Editor’s Note: The following letter was originally printed in the Idaho Statesman in January. It was submitted to AsianWeek to be reprinted.
Dear Editor: In an official ceremony at the East Room of the White House, then-President Clinton designated the site of Idaho’s Minidoka War Relocation Authority Camp as a national monument. Tim Woodward covered the event in a story published in the Idaho Statesman on Jan. 17.
I am pleased that the Idaho Statesman covered this important story. Many are heartened by this federal action because, as a Jan. 17 White House press release says, “The Minidoka Internment National Monument is a unique and irreplaceable historical resource, which protects historic structures and objects that provide opportunities for public education and interpretation of an important chapter in American history – the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.”
With federal designation and protection, I trust that the Idaho state and the federal government will disseminate balanced and accurate educational information about the background and history surrounding this chapter. Attention should also be given to the countless number of other Japanese Americans who were adversely affected by discriminatory and exclusionary policies, even if they were never in one of the federally operated camps.
After President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the Feb. 19, 1942 exclusion orders, about 305 persons from restricted zones relocated to Idaho and thus, avoided incarceration in camps. Nevertheless, they fell under the same federal policies and faced a wide array of hardships. In addition to this group (dubbed “voluntary” movers by the government), many temporarily or permanently resided in various areas of Idaho after leaving camps.
Woodward’s article addressed the plight of Seiichi Hayashida, who relocated to Southern Idaho after leaving camp. It would be appropriate to also highlight the range of other experiences of those who were never in camp.
Rita Takahashi
San Francisco State University
San Francisco
API Commission Requires Renewal; Bush Administration Responds
Dear Editor: On behalf of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, I would like to thank AsianWeek for the in-depth article, “Underscoring Our Needs,” (Jan. 26).
I also wanted to take the opportunity to clarify a few points. The article states “since the Initiative and Commission were mandated in an executive order, they will continue to exist indefinitely.” However, Executive Order 13125 which established the commission, states that the commission will terminate two years from the date the executive order was signed, unless it is renewed by the president prior to the end of that two-year period. The executive order was signed on June 7, 1999; therefore, the Commission will require renewal before June 7, 2001.
The Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is a non-partisan entity with a mandate to advise the president, through the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, on ways to improve the participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in federal programs where they are under-served. Since the publication of the article, we were pleased to receive a note from Andrew Card, White House Chief of Staff, acknowledging the receipt of our interim report and expressing his intent to work with the commission. We are optimistic and look forward to meeting with representatives of the White House and Secretary Thompson of the Department of Health and Human Services about the Initiative.
As mentioned in the article, the executive order created the Office of the White House Initiative and a Federal Interagency Working Group on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. These two entities will continue their work and do not require renewal. In the coming months, federal agencies will continue meeting and developing agency-specific plans from the recommendations and information highlighted in the Interim Report.
The complete Interim Report and the Executive Summary can be accessed on our Web site at www.aapi.gov. We welcome your readers’ comments on the Interim Report via e-mail to aapi@hrsa.gov.
As the fastest growing minority group in this country, there is much work ahead to ensure that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are being served by our government and all federal agencies. The mission of the Initiative is about the unmet needs of our communities, which transcend changes in leadership and transitions of government. It is about good government and serving all who live here in an effective and responsible manner. Together, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and federal agencies must continue building on the foundation that has been created and keep up the momentum. We would like to thank everyone for their support.
Martha Choe
President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders
via the Internet
