One example of that is [Manzanar], which was one of ten such camps, where during WWII, as many as 120,000 Japanese, many of them born in this country, 2/3 of them American citizens, but with the misfortune to live in one of the three western states, had their property taken and were imprisoned for no reason other than racial bigotry. If the reason was the war, then explain why Germans on the east coast weren't likewise imprisoned? It had to be revenge for Pearl Harbor; and, as usual with revenge, innocent people were the ones hurt by it.
When we came driving up U.S Route 395 in California, I had forgotten (if I knew) Manzanar was on it. I knew the name though and when we saw the National Historic Site was ahead, we turned in to learn more, to pay our respects to those who suffered here, some who died during those years when the United States referred to it as a relocation center-- euphemisms in the United States obviously aren't new.
This act was done by a Democratic president with an Executive Order. Amazing how many outrages are done that way, isn't it! It was admitted to having been a mistake with restitution offered to survivors by two Republican presidents. That pretty well says it was not a partisan issue but rather one of wronging one people out of revenge and fear from another people. We can only hope we have learned through it as we should have through Vietnam. Sometimes Americans though are pretty blind to history lessons.
For anyone who might want to think the people brought here were not like us, so it was okay, they were us. On the route you drive through the auto tour, you see where there had been a Buddhist temple but also Catholic and Protestant Christian buildings for worshipers.
When we were there, we saw Manzanar in a beautiful setting as it was a lovely early spring day in the high country. It would be not so much in the winter which lasts a long time at this elevation (3700 feet). It is a pretty valley if you don't think how it would be to be imprisoned there, having your freedom and property taken for no reason, when you were forced into small barracks with no privacy, where you were forced to work for pennies and pay for your own food with the wages, when you knew it wasn't fair, but you had to endure it.
This place was where originally there were homesteads; so the ranch remains are also on the site. Walking and driving the roads, seeing the film at its Center, the illustrative displays, led me to have even more respect for the stoicism of the Japanese people which was reinforced recently by their reaction to the horrific earthquake and tsunami with the aftermath of nuclear devastation. They really are a tough people.
So when you visit a place like Manzanar and there are other such sites, relating to more than the Japanese people, across this nation, you feel a mix of embarrassment that humans can act this way at the same time admiration for the strength of humans. There were those who came from outside to help improve the conditions in the prison. Many who saw it as wrong, but couldn't stop it, more who paid no attention to it or thought it was a good idea. When a nation (any nation) goes on a rampage, it's hard to stop it at the time. It is easy to convince the masses it's for their own good even if what they should realize is-- there could be me next time!
The inscription on the monument, created at the cemetery in 1942, means-- Soul Consoling Tower. Offerings are regularly left to show people have not forgotten. Most of the bodies (most of the dead here were cremated) were moved after the internment site closed. Six are left.
I will do one more blog for this place as it deserves it as there was something I didn't know about it and having seen several documentaries on it, I thought I had known it all.
Canada did the same thing in British Columbia. Conditions in winter time would have been just as bad, if not worse. In addition, the men were required to go into forced labour camps. After the war the camp inmates were released, but strongly discouraged from returning to their former home communities; as a result many moved eastward to Ontario. David Suzuki's family moved to a small town outside of Toronto, I met a man in my woodworking class who had grown up in a camp, and one of my neighbours in Toronto was descended from former camp inmates.
ReplyDeleteEvery country has unpleasantness, even evil, in its past; we do well not to forget that. It should be taught in school history classes as much as our achievements and things we can be proud of. Every citizen should learn that we are all capable of evil, just as we are capable of greatness.
Each country is unique and probably has several things to regret. So sad that our fears caused so much pain. Fears are still being used to discriminate and take away the civil rights of our citizens.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this -- I am glad that something has been done to honor those who suffered. I consider the internment one of our country's greatest shames.
ReplyDeleteA book you might enjoy is "Nisei Daughter" by Monica Itoi Sone about her growing up as the child of Japanese immigrants during WWII.
She's now a psychologist in my city and I had the honor of hearing her speak about her experiences.
Manzanar is one shame America couldn't sweep under the rug and that is a good thing, for intelligent people understand the infamy of it. I don't use terms such as 'Love my country' or 'Proud to be an American.' because they are facile terms and the depth of commitment to democracy is deeper in the blood spilled by our generations, loyalty to our founding documents, the rule of just and equitable law, and the sacrifice we all make to put truth before patriotism, because truth is patriotism.
ReplyDeleteAnnie & I had good friends in the Auburn, WA area who were young people during that time. Their families lost everything but did return to Auburn after the war, to start over. For people who once lost everything, they have done well since. They are an amazing people and very good Americans.
ReplyDeleteWhen we drove north on Highway 395, we also stopped at Manzanar. We felt we had to, to remind ourselves what all countries are capable of.
ReplyDeleteI worked with a woman who was born in one of the internment camps. One day she brought to work what looked like a high school yearbook only it was for the internment camp. It showed the flower arranging club and the garden club and photographs of every resident. I am sure the government had a secondary reason for producing the "yearbook". An amazing artifact.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post on a place that I am very drawn to and have been for many years. We spent a lot of time in the Eastern Sierra when my kids were growing up and I was so pleased when they built the museum and restored some of it. I recently finished a book called "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet," which is about the internment but it is based in the Seattle area.
ReplyDeleteYour care with this post means a lot to me. What a blot on American history (and apparently Canadian, according to Annie. I think I've read every book and seen every film I have found on this tragedy. And I've spoken to so many people who were interned themselves. The Palos Verdes Library has a huge historical project called The 40 Families Project which is about the Palos Verdes farmers who leased land here, and a lot of it centers around the internment.
Wonderful reminder Rain, that we are capable of horrendous decisions that changed peoples lives so very drastically and all because they were of Japanese ancestory---Americans treating other Americans like "The Enemy".
ReplyDeleteAs already stated---SHAMEFUL!!!!
I just wanted to add that when you know a personal story of someone effected so deeply by these "internments" it brings home that this can happen anywhere and to anyone and how innocent people are scarred for life because of it.
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