FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2012
Contact: Dan Lindner, 202.225.5464

CAPAC MEMBERS, CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS MARK DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR JAPANESE INTERNMENT

WASHINGTON, DC – February 19, 2012, marks the 70th anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, which led to the internment of over 120,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and Congressional leaders have released the following statements to observe the Day of Remembrance:

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32), CAPAC Chair: “This February 19th, we mark 70 years since the day the United States government revoked the basic rights and freedoms of groups of American citizens based solely on their ethnic heritage. Executive Order 9066 put in place an unconscionable policy that upended American families and imprisoned them in internment camps because of fears about who they were, not evidence of what they had actually done. The Day of Remembrance is a time for us to reflect on how fragile justice can be, and serves as a reminder that we must always be vigilant in defending our civil and Constitutional rights.”

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA-08), Democratic Leader: “On this Day of Remembrance, let us reflect on the injustices suffered by Japanese Americans during one of the darkest periods in our nation’s history and renew our commitment to fight for the justice and equality that define our democracy,” Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. “Together, we must protect and defend the civil liberties on which our nation was founded, and ensure a brighter, more vibrant future for all Americans.”

Senator Daniel Akaka (HI): “Our nation must never forget the dark chapters of our history. Although specifically targeting Japanese Americans, this Executive Order spread prejudice across our nation and cast unwarranted suspicion on our neighbors in Asian American, German American and Italian American communities. Sadly, Hawaii shares in this history, with five camps and an estimated 1,440 interned in the islands. On this Day of Remembrance, let us pause in a somber reflection of the mistreatment of our own citizens, and pledge to never let this injustice repeat itself.”

Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15), CAPAC Chair Emeritus: “It has been seventy years since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. The order stripped 120,000 innocent Japanese Americans of our constitutional rights through forced relocation to internment camps. A result of the “race prejudice, war hysteria and a failure of political leadership” at the time, EO 9066 forced my family to live behind the towers and barbed wire of the Amache internment camp in Colorado. I was less than one year old at the time.

“On this day of remembrance, I honor the bravery of two men, Fred Korematsu and Gordon Hirabayashi, who stood firmly by their convictions and simply refused to comply with EO 9066. Beyond today’s recollection, we must continue to reflect on the fierce and urgent necessity of justice and equality, to educate others on lessons learned, and to always remember the sacrifices that individuals like Fred and Gordon made to protect the rights of future generations to come.”

Rep. Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus: “Seventy years ago today, with the stroke of a pen, thousands of American men, women and children of Japanese descent were uprooted from their homes and their lives to be placed in internment camps. We must never forget this grave injustice and make every effort to ensure it happens never again.”

Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (GU), CAPAC Vice Chair: Today, we remember the women, children, and men whose civil rights were suspended during World War II. Executive Order 9066 forced thousands of Japanese Americans into internment camps and it marks a bleak point in our nation’s history—one marked by racial prejudice and wartime hysteria. Despite our best efforts, racial discrimination continues to exist in our country. As we commemorate those Japanese Americans who were wrongfully detained by Executive Order 9066, we reflect on importance of our civil rights, and how best to preserve them.

Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01), CAPAC Whip: “Both of my grandfathers were interned during World War II, and stories of their experiences were a part of my upbringing. Today is a reminder of the errors we can make, despite our best intentions, when we allow ourselves to be controlled by fear and hate. We as a nation are better than that. While I would like to think that such actions are behind us—that we have achieved a level of caring and mutual respect that render unthinkable the prospect of judging an entire race or group unworthy of our protection—I know that it is up to each of us to remain vigilant and speak for those who have no voice,” said Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa.

Rep. Mazie K. Hirono (HI-02), CAPAC Education Taskforce Chair: “While this 70th anniversary marks a dark time in American history, we can learn much from the mistakes of the past. Although Hawaii didn’t experience the wholesale round-up of Japanese Americans as did the U.S. west coast, we did have our own internment camps, which most people in Hawaii don’t even know existed. I am proud to have worked with Senator Inouye to authorize a study to determine how best to tell the story of the Honouliuli Internment Camp in Central Oahu. America has again and again demonstrated the ability to acknowledge and learn from its mistakes. By engaging with this history, we can make sure we are a nation made stronger by our diversity, not weaker.”

Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-50): “The Day of Remembrance is a solemn reminder of one of the atrocities of our nation’s past. Japanese internment was a direct attack on human dignity that severely undermined the individual rights and freedoms upon which our country was founded. This day helps serve as a reminder that we can still learn from the injustices of the past, and work to ensure that they are never repeated.”

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-16): “When we look back on this chapter in our history, it serves as a warning to protect Americans from unjust and unconstitutional attacks against our freedom based on racial bigotry or fears. But as we mark this day, we should also proudly celebrate the courage of Japanese Americans who served their country in the face of injustice during World War II, and for their contributions in the decades that have followed.”
Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09): “Today, we honor thousands of Japanese Americans and individuals of Japanese descent who were unjustly imprisoned during World War II. We acknowledge the courage and dignity these Americans demonstrated during one of the most nefarious acts in our country’s history. As we learn from our past, it is important to remember the rich contributions Japanese Americans have made to our communities. We should also use this day to reflect and remember the type of society we strive to be – one where fear never overshadows our principles or where prejudice leads us to deny justice rather than seek it.”
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-08): “Today we pause to mark the unjust internment of Japanese families during World War II. It was one of our nation’s darkest hours – one we will never forget. We must recommit ourselves to ensuring that such inhumane treatment never be allowed to happen again.”

Background: EO 9066 authorized and facilitated the wholesale removal of US citizens and “enemy aliens” of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast and led to their incarceration in Wartime Relocation Authority camps. It also created an individual exclusion program that allowed the Army to move naturalized citizens of German and Italian descent from military areas across the country. These individuals were wrongfully detained on no other basis than their heritage; none were found guilty of the sabotage and espionage charges against them.

The Day of Remembrance, observed annually on February 19th, serves not only to bring awareness to the Japanese American experience, but the experiences of all who were wrongfully detained during World War II, and to highlight the social and political discourse that led to the unjust captivity for so many innocent men, women and children.

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently Chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.

She posted this on her facebook wall:

“I am deeply sorry for any pain that the character I portrayed brought to my communities. As a recent college grad who has spent time working to improve communities and empower those without a voice, this role is not in any way representative of who I am. It was absolutely a mistake on my part and one that, over time, I hope can be forgiven. I feel horrible about my participation and I am determined to resolve my actions.”

Lisa Chan
–
CEO/ President, The Strive
Vice President, Sparxo Inc.

As a UC Berkeley graduate who works with an at-risk population, she should have known better. But I’m glad that she’s apologized and hope that she will use this as a real learning opportunity.

Thanks to Angry Asian Man for the tip.

I’ll avoid politicizing the LINsanity because inevitable articles like “Commentary: Five Things Republicans Can Learn From Jeremy Lin” and “What the GOP Can Learn From Jeremy Lin” (reprint here) threaten to throw him onto the third rail of popularity.

I’ll also avoid repeating all the thoughtful to eloquent commentary out there, the personal sighs of relief, the media stereotypes, the religion of Jeremy Lin (as interesting as it is for my other favorite topic here), his complicated heritage, a wistful history of Asian-Americans in pro sports, if race matters, model minorities, the weight of history and the weight of fame, the heights of inspiration, the sense of shared heritage and identity, Yao Ming’s eloquent and humble reflection, and the importance of it all.

I instead go after Floyd Mayweather’s bigoted Tweet about Jeremy Lin:

Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he’s Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don’t get the same praise.

What a Twit of a Tweet. Indeed, NY Knicks’ Jeremy Lin is Mr. Big Shot while Floyd Mayweather is just another Twitter twit (and more racist Tweets abound with supporters around). More than a Twit, he’s a publically tolerated racist. Such racism is what happens when you give any old idiot a microphone. Think Rush Limbaugh or any of his kind. Plus, you get bad candidates galore with no fundamental grasp on government masquerading as government official-wanna-be’s, personal flaws masquerading as religious conviction, dumb ideas masquerading as party line policies, and opinions masquerading as news. Hoekstra and his kind are no flukes. We’ll get more like them as long as racists have a microphone.

– Richard Chen

Related: Pete Hoekstra’s Racist Superbowl Ad, DNC AAPI Leaders on Hoekstra Ad, AAA-Fund Condemns Racist Superbowl Ad, Question of the Week: LinSanity, Hyphen magazine: Happy VaLINtine’s Day

AP/The Huffington Post   Posted: 02/16/2012 4:22 pm

Will having a sports superstar like Jeremy Lin help Asian Americans get more political respect?  U.S. Senate candidate (and AAA-Fund endorsee) William Tong thinks so (via AP/HuffPost):

HARTFORD, Conn. — As a U.S. Senate candidate from Connecticut, William Tong doesn’t have major, state-wide name recognition like his two main rivals for the Democratic nomination. But the son of Chinese immigrants has picked up supporters from across the country as the only Asian-American candidate for Senate this year in the continental U.S.

With only 3.8 percent of Connecticut’s population identified as Asian, it’s unclear how much the degree of celebrity Tong has developed within the Asian-American community will translate into a possible victory.

The 38-year-old state representative and self-proclaimed political underdog hopes his story of growing up in his family’s Chinese restaurant, working nights and weekends washing dishes, cooking and waiting tables before graduating from an Ivy League university and law school, will touch non-Asian voters as well because it is “a universal story” about living the American dream, he said.

“My story resonates with everybody,” Tong said. “Everybody owns a piece of the same story.”

Gautam Dutta, executive director of the Asian American Action Fund, a political action committee that contributed $1,000 to Tong’s campaign, said Tong is a particularly compelling candidate for Asian supporters because he has already been elected in a legislative district that does not have a large Asian population and has successfully connected with non-Asian voters.

Dutta said there is sometimes a perception in the Asian community and within other minority groups that a minority candidate doesn’t have a chance of winning without a large pool of minority voters supporting them at the polling booth.

“He’s reached out to everyone and they believe in him,” Dutta said of Tong.

“It’s not every day that you have a viable Asian candidate running for U.S. Senate,” Dutta added. “He’s definitely in the trail-blazer category.”

****

Tong, who, if elected would be the first Chinese-American to hold a U.S. Senate seat, has not been shy about discussing his ethnicity on the campaign trail. On Thursday, Tong linked his message of being an underdog fighting for the American dream for everyday people to the Asian-American basketball phenomenon Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks. In a fundraising e-mail to supporters, Tong points out how Lin, also the son of Chinese-American immigrants, was an underdog, with no one willing to give him a shot.

“When somebody finally gave him a chance, he took the NBA by storm. He’s arrived, but he got here with a decade of hard work and confidence against the odds. He’s the underdog who made it. He’s living the American Dream,” Tong wrote. “The dream I’ve lived, the dream Jeremy Lin is living, is the dream we can all live. But we have to fight for it.”

We’re proud of two leaders who have realized the American Dream.

– Gautam Dutta

Dear Jeremy Lin,

Hi. My name is Terry K. Park. I’m Mr. Hyphen 2011. That probably means nothing to you, since you’re Mr. NBA 2012, King of New York, Emperor of the Twitterverse. But I just wanted to introduce myself to you, from one representative of the Asian American community to another, so you don’t think I’m some random crazy person. To be honest, though, I’ve become a little crazy. A little insane, actually. Okay I’ll say it.

You’ve made me Linsane.

Happy VaLINtine’s Day.

Wait! Please keep reading. I know you’ve been getting a lot of love lately. From the press. From Spike Lee. From Mike D’Antoni (and rightly so — he owes you big time). And I read an article suggesting 10 New York celebrity women for you to date. But since you’re in Toronto tonight, and no one attractive lives there, I wanted to make sure you had a Valentine’s Day card to warm your heart, from someone who really appreciates you, who’s been following you since your Harvard days.

Not literally following you. Don’t worry. I have a life.

And that life, before I was infected with Linsanity, consisted of being insane for the Utah Jazz.

The Utah Jazz? I know. It sounds weird. Allow me to explain why the Jazz meant so much to me, and why you, now, mean so much to me, on this day of VaLINtine’s.

When I was seven years old, my family moved to Salt Lake City from San Jose, CA. A couple months after I arrived, my new friends and I walked to the neighborhood 7-Eleven and saw, in the parking lot, a massive black pick-up truck. We walked into the store and saw, standing at the register, a massive black pick-up truck of a man. My friends pushed me toward him and then hid in the candy aisle. Stumbling, I looked in front of me and saw cowboy boots. I looked up, and up, and up, and a few minutes later when I saw his face, I asked, “Are you Karl Malone?” He craned his neck down and said to the midget Asian boy with the bowl cut, “Yeah.” I asked, “Can I have your autograph?” “Yeah.” As my friends finally joined me to get their autographs, Malone reached into his wallet, handed me a crisp five dollar bill, and said, “Here, go buy yourself a Big Gulp.” I gulped.

Soon after, Malone, along with his perennial pick-and-roll partner, John Stockton, adorned my bedroom wall. I quickly grew to love — obsess over — the Jazz. Not because their star power forward paid me five dollars for my allegiance, but because the team’s presence made me feel like I belonged in a state where I felt incredibly, desperately, alone. I could watch Jazz telecasts and be a loyal Jazzman like everyone else, no longer a short Korean American kid constantly betrayed by the pungent food in his fridge, the heavy accent in his immigrant mother’s English, and the non-white, non-Mormon face in his bathroom mirror. I had no one to cheer for on the TV screen who looked like me (I didn’t play tennis, so Michael Chang didn’t count), so I might as well cheer for the local team and their superstars: one black, one white. But it wasn’t enough just to cheer anonymously for the Jazz; I wanted to prove I belonged by excelling on several athletic fields, including the basketball court.

I thought that if I patterned my game after Stockton’s pass-first, team-first style of play, I would pass. Not quite. Even though I played well for my Junior Jazz teams, was selected to several all-star teams at the basketball camp of University of Utah Coach Rick Majerus, I felt that I was either hypervisible as a racial oddity or an invisible man whose skills were ignored. One particular moment at Coach Majerus’s basketball camp dramatized these two feelings simultaneously. We were all seated on the floor of the Huntsmen Center while Coach Majerus demonstrated how to set a solid pick for a pick and roll: “When you set a pick on your man, don’t take Chinese steps” — taking clipped, hesitant, pitter-patter steps — “take real steps” — taking long, more assured strides. Immediately, everyone in the entire arena turned their heads and looked at the only Asian American kid in the entire basketball camp. Yup, me.

Little did I know that someone about my height, with my complexion, and with much better skills, had probably felt much more alone, on that same court, in that same city, in that same state. In 1944, as Japanese Americans were interned at camps like Topaz in Utah, Wat Misaka, a 5’7’’, 150 lb Japanese American point guard from Ogden, led the University of Utah to their only NCAA championship at Madison Square Garden. Three years later, Misaka led the underdog Utes back to MSG for the title game of the more prestigious National Invitational Tournament against the University of Kentucky, coached by the legendary Adolph Rupp. Stated the New York Times on March 25, 1947: “Little Wat Misaka, American born of Japanese descent, was a cute fellow intercepting passes and making the night miserable for Kentucky.” That “cute fellow” held Ralph Beard, arguably the best college player that year, to one single point. Several days later, Wat was drafted in the first round by the Knicks — the first Asian American to play in the NBA.

If I had known then about Misaka and his heroics, maybe I would’ve felt less alone and more proud to be Asian in Utah and in the US. But I didn’t. And so, as I later moved to Korea, to New York, and back to California, I maintained my love for the Jazz, while scouring the internet for news of any Asian American sports stars, and finding very little. Even as I entered the academic world and understood that my shame that day at Majerus’s camp and my burning desire to find an Asian American male sports star indicated my problematic investment in dominant modes of masculinity, I still yearned for an athletic face and body that looked like mine, who didn’t take “Chinese steps,” but manly “Majerus” steps.

That’s why I was so glad when I found out that the star of Harvard’s basketball team was an athletic 6’3’’, 205 lb Chinese American point guard from Palo Alto. I loved watching YouTube clips of your dunks against UConn and your drives against Georgetown. I was a little disappointed (though not surprised) when you went undrafted in 2010, but was ecstatic when you outplayed John Wall in the summer league and signed with the Golden State Warriors. I felt bad for you that the Oracle Arena crowd erupted whenever you entered the game and touched the ball (even though I did just that when I watched you play against my Jazz — sorry), and even worse when it was clear that you would never get regular playing time behind Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. I was sad to hear you were cut by the Warriors and Rockets at the beginning of this season, but glad that the Knicks gave you a chance.

And then, last week, playing against the New Jersey Nets and their star point guard, Deron Williams (whom I used to cheer for when he played for my Jazz), you were finally freed from the end of the bench to score a shocking 25 points and 7 assists in a Knicks win… and I couldn’t believe my eyes or my ears, as the famously fickle MSG crowd chanted “Jeremy Lin” in the same arena where, almost sixty five years before, they chanted “Wat Misaka.” Your next game, to prove that you weren’t a one-game wonder, was against my Jazz. I picked up my good friend Taiyo Na, musician/actor and a native New Yorker, and we watched the game at The Go Sports Bar in Old Oakland. At that bar was fellow native New Yorker Eddie Kochiyama, son of legendary activist Yuri Kochiyama. Taiyo invited him to our table. We then watched you take Chinese steps all over the court to the tune of 28 points, 8 assists, and another improbable Knicks victory. For the first time in my life, I rooted against the Jazz. For the first time in my life, I had someone to root for.

Thanks, Jeremy.
Candy Hearts and Jump Shots,
Terry

Who will be more inspired by NBA upstart (and Harvard grad) Jeremy Lin:  a budding generation of scholar-athletes or fans like us who simply marvel at his point-guard heroics?

– Gautam Dutta

“We are extremely pleased to see two highly qualified APA candidates seeking to represent Illinois in Congress,” said Gautam Dutta, Executive Director of the Asian American Action Fund.

Tammy Duckworth has a long history of serving our country. She is an Iraq war veteran and after being awarded the Purple Heart in 2004, continued her service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard. In 2009, Duckworth was appointed by President Obama as the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. In that role, she implemented many first in the nation programs to address Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, improve traumatic brain injury screening and reduce homelessness among Veterans.

She is passionate about getting Illinois residents back to work by investing in infrastructure, tax incentives for small to mid-size businesses, investing in education and modernizing schools and getting the budget under control while continuing to provide for struggling Americans.

“Tammy is a true American hero who has dedicated her life to serving the United States. She has proven herself time and again as a tireless advocate for veterans and the hardworking people of Illinois,” said Dutta.

Raja Krishnamoorthi has a strong background in both business and government. He is the president of Sivananthan Laboratories, a technology company that specializes in national security and renewable energy. He has also worked in government, as the Deputy Treasurer of Illinois where he helped revamp the state’s unclaimed property system while cutting costs. Before that he was appointed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to serve as Special Assistant Attorney General to start her Public Integrity Unit.

His priorities for Illinois include: renewing the economy, protecting women’s rights, ensuring access to quality and affordable health care and improving the education system.

“As a businessman, Raja understands what is needed to create good jobs. He also has the government experience necessary to advance policies that support the people of Illinois,” said Dutta.

“Both Tammy and Raja are natural leaders with big ideas for Illinois,” added Dutta.

To support the Tammy for Congress campaign, please visit: http://www.tammyduckworth.com/

To support the Raja for Congress campaign, please visit: http://rajaforcongress.com/

The AAA-Fund is a Democratic political action committee whose goal is to increase the voice of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders on every level of local, state and federal government in America. To achieve this goal, we address the chronic under-representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Americans (AAPIs) as campaign volunteers, campaign contributors, and candidates for political office.

###

*This post was originally published at Reclaiming Futures Every Day.

A new study published this week in Science, suggests that addicts have inherited abnormalities in some parts of the brain, which interfere with impulse control.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge examined 50 pairs of biological siblings (in which one sibling was addicted to cocaine or amphetamines and the other was not) against a control group of 50 healthy, drug free and non-related volunteers. First they tested the self-control levels and then performed brain scans. What they found could have big implications for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and addiction.

From Science:

Much to the researchers’ surprise, the siblings who didn’t use drugs performed as poorly on the test as the ones who did. All of the sibling pairs did worse than the healthy controls, the team reports in the 3 February issue of Science.

Brain scans also showed that both members of the sibling pairs had abnormal interconnections between parts of the brain that exert control and those involved with drive and reward. Some individual brain structures were abnormal as well; the putamen, which plays a key role in habit formation, was larger in the siblings than in control subjects, as was the medial temporal lobe, which is involved in learning and memory. Because these anomalies appeared in the siblings but not in the unrelated controls, Ersche believes the finding provides a measurable, biological basis for vulnerability to addiction.

While this study sheds light on the predisposition to addiction, it’s important to note that while both siblings had abnormal brain structures, only one was an addict while the other managed to abstain from substance abuse and addiction. Upon further study, the researchers discovered all the same early life risk factors in the siblings including domestic violence and sexual abuse.

One of the Marines, Lance Cpl. Jacob Jacoby, pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a rank reduction, after a judge ruled that his abuse did not lead to Lew’s death.

Sgt. Benjamin Johns, a squad leader, has been charged with wrongfully humiliating and demeaning Lew and dereliction for failing to supervise and ensure the welfare of Marines under his care. He will go to trial next week in Honolulu.

Lance Cpl. Carlos Orozco III has been charged with assault, humiliation Lew, cruelty and maltreatment. His court martial is currently pending.

According to the LA Times:

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, in a stern message to service members last month, said, “I will not tolerate any instance where one service member inflicts any form of physical or psychological abuse that degrades, insults, dehumanizes or injures another service member.”

Chu and several other members of Congress said in a recent letter seeking congressional hearings that, although they welcomed Panetta’s condemnation of hazing, they were “shocked to learn that some of the services do not keep track of the number of hazing incidents and they don’t have policies in place to determine if their training and education about hazing is effective.”

We’ll continue to keep you updated as the trials progress.