Letters to the Editor
September 24, 2004
Controversy Sells Malkin’s Book
DEAR EDITOR: Michelle Malkin, the right wing’s new media darling of color, is trying to promote her latest book, arguing that the Japanese American internment during WWII was a “military necessity” that probably saved lives.
Unfortunately, Malkin did not dig deep enough for evidence to support her claims that Japanese Americans were spying for imperial Japan.
No person of Japanese ancestry was ever tried for spying during WWII against the United States. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover stated that Japanese Americans were not a serious threat to the United States.
During the war, Japanese Americans served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team — the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in U.S. Army history. In addition, 5,000 served in the Military Intelligence school as code crackers and translators and assisted prisoner interrogations. Some military historians have stated that their work shortened the Pacific War by at least one year.
Why is Malkin writing this book? Well, money is one thing. A book needs controversy to sell big in this reality-TV world we live in.
Burt Takeuchi
San Jose, Calif.
Supervisor McGoldrick’s Hooligans
DEAR EDITOR: My name is Leanna Dawydiak, a candidate for District 1. I appeared at the “SFSOS” Town Hall on Monday, Sept. 13. That day, I received a threatening letter from “Jake” that said: “You may want to consult with a campaign attorney before appearing at the debate.”
“Jake” stood outside pontificating. His people blocked and yelled at the entering senior citizens, children and regular folk who came on football night.
Onstage, I watched the shocked reactions of regular citizens as “Jake” supporters loudly heckled and then left. Their effort to intimidate regular folk from freely assembling failed.
Once “Jake” and his rabble left, those remaining were the Richmond residents. Those “Jake” supporters didn’t live in the Richmond.
Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are cornerstones of our democracy. Don’t these constitutional principles apply in “Jakeland”?
Leanna M. Dawydiak
candidate, Board of Supervisors, District 1 San Francisco, Calif.
‘Very Scary’: Taiwan, Taxes and Health
DEAR EDITOR: This is in response to Paul Lau’s Aug. 19 letter stating that Sen. John Kerry is “very scary” as a reason for voting for President Bush.
On Taiwanese independence: Should the citizens of Taiwan choose to be an independent nation, they must negotiate with the People’s Republic of China to achieve this end. Waging war will result in U.S. intervention and untold deaths and destruction. In the end, there will be no winners.
On financial matters: It is gratifying to know that Mr. Lau benefited from the $3,000 tuition deduction and that his margin rate went down 2 percent with Bush’s tax cuts. Mr. Lau’s financial gains are not widespread among millions of people who will not benefit in the ways he has. The growing budget deficit is everyone’s problem.
On health: Forty-five million Americans either do not or cannot afford health insurance. Among this uninsured 45 million are a great many people of color, including Asian Pacific Americans.
We need a president who does not emphasize pre-emptive war under questionable circumstances or motives. We need one who promotes a vision of achieving an equitable quality of life for all.
Ronald K. Chan
Fairfax, Calif.
CORRECTION:
In the Aug. 26 2004 Republican National Convention Issue, Jimmy Lee, the author of Honoring Our Political Responsibility, served as the assistant for Asian American Affairs to Gov. George Ryan of Illinois.
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