San Diego State University Japanese Internment Discussion

As  we explored in our Paper 1, in which we examined the authors’ choice of  setting in two of our short stories, we see in our novel that again,  setting is everything. Both chronological and physical setting are  essential for this novel to be what it is and play out as it does.  Chronological setting: it had to be during World War Two (in young Henry  and Keiko’s lives) so that conflict would be created (in Henry’s home  life, for Keiko and her family’s personal safety, and in both  characters’ conflicts with society – at school and at large). The  physical setting also had to be where it was – on the West Coast of the  United States. True, WWII was happening for people living on the East  Coast and in the Midwest as well, but due to the attack on Pearl Harbor,  the West Coast was perceived as particularly vulnerable, and the  anti-Japanese sentiment was strongest there. The Japanese internment  camps were only located inland from the West Coast, in Western states.  This brings us to our discussion in this forum, the Japanese internment.

1)  Did you know about the Japanese internment during World War Two, prior  to reading this novel? If so, where did you hear about it or learn about  it? Do you remember how the information was presented (and what  language (specific terminology)/lens were used)? Regardless of where you  first heard about it or learned about it, did it surprise you that the  U.S. government removed U.S. citizens of Japanese ancestry from their  homes and relocated them to internment camps against their will?

2)  What about the idea of monetary “reparations” to citizens of Japanese  ancestry? Is/was that a good idea? It happened, in 1988.

Executive Order 9066 (1942) took away freedoms of Japanese Americans in the United States.
Forty-six  years later, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 gave reparations to  Japanese Americans as atonement for Japanese incarceration during WWII.
You  can read about life in the camps, from witness survivors and other  information about the reparations (and the process), here:

Reparations to Japanese (Links to an external site.)

[This,  naturally, might open the door to reparations for other groups that  have suffered from past injustices, like African Americans or others.]

Do  you believe that it was a good idea to give Japanese Americans  reparations under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988? What do you think of  the U.S. government giving reparations to other groups, as well?

Also,  you can be specific in your terms: if you believe that reparations (to  anyone) are justified, must certain conditions or qualifications be met,  etc.?

Can You please respond to sarah thats her disscution . 

“Prior to reading this novel I did not know about the internment camps of 

World War Two. I only knew of the concentration camps of World War One. 

It is because of my lack of knowledge in the matter, I could not put 

this book down and watched a few youtube videos on the experiences of 

the Japanese. I am very surprised how so many people were forced out of 

their homes and to live in such a harsh environment. Although giving a measly $20k dollars to people who were being 

wrongly imprisoned is not justice it does admit fault. (I do understand 

that in 1988, $20K was a lot more money than it is today.) There are no 

reparations that will make up for lost time and the damaging experiences

 many people face during those periods.  The Native Americans had so 

much taken from them, and like many others were treated horrifically and

 now live on reservations. They do receive many “benefits” from the 

government to “make up” for all that was lost.”