tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714426597280694490.post6769824389280096521..comments2024-02-19T09:05:53.444-08:00Comments on Akit's Complaint Department: Wondering about Japantown's FutureAkithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04905273274257369338noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714426597280694490.post-26714517646181789102008-08-03T16:46:00.000-07:002008-08-03T16:46:00.000-07:00Not clear what the unhinged "Greg" is even talking...Not clear what the unhinged "Greg" is even talking about here. I'm on "a tear" about what exactly? What does rent control---which I support with great reluctance---have to do with Japantown and assimilation? I certainly do not have a "burning hatred" for Japanese Americans or any other ethnic group. I happen to think that assimilation is the American ideal, which means that we shouldn't work to hard at preserving ethnic neighborhoods. Nor am I a "socialist." I'm actually a registered Democrat who's part of the conservative wing of that big tent party. Nor do I support public power. Greg signs his first name but, not surprisingly, doesn't give us his full name.Rob Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305006079770548160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714426597280694490.post-75258546989827043002008-08-01T09:22:00.000-07:002008-08-01T09:22:00.000-07:00Was I just insulted? It is a little challenging t...Was I just insulted? It is a little challenging to hear "You'd do well to embrace it" without hearing the tone of that statement.<BR/><BR/>Craig, it is not how small the Japanese American population is, or how many Japanese Americans are left in the community, it is preserving the physical community (its remaining properties and economy).<BR/><BR/>The malls and hotels conquer about one-third of the neighborhood, and I'm trying to say that we need to help preserve Japantown by taking advantage of "strength in numbers." Traditional Japanese Americans need to accept the fact that they must welcome people who are not Japanese American to help fight for the community.Akithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04905273274257369338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714426597280694490.post-12573134547232578712008-08-01T08:44:00.000-07:002008-08-01T08:44:00.000-07:00Let's turn this discussion around a bit. Glendale...Let's turn this discussion around a bit. Glendale, a city in Southern California used to be the very archetype of a sort of Norman Rockwell Northern European American community. In the 80s and 90s it was transformed into the largest Armenian community in the country.<BR/><BR/>Now if I go to the local coffee shop, I'm surrounded by people who don't "look" like me. If I were to turn around and say, "We need to fight for our community." then wouldn't I come under some criticism for those views?<BR/><BR/>It's really no different when an Asian American looks around and says, "Hey, there's nobody here who looks like I do." <BR/><BR/>The fact is, those customers eating at Mifune are what's keeping Japanese culture alive in San Francisco, _no_ _matter_ _what_ _color_ _they_ _are_. Without them, Kintetsu mall would not survive at all.<BR/><BR/>The growth of Japanese popular culture among people of non-Japanese decent, may remove some of the exclusivity you appear to desire, but serves to strength and retain Japanese culture in America.<BR/><BR/>You'd do well to embrace it.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07505415142657125914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714426597280694490.post-71054329716813056972008-08-01T00:12:00.000-07:002008-08-01T00:12:00.000-07:00Oh, one more thing. Although 10% of the neighborh...Oh, one more thing. Although 10% of the neighborhood is Japanese American, be aware that Japanese Americans live in other districts and across the bay as well, and do come to the neighborhood as well. Many moved-out because of redevelopment.<BR/><BR/>We are still proud people, especially the ones who pride in obtaining redress.Akithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04905273274257369338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714426597280694490.post-6950786237417289482008-08-01T00:07:00.000-07:002008-08-01T00:07:00.000-07:00Now that I think about that comment by Rob Anderso...Now that I think about that comment by Rob Anderson, here's my reaction towards your idea that Japanese Americans are assimilating into American society.<BR/><BR/>It is true in some form, yes Japanese Americans have heavily assimilated into the melting pot of "America" but that's primarily because of the internment camps, forcing Japanese Americans to assimilate very quickly to make "model" camps resembling classic American towns, and after leaving the camps, tried to shed as much of their Japanese culture and suppressing the stories about the internment camps.<BR/><BR/>However we have reached a point in our community where alarms are ringing off in our heads. This alarm is telling us that we are forgetting our identity and culture, and should try to stop assimilating, but to persist the Japanese American culture to future Japanese Americans. One particular example is that the older members of the community is promoting the Japanese American culture and identity to young Japanese American women in the Cherry Blossom Pageant program. In this form, it makes it possible to help PRESERVE at least some form of Japanese American identity, instead of just blending into the melting pot we call "America."Akithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04905273274257369338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714426597280694490.post-65107106534542753212008-07-31T22:57:00.000-07:002008-07-31T22:57:00.000-07:00Um , pardon my french but Rob Anderson the rent co...Um , pardon my french but Rob Anderson the rent controlled jerkoff that he is who has been on a tear like Chris Daly on this issue, is a loser/rentcontrolled jerkoff who needs to sit down, take his government subsidy and SHUT THE FUCK UP!<BR/><BR/>No I mean that. He has a burning hatred for Japanese Americans that is pathological and he needs to shut the frak up.<BR/><BR/>Yes the SF Redevelopment agency frakked up. That said, Rob just gets off on the idea of screwing over african americans and japanese americans. he literally can't achieve climax without it!<BR/><BR/>he's a sick lameass mofo. Rational people, however sign their names to their comments and don't back down from folks who are socialists like Rob who want the same idiots who run MUNI running their electrical system!Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02639710572191340548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714426597280694490.post-1655611212728497012008-07-31T10:48:00.000-07:002008-07-31T10:48:00.000-07:00Rob:Thanks for your comment. True, it does seem t...Rob:<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comment. True, it does seem to be a marketing strategy especially since the city screwed us all by redeveloping the area into a tourist attraction (did you know it was cheaper to just rehab the old victorians?).<BR/><BR/>Personally, I hope Justin Herman is spinning in his grave.Akithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04905273274257369338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714426597280694490.post-81977495734200761902008-07-31T10:26:00.000-07:002008-07-31T10:26:00.000-07:00According to the Japantown task force, only 10% of...According to the Japantown task force, only 10% of the population of that neighborhood is ethnically Japanese (http://www.jtowntaskforce.org/demographics/demographics.race.pdf). Hence, Japantown as an entity is really about a marketing strategy for that neighborhood. Nothing wrong with that, but let's not forget that assimilation is the American ideal, not fighting to retain ethnic neighborhoods.Rob Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305006079770548160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4714426597280694490.post-11894581506007455842008-07-31T09:59:00.000-07:002008-07-31T09:59:00.000-07:00Incredible message. We appreciate your passion an...Incredible message. We appreciate your passion and dedication on these extremely important topics about the Japanese Culture and Community. We hope you continue the fight as we move forward. <BR/><BR/>We are also fighting to get the Japanese Community excited once again. We built a web site to get the Japanese excited about Japanese Culture by actively focusing on Japanese Cultural Events. If people don't support these events and the community, it will continue to lose momentum and eventually die. <BR/><BR/>Please help us by listing our Japanese Cultural Site to your community. <BR/><BR/>www.Japanese-City.com<BR/>support@Japanese-City.comwww.Japanese-City.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288416972237627012noreply@blogger.com