This blog is a reflection on the presentation by Mr. Steve Doi on his experiences in a Japanese Internment camp during World War Two
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Listening to Mr. Doi share his experiences gave me a broadened my understanding of what life was liking during the Japanese interment and how the people felt. He began his story when he was a kid and living in a farming society along with people of other nationalities. His family has lived in America for over five generations and Mr. Doi was born and raised in California. As a kid, Mr. Doi had friends of different ethnicity, and did many things with them. He played sports with them and had classes with the same kids. He was acutely aware of all the racism around him but since Mr. Doi lived in mostly non-racist society, he didn't see all the racism outside his community. But then after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was then considered dangerous and a threat to the United States of America. He, along with all the other Japanese were labeled as the enemy. Media had false accusations had said that Japanese were spies helping the people in Japan and that they couldn't be trusted. However, there was no actual proof that any of the Japanese living in America were spies. But citizens of America, besides the Japanese, were panicking and wanted revenge for Pearl harbor. Mr Doi didn't blame FDR for 9066, he believes it was the fault of his advisers who urged him for Japanese internment. The interment of all Japanese, whether they were American citizens or not, goes against the law. In Amendment 5 and 14 that states the due process of law and no one can be denied life, liberty, and property. Mr. Doi and leave everything behind besides the things he could carry on his back. He was forced to go to a camp and live their with the other Japanese. He attended school, which was actually a very good education system with good teachers. For three years he stayed at the camps until he was finally released. It was hard for him and his family to integrate back into life outside the camps. They lost almost everything. He accepted the $20,000 payment but it was not nearly enough to make up for what he had lost. I assume it was hard to integrate back into society because some people still must have had some hatred for the Japanese. Truthfully, I believe that another interment of a whole race could happen again. When bad things happen, people become scared, and they will go to certain measures to stay safe.
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I agree with what you said here and about the possibility of another internment of a whole race of people is unlikely. People nowadays would not have the tolerance for such a thing and there would be huge protests. People who were in the Japanese internment camps would probably have extremely negative views on it and do what they could to stop it.
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