The Supreme Court decision to intern Japanese-Ams is still a "good law" that Asian Ams must face squarely. Here is what George Will, a noted national columnist, has to say in Washington Post 5 days ago.
" . . . 110,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry, two-thirds of them born here, were sent to camps in desolate Western locations. Supposedly, this was a precaution against espionage and sabotage. Actually, it rested entirely on the racial animus* of Gen. John DeWitt, head of the Western Defense Command."
" . . .The Korematsu decision reflected PERENNIAL DANGER: panic and excessive deference, judicial and other, to presidents or others who might suspend constitutional protection in the time of WARTIME EXIGENCIES. " (all emphasis added)
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-04-24/opinions/38788637_1_korematsu-concentration-camps-western-defense-command
Scary!
What if, God forbid, a hot conflict occurs between the US and a foreign country the next year? Can some Asian ethnic groups STILL be interned?
Fred Korematsu's conviction was overturned by the 9th Circuit Court in 1983. However, the case was not heard in the Supreme Court which made the internment decision. Hence, THE INTERNMENT IS CLEARLY STILL A "GOOD LAW" IN THE SUPREME COURT.
A legal historian, Peter Irons, at the Univ. of CA, San Diego is campaigning for a Supreme Court "repudiation" of the Korematsu decision. Repudiation will mean that the "good law" is voided. To read Irons' essay, click on http://www.80-20initiative.net/news/case-for-repudiation.asp. This essay, endorsed by many constitutional law professors, has been submitted to each of the nine Supreme Court justices.
Shall 80-20 organize to support Prof. Peter Irons?
To be successful, it'll have to be a PAN-Asian-Am. movement of unprecedented scale. 80-20 will throw in all its resources, and all of you will have to do your share. When victorious, we and our children will sleep soundly without fear of being singled out owing to a race, ethnic or religious reason for surveillance, arrest, or detention caused by an international conflicts beyond our control.
Reply to this e-newsletter with "YES", if you want 80-20 to act. If 80-20 gets 100 YESES within a day from ALL components** of the AsAm community, 80-20 shall work its tail off for you.
Please forward this e-newsletter. Act to better our destiny!
Respectfully yours,
S. B. Woo, a volunteer who will irreversibly RETIRE on 12/31/2016
President, 80-20 National Asian Am PAC, Inc.
http://www.80-20Initiative.net
*"It makes no difference whether the Japanese is theoretically a citizen. There's no such thing as a loyal Japanese. A Jap is a Jap." General John L. DeWitt
**We'll either win our equal citizenship TOGETHER or remain second-class citizens SEPARATELY.
80-20 Gratefully Acknowledges Generous Donations from:
Mitchell & Priscila Lou, Jenkinstown, PA (to EF) $5,000.00
Marisa Chuang Ming, Berkeley, CA (pledged) $5,000.00
Wai-Yim Ching, Kansa Cit, MO $1,000.00
Christine & Paul Tung, Ranch Alos Verdes, CA $1,000.00 (To EF)
" . . . 110,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry, two-thirds of them born here, were sent to camps in desolate Western locations. Supposedly, this was a precaution against espionage and sabotage. Actually, it rested entirely on the racial animus* of Gen. John DeWitt, head of the Western Defense Command."
" . . .The Korematsu decision reflected PERENNIAL DANGER: panic and excessive deference, judicial and other, to presidents or others who might suspend constitutional protection in the time of WARTIME EXIGENCIES. " (all emphasis added)
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-04-24/opinions/38788637_1_korematsu-concentration-camps-western-defense-command
Scary!
What if, God forbid, a hot conflict occurs between the US and a foreign country the next year? Can some Asian ethnic groups STILL be interned?
Fred Korematsu's conviction was overturned by the 9th Circuit Court in 1983. However, the case was not heard in the Supreme Court which made the internment decision. Hence, THE INTERNMENT IS CLEARLY STILL A "GOOD LAW" IN THE SUPREME COURT.
That "good law" says that it is constitutional that a whole ethnic group of people, whether citizens or not, may be singled out without individual trials, so long as there is a wartime exigency.
A legal historian, Peter Irons, at the Univ. of CA, San Diego is campaigning for a Supreme Court "repudiation" of the Korematsu decision. Repudiation will mean that the "good law" is voided. To read Irons' essay, click on http://www.80-20initiative.net/news/case-for-repudiation.asp. This essay, endorsed by many constitutional law professors, has been submitted to each of the nine Supreme Court justices.
Shall 80-20 organize to support Prof. Peter Irons?
To be successful, it'll have to be a PAN-Asian-Am. movement of unprecedented scale. 80-20 will throw in all its resources, and all of you will have to do your share. When victorious, we and our children will sleep soundly without fear of being singled out owing to a race, ethnic or religious reason for surveillance, arrest, or detention caused by an international conflicts beyond our control.
Reply to this e-newsletter with "YES", if you want 80-20 to act. If 80-20 gets 100 YESES within a day from ALL components** of the AsAm community, 80-20 shall work its tail off for you.
Please forward this e-newsletter. Act to better our destiny!
Respectfully yours,
S. B. Woo, a volunteer who will irreversibly RETIRE on 12/31/2016
President, 80-20 National Asian Am PAC, Inc.
http://www.80-20Initiative.net
*"It makes no difference whether the Japanese is theoretically a citizen. There's no such thing as a loyal Japanese. A Jap is a Jap." General John L. DeWitt
**We'll either win our equal citizenship TOGETHER or remain second-class citizens SEPARATELY.
80-20 Gratefully Acknowledges Generous Donations from:
Mitchell & Priscila Lou, Jenkinstown, PA (to EF) $5,000.00
Marisa Chuang Ming, Berkeley, CA (pledged) $5,000.00
Wai-Yim Ching, Kansa Cit, MO $1,000.00
Christine & Paul Tung, Ranch Alos Verdes, CA $1,000.00 (To EF)
