The Shame Of Manzanar

When I was teaching school in Los Angeles, I met a colleague, whose parents had been interred at Manzanar.  I had never heard of Manzanar, but when she finished educating me on the subject, I knew this was a terrible stain on America, and hoped for it never to happen again.  The shameful treatment of Japanese Americans, most of who were American citizens, must never happen again, yet this piece of history is being talked about today.  The fear is that many Americans fear Muslims, and that something like Japanese internment camps could happen again.

Soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, racial prejudice was intensified.  This lead to fear of potential espionage and sabotage.  In 1942, FDR signed executive order 9066, which authorized the military to remove anyone who might threaten the war effort.  This was interpreted as anyone who was of Japanese descent, without due process.  Japanese, either citizens or visitors, were removed to one of the 10 interrment camps in rural areas  of California, Arizona and several other uninhabited areas.  They were given an ID number, and removed, often not even given time to collect their belongings, and in many cases, not given time to take care of financial matters, including property and businesses.

My friend's parents, along with their parents, were taken to Manzanar. There was distrust of anyone with Japanese ancestry, although no charges of espionage were ever brought against a single person.  In all, 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were interned for years.  Everything they owned was taken from them, yet, families were kept together.

Life at Manzanar was difficult.  Families lived in small barracks, were paid next to nothing for their labor, yet they made a life for themselves.  They organized, formed schools and churches, and had a political structure.  They even had their own newspaper.  When they returned to society after the war, families had nothing.  Their homes or farms were gone, their businesses were gone, yet they started anew.  They have thrived.

I say the same thing I say about the Holocaust.  NEVER AGAIN.  This was a shameful thing that our nation did to a most productive immigrant group, and we must never do anything like this again.  I believe that people and groups are more outspoken today, and this could not happen.  I believe that our system of checks and balances will keep our leaders in check.  Interrment must never happen again.