THANKS TO YOU, we've achieved the first step. On Feb. 8, Associated Press reported: "U.S. Rep. Howard Coble said he won't apologize for comments ..." At about 4 p.m.Feb. 10, Rep. Coble apparently changed his mind and issued his "apology." See end of this e-mail.
Here is the time-line of events:
February 4: Coble Radio statement
Feb 5: JACL Press release and Honda reacts to Coble's statement.
Feb 7: Congressmen Honda, Matsui, and Wu write to Coble
Feb 7: Coble states he won't apologize (AP article on Feb 8)
source: http://newsobserver.com/nc24hour/ncnews/story/2183302p-2067371c.html
Feb 8 (3 p.m.): 80-20 sends out mass email, "Call to Action."
Feb 10 (10 a.m.): 80-20 issues follow-up, "Unsolicited Responses to
Call to Action." Huge number of faxes and e-mails pour into
GOP leadership's offices, thank to you.
Feb 10 (4 pm): Coble issues an "apology." See end of this e-mail
Feb 10: Petition put up by "various Members of the National Council
of Asian Pacific Americans." (first forwarded at around
midnight)
Together, we can overcome. 80-20 is not satisfied with the outcome.
Hence, if you haven't sent your faxes and e-mail to the Republican
Leadership yet, please do your share. The Coble quote made both
Time & Newsweek magazine. So think of its implications.
80-20 is preparing for the long haul. We'll be working on this issue,
unless satisfaction is achieved, for as long as it needs -- all the way to
November of 2004 and beyond if necessary.
- - - -
Rep. Coble:
"In recent days, there has been considerable media attention and
interest surrounding comments I made on a morning radio call-in
show regarding the internment of Japanese Americans during World
War II and the implications of this policy in today's society. I regret
that many Japanese and Arab Americans found my choice of words
offensive because that was certainly not my intent.
The point that I was trying to make during the radio show was that
given the circumstances in which President Roosevelt found himself at
the time and the information that was available to him, he made a
decision which he felt was in the best interest of national security.
Today we can certainly look back and see the damage that was caused
because of this decision. We all know that was in fact the wrong
decision and an action that should never be repeated.
It is my sincere hope that this situation will be a reminder to us all
that while we have made great strides to improve diversity,
acceptance, and understanding since 1941, there is much work left to
be done."
