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Home | National and World News Section
July 6 - July 12, 2000
Home | National and World News Section
POWs Waiting for Apologies
(in National News)
API Advisory Commission Visits S.F.
(in Bay Area News)
Asian Food Markets in the Bay Area
(in Business)
Lampo Leong's Forces • Contemplation
(in A&E)
Reasons to Celebrate
(in Opinion)
Remembering Wounds of War
JACL convention works through debate and dissent
By Sam Chu Lin
When hundreds of members of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) wrapped up their national convention in Monterey, Calif., last weekend, the organization’s uncertain future lingered on the minds of many. A total of 16 resolutions were voted on, with two in particular generating great controversy: One that called for continued support in the fight for redress for Japanese Latin Americas was defeated, while another that called for recognition and an apology to the Japanese Americans who refused to fight in World War II, was adopted.
John Tateishi, JACL National Executive Director, defended the JACL’s position on redress for Japanese American railroad workers and Japanese Latin Americans, saying, “Redress would not have happened for Japanese Americans without the JACL. We launched that campaign. The fact that this resolution did not pass doesn’t, in my mind, reflect a lack of concern, and it doesn’t mean we are not going to be involved in it … We will still fight for the Bresaro Bill.”
But Tateishi added: “The one thing we cannot do is break promises [by asking] for more money. In Washington, credibility is all you have.”
Tateishi, however, was less resolute on the issue of the World War II Nisei resisters, saying there was work to do to complete the healing process. Indeed, with delegates voting along generation lines, some older members stormed out of the room vowing to quit the organization just as the resolution gained approval.
During the conference, David Masuo, a Vietnam veteran from the Alaska chapter, noted that during World War II, 315 Japanese Americans who resisted the war had been wrongfully imprisoned in violation of their Constitutional rights to protest, and that the JACL leaders back then “did not provide support and counsel to them during a time of emotional crisis.”
On the other hand, George Yoshinaga of Los Angeles commented that he refers to the resisters as “draft dodgers.” He asked rhetorically, “If they were fighting for their Constitutional rights, why didn’t they refuse to go to camp? Where would we be today if all of us refused to serve our country?”
Similarly, Don Wakida, a veteran and a member of the Fresno chapter of the JACL, blasted the passage of the resolution. “We feel the resisters have the right to resist [but there is no need for an apology].
“If you pass this resolution, I want you to put an amendment in there that you will apologize to every Nisei family whose sons died for our country. Remember, they went to war for us, not only for America, but for the Japanese and the JACL.”
Brian Niiya, a member of the Hawaiian JACL chapter, recognized the generation gap and called for peace between the two sides.
“In many cases, when Nisei want to talk about how those born after the war were not there, that we don’t understand,” Niiya said. “In some respects that’s true.
“We don’t understand why there are these depths of bitterness,” he added. “Why is there this great divide between Japanese Americans in the community, specifically between the resisters and the JACL? We don’t understand after 55 years why can’t there be \ome reconciliation. And we feel this apology is a first step toward that reconciliation.”
Highlights of Voting
Res. 1. Federal Recognition of Native Hawaiians —Adopted
Reaffirm support of Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination, with chapters urging that their congressional representatives support federal legislation and reconciliation with Native Hawaiians.
Res. 2. Filipino Veterans Benefits—Adopted
Support Filipino World War II veterans in their fight for full military benefits.
Res. 3. Nisei Resisters of Conscience—Adopted
Recognition of and Apology to the Nisei Resisters of Conscience of World War II.
Res. 5. Bill Lann Lee Nomination —Adopted
Support Mr. Lee’s appointment as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights during the congressional fall recess.
ER 4—Defeated
Continued Support for the Unfinished Business of Redress for Japanese Americans and Japanese Latin Americans Through the Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2000.
ER 5—Adopted
Condemn the Racial Profiling & Discrimination Against Dr. Wen Ho Lee and Urge That Dr. Lee Be Given Due Process and Equal Protection Before the Law.
ER 6—Adopted
Oppose the Placement of a Baseball Stadium in and Adjacent to Philadelphia Chinatown and Endorse the Stadium Out of Chinatown Coalition.
POWs Waiting for Apologies
(in National News)
API Advisory Commission Visits S.F.
(in Bay Area News)
Asian Food Markets in the Bay Area
(in Business)
Lampo Leong's Forces • Contemplation
(in A&E)
Reasons to Celebrate
(in Opinion)
Remembering Wounds of War
| POWs Waiting for Apologies (in National News) API Advisory Commission Visits S.F. Asian Food Markets in the Bay Area Lampo Leong's Forces • Contemplation Reasons to Celebrate |
JACL convention works through debate and dissent
By Sam Chu Lin
When hundreds of members of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) wrapped up their national convention in Monterey, Calif., last weekend, the organization’s uncertain future lingered on the minds of many. A total of 16 resolutions were voted on, with two in particular generating great controversy: One that called for continued support in the fight for redress for Japanese Latin Americas was defeated, while another that called for recognition and an apology to the Japanese Americans who refused to fight in World War II, was adopted.
John Tateishi, JACL National Executive Director, defended the JACL’s position on redress for Japanese American railroad workers and Japanese Latin Americans, saying, “Redress would not have happened for Japanese Americans without the JACL. We launched that campaign. The fact that this resolution did not pass doesn’t, in my mind, reflect a lack of concern, and it doesn’t mean we are not going to be involved in it … We will still fight for the Bresaro Bill.”
But Tateishi added: “The one thing we cannot do is break promises [by asking] for more money. In Washington, credibility is all you have.”
Tateishi, however, was less resolute on the issue of the World War II Nisei resisters, saying there was work to do to complete the healing process. Indeed, with delegates voting along generation lines, some older members stormed out of the room vowing to quit the organization just as the resolution gained approval.
During the conference, David Masuo, a Vietnam veteran from the Alaska chapter, noted that during World War II, 315 Japanese Americans who resisted the war had been wrongfully imprisoned in violation of their Constitutional rights to protest, and that the JACL leaders back then “did not provide support and counsel to them during a time of emotional crisis.”
On the other hand, George Yoshinaga of Los Angeles commented that he refers to the resisters as “draft dodgers.” He asked rhetorically, “If they were fighting for their Constitutional rights, why didn’t they refuse to go to camp? Where would we be today if all of us refused to serve our country?”
Similarly, Don Wakida, a veteran and a member of the Fresno chapter of the JACL, blasted the passage of the resolution. “We feel the resisters have the right to resist [but there is no need for an apology].
“If you pass this resolution, I want you to put an amendment in there that you will apologize to every Nisei family whose sons died for our country. Remember, they went to war for us, not only for America, but for the Japanese and the JACL.”
Brian Niiya, a member of the Hawaiian JACL chapter, recognized the generation gap and called for peace between the two sides.
“In many cases, when Nisei want to talk about how those born after the war were not there, that we don’t understand,” Niiya said. “In some respects that’s true.
“We don’t understand why there are these depths of bitterness,” he added. “Why is there this great divide between Japanese Americans in the community, specifically between the resisters and the JACL? We don’t understand after 55 years why can’t there be \ome reconciliation. And we feel this apology is a first step toward that reconciliation.”
Highlights of Voting
Res. 1. Federal Recognition of Native Hawaiians —Adopted
Reaffirm support of Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination, with chapters urging that their congressional representatives support federal legislation and reconciliation with Native Hawaiians.
Res. 2. Filipino Veterans Benefits—Adopted
Support Filipino World War II veterans in their fight for full military benefits.
Res. 3. Nisei Resisters of Conscience—Adopted
Recognition of and Apology to the Nisei Resisters of Conscience of World War II.
Res. 5. Bill Lann Lee Nomination —Adopted
Support Mr. Lee’s appointment as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights during the congressional fall recess.
ER 4—Defeated
Continued Support for the Unfinished Business of Redress for Japanese Americans and Japanese Latin Americans Through the Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2000.
ER 5—Adopted
Condemn the Racial Profiling & Discrimination Against Dr. Wen Ho Lee and Urge That Dr. Lee Be Given Due Process and Equal Protection Before the Law.
ER 6—Adopted
Oppose the Placement of a Baseball Stadium in and Adjacent to Philadelphia Chinatown and Endorse the Stadium Out of Chinatown Coalition.
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