Was Japanese internment of American civilians during World War II simply racism?
Joseph G. Hudson's Jan. 2nd letter to the editor titled "Japanese internment during World War II was 'simply racism'" attempts to compare his family's Irish Catholic immigration experience to America to the debate and plight of up to 10,000 Syrian Muslim refugees being brought to this country. Mr. Hudson's letter does an historical injustice to all the victims of internment during WW II.
The Japanese military government during WW II held captive 3,200 American civilians....these American citizens were nearly starved to death. No reparations were ever paid to the American internees...
Some rhetorical questions for Mr. Hudson: Was the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that killed 2,471 soldiers, sailors and civilians' racism? Was the Japanese military internment of American civilians in the Philippines racism? Was the Bataan Death March, during which hundreds of American soldiers died, some were bayoneted or beheaded, racism? Was the Fire Balloon bombing near Bly, Oregon that killed six Christians on a picnic, five of them children, racism?
The United States government took drastic actions during World War II by the internment of some Americans of Japanese descent to protect all the American people...
America's currently elected government leaders more than 70 years later can still learn lessons from the country's War with Japan and apply those lessons to protecting the homeland...
David Olen Cross of Salem writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. He is a weekly guest on the Lars Larson Northwest Show. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com or at http://docfnc.wordpress.com/.
