On the Outside

DES MOINES, Ia. -- T. Scott Miyakawa of Los Angeles, New York, and now into town last week-end, and we had an interesting evening together mulling over the problems of evacuation.

Scott never has been in a relocation center -- he was in New York for 10 years before the war -- but he did yeoman work there as JACL representative in building up support for the evacuees and trying to counteract the Dies committee and others of its ilk.

He is now one of two nisei teaching full-time at the University of Missouri. Although he has a graduate degree in civil engineering and is teaching physics to army specialists, his original interest is sociology.

Scott's greatest concern is the deadening effect on nisei ambition that comes from prolonged residence in relocation centers. Like many third party observers, he has seen the coming over the nisei in the centers themselves do not realize.

He is amazed, too, at how completely a center resident can be cut off from the world about him. He tells of nisei going to Washington, D.C., and in shirtsleeves, tieless, hair unkempt, looking for clerical jobs.

But we agreed that these are the exceptions, and despite the war and other unfavorable factors, we noted that more nisei are working for Caucasian firms in professions of their choice than before the war.

Scott told of nisei working as testing engineers in secret work at an aircraft plant, of other nisei doing highly confidential work for the government. Perhaps in time the whole story of the nisei's role on the home war front can be told. Undoubtedly it will be as brilliant as the record of nisei fighting men in Italy, the Southwest Pacific and other war fronts.

We were also agreed that with the draft affecting evacuees, greater effort will have to be directed toward helping family units to relocate. Besides the natural conservative outlook of a man with a family, there are problems of expenses, housing, and a job sufficiently remunerative to support a family which stand in the way of this class.

Scott also emphasized the necessity of evacuees helping themselves, and not depending too much on other evacuees who have relocated ahead of them.

These individuals are too busy with their own problems -- of holding a job, of making adjustments, of keeping up social contacts, in other words the dozens of little details of living. And it is only right that the complete readjustment of those on the outside should come first.

At Missouri, Scott says, only two of some 18 nisei are willing to go out and make talks on the evacuation, but some have been pledged to the better fraternities, and four of eight students pledged to Tau Beta Pi, the engineering equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa, were nisei.

The wonder is that, with so much to do on the outside, those who have left the centers to devote so much time and interest in promoting public relations and trying to help others to relocate.

And with life on the outside so interesting, it gets discouraging sometimes to view the intertia of those still in the centers.

--Bill Hosokawa

Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

We would like Nobu Kawai to read the Constitution very carefully, especially the Preamble, also we would like to have him study the causes and underlying principles that motivated the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the Boston Tea Party, and Proclamation for the Emancipation of Slavery, before making such a distorted misleading, disgraceful speech in front of intelligent people. If some high public official were to utter those same words to the American public, we dare not think of the consequences which would follow him. After all, we are still living in a democratic country.

What he says is, or would be, in complete harmony with the concepts of a Hitler or Stalin type of dictatorship government, but to apply such an interpretation to our democratic form of government is due, either to his inability to correctly interpret the Constitution, or his misconception of a free and democratic country, or a gross refusal to believe in the instruments of our government, or to a stupid blunder on his part in making such public utterances. It seems like he made a mistake and read the doctrines of Hitlerism instead of reading the Constitution of his own country.

The Constitution can be interpreted in many ways, but how long would his interpretation stand up in the eyes of the American public? It seems that he should not underestimate the intelligence of his fellow citizens, or at least spare them the insult of comparing theirs with the level of his own. Has JACL-ism again reared up its ugly head to spread its seeds of defeatism and bigotry through the Sentinel editorials? Stooging seems to be an accomplished profession of these JACL "bigwigs."

Nevertheless, I believe the FPC respects his right to express his own opinions, whatever they are, but I think it is against the principles of this organization to let any such misconcepted ideas of Democracy and of our Constitution go by unopposed.

We nisei who are today fighting for justice and for the application of the real meaning of democracy as set forth in the Constitution by challenging the unconstitutional acts committed against us, a minority group, will if we are successful, emerge out of this present struggle of right against wrong, of justice and democratic ideals against unconstitutional acts and discriminatory actions, with a great new faith in Democracy and the American way of Life. We members of the FPC still believe, still have hope, that the Constitution of our country is not a mere scrap of paper. On that we are staking our all.

Those nisei who are responding to the present draft call under the present conditions may believe that they are doing the right thing. That is their belief and we respect them for it. But again there are many who are going because of fear. Fear of being thrown in jail, of being isolated in some far concentration camp or some other form of punishment. Those people seem to have lost faith and hope in the principles and ideals of this country. They will go off to battle, and if they come back, they will still have the same feeling of mistrust, suspicion, lack of faith and confidence in the Constitution and Bill of Rights that they had when they went off to war. Especially, if there are still some discriminations and injustices present when they come back.

On the other hand, we, who have made our decision to stay and fight to uphold our Constitution, and for what it stands, for the future security of this Nation, and for the sake of other minorities as well as for the future of nisei, will if justice triumphs, be able to face the future unafraid, with a feeling of equality, with confidence, trust and faith in our country. We will be the staunchest defenders of these democratic ideals and principles. We will be a part of that mass of people who will never lose sight of the real and true meaning of Democracy.

If justice does not win out, then, whether we do our fighting here at home, or on foreign battlefields, the end result will be the same. The future of a democratic nation, the future of all minority people, and the future of ourselves is dark indeed.

The editors of the Sentinel said in today's issue, that "we should be men among men and not whimpering weaklings who are afraid to prove themselves." If these persons feel that what they say is right, that what they write is being loyal, why do they not volunteer their services to the combat unit? Why do they not back up their convictions with parallel action? To sit in an office and write bold words does not take courage. You do not have to be a man among men to utter such words behind an office desk. We members of the FPC sincerely believe that we are doing the right thing as loyal American citizens in fighting for our rights and in trying to uphold our Constitution. We are backing up our convictions with our stand, regardless of the consequences. We have faith in our principles. We are ready to defend this faith, come what may.

We would like to ask one last question of the Sentinel editors and of the public. Who is the man? Who is the whimpering weakling?

"The ideals of democracy have never been dream pictures but goals,

The way our goals we will find only thorough our own exertions,

Through tireless, patient and courageous exertions."

Sigrid Undset

Frank Emi

9-21-B

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The following open letter is a reply by Associate Editor Nobu Kawai to charges made by Frank Emi in a letter to the editor. The concluding half of Emi's letter is printed above.--Ed. Note.

To Frank Emi and the FPC:

Because the welfare, of the community overshadows the irrelevant consideration of personalities, I wish to answer your letter solely on the basis of the fundamental issues in question.

I appreciate the sincerity of the Fair Play committee in seeking the same ultimate end that the Sentinel and other nisei bodies have in view ... justice and tolerance. We take issue, however, with the means your committee employs in seeking that end.

The FPC points to forced evacuation, confinement, segregation in the army and other evidences of discrimination as an indication that our government looks upon us as "secondary" citizens: You advance the theory that selective service laws do not apply to nisei in view of such restriction of rights.

You reason further that acceptance of military service is tantamount to accepting such restriction of rights and have declared that you will resist induction "until our status as American citizens is clarified" as a protest to such discriminatory treatment.

The fallacy in your argument is your contention that a restriction of our rights means a loss of those rights. We don't lose any rights under the constitution until the constitution itself is changed.

We all feel evacuation and detention are unjust. The constitutionality of these issues are today pending decision before the Supreme Court.

If the Supreme Court rules evacuation was constitutional, we will not have been deprived of any rights. We may then seek to avoid a repetition of such an injustice by constitutional amendment.

The fact that our rights have been restricted does not justify us to resist induction.

I believe you are sincere in your purpose. I trust there are none among you who seek only to avoid military service.

The constitution grants to American citizens all those rights embodied in the Bill of Rights. I believe those rights are for the enjoyment of loyal Americans. The moment a citizen violates the selective service laws and is convicted of draft evasion, he loses his claim to such rights.

While we are seeking justice and tolerance, it is important that we make a special effort to conduct ourselves as loyal Americans.

The use of selective service, at a time when our country is in a life and death struggle, as a vehicle to attain our ends will be interpreted only as an act of disloyalty. It will destroy all the public relations we have worked so hard to build up.

While it is for the courts of law to decide the justification of your action, the damage you will have done to all nisei will outweigh any legal points you may win. You will be tearing down the very things you are trying to secure.

We can win the war, but lose the peace. So can we win our rights, but lose public acceptance. There are no laws barring Negroes in major league baseball ... yet, there are no Negroes playing in the major leagues. It is as important to win popular support as it is to fight for our rights.

The FPC no doubt feels it is justified in refusing induction. You feel your induction will be looked upon as a protest against intolerance and injustice. You regard yourselves as martyrs to the cause of the nisei. You feel the courts of law will uphold you.

If you are sincere in testing your case before the courts of our country, a few test cases by some of your leaders is sufficient. It is not necessary for large numbers to refuse induction.

My chief concern is for the young nisei who face the serious consequences of draft evasion and the stigma attached to it because they are led to believe they are doing the right thing.

I believe in the thousands of individuals and organizations who are working for our cause today. How long do you think they would support us if you think they would support us if we all refused to be inducted?

I believe in preserving all the good that our boys in the 100th battalion and 442nd combat team have brought us by their sweat and blood.

When this war is won, the Ben Kurokis, fortified by their undeniable proof of loyalty through action, will plead our case for tolerance and justice before the bar of public opinion.

Let us never deny that we are anything but loyal American citizens. While we are fighting for our rights, let us conduct ourselves as good citizens so that no one can deny our claims to such rights.

Associate Editor

Nobu T. Kawai

P.S. It may be of interest to you that on March 12, 1943, I volunteered for combat duty with the 442nd Combat Team and am, today, ready to be inducted whenever called.

* * *

To the Editor:

No doubt you have received many letters in connection with your stand against the ignonimous uprising instigated by the FPC. I think your policy is entirely consistent with your pledge to back those who are doing the most good for the greatest number of evacuees.

I, as an average relocate, am deeply concerned with the mad accusations and covetous demands made by these rank mercenaries. The notoriety the FPC basks in, casts an unhealthy pallor on the good work being done by the WRA and allied organizations as well as the individual relocatees in their respective communities.

George Nomura

Thermopolis