-'-"-'----'-----'-~-------- iiiiiijlii4liti4'itAMMiJijR Baseball in Paradise A Rock by Another Name The Celluloid APA Hawaii Winter Baseball Florida's former 'Jap' Rock is Jeff Adachi's 'The Slanted nurtured talent like Ichiro renamecj Yamato Rock in honor Screen' explores the history and Tadahito, now it's of the area's pioneers. of Hollywood stereotyping. back! . NEWSIlYTES PAGE 4 ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 9 SPORTS PAGE 7 A Field of Dreams -Swing for the fences at since1929PACIFIC CITIZEN JACLS fall golf tourna­ ment. Early bird registra­ tion is now Sept. 1. The National Publication of the Japanese American Citizens League u.s. Army Charges 1st Lt. Watada; JACL Comments for First Time on Soldier's Orde~1 Nat'l JACL does not take a organization has now come out with . this newspaper. Although many position on Iraq war but an official statement. Although they National JACL and have expressed their support or the expresses concern over two will not take a position on the offi­ the Honolulu chapter officer, some even calling him a recently came out of the three charges cer's refusal to deploy to Iraq, hero, others, especially fellow veter­ with statements Watada faces. Honolulu believing this to be strictly a military ans past and present, have expressed issue, they expressed concern over regarding 1 st Lt. their disapproval. JACL comes out in full two of the charges: contempt and Ehren Watada. Here . And many have asked for and support of the JA officer. conduct unbecoming an officer. Watada answers demanded JACL's official position "We are not. in a position to questions at a press on the matter. By CAROLINE AOYAGI-STOM conference last defend his position on the legality of 'This is such a sensitive matter Executive Editor month in Tacoma, the war in Iraq, nor are we in a posi­ because of the community politics Washington. First Lt. Ehren Watada, 28; has tion to judge his criticism of the . .. the situation with our veteran now been officially charged by the war's morality," the national PHOTO: JEFF PATERSON members," said John Tatershi, US. Army for his decision to refuse JACL's statement explained. 'That JACL executive director. "It was deployment to Iraq last month. He he defied a direct'military order falls given fair and balanced treatment in United States Army, it appears he is important as a civil rights organiza­ now faces three charges including under the aegis of military law and the charges brought against him ... being made an example." tion ... to make a statement regard­ missing troop movement, conduct beyond the reach of the JACL's We fmd that the application of these The Japanese American commu­ ing [Watada's] position." unbecoming 'an officer, and con­ authority based on the organiza­ two articles (contempt and conduct nitY has been vocally expressing On the contempt and conduct tempt towards officials. tion's mission statement." unbecoming an officer) raises ques­ their opinions regarding Watada's unbecoming an officer charges Although national JACL has been The statement went on to say: tions about the intent of the Army to situation - the first Asian Tateishi reiterated: "They don't mostly silent since Watada "However, the JACL does express apply undue punishment to Lt. American officer to refuse deploy­ make sense to me. The enhance- its strong concern that Lt. Watada be announced his decision in June, the Watada because, as an officer of the ment orders to Iraq - including in See WATADAIPage 3 A J.Pop Culture Identity Fighting for t~e. Right to Rock the Vote The first step in the battle Kristin Iwata, 22, the form did not shows off some of to reauthorize the land­ really make much her J-pop cl,llture mark Voting Rights Act sense to Yeung and CDs and posters. has been made with the an interpreter was For many young House's OK. Now as the not available to JAs these days, J­ Senate takes up the issue, help, so she just pop culture is a APAs say voting barriers filled out the form way to get in touch must be demolished. herself plunging with their ancestral her mind into roots. By LYNDA LIN uncertainly. PHOTO: STACY IWATA Assistant Editor When she leamed about her lar reads and each week English JA youth these days are With citizen~hip comes respon­ rights as a citizen AMERICAN DREAM: APAs who want to partiCipate subtitled Japanese dramas like GTO - which includes increasingly interested in sibility, so when Kit Fong Yeung in the electoral process are still facing barriers. ("Great Teacher Onizuka") and Japanese popular culture. raised her right hand to pledge language assis­ "Summer Snow" are must-sees. tance - uncertain- What they're rmding is that allegiance to the country she has assistance provisions required by Tsudama is an obsessed fan of ty turned to outrage. Yeung along it's not only enter,taining, called home for nearly two Section 203 of the 1965 Voting Japanese pop culture. it's a way to explore their decades her next move was natu­ with four other Asian Pacific Rights Act. "I spend a considerable amount ancestral roots. rally to pick the next U.S. presi­ American voters and four APA The lawsuit filed in February of time and money in f~ding my groups· including the Asian dent. In 2004, the Manhattan 2006 accuses the board of failing habitJaddiction," the 23-year-old American Legal Defense and By CAROLINE AOYAGI-STOM Chinatown resident arrived at her to provide election related materi­ jokingly admits. "I listen to Education Fund (AALDEF) have Executive Editor polling place to find the voting als and assistance to APAs with Japanese music on a daily basis, machine broken and other voters sued the New York City Board of Elections for violating language Yonsei Geoff Tsudama likes to See J-POP CULTURElPage 12 filling out affidavits. The words on See VRAIPage 3 spend most of his days listening to his favorite J-pop music artists like Yano Maki, m-f1o and Chihiro JACL Calls Toledo Radio Host's Racially Committee Recommends Children's ·Onitsuka. Japanese anime like ' Harassing Remarks an Outrage "Bleach" and "One Piece" are regu- Book about Internment Be Taken APA groups are contacting employee's accent and limited the station's advertisers English skills. 011 Curriculum, Moved to Library and filing a complaint with .On May 22, the radio host .called 'Baseball Saved Us' uses the FCC. an Asian restaurant and was sur­ the J-word to show the prised when the person who pain of racism. By Pacific Citizen Staff answered the phone spoke perfect English. Garber went on to com- · By LYNDA LIN ment that a white person must have Asian Pacific American grOJlPS Assistant Editor including the JACL are demanding been working there, critics say. action from a Toledo, Ohio radio Asian Communities United The use of an ethnic slur in a chil­ station for its recent broadcasts of a (ACU), a student organization from dren's book continues to stir debate series of prank calls to local Asian Bowling Green Sta.te University, is in New Milford, Connecticut with a restaurants. threatening a boycott of the radio school board subcommittee's recent Tower 98.3 (WTWR FM) disc station and its parent company recommendation to remove recommended the book be moved jockey "Lucas," whose real name is Culmulus Media Inc. unless Garber "Baseball Saved Us," Ken as a "trade book" from the second Josh Garber, is being accused of is fired and <\ public apology is Mochizuki's coming-of-age story and third grade level and placed in making racially insensitive remarks , made. set in a World War II intemment the schools' libraries. during a portion of his weekday 7 "Your DJ Lucas' on-air prank camp, from the second grade read­ The committee asked to wait until p.m. to midnight "Madhouse" radio calls to Asian establishments .made ing program. students are older before using it show where he called a Japanese with the specific intention of ridicul- The school board's six-member with entire classes, said Thomas restaurant and made fun of the Committee on Learning in late June See RADIOlPage 5 See CURRICULUMlPage 3 1.~.r "ImERS .. r\/lTJ. PACIFIC· CITIZEN, JULY 21-AUG. 3, 2006 ! ~ PACIAC CITIZEN ~ 2005 WINNERI GMEDRIA I~~ U ~ Editor - ~ Awards In Writing .A I set right. been a bit envious. Readers Speak Out On Watada·Case 2. To those AJAs who label Ehren Barry had a drawing charisma, PACIFIC CITIZEN Our Country recently celebrated Remember the treatment accorded a disgrace to the AJAs - especially which combined with his endless 250 E. First Street, Ste. 301, the anniversary of the Declaration of the "Resisters" in the Wyoming con­ to those who fought and died in knowledge, wit and humor kept Los Angeles, CA. 90012 Independence. I want to remind your centration camp during WWII. WWII, I ask, "What did those veter:­ e~eryone intrigued, ' clamoring for Tel: 213/620-1767, readers that the courageous men Many had to serve prison terms. ans fight for?" I believe they fought more, and entertained. One would 800/966-6157 who signed the Declaration . of I hope the JA community as well to prove our loyalty, so we would be want to know more about history or Fax: 213/620-1768 Independence, including American as the general public will stand accepted as "full" citizens. I would any subject matter after speaking E-mail: [email protected] www.pacificcitizen.org heroes such as Thomas Jefferson and behind Lt. Watada for his brave and add: (1) They should not have had to with Barry - he had that kind of George Washington, signed the principled stand against participating - we were already loyal! (2) But effect on you bringing the richness Executive Editor: Declaration in protest to the tyranny in the Iraq war.