Yosemite Deal

As a native Californian, life member of the Sierra Club and frequent visitor to Yosemite, I am overjoyed to learn that Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. will be selling the Yosemite Park & Curry Co. to the National Park Foundation. As one of our national treasures, Yosemite must forever remain a possession of Americans.

However, as an American of Japanese heritage, I am outraged and disgusted by the racist comments by Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan Jr., regarding the temporary ownership of the YP&C; by a Japanese company. While those of my parents’ generation may forgive and remain silent about the suspension of their constitutional rights and imprisonment during World War II, I do not forget and I do not forgive bigots like Lujan. Matsushita became owner of the park concession only because certain other white Americans chose to sell their company--MCA--to the Japanese, thus reaping obscene personal profits.

I have been told that the animosity towards Japanese ownership of American property and businesses stems from Japan’s unforgivable “surprise” attack on Pearl Harbor 50 years ago. I say it is purely racist. When was the last time you read an article criticizing German or Italian ownership of American properties in The Times?

STEVEN FUMIO IZUMI, La Palma