Let your voice ring out in times of fear
By L.A. Chung for the SJ Mercury News

I'm reminded of Walt and Milly Woodward of Bainbridge Island in Washington
state. More than 60 years ago, the owners of the little Bainbridge Review
weekly newspaper opposed the internment of Japanese-Americans, who were a
vital part of the island community. It cost Walt good money in canceled ads
and goodwill. But he persisted. He hired four Japanese-Americans to send
reports on internment camp life, which he published in the Review. Births.
Deaths. Camp goings-on.

Bainbridge Island Japanese-Americans would return to the island, he
reasoned, and this would be a way for their neighbors to continue to see
them as members of the community.

To his fellow islanders, Walt Woodward wrote in the Review, ``These
Japanese-Americans of ours haven't bombed anybody.'' But Lt. Gen. John L.
DeWitt, in command of West Coast defenses, said, ``A Jap is a Jap.'' So
everyone was painted with the same broad brush...

Now, as then, concerned -- and sensible, practical -- folk want the United
States to hold fast to one of the tenets of its greatness: due process.

It took courage then. Much recognition for the Woodwards' stand came
posthumously. The Woodwards remind us that it's critical, even in this time
of fear, to insist that the United States hold true to its principles.
Do so in your churches, temples and mosques. In letters to the editor. In
calls and e-mails to your elected representatives. And in standing quietly
at a protest or getting arrested for the television cameras.

``We are the ones who have to speak up,'' said Dawson. ``We have the luxury
of speaking up for our principles without fear of deportation or major
disruption of our families' lives.''

Here is the full text of the article in case the link goes bad:

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/news/columnists/la_chung/4890268.htm

Posted on Tue, Jan. 07, 2003
Let your voice ring out in times of fear
By L.A. Chung
San Jose Mercury News Staff Columnist

Katy Dawson is upset that immigrants who did nothing wrong now fear
deportation.

Diane Sjogren is angry that foreign visitors were detained while complying
with a new registration requirement. And David Jenks believes the privacy
intrusions of some of the homeland security measures smack of Big Brother.
These are South Bay folks who haven't made a career out of protest marches
or getting arrested for the television cameras. None of them is from the
targeted countries. And all of them consider themselves to be sensible,
practical people. But they are concerned.

Another deadline looms Friday for the registration of men and boys in this
country on temporary visas, whether they are tourists, students or H-1B
workers. This time, in addition to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Sudan, the
registration includes those from 13 countries in North Africa, the Mideast,
Central Asia and East Asia.

Speaking out on principle

How can one register one's growing misgivings?

For now, the only protests planned are in front of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service (INS) building in San Francisco, not the one in San
Jose. Groups like the San Jose Peace Center and the Council on American
Islamic Relations are advertising or endorsing a rally on Friday in San
Francisco's Financial district that caps a week of activities. But a sizable
population of people who come from the countries next up on the special
registration deadline live in the South Bay.

Why San Francisco only? It's probably a combination of factors, the most
important being that our neighbors to the north have an established
infrastructure of advocacy groups that can quickly organize public events.
And in these days of identity politics and special interests, it's also easy
to wait for these groups to step forward.

But these are challenging times, and it's never wrong to speak out.

I'm reminded of Walt and Milly Woodward of Bainbridge Island in Washington
state. More than 60 years ago, the owners of the little Bainbridge Review
weekly newspaper opposed the internment of Japanese-Americans, who were a
vital part of the island community. It cost Walt good money in canceled ads
and goodwill. But he persisted. He hired four Japanese-Americans to send
reports on internment camp life, which he published in the Review. Births.
Deaths. Camp goings-on.

Bainbridge Island Japanese-Americans would return to the island, he
reasoned, and this would be a way for their neighbors to continue to see
them as members of the community.

To his fellow islanders, Walt Woodward wrote in the Review, ``These
Japanese-Americans of ours haven't bombed anybody.'' But Lt. Gen. John L.
DeWitt, in command of West Coast defenses, said, ``A Jap is a Jap.'' So
everyone was painted with the same broad brush.

Courage in uncertain times

The Woodwards weren't suggesting that someone who engaged in sabotage should
be left alone. Just the way this column has never suggested that those who
break INS rules should not face the consequences.

Now, as then, concerned -- and sensible, practical -- folk want the United
States to hold fast to one of the tenets of its greatness: due process.

It took courage then. Much recognition for the Woodwards' stand came
posthumously. The Woodwards remind us that it's critical, even in this time
of fear, to insist that the United States hold true to its principles.
Do so in your churches, temples and mosques. In letters to the editor. In
calls and e-mails to your elected representatives. And in standing quietly
at a protest or getting arrested for the television cameras.

``We are the ones who have to speak up,'' said Dawson. ``We have the luxury
of speaking up for our principles without fear of deportation or major
disruption of our families' lives.''

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact L.A. Chung at lchung@sjmercury.com or (408) 920-5280.