY Minneapolis Cemetery Looks to Attract AA Families Remembering Judge Sandra Otaka By ASSOCIATED PRESS mother, who would give families advice in exchange for food. MINNEAPOLIS-A large Minneapolis cemetery has Sunset Cemetery officials say the garden is the first in developed a new burial site aimed at attracting Asian the Thin Cities to be designed according to these ancient American families. principles. But Asian families in Minnesota already prac• The section, known as the Garden of Eternal Peace, tice feng shui when scouting for areas across the state for opened recently at Sunset Cemetery in Northeast the perfect burial spot. Many Hmong and Vietnamese Minneapolis. The Asian-themed graveyard is not just an families have been known to favor a certain Maplewood act of cultural accommodation - it's also a smart busi-· cemetery because it's surrounded by hills - the better to ness move. protect the deceased. The Garden of Eternal Peace is in some ways unre• It may sound strange to segregate our dead by build• markable. Not even an acre large, the site's ~ntrance is ing ethnic "neighborhoods" right into our cemeteries, but marked by simple gate made of two wooden pillars and people in the industry say it's no different than creating a modest roof. But this land is slightly higher than the special sections for war veterans. Brandon Mita with his mentor Judge Sandra Otaka. rest of the cemetery, making it an ideal burial spot for fol• "It's easy for the dead," Hong said. 'They can commu• lowers of feng shui. Consultant Andrew Hong says the nicate with each other. They don't have to travel. By BRANDON MITA space offers a commanding location for both the living Sometimes it's all in our man-made imagination. But and the dead. you cannot fight tradition. If tradition believes in that, we Judge Sandra Otaka, strong ally and tireless advocate for the Asian ''It's just like when you're fighting a battle, and your better believe in it, too." American community, passed away June 6. Upon hearing the news, I had to enemies are coming," he said. "You're on higher ground. Robert Fells, external COO and general counsel for pull my car over. 1'd like to think I am a rock when it comes to such tragedies So imagine the people buried - they will feel very the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral but on this occasion I was unable to keep my nerve and turned off my engine .. secure and safe." Association, says there's no question that cemeteries are Judge Otaka attended UCLA law school and was never one to shy away Safe, Hong says with a smile, from evil spirits. trying to keep up with the needs of immigrants. Some from the fact that she was there because of affinnative action. But that didn't Feng shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy that strives cemeteries have begun to start hiring more diverse staffs stop her from receiving top honors and eventually clerking for Dale Minami to balance the energies in a given space. It has influenced who can ' speak foreign languages and understand the as he prevailed in the Fred Korematsu coram nobis decision. everything from interior design to corporate logos. Hong unique burial customs of their customers, he said. Otaka was the first AA to be elected to the Circuit Court bench in Cook has advised clients in both matters, but this was his first ''It's a business move,.because if you want people to County. Every event you went to in Chicago, she was there - having dinner cemetery project. He's placed every object carefully, use your funeral home and cemetery, you've got to have with the Counsel General of Japan, talking to fellow attorneys at the Korean from the entry gate to a foot bridge, which he says gives something of value for them," he said. "And if they come American Bar Association Gala, and winning awards for championing negative energy a way out of the burial site. to you and (you) act like it's some alien culture, they'll numerous campaigns and issues. . Hong grew up in a poor family in Singapore. He says go elsewhere. You either serve them and their values, or Thankfully I got to know Judge Otaka on a personal level. I first met her he learned the fundamentals of feng shui from his grand- you don't." • at the 2005 JACL Bi-District in Chicago and ever since that moment she helped guide me along as I aspired to be an advocate like her. At every turn, she was there to offer her assistance - calling me,. e-mailing me and mak• ing sure I knew she was a person I could look up to on my path towards com• munity activism and professional responsibility. One memory from four years ago stands out. I was a senior at the AU locations are in California except as noted. University of Illinois at Chicago (UlC) and chairperson of the 'Asian, Kazuo (Justyn), Norma (Walter), and American Coalition Committee (AACC), an organization whose mission Bannai, Hideko, 82 Nakamura, Kimiyo, 97 Carol (Kenzo). was to increase resources for AA students on campus and initiate a full• June 14; served on Board of 'Seattle, Wash., Feb. 10; interned at fledged Asian American Studies Program. On a cold morning in March 2006, Governors of the Calif. Community Minidoka Relocation Camp in WWII. AACC led a protest rally in the UIC quad to raise awareness of the lack of Colleges; survived by husband, Moved to Cincinnati, Ohio after Mr. Takeda, Roy Takeshi, 76 an AA Studies Program. Paul; son, Don; daughters Kathryn Nakamura retired. June 21; survived by wife Sayuri In the months prior, we visited every AA organization in the Chicagoland (Robert Miura) and Lorraine Takeda; son, Terry (partner Lou area, asking them to sign petitions and support the students. It was like (Norman Mar); 5 gc.; and sister, Namba,lsao Ken, 90 Slimp) Takeda and Todd (Jamie) Alice Yamashiro. pulling teeth - few fully supported us and barely anyone showed up on that Oak Ridge, Tenn., January 29; WWII Takeda; daughter Sharlene (Glenn) day. However, out of the sparse number of community members present on veteran MIS division; graduate of Miyagishima; 4 gc.; and sister Mary that day, Judge Otaka stood out. That was the type of person she was and that Kawahara, Fred, PhD Univ. of Alabama and Auburn; chemi• (Lincoln) Nagato. is the person I will remember. February 23; worked for Standard Oil cal engineer of ORNL in Oak Ridge. I write this for her because I want to honor her legacy. Moreover, I write of Indiana and Environmental Taniguchi, Hisaye, 89 this for her son, Jeffrey. So he knows how much others cherished her pres• Protection Agency; developed lubri• Oyama, Kenny "Bongo", 87 June 22; survived by children, Hideko ence and that she will be missed. Lastly, I write this as a reminder to myself. cant additives that aided NASA in Seattle, Wash., June 2; 442nd veter• (Warren) Shimonishi, Miyoko (Gary) To continue reaching for the highest rung on the ladder for our community space exploration; helped protect an, saw action in Italy; survived by Hawkins, Bob (Pamela) Taniguchi, because that's what she would have done. environment by devising safe substi• son, Kevin (Cate); daughters Gayle Jim Taniguchi; 8 gc.; and 6 ggc .. And moSt importantly, to remem• tute for Freon. ber to not address her as Judge (IJ.), Lisa (Dexter); 2 gc., and sister WILLS, TRUSTS, PROBATE Uchida, George, 85 Otaka, but as Sandra because she June Takahashi. E3*~1?c!::?-e called me her friend. Rest in peace, Miyake, Scott E, 60 May 27; MIS Korea veteran; volun• (310) 540-9266 teered with Explorer Search and Sandra.• Seattle, Wash., June 3; Vietnam War Sasano, Lawrence Tsuneji, 97 Thomas N. Shlgekunl & Associates veteran; survived by wife, 4 children, Rescue and King County Search and Ste. 625, 21515 Hawthorne Blvd. Brandon Mita is the JACL June 21; survived by wife, Fumiko Torrance, CA 90503 2 brothers, 2 sisters, 1 gc. Rescue groups; survived by son, Jay national youth representative. Sasano; daughter, Karen (Bill) Carter; (Fran); daughter Robin (Dave); 6 gc.; son, Larry (Gale) Sasano; 2 gc., and 3 ggc. Muraoka, Tomoye, 96 OTA. brother, Robert (Mitsuko) Nakamura; KKEI Chicago, II., May 6; survived by niece and sisters-in-law, Toshiko Sasano MORTUARY Betty Breyer. and Teruko Nakamura. This compilation appears on a space-available basis at no cost. EI¥l~fffeJnn Nadamoto, Iwao "Dugan," 85, Tada, Takeshi ''Tuk,'' 82 Printed obituaries from your news• ·REUABL.E, COMPASSIONATE. PERSONAlJZEIj. paper are welcomed. 'Tributes,' Honolulu, Haw.; Army veteran and May 13; worked in grocery industry, 707 East Temple Street which appear in a timely manner at 911 VENICE BOUL.EVARD Gerald FiJ

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