Commentary

The exhibit, “Go for Broke:  Japanese American Soldiers Fighting on Two Fronts,” which honors Japanese American soldiers of the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, the Military Intelligence and Language Services, and the Japanese American women in the Women’s Army Corps who served valiantly during World War II at a time when they were looked upon as the enemy, is open to the public at Ellis Island.  Eric Saul, noted historian who has done extensive work in telling the Japanese American experience, is the curator of the exhibit.  He has dedicated the exhibit to Mike Masaoka.   

It is a well known fact that life was not easy for the early immigrants from Japan.  They were hard working and enterprising, yet they found limited success in this new country where they did not speak the language and the customs were unfamiliar.  As the American born children of these Japanese immigrants became young adults and attended college, they still faced discrimination. 

The JACL was formed in 1929 by the Nisei (second generation children of Japanese immigrants) to combat these negative influences and laws against them.  Mike Masaoka was not one of the originators of the JACL, but he became an early leader of the organization.  Mike was born in Fresno, California, on October 15, 1915.  He was the fourth of eight children born to Issei, Japanese immigrant parents.  When he was a few years old, his father moved the family to Salt Lake City, Utah.  Mike attended West High School and the University of Utah where he was a champion debater.

After graduating from college in 1937, Mike became a leader in the JACL after organizing the Intermountain District Council of the JACL in Utah and Idaho.  At the age of 25, Mike was named the National Secretary and Field Executive, which began a long history with the JACL. 

With the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan, the Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans faced increased discrimination.  Mike Masaoka was sent by the JACL to Washington, D.C. to work for the abolition of internment camps and mitigate the effects of relocation.  He encouraged cooperation with the government.  He worked for the reinstatement of Japanese Americans into the military.  The result was the creation of a segregated unit of Japanese Americans which became the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.  Mike joined the unit which served with distinction in Italy and France during World War II. 

After returning from military service, Mike became the JACL Washington representative and worked to reform immigration and naturalization laws.  He later played a role in the proceedings of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians from which The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 became law, which allowed for Redress.  His JACL friends formed the JACL Mike M. Masaoka Congressional Fellowship in his honor.

Mike met his wife Etsu Mineta, when she was incarcerated with her family at Heart Mountain, Wyoming.  They were married in 1943 before leaving for Washington, DC.  Mike passed away in 1991 in Washington, DC after suffering with heart problems.  He is survived by his wife Etsu and a granddaughter Michelle Amano of Maryland.  Etsu will be one of the honorees at the JACL Gala in Washington, DC this year.

Mike Masaoka was probably the best known leader of the JACL.   He worked hard for the JACL, but he was not without enemies and critics who did not agree with him.  As most of the early leaders of the JACL have now left us, it behooves us to learn about them and the JACL history.  The Japanese American story must be told and retold in order to guarantee the liberties which we enjoy today. 

Now that the National Convention for the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is over for this year, it is time to move on to our next major event.  The National JACL Gala is scheduled for Thursday, September 16, 2010, at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.  Proceeds from the event will go to the National JACL to help fund the important work that must continue.

This is the fourth year that the JACL Gala will be held in the nation’s capital.  Five years ago after moving to Washington, D.C. to become the Director of Public Policy for the JACL when Kristine Minami left that position upon finishing law school, I began to attend a lot of Gala dinners for various organizations.  It became clear to me that the JACL could use a Gala of its own in Washington, D.C. to bring visibility to the organization and to raise needed funds.  John Tateishi, then National Executive Director of the JACL, agreed. 

So we embarked on having the JACL host a Gala in the nation’s capital.  It is a lot of work for the Washington, D.C. JACL staff which includes two recent college graduates who are the JACL Mineta Fellow and the JACL Inouye Fellow, a volunteer, and occasional interns.  [The Director of Public Policy position remains vacant due to budgetary issues.]  The JACL Gala has become one of our new traditions for the JACL which we hope will continue for a long time. 

The Gala has been called “A Salute to Champions” and provides the opportunity to honor people who have made a difference.  The honorees this year are outstanding women champions.  They include Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who has done much for the JACL and the Asian American community; Etsu Mineta Masaoka, a JACL stalwart who supported her husband Mike Masaoka and the JACL through many years; Roxanna Saberi, a journalist and writer from North Dakota who was captured and held in Iran; and Christine Toy Johnson, an actress and filmmaker who, with her husband Bruce Johnson, produced a documentary film about Wat Misaka, the Japanese American who was the first non-white person to play in what is now the National Basketball Association.  The corporate partner to be honored this year for outstanding contributions to the JACL is Eli Lilly.

JACL members and friends are given several opportunities to support the JACL Gala.  Of course, anyone who is able to attend the event will be most welcome.  [JACL members may contact the Washington DC JACL office to receive a special JACL price if desired.]  Individual tickets and Tables of Ten may be purchased to be filled by the purchaser or may be donated to be filled by the JACL which comps dignitaries and attempts to include as many hill staffers as possible.  Sponsorships and donations at any level are appreciated.  Ads (for as low as $50 for a one eighth page ad for JACL members) may be purchased for the program booklet.  All documents for these purposes are available at the JACL website [www.jacl.org].

We hope you will consider supporting the National JACL Gala this year.  We also encourage participation in the JACL Pacific Southwest District’s Annual Awards Dinner on October 9.

Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks to all who have supported the Gala in the past and thanks to everyone for all you do for the JACL.

Another Successful National JACL Convention Has Concluded

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) just concluded its 41st Biennial National Convention in Chicago.  We are very grateful to Ron Yoshino, convention chair, and the Chicago JACL Chapter members with chapter president, Megan Nakano, for hosting this historic convention.  This was the last of the JACL conventions on the biennial schedule.  In keeping with the convention theme of “Embracing Change,” the JACL will go to an annual convention format starting with the next convention to be held in Los Angeles in 2011 with Gary Mayeda as the convention chair.

Convention events and proceedings will be available from the coverage of the Pacific Citizen staff, who were in attendance at the convention.  Press releases put out by the JACL give additional information on events, awards, speakers, youth functions, and elections.

It takes many hours of planning and hard work from the convention committee as well as the JACL staff and board to put on a national convention.  Bill Yoshino, JACL’s regional director in the Midwest office in Chicago, Christine Munteanu, the JACL Ford Fellow, and Jean Shiraki, the JACL Inouye Fellow, were heavily involved in the convention planning and execution as were Carol and Joyce Yoshino, and many others within the Chicago Chapter and all National JACL staff who had important duties.  Karen Yoshitomi, JACL’s regional director in the Pacific Northwest Region, is the staff person who oversees the conventions.  Sheldon Arakaki, the outgoing Vice President of General Operations, was the board member over the convention with Gail Sueki elected to that position.  Many JACL members served as committee members and chairs.  Thank you to all who helped to make the convention a success, including all delegates, participants, speakers, volunteers, entertainers, sponsors, exhibitors, boosters, and others.  It was nice to see families with young children and babies in attendance.  Thanks to the outgoing National Board and congratulations to the newly elected National Board (names are in other coverage and on the website).

The Youth/Student Council with outgoing chair and rep, Kimberly Shintaku and Brandon Mita, did a great job with the younger generation.  They are being replaced by Matthew Farrells and Devin Yoshikawa.  It was gratifying to see so many of this age group attend and participate in this convention.  The Youth Luncheon and Oratorical Contest (of which Nicole Horiuchi Gaddie of Salt Lake City was the winner) were great indications of the future leadership of the JACL.  These young people need to be cultivated within the chapters and districts to become the next leaders within this organization.  They are the future of the JACL.

We owe a special debt of gratitude to our corporate partners and all who contributed financially to the convention.  Among those are State Farm, AT&T, Ford Motor, Eli Lilly, the National JACL Credit Union, CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services), JACL Health Benefits Trust, Masuda Funai, Comcast, Paramount Pictures, Pierce Family, and Union Bank.  Prizes for the Oratorical Contest were donated by All Nippon Airways (ANA), Hyatt Hotel (Tokyo), and Sony.  Other cash donors were:  Sheldon Arakaki, Shiro and Catherine Shiraga, Misao Shiratsuki, Ron and Joyce Yoshino, Jack Rubin and Pat Yuzawa-Rubin, Elaine Akagi, Lillian Kimura, Helen Kawagoe, and Hank Sakai.  We are also grateful to all the exhibitors at the convention.  (We apologize if this list is incomplete or inaccurate.)

This convention was not without controversy and debate.  In the end, the National Council made their decisions and voted.  The JACL staff will work to implement the resolutions and budget as passed.

It was a pleasure for me personally to have our daughter and two young granddaughters (members of the San Diego Chapter) join us by attending this JACL Convention.  It is always good to see old timers like Etsu Masaoka, Shea Aoki, Harry Honda, and Frank Sakamoto, among others, in attendance.  We appreciate the boosters who do not have to be there but who choose to attend the conventions.

I hope all attendees had a good time and learned a lot.  If you did not make it to this convention, plan to attend in 2011 in Los Angeles for another great National JACL Convention.  Thanks for your support of the JACL.

Pacific Citizen Newspaper

Letter to the Editor:

As a means of clarification, I would like it known that no one is against the Pacific Citizen (P.C.)newspaper.  It has served us well for decades.  The possibility of going to a digital format in the future is primarily a matter of simple economics.  With the financial problems besetting the JACL and the inability to fill staff positions because of a lack of funds, it is a major concern to spend around 20% of the total budget for the JACL on the newspaper. 

There have been questions about a scarcity of real JACL news covered in the P.C. and complaints from chapters that they are unable to get news included.  Older members want obituaries listed in each issue.  World and national news may not be current by the time the P.C. is printed.  Many younger members are more interested in the digital format.  The P.C. staff has tried to address these concerns and even has its own website.

While the arguments for or against the printed newspaper could go on and on, it remains a fact that the budgetary problems of the JACL are difficult.  That is the main reason for the changes which are being requested regarding the P.C.  If finances were not an issue, there might be no problem with spending one fifth of our budget on the newspaper.  However, it is absolutely necessary that the JACL find ways to reduce costs, and spending that much money on the P.C. does not seem feasible nor sustainable for the future.

Floyd Mori
National Director, JACL

Our Nisei Pioneers Have Stories to Tell

Japanese American young people would do well to look into their own history to learn more about the early Nisei (those born in the United States of immigrant parents from Japan) pioneers who paved the way for a better life for those who would come after them.  They would find that they are the posterity of some pretty amazing people.  There are many untold or little told stories of outstanding people who made a significant difference.  Just surviving could be a challenge, but they accomplished some remarkable endeavors in their lifetimes.

We honor the Issei, the brave souls who were true pioneers as the early immigrants to the United States from Japan who made their way to a new land which was strange to them.  They tried to overcome the hardships of discrimination and prejudice as they made their way in an often hostile environment where they did not speak the language.  They worked diligently and made progress in their livelihoods.  They had families, homes, jobs, farms, and businesses. 

The oldest Nisei, their American born children who were becoming young adults in the 1920’s, faced issues of discrimination daily and became pioneers in many facets of life.  These young men and women began to assert themselves as leaders in their communities. They formed groups within the Japanese communities to fight for civil rights for their people.  Thus, the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) was formed in 1929 from some of those earlier groups.

Then with the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Imperial Navy of Japan on December 7, 1941, life changed in an instant.  The relatively comfortable lives the people of Japanese ancestry were building came crashing down as 120,000 people, who were mostly citizens of the United States living on the West Coast, were forced into concentration camps in remote and desolate areas of the country.  Most lost everything.  Americans of Japanese ancestry throughout the nation were immediately treated with suspicion, racism, bigotry, and hatred.

Although many of the early JACL leaders have passed on, some are still with us.  They deserve our extreme gratitude for all they endured to make a better world for us.  Being one of the younger Nisei (most of my contemporaries are Sansei), I have had the privilege of knowing a good number of these early leaders personally.  There were people like Clarence Arai, James Sakamoto, Saburo Kido, Mike Masaoka, Edison Uno, Bill Marutani, Hank Tanaka, Pat and Lily Okura, and many, many others.  (It is always dangerous to list names, and I apologize that this is a very small list which could include dozens of others).  Some left us too early at fairly young ages.

A funeral service was held recently for one such leader, Chiyoko Doris Aiso Hoshide, who died in May 2010, about eight months shy of her 100th birthday.  She lived in the Washington, D.C. area for decades and was one of the early pioneers of the JACL.  She was born in South Pasadena, California, and as a young girl lived in Hollywood and graduated from high school there in 1929. 

Doris enrolled in the first class at the newly opened UCLA Westwood campus.  She and her Japanese American friends were refused admittance to any sororities so she founded the Chi Alpha Delta sorority which is still thriving and is open to young women of all backgrounds.  She became an avid UCLA Bruins fan throughout her life.  She and her husband Toshi spent time at the Heart Mountain Camp and then worked for many years for the United States Army Map Service.  They were married for 62 years, and he predeceased her in 1997.  Etsu Mineta Masaoka was one of the speakers at the funeral service.

There are many such stories waiting to be told.  People live quiet lives of dignity, but their families and others often do not know of their past experiences.  I encourage young people within the JACL to ask their grandparents and great grandparents to share their personal stories with them if they have not yet done so.  There is still much to learn.

When one thinks of the history of the JACL’s battles for social justice, it is easy to identify the theme of righting a wrong that was unjustly thrust upon a certain group of people here in the United States.  Early on, Asian American immigrants found themselves at the short end of the justice balance when it came to securing citizenship and the right to reside in this great nation.  The lack of due process afforded Japanese Americans during World War II is fodder for every law student’s class on the Constitution.  Voting rights, economic equality, equal access to the nation’s economic and social institutions, rights for gay and lesbian individuals, and more recently health care reform have been legislative debates in which the JACL has been a strong voice for those who have been left out of the conversation of equality.

A new arena of social justice in which we find ourselves already immersed is that of Environmental Justice or Environmental Racism as characterized by many.  While the discussion of developing an environmentally healthy society rages on, we have begun to discover that environmental neglects have consequences that fall heavily upon minority communities, and the attempt to mitigate environmental problems often ignore the needs of minority communities.  A clean and livable environment should be the goal for all inhabitants regardless of color, ethnicity, or economic station in life.

There are two recent cases to note, one a local issue and one a problem of global proportions. The first has to do with the Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Mission, a Catholic church near Atlanta, Georgia.  While reason and common sense, along with the recommendation of their Planning Commission, recommend that a solid waste transfer station not be built next to the church, the County Board of Commissioners voted 3 to 2 to allow this contrary usage.  The church of some 4,500 members was told that if they did not like their new neighbors, they should move to a new location.  The members are basically immigrants and their children, who happen to be non white.  The question has to be asked that if this were a mainstream Caucasian church, would the Board of Commissioners come to the same conclusion.  Unfortunately, this is not the first time we have seen in recent years where garbage and refuse are being dumped in the backyard of an Asian American church.

While we read in the papers of BP (British Petroleum) taking measures to mitigate the environmental and economic disaster that is lurking on the Gulf Coast in the form of a giant oil spill, the little known fact is that the Asian American fishermen who are a large part of that Gulf Coast economy are being neglected again.  Here many of the fishermen have difficulty with reading and writing English, yet the BP relief effort has been focused totally in English.  There have been no information sheets, no public announcements, no press releases, nor any fact sheets printed in Vietnamese, the fishermen’s native language. This has lead to confusion and bewilderment in the Vietnamese community and the fear that their experiences of being forgotten during Katrina will be repeated.  So while prevention training has been taking place, it has excluded those who cannot understand English. While their livelihoods drown in the thick of the oil sludge, the Asian American community wonders how they will survive without a place to fish and shrimp.

We were requested by Father Vien, with whom I worked during the aftermath of Katrina, and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to assist in helping the New Orleans and Mississippi Asian American fishing communities get some attention during the crisis of the BP oil spill.  Father Vien The Nguyen is pastor of the Mary Queen of Viet Nam Church in New Orleans.  We arranged a conference call which included the White House, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the White House Initiative on AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders), various federal agencies, and the Asian American fishing community along the Gulf coast. The discussion allowed the fishing community to express their concerns directly to those who are overseeing the relief and prevention programs. This was the beginning of an on going effort to inform the federal government of the gaps in serving that community.  We are seeing results, but we have a long way to go to avoid repeating the neglect that the Vietnamese community faced during Katrina.

As we move toward the future, Environmental Justice will be an issue in which the JACL will be engaged as an advocate and as an educator.  We will have many opportunities to participate in programs that will educate ourselves regarding the environment but also help develop an awareness of the concept that as we move into an era that values a safe and healthy environment, we will work to make sure that good environment is part of everybody’s lives and not just the rich and the privileged.

July 13, 2009

“There were ten World War II concentration camps for Japanese Americans” as has been stated many times on many occasions.  I am one who placed the Tule Lake camp as one of the ten, knowing that there was something different but only knowing the academic differences.  Going on the 2009 Tule Lake Pilgrimage opened my eyes a little wider and enriched my mind a little deeper.  But more important, it engaged my heart and I began to experience the feelings that have existed among those who were there during the war.

Initially, Tule Lake was a destination for those Japanese and Japanese Americans from a specific geographical locale, which is much like the other camps.  If you found out in which camp a person was detained, you had a pretty good idea the region of the West Coast in which the family resided when the war started.  Tule Lake began to change when the government identified persons whom they suspected of being potential spies, and it also became home to those who had voiced some degree of dissatisfaction with the way they were being treated and those who voiced descent regarding the fairness and the justice of the whole episode.

The naming of Tule Lake as a Segregation Center changed the entire landscape and led to this camp being very unique and with a stigma that has lasted over the decades.  Much like a quarantine, which isolates people from the “healthy society,” this designation had the same effect.  I remember as a child when two of my classmates who were sisters were isolated from the rest of the students because they had lice.  Until the day they moved from the community, they faced teasing and taunting, which I am sure caused undue heartache and long-term mental stress that probably still lives with them until this day.  Yet as children, they had little control of what a life of poverty dealt to them, including the lice.

We, as Japanese Americans, are of different backgrounds but have been fortunate in inheriting a legacy of strong values from our forefathers.  Loyalty, upholding the family name, hard work, fairness, and justice are values that our Issei and Nisei forbearers engrained in us.  At times these values may be in conflict with each other, or one places more importance on one value at a particular point in time.  Family, health, and well being may influence which value is manifest at any given time.

Like my fellow first grade students who had lice, Japanese Americans had little control over what the war had dealt to them.  Yet, each confronted the situation the best they could with the values that were important to them.  That is what we need to come to grips with; people did what was important to them in their specific circumstance.  Actions that were based on the principle of justice were not cowardice nor unpatriotic.  It has been unfair for that stigma to remain after all these years.  It is important to understand that all had their reasons for making the decisions that they did and it all related to the basic values that they knew to be right.  It is particularly vital for all of us to respect that one individual’s reason for action is of no less importance than another’s. 

After some younger JACL leaders learned of the Nisei Draft Resisters who protested the incarceration and refused to serve in the U.S. Army unless their families were released from the camps, a resolution was passed at the 2000 National JACL Convention to apologize to this group.  The JACL held an official ceremony on May 11, 2002, at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, to apologize to the Nisei Draft Resisters which included some of the residents of the Tule Lake Camp.

Many of those who were considered as unpatriotic and labeled as troublemakers at Tule Lake were people of great principle and conscience. The JACL needs to have further conversation about Tule Lake.  It would do well for each of us to feel the emotion and frustration of so many.  The understanding of how an era dealt with values, rejection, and conflict may heal some of the hurt and anger that have existed in the community since the war.  The JACL has had difficult relations over the years with many of the former residents of Tule Lake, and it was enlightening and beneficial for me to attend the pilgrimage to represent the JACL.

An important part of this year’s pilgrimage was the dedication of the Tule Lake Unit of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument as designated last year by President George W. Bush.  The ceremony was held in front of the site of the former jail.  Consul General of Japan Yasumasa Nagamine, his wife Ayako, and Yoshiro Tasaka, the consulate’s liaison to the Nikkei community, attended the ceremony and pilgrimage.  Jon Jarvis, Regional Director of the National Park Service, Pacific Coast Region, who has been nominated to become Director, and others from the Park Service were in attendance as well as various other elected officials and friends of Tule Lake. 

Those who planned the pilgrimage are to be commended for a job well done.  Hiroshi Shimizu, who was a small child at Tule Lake during the war, is Chair of the Tule Lake Committee.  Roy Ikeda is chair of the Tule Lake Preservation Committee.  If anyone would like to donate to the Tule Lake Preservation Project, the funds would be appreciated as they are raising matching funds to carry the project forward.

June 26, 2009

The most asked question that I get these days is:  "What is it like being in D.C. with the new Administration?"  There is considerable curiosity as to whether or not the President has brought the "change" that he promised.  Is the Federal government beginning to reflect what the “Real” America is today rather than the elitist perception that has prevailed in the recent past?

There is no question that there is an atmosphere of enthusiasm and a feeling of inclusion in the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.  My AAPI colleagues have been heard to comment that, "We have been to the White House more times in the past five months than in the past ten years. It is important to note that the White House meetings have not been restricted to ceremonial events but to substantive discussions on policy and personnel.  We have met with high level officials, including the President and the First Lady, on issues from Fatherhood to Sotomayer and from health care 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.

Processes continue to exist, and this causes anxiety waiting for a final decision.  Vetting, legal definitions and political posturing continue to exist, and Senate confirmation votes do not occur as quickly as desired.  We do see a strict adherence to ethics standards.  Some good people have been passed by because of past lobbying work.  The ethics bar is set higher, and this has impacted how Agency and Congressional staff interact with the public.  When a friend was finally confirmed to be an Assistant Secretary in a cabinet agency, my wife and I invited them out to dinner to welcome them to DC.  In thinking nothing of it, we paid for dinner.  Then they presented us with a check to cover their portion of the bill because he wanted to adhere completely to the strict ethics rules.

The same attitude of inclusion has spilled over to Congress.  Just this past week, the JACL was one of a handful of organizations that took part in a round table discussion with the Senate leadership.  We were promised that the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Bill would be passed soon and go to the President for his signature.  We expressed our concerns about due process and immigration policy. We urged timely confirmation of key administrative and judicial appointments.  Leader Reid and Senators Leahy, Spector, Levin, Durbin, and Stabinow were among the Senators who sat at the table with us.

So to answer the question at hand, there is much more optimism and encouragement in the AAPI community in Washington today.  At the same time, this is cautious optimism as we face the realities of recession and budget concerns. It is refreshing that AAPIs are often found "at the table" of policy discussions on the critical issues of the day.  There are many areas where we need to see improvement, but the momentum is in the right direction.  The unity of AAPI coalitions is being strengthened.  It is indeed a good time for the JACL to be visible in the Nation's Capital and to be at the table.

            When Floyd Mori, National Executive Director of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), met David Sakai at a function, Floyd was interested in David’s printing business because the JACL had some printing needs.  Floyd also invited David to join the JACL and provided a membership application. 

David, of Bowie, Maryland, and his son in law, Paul Kaup, Senior Account Executive for the company of which David is owner, President, and CEO, came to the JACL office to discuss printing.  At the end of the meeting, David asked for more explanation of the various membership categories of the JACL and promptly joined the JACL Millennium Club.  A third generation Japanese American from Connecticut, David said he has not had a lot of interaction with other Japanese Americans in the past besides relatives and he wanted to get involved with the JACL.

A champion table tennis player who continues to play and compete even in his sixties, David has played table tennis competitively for over forty years.  He won at the 1964 U.S. Open and became the #2 U.S. Junior at the U.S. Open in 1965.  He says he has competed in every U.S. Open and National Table Tennis Championship in the last 36 years, and stated:  “I’ve lost more matches than anyone in history and probably won more matches than anyone as well.”  He was inducted into the U.S.A. Table Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004. 

David was Vice-President of a newly formed Players Association and was among a number of players who boycotted and picketed the 1976 Philadelphia U.S. Open tournament.  Their point was to emphasize that there had to be a start at professional players playing for substantial sums of money in order for the sport to grow.  Six months later much more prize money was offered to the players.  David has been Sponsorship Agent for the United States Table Tennis Association (USTTA) and has been the USTTA Coaching Committee Chair.

In 1981 David began working for Moore Business Forms and became an award-winning salesman.  He continued with his table tennis and captained a U.S.A. Men’s Team at the 1982 U.S. Open.  He started his own printing business and became a successful businessman, but he kept up with his table tennis.

David and his wife Donna met through table tennis.  They won the mixed doubles championship at the U.S. Open in 1977.  They eventually married and have stopped playing competitively together.  David continues to practice almost everyday to stay in top form and competes in approximately 35 tournaments each year.  Donna was inducted before David into the USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, where they also have a home.

Pictured (L-R): National Executive Director Floyd Mori, Intern Mai Suzuki, Intern Ide Viriya, and Inouye Fellow Shirley Tang

Washington, D.C. – The National JACL staff in the various offices continues to have much to do in administering the programs of the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization.  Plans are being finalized for the National JACL Youth Conference and the Collegiate Leadership Conference, and plans are underway for the JACL Gala.  Fundraising is an ongoing effort.  The small staff in the Washington, D.C. office, which currently consists of myself, one fellow, two part-time interns, and one volunteer (with the position of Director of Public Policy remaining unfilled because of budgetary issues) has had a busy week. 

The JACL Mineta Fellow, Crystal Xu, and a student intern from the University of California, Santa Barbara, who is an exchange student from Meiji Gakuin in Japan, Mai Suzuki, just completed their assignments with the JACL.  Lona Loudon is a student intern from the University of Utah and has just started work in the D.C. office.  She joins Shirley Tang, Inouye Fellow, and Ide Viriya, part-time intern from the University of Maryland.

The Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), which recently awarded a grant to the JACL and with whom the JACL shares offices, held its annual conference which our staff attended this week in the Washington, D.C. area.  It was a great conference which was well attended and addressed the issues of health disparity and other health issues facing the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

A Summit, sponsored by Senate Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for leaders within the AAPI community, many of whom are members of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) of which I am the chair, was held at the Russell Senate Building.  Congressman Mike Honda, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), greeted participants.  Former Secretary of Transportation and Commerce Norman Mineta spoke to the group.  Other members of Congress who attended the Summit and addressed the participants were:  Senators Daniel Akaka, Daniel Inouye, and Debbie Stabenow, and Representatives Madeleine Bordallo, Ahn (Joseph) Cao, Eni Faleomavaega, Al Green, Bobby Short, and David Wu.  National JACL Board members, Sheldon Arakaki, Vice President of General Operations, and Ron Katsuyama, Vice President of Public Affairs, were in Washington, D.C. to attend the Summit.  Ron later came by the JACL office to meet and discuss JACL matters.

It has been my privilege to be invited to the White House regularly for various policy and personnel meetings, functions, and events.  In a meeting this week to discuss the nomination of Sonia Sotomayer for the Supreme Court, I was one of only two AAPI people in the discussion.  The JACL is often called upon to represent the AAPI community, and the JACL continues to have relevance in today’s world.  It is important for us to keep up our vigilance in the arenas of civil and human rights, education, heritage, socials, fundraising, leadership, senior and youth issues, and other interests of our organization.

By Floyd Mori

We have seen some very positive measures on Camp Preservation move through Congress which have been overshadowed by the debates on stimulating the economy, filling important Administration positions, restructuring the military’s role in the world, and jockeying for leverage in the 2010 Fiscal Budget.  The passage of camp preservation measures is good news to the Japanese American community as well as the community at large.  Important steps have been taken to assure that the Japanese American experience during World War II will be maintained as a lesson to the world that times of crisis are not an excuse to overlook the important civil liberties guaranteed in our Constitution.

What is important is that we have developed very strong allies in Congress who have been instrumental in assuring that elements of various pieces of legislation were retained in the omnibus appropriations bill and in the major public lands omnibus bill.  On the Senate side, Senator Daniel K. Inouye, who is now Chairman of Senate Appropriations, and Senator Diane Feinstein, who is Chairman of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee, provided outstanding leadership in securing funding for beginning the grant program authorized by the HR 1492 now Public Law 109-441.  The JACL played a major role in the passage of HR 1492.  Congressman Mike Honda, who is on the House Appropriations Committee, played an influential role in the House to support the funding measure.  Congresswoman Doris Matsui and others were also strong voices in support of the funding.

Included in the appropriations measure were funds for the construction of additional barracks at Manzanar and land acquisition to expand the Minidoka site to include important artifacts from the camp.  In addition, increased funding for special resource studies will allow the National Parks Service (NPS) more flexibility to conduct special resource studies of other Japanese American confinement facilities.

The omnibus public lands bill included the Tule Lake Segregation Center Special Resources Study Act which authorizes the NPS to study the Tule Lake Segregation Center in Modoc County, California, and make recommendations to Congress regarding the future management of and planning for the site.  The Tule Lake site was designated as part of the Valor in the Pacific National Monument by President Bush in December 2008.

As we look to the future, we are developing funding priorities for future budget cycles by working with key Senate and House staffer.  PL 109-441 authorizes $38 million in funding for conserving and interpreting camp sites and other projects that are related to the World War II internment.  This means maintaining strong relationships with these key congressional staffers as well as members of congress.  In the State of Washington, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell along with Representatives Jay Inslee, Norman Dicks, and Jim McDermott have been extremely helpful in getting camp measures through Congress. Former Senator Larry Craig and Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho have been essential for Minidoka issues. 

It is important for all of us, whether we have a camp background or not, to develop strong grassroots ties to our congressional delegation.  Members of congress are moved by citizens from their state and districts.  In the future our goal is to mount strong chapter advocacy efforts for the camp preservation projects that we will be championing for future development.  Support  is important in areas where camp sites exist as well as from families of those who were in the various camps.  We need to continue our quiet work across the board to erect suitable educational facilities that will preserve the lessons of history.

By Floyd Mori

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) held its Tri-District Conference for the Central California (CCDC), the Northern California Western Nevada Pacific (NCWNP), and the Pacific Southwest (PSW) District Councils and Day of Remembrance celebration on February 14 to 16, 2009, in Clovis, California.  Hosted by the CCDC, the Conference was held in conjunction with the dedication of the Pinedale Remembrance Plaza to commemorate the Pinedale Assembly Center where Japanese Americans were held during World War II before being shipped to the camps.

Although some JACLers from PSW canceled out of the Conference because of the Grapevine being closed due to snow on Friday, driving to the Fresno/Clovis area from Los Angeles on Saturday morning was a pleasant drive with clear roads and good weather all the way.  For those returning to Southern California on Monday after the Conference, it was again required to encounter snow or take an alternate route.  Those who attended the Conference were well repaid with excellent learning experiences which were very moving along with outstanding and enjoyable social functions.

Fourteen people had signed up for the golf tournament on Saturday morning.  The opening general event was a catered barbecue dinner on Saturday evening followed by the showing of the American Pastime film about baseball and the internment of Japanese Americans at the Topaz camp.  Kerry Nakagawa, associate producer of the movie, was on hand at the viewing to answer questions. 

Marcia Chung is the new governor of the CCDC, following outgoing governor Bobbi Hanada.  Alan Nishi is governor for NCWNP, and Alayne Yonemoto is governor for PSW.  Judge Dale Ikeda and his wife Debbie along with a host of volunteers worked very hard to put together an excellent conference with outstanding panelists presenting informative plenary sessions.  Dale has worked diligently with a great committee to bring about the Remembrance Plaza, which is a beautiful memorial on the site of the Pinedale Assembly Center in Fresno. 

Members of the Coram Nobis legal team which worked on the cases of Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Min Yasui presented a very informative panel discussion.  The then-young attorneys told of their firsthand experiences.  They realized that their success would have a bearing on the success of the Redress Movement.  Presiding Justice James Ardaiz was the moderator.  The Redress panel moderated by Carole Hayashino consisted of former Congressman Norman Y. Mineta, John Tateishi, Floyd Mori, Ken Yokota, Kamal Abu-Shamsieh, and Joanne Kagiwada.  Another panel which related experiences of the internment was moderated by Dr. Lane Hirabayashi with panel members, Dr. James Hirabayashi, Kiyo Sato, Rev. Saburo Masada, and Marielle Tsukamoto. 

Jeanette Ishii served as emcee for the Saturday evening dinner at which a number of people were honored.  Her husband, Judge Tony Ishii, escorted the Honorable Norman Mineta to the various events.  Many local dignitaries were present including Congressman Jim Costa.

John Tagami, a member of the Washington, D.C. Chapter, came from Virginia to speak about the role of the World War II Veterans.  His brother, Randy, drove up from Riverside.  Their father, who is featured on one of the story boards at the Pinedale Memorial, was a member of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and was a translator for General Douglas MacArthur.  He was born in Selma which is just south of Fresno, but this was the first visit to the area for his two sons.    

Dr. John Welty, President of California State University, Fresno, presented the President’s Medal of Distinction Award to Satoshi (Fibber) Hirayama, who was a star athlete in football and baseball at Fresno State College, setting records which have stood for more than 40 years.

The Spirit of Pinedale Award was presented to Ambassador Phillip V. Sanchez, and the Spirit of Education Award was presented to Dr. Peter G. Mehas.  The Spirit of Justice Award was given to Dale Minami, Don Tamaki, Professor Lorraine Bannai, Karen Kai, and Robert Rusky.  The Spirit of Public Service Award was presented to Senator Daniel K. Inouye and accepted by Norman Mineta, who received the award last year.

Although it rained heavily through the entire program of the Dedication Ceremonies for the Pinedale Remembrance Plaza on Monday morning, spirits were not dampened as the rain was much appreciated and needed.  It was wet and cold through the ceremony, but the rain subsided just in time for the ribbon cutting ceremony.  The keynote speaker for the Pinedale dedication ceremony was the Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, who gave an eloquent speech.   

It is very gratifying to see so many dedicated members of the JACL who are working for the good of the JACL and their fellowmen.  The JACL is an important organization which has accomplished great things and deserves to continue on way into the future.

By Floyd Mori

My first inclination was to leave town during the Inaugural week because we knew that D.C. would be a virtual gridlock with people and events throughout the city.  But when we got invitations to attend the various events, my wife Irene and I decided that we needed to participate in this historic series of events.  So we stayed and exhausted ourselves going to as many events as we could.

 

While the events were exciting and memorable to witness, the genuine spirit of togetherness and enthusiasm were the highlights of the week for me.  People came from all over the nation just to be here.  Most had no fancy invitations nor did they even expect to get into any of the events of celebration.  They just wanted to be here at an historic time.  They roamed the streets, rode the METRO, and hung out at the bars and restaurants.

 

A contractor from Detroit was on the METRO, and we struck up a conversation around the issue of the change to inclusion rather than exclusion.  There was this young Republican couple from New York who became impressed with Obama’s ability to inspire to better things.  The sports newscaster from Alabama told me that she dropped everything just to spend a few days here hoping to get a glimpse of the President and his wife.  She was rewarded with a front row view of the President dancing with his wife, Michelle and of course, standing next to me.  The New York City fireman, who was disabled and in braces, still braved the crowds to get his seat at the Swearing In Ceremony.  A couple from San Antonio, Republican African Americans with the wife seven months pregnant with twins, dropped everything just for the opportunity to watch the Inaugural parade.  I met so many happy people

 

We are concerned about whether the spirit and attitude of change for the better will prevail in the halls of Congress.  I think there is great hope as I listened to people from all walks of life and of all political persuasions come together in one big sea of optimism.  We are worried of expectations that are too high.  But I have always felt that you have to aim high to hit distant and lofty goals.  I think our nation is ready for all of us to find common ground and move beyond strict political rhetoric and dogma that prevent us from solving the human problems of the day.

Was the Inaugural experience worth my postponed trip out of town?  Of course, it was.  I will never regret sitting for hours waiting for the Opening Ceremony to begin and standing for hours in front of a stage to watch a couple minutes of the First Couple dancing together.  I met so many great people who felt as I did.  They were kind and courteous.  They didn’t complain about long lines and people that cut in.  They didn’t ask your political party , but if they discovered that you were of a different political persuasion, they were accepting and willing to discuss differences and still go on speaking kindly of the President and what they were hoping to see happen.  There is hope that everything is going to get better.

 

By Floyd Mori

Today was historic in every sense of the word for the Asian American community and for the Nation.  A man who displays the spirit of his Samurai ancestry, showed courage, dedication, and loyalty to a nation that only 65 years ago had scorned, excluded, and imprisoned those of his ethnic ancestry.  General Eric Shinseki stood tall, confident, and proud to be who he is in representing the heritage of his parents and of his nation.  The values of honesty and hard work were a theme of the praise he received in an arena that often scolds and belittles.

Not unnoticed was that Senator Daniel Akaka chaired the committee that would deliberate on the General’s nomination to be the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs.  Senator Daniel K. Inouye introduced the General and spoke of their long friendship and of his admiration of the General’s desire to serve our nation even after a serious injury threatened his career.  Former Senator Bob Dole, who was wounded in the same theater of World War II as Senator Inouye, spoke highly of the General and foresaw a smooth transition because of the friendship of the General and present Secretary James Peake.

One by one, each member of the committee praised General Shinseki and offered support for his confirmation.  Praises such as “Could not have been a better choice”, “An inspired act of leadership by President Elect Obama”, and “when you are confirmed” rather that “if you are confirmed” were generously spoken by members of the committee.  Senator Jay Rockefeller proclaimed that the General, “wouldn’t know how not to tell the truth”.

Shinseki served 38 years in the Army beginning with his appointment to West Point, to which Senator Inouye had recommended him.  The General gave great praise to his wife, Patricia, who has stood by him for 43 years and 31 addresses during his career in the Army.  His career culminated with his appointment to be the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs.  His honest insight into the personnel needs for fighting the Iraqi War was praised by many but found disfavor with the Bush Administration.

As a pillar of integrity, General Shinseki’s confirmation may have the most support on a bi-partisan basis of any of President Elect Obama’s nominations for his cabinet.  It is a proud time for the Asian American community to have a person of his intellectual and moral caliber represent them in this exciting new administration of change.  We are in complete support of his confirmation.

By Floyd Mori

Yesterday I received a call from the Presidential Transition Office asking me if I was busy the next morning.  Of course I was busy, but I asked what they were thinking.  They invited me to attend the Obama Economic Stimulus speech the next morning.  I thought for a nano second and then indicated that I would clear my calendar to be there to listen to the President Elect.

So early in morning I showed up at George Mason University, the site of the speech, which is about 20 miles from downtown DC.  It was cold, but I wanted to make sure I got a good seat so I arrived early.  I had been to gatherings at the White House and other events that featured President Bush, and there was always a long line with big crowds.  I wasn’t first in line but near the front.  After waiting for about 30 minutes, the Transition Guest list came and we were checked off to go through the security process.  Not bad!  It took only a few minutes.

The auditorium was not large, and I was able to grab some seats four rows from the front where I saved a couple of seats for my AAPI colleagues, Lisa Hasegawa and Doua Thor.  Then the big guns began filing in, new White House staffers, members of Congress, newly named cabinet nominees, then the familiar Secret Service agents with that thing in their ear.  A couple of them could have been tackles on any NFL team. 

For crowds, it was relatively intimate, not more that a few hundred people and seemingly millions of press.  As we waited, when there was a hint that he might be coming, the crowd settled down only to begin the crowd noise again when he didn’t.  Then finally, I could see him through a crack in the curtains.  He was preceded on to the stage by a small cadre of media people who had apparently been traveling with his entourage.  Then he emerged between some curtains to the pleasure of those attending.

His speech was short and to the point.  After prefacing his remarks with what might happen to the economy, he focused on urgency and the need for immediate action.  For me it was a great review of the economic principles I had taught as a college professor.  He explained the basic premise that aggregate demand needed a shot in the arm from the government sector.  His mixture of New Deal with trappings of new aged ecological needs was met with enthusiasm from the crowd.  He urged Congress to work for a “common purpose above partisan politics.”  So the challenge is for Congress to come up with a package that ends the culture of anything goes and replace it with some thoughtful rebuilding, retrofitting, and rejuvenating.

As the crowd emptied from the auditorium, he and his entourage left in the familiar black SUV’s with a trail of police escorts front and back.  I was happy to have been there first hand to see what the nation saw on TV.  The commentators were already dissecting his speech as I drove back to the office.  Yes, let’s get back to “aggregate demand” economics because “supply side” economics trickled down only to those who had excess market power and could conceal their exploitation of basic market principles.  Come on Congress, let’s get something done for the average man on the street who is supposed to be the “king” in a market economy.

By Floyd Mori

The atmosphere in Washington DC is electric with excitement and anticipation for change to occur.  The JACL is a very integral part of much of the preliminaries and the main event.  I thought you might be interested in some of the things we are doing during this first week of the new Congressional session.

Congress opened for business yesterday, and a lot of the ceremony of swearing in and getting settled for the long run was evident in the Halls of Congress.  New and old furniture lined the office buildings, and welcoming parties were going on throughout congressional office buildings.  I attended a party that welcomed in the first Vietnamese Congressman, Republican Joseph Cao from New Orleans.  Many AAPI leaders were there to greet the new Congressman.  It brought back memories of the time when I upset some heavy party supported candidates some 33 years ago in California.

The somber meeting of today was a hearing called by Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the state of the economy.  I represented the JACL at this hearing and sat with Congressman Mike Honda as the unsettling statistical projections of the worst recession since the Great Depression were discussed by some of the top economists in the nation.  About 100 members of Congress stopped what they were doing to come and listen to the bad news.

The invitations I had received to attend receptions hosted by Speaker Pelosi on the House side and Leader Reid on the Senate side resulted in a very productive day.  Interestingly, the House reception was more elegant with a large contingent of the new members of the House on display.  There I had a chance to chat with Speaker Pelosi and Congressmen Becerra, Faleomavaega, and Stark, along with new members from Arizona, New York, and Virginia.  A nice lunch buffet and great desserts were on the menu.

The Senate event was more informal although speeches were made by Leader Reid and Senator Debbie Stabenow.  At this light hors d’oeuvres affair, the new Senators roamed the large Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office building, and with a smaller crowd, I was able to meet most of the new Senators and chit chat.  Among the new Senators to whom I was able introduce the JACL were Mark Warner of Virginia, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Kay Hagan of North Carolina.  Senator Reid was cordial and introduced me to a fellow BYU graduate who was in attendance.  I discussed the JACL with Senator Stabenow.  Senator Inouye related to me his busy schedule and forewarned me that he would be in and out of some meetings we would be attending together which are scheduled for this weekend with Japanese Americans and the Japanese Consular corps and Ambassador.

One of the major benefits of getting invited to these key Hill events is the opportunity to develop closer relationships with staff and to network with other advocates.  Now is the time for introductions in a very festive atmosphere.  Today was an A+ day for somebody like me.  I was invited to attend the Obama speech on Thursday.  I will be giving you my thoughts of listening to the President Elect’s first major speech on the economy.

By Floyd Mori

Recently I attended a Congressional hearing on Youth Crime and Violence.  A basic premise was that “prevention” is far more effective and less costly than punishment and suppression.  This is the case with most things in life.  Child poverty, inferior education, and lack of adequate health care are root causes of youth crime, and yet these are weaknesses in our society that can be prevented.  Therefore, the focus of the hearing was to enhance programs that are aimed at prevention in order to have a real impact on the problem.  The evidence of life around us collaborates this premise.

If I may draw a parallel, it is my feeling that our community is besieged by the crime of ethnic denial and cultural neglect.  The result is poor self image and an absence of self identity.  Yet at the same hearing mentioned above, developing a sense of identity was a major element in building self worth and a sense of well being.  To me, this is a crime that can be mitigated by more aggressive preventive measures.

The media along with social and political pressures have forced us to become more “American” in order to fit in and get ahead in today’s competitive society.  In past decades, “American” meant to be more white, Anglo-Saxon, and protestant like Joe the Plumber mentioned during the recent campaign.  The reality is that America has become more diverse, and it should be more fashionable and politically expedient to just be who you really are.  That means to continue to embrace the values and culture of our forefathers who came from a different part of the world than Europe.  It is somewhat sad to hear young people state that they have little or no contact with their ethnic roots or with others of the same ethnicity. 

It seems that today many youth do not discover the value of their heritage and culture until they enter college.  Modern social and economic progress will be dependent on the values that our forefathers embraced.  Hard work, honesty, and respect of family are at the core of Asian values.  These values have been largely lost in the America of today.  The easy way out, any means to meet an end, and a dysfunctional family structure is what America seems to be today.  So to be “American” is not the wave of the future.  To be yourself and be proud of it is what will bring outstanding achievement, self respect, and peace of mind.

So where are we in fulfilling this preventive measure in our communities?  One of the missions of the JACL is to preserve culture.  I think we need to do more.  We can do more to involve our children and families in embracing and understanding the great values of our Asian heritage within a framework of our American society and to help them be proud of their ethnicity.  Preventing the loss of our identity and culture is a great investment into the future. 

By Floyd Mori

With the election of a new President now completed, the JACL offers congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama for his success in being elected as the 44th President of the United States.  We also thank Senator John McCain for his service to the country and his willingness to run for President.  With all the changes in the nation, there are still problems with the economy.  The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is not exempt from concerns about the future. 

 The second National JACL Gala Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C., however, was a bright spot and enjoyed by those who attended.  “A Salute to Champions of Redress” commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which provided for Redress and an apology from the President of the United States to Japanese Americans who were interned in concentration camps during World War II.   Honorees were:  The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, John Tateishi, Grayce Uyehara, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and AT&T as well as two rising champions, David Inoue and Nathan Shinagawa.  Bill Yoshino, JACL Midwest Regional Director, was honored for thirty years of service on the staff of the JACL.  Congressman Mike Honda was the emcee, and Senator Daniel Inouye was Honorary Chairman.

Thanks to all who supported the Gala in any way.  Sponsors were:  AT&T, Eli Lilly, State Farm, Aratani Foundation, Freddie Mac, NEA, Anheuser Busch, Annie E. Casey Foundation, CBS, Patrick Atagi, Beth Fujishige, Donna Cole, John Tagami, Ray and Mary Murakami, and National JACL Board members, Larry Oda, Sheldon Arakaki, and David and Carol Kawamoto.  JACL Districts and Chapters which purchased tables, dinner tickets, and/or ads were:  CCDC, EDC, MDC, PNW, Philadelphia Chapter, Washington D.C. Chapter, Twin Cities JACL, Chicago Chapter, Cincinnati JACL, Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL, Boise Valley Chapter, New York JACL/XV Copani.  Individual support was received from:  Judy Niizawa, Kaz Oye, Miyako Kadogawa, Aiko, Lou and Paul Igasaki, Norman Mineta, Floyd Mori, Ross Macdonald (BB&T Bank), Kristine Minami, Michelle Yoshida, Josh Spry, Maya Yamazaki, and the National JACL Board.  Supporting organizations were AJC, APAICS (Asian American Institute for Congressional Studies), APALA (Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance), JAVA (Japanese American Veterans Association), NJAMF (National Japanese American Memorial Foundation), and OCA (Organization of Chinese Americans).  (sorry if some are not listed)

Membership numbers are down within the JACL, and outside funding is not plentiful.  The JACL has long been a membership driven organization.  We NEED our members.  Thanks for being members.  Those who are lapsed members are not likely to hear this message except from you who are their friends and family members.  Please help us try to get our lapsed members to rejoin the JACL. 

As we review chapter membership rosters, many chapters have almost as many listed as lapsed members as those who are current members.  There are even some chapter board members and membership chairpersons on the lapsed list.  This hurts the workings of the JACL. 

 Scholarship applicants often join the JACL simply to apply for scholarships and let their membership lapse as soon as they have received a JACL scholarship.  This seems to be particularly true of chapter scholarship applicants.  Somehow we need to instill in them a feeling of purpose in belonging to the JACL so that they will WANT to continue as members of the JACL.  It is so inexpensive for students to be members of the JACL, but it seems that most only join for the scholarships.  This group should be our future leaders, but they have generally not had much of a sense of loyalty or commitment to the JACL.  We hope they will feel a responsibility to give back to the community which helped to provide an education for them.   

Many recipients of the National JACL scholarships have gone on to become leaders within the JACL, both as youth/student members and later as regular members of the JACL.  The JACL is grateful to them and happy to be able to help them further their education so that they may find success in their endeavors.  The scholarship program is an important part of the JACL.

There will always be discrimination and prejudice in the world.  The Topaz Museum recently received an extremely hateful letter from a group who is still espousing the idea that the internment of Japanese Americans was justified.  They still call us by the hurtful and hateful J word.  The JACL is needed to combat this type of racism and to protect civil rights.  Higher membership numbers will help us in the fight for justice.  If we could just get back half of our lapsed members, we could increase our numbers substantially.  Some of them just need a personal contact from a chapter or family member.  The JACL needs YOUR help to increase our membership.

The JACL was saddened at the passing of Edwin Endow, who served ably as a vice president on the National Board for two terms, and expresses condolences to his family.  He will be sorely missed.

As a closing note, we would like to say thank you to Debee Yamamoto, outgoing Director of Public Policy in the Washington, D.C. JACL office.  Debee worked very hard on the Gala, and we appreciate her efforts.  After giving birth to her daughter Emi earlier this year, Debee has decided to leave her employment at the JACL to spend time with her baby.  We wish her and her family well.

By Floyd Mori

While the bail out is aimed at big financial institutions to the benefit of large stock holders and big time investors, there is an alarming theme in the country that is pointing the blame of the world financial crisis on poor minorities.  So the allegations run that because banks and mortgage companies had to lower their standards to make mandated loans to minorities who were unqualified to own a home, the bubble was burst and the house of financial cards began to tumble.

Let me be perfectly clear, this is as far from the fact than blaming the Holocaust on Hitler’s mother because she would have the audacity to give birth to such a person.  Foreclosure is market wide, extending its reach to the rich, middle class, and the poor.   Possibly each purchased his or her home for a different reason, but it is well documented that many who are now in foreclosure could qualify for a conventional loan.  But a conventional loan meant lower commissions because the qualifying level would buy only cheaper homes.  The construction market, the real estate market, and the lending market were skewed to accommodate the needs of the seller and the financial institutions rather than the buyer.  We all know that we experienced years of a sellers market flamed by the sub-prime loans that have been the real root cause of our financial debacle.

As I have said, a true competitive market requires buyers and sellers to be able to compete with equal knowledge of the market in which they participate.  The new creation of sub-prime loan packages left the buyer unable to absorb the potential consequences of what might happen.  Risk was not part of the discussion.  The topic was owning that second vacation home, to upgrading to the large estate, and to some just fulfilling the American dream.   So it was not just the poor.  Look into many middle class and upper class neighborhoods where there are many foreclosure signs, and the entire economy now suffers.

Let me be frank that it is not fact but fiction to place blame on a small universe of poorer minorities who are for the first time experiencing the American Dream.  Color has a face while those who manipulated and created mortgage instruments that were to their own benefit remain faceless but should not remain blameless.  Minorities are only part of the American Dream that has turned into a nightmare for people of all stations in life but as usual, some are trying to put the blame where it does not belong and where voices are not often heard.  Minorities were victims just like everybody else who was caught in this era of greed and mismanagement.

By Floyd Mori

As a former college economics professor, it is not a difficult matter for me to understand how the market ought to operate.  The market economy can be simple in its operation if all of the mechanisms are tuned correctly and there is transparency and equal understanding by the players in the market.  The difficulty comes when knowledge is not shared equally and economic power brings imperfections into the market place.  The weak become victims, and the powerful become the profiteers.  The financial markets have become infested with large and powerful institutions where greed and mismanagement have fed off the labors and dreams of the ordinary working people of our country. 

In a perfect market, mismanagement results in failure of a single entity.  In our imperfect market, mismanagement will affect the livelihood of many thousands who may have direct and indirect relationships with the monopolistic entity in question.  So the result of the malfunction on Wall Street among a few of the major players will, in the end, cause hardship with many of us indirectly associated through our banks or other financial institutions.  Faulty mortgages impacted the balance sheet of many major institutions that had invested in mortgage backed securities.  Because of this fall in value, liabilities began to outweigh assets, which is the cause of insolvency and bankruptcy.  Cash became a scarce commodity so credit began to dry up and place consumers and small businesses that depend on short-term credit in emergency conditions.

Let it be clearly said that the consumer is the victim and not the perpetrator as some have suggested in blaming loaning practices to low income minorities.  The fault lies with the predatory practices of the financial institutions and the lack of oversight in insuring the public that their financial practices were safe.  Most homeowners today would qualify for conventional loans but with different terms.  The consumer simply fell prey to questionable practices that, in the end, proved to be fatal.

The “rescue” plan with which Congress is struggling provides a stop gap that is a “better than nothing” strategy.  With the government basically taking the responsibility of these faulty financial instruments, it takes a major financial liability from the soiled financial institutions, which then can go forward and use the influx of cash to feed the credit markets.  The government hopes that in the future the value of these faulty mortgages will rebound and have the potential of actually making a profit for the investment.  You might say that they are buying very low and hoping for the value to reach a reasonable level.

The flaw in the rescue plan is that the homeowner and small business person is left at risk.  Without emergency measures to allow for modifying of the terms of loans, the bringing back of authority for courts to modify the terms of a loan as a last resort, and a limited period of allowing a moratorium on foreclosures while the plan is implemented, many consumers will lose all they have worked a lifetime to acquire.  The rescue should minimize the hardship on the consumer as it has done for the big players on Wall Street.