I agree with you.
The camps were #1 mostly for non-citizen Japanese, many of whom subscribed to “patriotic” magazines and other appeals for support; and, #2 also for citizens of Japanese origin, and to protect them for us as well as to protect us from them.
The system was abused, as was probably inevitable, since the internees’ property, businesses and livelihood were impacted. Looking back, the #2 part should have been handled differently.
Regarding the #1 part, the following is from the Wikipedia entry on the “Niihau incident” (in which Native Hawaiians detained two Japanese pilots, but were betrayed by a Japanese resident brought in by the Native Hawaiians to interpret):
Historian Gordon Prange notes that “the rapidity with which the three resident Japanese went over to the pilot’s cause” troubled the Hawaiians and added: “The more pessimistic among them cited the Niʻihau incident as proof that no one could trust any Japanese, even if an American citizen, not to go over to Japan if it appeared expedient.”
Notice the animosity of Native Hawiians and Japanese, two different “people of color” in that territory. To Critical Race Theorists, the issue of race is simple. White versus People of Color, or as it’s now vogue to say, BIPOCs. But, in reality, the issue of race (or, color) is complex. In Hawaii at mid century, the hard-working and entrepreneurial Japanese were viewed with suspicion by the Native Hawaiians.
Thanks, and really interesting as I did read the Wikipedia article. I think there were also incidents of Japanese spying in Hawaii and when I visited there, I noticed the wording was very careful in trying to make Americans feel guilty, as it said there was never a case of Japanese sabotage (such as blowing up fuel storage tanks). Even taking them at their word, it still didn’t mention this incident, or the spying incidents (which could be worse than sabotage).
War is war, and you do what you think is needed to win. I know in one case, after the war, our government felt guilty about the internment of one family and gave away crappy land to that family as compensation, including one piece of swamp that now makes up a good portion of the southern part of Huntington Beach. So, for that, I would have volunteered to spin my wheels for a few years at one of those camps!
You're full of crap.
And if you want to debate, you need to know that it is a subject which I am extremely familiar with.