our stake in comprehensive immigration · pdf filefear of local police that does not help...
TRANSCRIPT
Board Members Message by Jean Yamamoto
Now that the 2012 campaign and vote are over, the harder part of democracy is ahead of us, that is to hold our elected officials accountable. One surprising bit of information about how Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) voted in the November election is that 73% voted for Barack Obama, up from 66% in 2008. AAPI are still a relatively small in number, but they have the fastest rate of growth of any racial minority group and the fastest growing immigrant population in America. Not surprising is that among the issues AAPIs care about is immigration and civil rights. President Obama admitted that passing comprehensive immigration reform eluded his presidency in his first term but that he is confident that this will be accomplished next year. According to White House website on immigration reform, the President’s plan includes:
• Securing our borders • Holding employers responsible
when they undermine American workers and exploit undocumented workers
• Creating a legal immigration system that reflects our values and diverse needs
• Holding people who are here illegally to certain responsibilities
Japanese Americans care about immigration reform because it is our families’ stories, too, not so very long ago. We can take up this fight for others in honor of our ancestors who didn’t have anyone to speak up for them. It is a sad story of America that although we take pride in the fact that we are a nation of immigrants, there were too many instances of scapegoating, racial profiling, and exclusionary policies aimed at the newcomers. We saw this in the exclusion of Chinese laborers in the 19th century, the incarceration of Japanese Americans in World War II, and the post-9/11 Special Registration Program targeting South Asian and Muslim men. In each of these examples, the government reversed itself: in the 2012 apology by the US House of Representatives for the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act; in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 apology and redress for the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans; and the reversal of the domestic registration program of Muslims , a program that produced zero charges of terrorism. We are hopeful for bipartisan support for a sensible change to our broken immigration system. Yes, we need to secure our borders and make sure that we keep out those that mean to do us harm but we also need a reasonable pathway for others to enter our country. It is especially
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DECEMBER 2012 • VOLUME 18, ISSUE 5
December 25• Merry Christmas!
January 11-13• Congressional Gold Medal
Tour Launch at WWII Museum New Orleans, LA
January 13, 4-7 p.m.• JASO Shinnenkai,
Montgomery Park January 27• Mochitsuki, Scottish Rite
Center February 14• Valentine’s Day
February 17• Day of Remembrance, PSU
Hoffman Hall, Keynote by Floyd Mori
February 23• JACL National Board
Meeting, San Francisco, CA March 2• ACLU Dinner, Oregon
Convention Center March 3• Spring Bazaar, OBT
March 10• Daylight Savings Time
Begins
Our Stake in Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Board Members Message Continuedimportant to have a family reunification plan so that people don’t have to wait years or decades to rejoin their family members. It is estimated that there are 1.5 million Asian family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who are caught in this backlog. We need to make sure that all workers are afforded protection under federal and state labor laws to protect against exploitation, intimidation, and dangerous working conditions. There must be legal channels for those who are already here, contributing to our economy, so that they may eventually become citizens. The President’s directive, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a good start. The Deferred Action will stop deporting undocumented youth brought to America as children if they meet certain conditions. Finally, Comprehensive Immigration Reform has to reverse some of the methods utilized by law
enforcement and homeland security in the name of immigration enforcement and national security. These tactics include a program called Secure Communities in which individuals who are detained by law enforcement for any reason, even a minor traffic violation, may be turned over to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement for indefinite detention and deportation. The problem with Secure Communities is that it is prone to racial profiling and suspicion and fear of local police that does not help public safety. We call on our newly elected officials to take up this long overdue work to reform our immigration practices to a more humane system that will provide a pathway to full participation in our country and that recognizes the contributions of all people in our society.
Best wishes to our extended Portland JACL community for a peaceful and prosperous New Year!
My Dynamo Role ModelBy Sharon Takahashi
Thanksgiving is gone but the sentiment of gratitude blossoms in December. Many of us have had men-tors from the community and I would tell you about one of mine, for whom I am very grateful. It was 1982 when I first met Harue Mae Ninomiya. It was through Patsy Abe, a third grade teacher in my neighborhood that we worked together on the Japanese American Graduation Banquet committee. The committee put on the annual banquet which honored graduating high school seniors from the Nikkei community. In the years since, I have learned a lot from Harue as we worked on various projects together. Each year she provides carnations and a centerpiece for the head table at the graduation banquet and individual carnations as mementos for the students who attend. She purchases her ticket and attends each year to support the youth. That had been going on for many years prior to my first experience. When attendance is high, she smiles in celebration and when it’s low, she cringes when she asks if the banquet is “wind-ing down.” Until a few years ago, she laboriously arranged the seating with Dr. Connie Masuoka for all the families, making sure that parents and family sat together –or didn’t if they chose that option.
The Japanese Ancestral Society’s board visits el-ders in our community of limited mobility with holiday wishes, sushi, poinsettias from Koida Greenhouses, and oranges from Hiroshi’s Anzen. It is our chance to tell these homebound friends that they are not forgot-ten and we remember those days that they were the active ones, doing good deeds for others and provid-ing leadership for community groups. It’s our way of telling them the baton has been handed off to the next runner. For years Harue took care of the list and coordinated the event; then she showed me how it was put together, working with me to be sure we got it right. Her system is still working. She is one of the charter members of the Veleda Club, a service organization which began many years ago. Many meetings were held in her basement and Valentine Day visits to the elders in the community were planned there. During February, Harue would purchase African violets from the Flower Market on Swan Island for the visits and design cards to go with them. The club continues this project. As an Ikebana International teacher, she spent many days driving from school to school all over the metro area, trucking tuna cans, oasis and greenery in her car. We’d bump into each other as we did our vol-unteer work, she in flowers and me in reading class-
Clark Center Meals on Wheels December 2012 Menu 2740 SE Powell Blvd., Portland ORMonday 3 - Ginger chicken or veggie chili with quinoa pilafTuesday 4 - Meatloaf with gravy and mashed pota-toes or veggie pizzaWednesday 5 - Chicken curry with rice or shrimp saladThursday 6 - Baked chicken provence or tuna melt sandwichFriday 7 - Alaskan pollock with brown rice or chicken fajita
Monday 10 - Chicken fried steak with mashed pota-toes or mushroom veggie burger and steak friesTuesday 11 - Cheese ravioli and italian veggies or taco saladWednesday 12 - Chicken breast in honey sauce with rice or cheese omelet with mushroom sauceThursday 13 - Cheeseburgers and tri-cut potatoes or open face seafood sandwichFriday 14 - Veggie stir fry or broccoli quiche
Monday 17 - Spaghetti and meatballs or chicken breast sandwich and harvest vegetable soupTuesday 18 - BBQ chicken and red potatoes or veg-gie pizzaWednesday 19 - Pork yakisoba with stir fry vegeta-bles or meatloaf with potatoesThursday 20 - Cheese tortellini with tomato sauce or open face roast beef sandwich and mashed potatoesFriday 21 - Sliced roast turkey with gravy and bread stuffing or other
Monday 24 - Stir fry rice with egg and veggies and mashed potatoes or tuna melt sandwich with tomato soupTuesday 25 - ClosedWednesday 26 - Fish with spicy asian sauce and rice or tomato basil veggie burgerThursday 27 - Hawaiian loco moco plate w/ gravy or chicken enchiladaFriday 28 - Teriyaki chicken with rice or veggie lasa-gna
Monday 31 - Dijon crusted fish with couscous or chicken breast sandwich
Note: Meals are served “restaurant style” and include fresh homemade soups daily.
My Dynamo Role Model Continuedrooms. Harue’s energy level is phenomenal. I was burnt out way before she gave up driving and had to stop the Ikebana demos. Harue is an embodiment of peace, beauty and cultural richness. She is a long time member of the Johrei Fellowship. Its vision is to create a world of truth, goodness and beauty. I think she is a remark-able example. Harue does have a quirk that I think is weird. She loves to extremes…really, have any of you seen how much bling she dresses Lady Di in? For those who don’t know, Lady Di is a teeny white pooch. I know others out there have mentors like Harue
that they really have appreciated. Pick up the phone and let them know how you feel. It starts a chain reaction—almost as good as paying for the Starbucks drink for the driver in the car behind you in the drive through.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Note: In my last column I loosely translated “Ikoi No Kai” and called it “a gathering place.” Henry Ueno gently told me that it really means “a place to rest and relax.” I thank you, Henry, because I always count on you to correct me when I make errors.
Al Abe Marilyn Achterman Elaine Akagi Yosh & Atsuko Akagi Diane Akasaka Charles Akiyama Ruth Akiyama Albertina Kerr Centers Grace, Katsuya Amagusa Roberta Ando Anonymous Grace Aoki Bessie Asai Paul & Chizu Ase George Azumano Laura & Karl Baxter Laura & Karl Baxter (IMO Roland, Shirley Cassens) Estate of Mable Boggs NJ Bogle Teresa Brandon Betty Brooks Carol Brunner Buddist Daihonzan Henjyoji Temple Hugh Burleson Sharon Yasui Carrell James & Lynn Charriere Randy Choy Darliss Clay Nancy Clayton Mary Winifred Coe Jeno Davidson Dan & Patty Durgan Chester Earls Betty & Donna Eki Joan Yasui Emerson Kay Endo Epworth United Methodist Church Mari & Daniel Fong Ed & Aya Fujii Susie Fujii Shig & Frieda Fujikawa Janet & Frank Fujitani
Wasco Fujiwara Lori & Ray Fukunaga Cyndi Furukawa Kip & Diann Furukawa Brian & Nancy Furumasu William Gale Joyce Gee Glenn & Catherine Glass Shirley & Rodger Glos George & Jeanne Gokami Karen Grange Lynn & Scott Grannan Sandra & Verl Green Linda Guerber Victor Haburchak Jr. (IMO Lary & Mary Saito) Mae Hada Laila Hajoo Dwight Hamada Mary Hamada Dr. George & Yone Hara Jessie & Betty Harry Ethel & Richard Hedlund Rev Wako Henjyoji Hilltop Mall (Danielson's) Dan Hinatsu Diana Hinatsu Jane & Steven Hinatsu Katie Hirai Bill Hirata Mae Hirata Eisaku & Alice Hiromura Pat & Tom Hokama Yutako & Glenn Honma Joseph & Misako Hosch Kimberly Iboshi Sloop Sumiko Ikata Fusako Ikeda Sumi & Saburo Ikeda Ikoi no Kai Shige Imai Georgene & Al Inaba Sarah Inahara Toshio Inahara Yosh & Hiro Inahara
Kurtis Inouye Robert & Racheal Inouye Lilly Irinaga Tex Irinaga Ben & Sumie Ishida Michael & Janice Ishii Shoun & Grace Ishikawa Fumi Itami Kimiko Iwamoto Art Iwasaki Ike & Mary Iwasaki Rich Iwasaki Makoto, Kyoko Iwashita Richard & Sammy Iwata Yoko Iwata Japanese Ancestral Society Johrei Fellowship Fude Kagawa Yoshie Kagawa George & Lily Kajiwara Dana Kakishita Ryuko Kakishita Setsuko Kamida James Kamikawa Shirley Kanada Shizuko Kasahara Terry Katayama Janice Kato Scott Kato Terry Kawamoto Dale Kawata Henry Kawata Katie & Ken Kawazoe Jim Kennedy Gerald & Rebecca Kibe Alice Kida Joyce Kikawa Emiko Kikkawa Jim Kimoto Joni Kimoto Ami Kinoshita August Kiso Yoichi Kitayama Gerry Kiyokawa
Lillie Kiyokawa Mae Kiyokawa Randy Kiyokawa Robin Kiyokawa Yosh Kiyokawa John & Claire Kodachi Misako Kodama Emi Koe Bill & Nami Koida Peter & Karen Koida Jerry Koike Mary Komachi Janice Kondo Seiche & Shuko Konno Kim Kono Michiko Kornhauser Richard Koyama Rosie Kuroye Shige Kuroye Chip & Setsy Larouche Dennis & Yoko Lee Sherri Lee Chris & Susan Leedham David Lin Mariko Locke Patricia Locke Lynn Longfellow Ryohei Masuda Connie Masuoka Nobuko Masuoka Yoji ,Martha Matsushima George & May Matsuda Jean Matsumoto Yoji Matsushima Amy Matsushita Richard,Yomiko Mayeda Dale & Lily Meiners Mary & Mas Migaki Misao Minagi Mary Minamoto Emiko Mishima Terry & Kelly Mishiro Taro & Wanda Miura Taka Mizote Jim & Martha Mizuta
Thank You from Portland JACL!Portland JACL would like to thank everyone listed below for their generous donations during the past year to our programs which include the Nikkei Community Picnic, our ongoing programs for civil rights advocacy, our youth program and scholarships, the Minidoka Swing Band, the Nikkei Community Directory, our annual calendar, the monthly newsletter, and the Pacific Citizen Holiday Issue advertising. Domo Arigato Gozaimashita!Please note that all donations of $100 dollars or more are acknowledged by return mail. All others are acknowledged in our newsletterunless the donor requests a mailed acknowledgement which we are very pleased to provide.
Tsuyako Monas Irene & Floyd Mori Kenji Mori June Moriyasu Lorri & Richard Munekiyo Larry & Rose Murahashi Sumi Murakami JS Naemura Kiyo Nagae Peggy Nagae Sam Naito Verne Naito Jim Nakadate Lynn Nakamoto Harry & Betty Nakamura Calvin & Kay Nakao G Nakashima John & Sandi Nakashimada Dr. Gail Nakata Frank & Ruth Nakata Lorry Nakatsu Mark Namba Nichiren Shu Minori Kai James & Linda Nigo Rose Niguma Teruko Nishikawa Frank & Irene Nishimoto Richard Nishimoto Akira & Yoko Nishioka Debbie & Nick Nozaki Kazumi Oda Ron Oda Yoshio Oda Don Ogawa Ken Ogawa Kim Ogawa Dale & Nancy Oishi Roy & Jere Okada Janice Okamoto Lillian Okazaki Myrtle Okazaki Takashi Okazaki Setsuko Okino Mary Okita Fumiko Okubo Joe Onchi Harold & Elsie Onishi Oregon Buddhist Temple
Oregon Hiroshima Club Oregon Nikkei Endowment Oregon Nisei Veterans Herb & Etsuko Osaki Ota Family Tofu Valerie Otani William Otani Robert & Fusako Ouchida Dr. Albert & Masuko Oyama Fran & Keith Palk Hatsumi Park Wendolyn Thea Peace Amy & John Peterson Portland Japanese Women's Club Joel & Carole Remme Atsuko Richards Larry Richardson Riverview Abbey Linda & Don Rutledge Carolyn Saiget Carrie Saito Fumi Saito Henry Saito Ken & Beatrice Saito May Saito Henry & A. Julianne Sakai Shiuko Sakai Henry Sakamoto Scott Sakamoto Ben Sato Victor Sato Toshiko & Dan Seeman Jeff Selby Ray & Tuesday Shellmire June & Stanley Shiigi Ann Shintani Kiyo Shioshi Jeff & Marilyn Sholian Tadako & Yukiko Simmons Mitzi Stansbury Bill & Ida Sugahiro Michelle Sugahiro Alice Sumida Etsu & Tokiko Sumida Robert Sumoge Gerald Sumoge
Curtis & Mary Suyematsu Keiichi & Nahoko Suzuki Kay Sweeney Sahomi Tachibana Gregg & Laura Takashima Ned & Jean Takasumi Tetsuo & Jean Takasumi Ernest Takeda Minoru & May Takemoto Tomiko Takeuchi Kirk & Judi Tambara Katie Tamiyasu Linda Tamura Robert & Kazumi Tamura Lennie Tanaka Elsie Taniguchi Henry Tanino Alice & Benny Tano Chisato Tara Sandra Tashima Tenrikyo Portland Church Hajime & Shizumi Terao Gary Terusaki Jeffrey Tobias Jess & Kumiko Toda Heidi Tolentino Lew & Jean Tomita Sue Tomita Mitchell & Emma Tomita Thomas Tone Frances Toyooka George Tsugawa Himeko Tsugawa James & Amy Tsugawa Dr. James & Lolita Tsujimura Fumiko Tsunenaga Sharon & Kinya Tsuruta Henry & Atami Ueno Uwajimaya Barbara Uyesugi Aiko Vail Kaneko Wagar Joseph & Lora Wahl Michael Walcott Marleen Wallingford
Del & Beti Ann Wantroba Alice Watanabe Alvin & Tamara Watanabe Dale Watanabe George Watanabe Ruth Sono Watanabe May Watari Jane Wing Scott Winner Jimmy & Grace Yabuki Kan & Miyeko Yagi Kenji Yaguchi Terry Yamada Mary Yamaguchi Grace Yamaki Ralph & Jean Yamamoto Skip Yamamoto Yutaka & Terumi Yamamoto Michael Yamamoto Takako Yamasaki Judy & Hiroshi Yamauchi Cathy & Jeff Yarne Frank & Amy Yasui Homer & Miki Yasui Steve Yokota Shiro Yoshida Anne Yoshitomi Roy & Tracey Yotsuuye Minnie Young Donna Yount Shig & Yo Yuzuriha Todd & Elaine Yuzuriha Janice & Tom Zyp
Copies & Printing
Co-President:Susan [email protected]
Co-President:Jean [email protected]
Vice President:Kirk [email protected]
Treasurer:Chip [email protected]
Membership:Setsy [email protected]
Secretary:Marleen Ikeda [email protected]
Rich [email protected]
Connie [email protected]
Lynn [email protected]
John [email protected]
Heidi [email protected]
Jeff [email protected]
Diane [email protected]
Your Portland JACL Newsletter comes to you thanks to DocuMart on SW Main in Portland, who prints it at a greatly reduced cost. Please consider them for your printing needs: 503-228-6253.
A big thank you to Chris Onchi, as well, Chris has been printing our labels, making data entry changes, and assisting with the annual calendar for many years. Her business is Chris’ Mailing Service: 503-452-6864.
Ikoi no Kai at Epworth1333 SE 28th Ave, PortlandMonday 3 - Clam chow-der / shrimp stir fryTuesday 4 - Nikujaga (thin sliced beef & pota-toes)Wednesday 5 - ClosedThursday 6 - Udon kakiage (udon & veggie tempura)Friday 7 - Thai chicken / fried rice
Monday 10 - Chicken & seafood paellaTuesday 11 - Satsuma jiruWednesday 12 - ClosedThursday 13 - Fish fried in lemon butterFriday 14 - Holiday meal* Reservations only
Monday 17 - Lunch Brunch - Asian stuffed
Ikoi no Kai December 2012 Menu Notes:• Only the entrée is listed. Each day’s menu includes
soup or salad and dessert• Dec. 4 - Wreathmaking w/ Mark V. & Joyce K.; sign
up required• Dec. 14 - Huber’s Turkey Luncheon; reservations
required; prices +$1
pork tenderloinTuesday 18 - Birthday sushiWednesday 19 - ClosedThursday 20 - Sukiyaki
Friday 21 - Orange peel chicken
Monday 24 - ClosedTuesday 25 - Merry Christmas!Wednesday 26 - ClosedThursday 27 - Toshikoshi soba / chicken karaageFriday 28 - Dim sum plate
Monday 31 - Closed
Newsletter/Historian:Michael [email protected]