MORE REMEMBERING

I JUST read your article, "Remembering 'America's Concentration Camps" (News&Views, Feb. 7), with the interview with Karen Ishizuka. My husband and I attended her lecture/slide-show/booksigning the other night at UCSC. She spoke to a packed forum, and as your article so truly stated, racial profiling and its impact on people continues today. I am also a Sansei, third-generation Japanese American, whose both parents and their families were interned in Topaz, Utah, during WWII.

Currently I am co-curating an exhibit at the Pajaro Valley Art Center & Gallery, "The Human Condition: the artist's response" (the exhibit runs until March 4, Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 5pm), where we have brought in artwork from regional, nationally and internationally known artists all over the greater Bay Area whose art speaks to personal, community and global issues.

My artwork of "Japanese American Internment" is a mixed media assemblage dedicated to the spirit and lives of those who were interned. Nationally known artist Flo Oy Wong's "1942: Suitcases From Home" brings in three actual suitcases from internees, filled with memories of family and place.

Others include Kathleen Crocetti, award-winning art teacher of the year recipient,who has a station where one can view her "Counting Lives Lost," her tribute to those lives lost during this current war in Iraq. Every weekend since the war began, she began working on her moving and powerful heartfelt installation art work, which was on display at Sierra Azul in Watsonville this past year.

I hope you get a change to view this exhibit in person, as we'vegotten such a positive response from the community. There is so much excitement and now that the exhibit is up, we'd love more people to come and see it.

Lucien Kubo, Santa Cruz

GRAVE NEW WORLD

THE UNITED NATIONS estimated 34,000 people were killed in January in Iraq. We are appalled.

The government doesn't want us to see the crosses and the death, so a new movement has begun in the North Bay. People have started to place a single white cross in their front lawns to commemorate all those killed in this conflict and our opposition to the policies that lead to it. They represent all the civilians, men, women and children, who have died, not just our soldiers.

The 36-inch-by-18-inch wooden cross is meant to be a simple grave marker, not a religious symbol. Some people have drawn a Star of David on them or a peace symbol in the middle. It is out there 24 hours a day reminding the community and our neighbors that this war must end. It is time we, as individuals, say "Enough, no more."

Napa County now has about 60 grave markers around town. Another 40 have been erected in Sonoma and Lake. We invite everyone within earshotto join in this new, ever-growing protest.

Our hearts ache and grow heavy each day, but each day our hearts also can grow ever stronger in opposition.

John Stephens, Napa

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

IT IS MY VIEW that the law of nations is pluralistic, liberal democracy, socialism, and the laws of other states comprising components of the law of nations.

The allowance of foreigners to sue for torts in the United States is a preventative measure against war. That congress failed to secure legislation prohibiting the use of U.S. military force in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and did not recognize this in considering Public Law 107-243--Oct. 16, 2002 "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002," are offenses against the law of nations.

The Gulf War--I seem to remember that one of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council abstained, therefore the war was an offense against the law of nations. Even if the People's Republic of China had voted in favor, the war would still be illegal, as a tenet of socialism is state ownership of natural resources.

The prosecution of members of the Communist League of Yugoslavia (Savez komunista Jugoslavje, SKJ) of the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Baath Party of the Government of the Republic of Iraq, are offenses against the law of nations.

If the United States congress does not address this issue the result will be what representative Henry Gonzalez of Texas once referred to as "a constitutional crisis."

Eric Linblad, Santa Cruz

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