Japanese-Americans Recall The Pain Of World War II Internment 60 Years Later

Japanese-Americans recall the pain of World War II internment 60 years later

Monday, February 18, 2002
©2002 Associated Press

It's been 60 years, but the pain of destroying her mother's kimonos and anything else of Japanese origin still stings Betty Haruko Nishi. She remembers all too well how the federal government forced thousands of Japanese to give up their homes and businesses to live in internment camps during World War II.

"Everything happened so fast. My dad's new tractor, we had to leave behind. We couldn't take anything Japanese," Nishi, 72, told the San Jose Mercury News. "It was horrible."

President Roosevelt signed an Executive Order on Feb. 19, 1942, forcing about 120,000 Japanese-Americans -- many of them U.S. citizens living on the West Coast -- away from their homes, jobs and farms and into 10 internment camps.

The U.S. government did not formally apologize or make reparations to internment survivors until 1989.

Former internees say they hope a lesson was learned from their pain and that others aren't treated the same during America's war on terrorism.

"I hope the same thing doesn't happen to the Middle Easterners," said Dave Tatsuno, whose family was forced to sell their store's merchandise and move to Topaz in the Utah desert. "Most of them are innocent like we were. The country has to be careful to never again fall into the trap of condemning a people due to ancestry."

Nishi had just celebrated her 12th birthday with her family in Turlock when she was sent to a filthy assembly center in Merced with her parents, five brothers and sister. Nishi's mother went temporarily blind with stress, and her siblings got pneumonia and ulcers.

Four months later, they shared two stark rooms in Amanche, Colo., and watched many young men leaving the camps to fight for the United States overseas. Ultimately, the all-Japanese 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team suffered the highest casualty rate and became the most decorated unit in U.S. military history for its size and length of service.

"Looking back I remember the deep well of pain the experience caused my parents," Nishi said. "It is something that will always be in my heart."

Katie Hironaka, 82, also can't forget, even though she admits the camps -- in a strange way -- may have saved lives.

"What was done to us was wrong," said Hironaka, who was a new mother sent to Heart Mountain, Wyo., with her parents and brothers.

"And yet, there was so much prejudice and ignorance, who knows how many Japanese homes would have been burned, how many citizens would have been hurt or even killed if we had been around?" she said. "In that way it was good, and yet it was so terrible as well."

It was NOT the correct "thing to do".

Results suggest otherwise. There was no slash-American sabotage in WW2 like there was on 9-11.

The internment was only correct if you were the scum sucking Dashole who acquired the lost assets of the Japanese American community. You might feel that it is appropriate to have state-sponsored theft. I do not.

I see we're back to the nutcase hour. Do they let you out often? What's Daschle got to do with WW2?

May imminent domain take your home.

If it does, I'll blame the attckers, not the public safety.

Once again you havent failed to give me a laugh.

You said: "The was no sabotage by slash-Americans in WW2 like there was on 9-11. So I'd say internment was the right thing to do."

First of all I think you got that backwards there buddy. But if you didn't, then why have internment if there was no sabotage? If you did get it wrong, then what do you call the anthrax letters sent after 9-11? Second of all unless you are a Native American (you know Indian) then you are a slash american.

There it is again,"Results suggest otherwise"

That kills me. It has to be the stupidest thing I have ever seen posted. What makes it better is you keep repeating it like it is your catch phrase or something. HAHA!!

You're a joke of a "constitutional republican".

In this thread alone you have:

1. Argued for a classless society.

2. Defended the worst social policy of FDR.

3. Approvingly supported the use of federal gov't executive power to steal homes, destroy families, imprison children, and bankrupt companies.

4. Attempt to argue that EO9066 had "national security" rationale by posting commentary on two supreme court cases. Unfortunately, you forgot to add that it was the liberal chief justice, Earl Warren, who created these illegal prisons as the California Attorney General and California Governor. Then, as a Supreme Court member, Warren had a role in review of his own policy.

You claim to be right.

Reality shows that you're only behind and LEFT.

You're a classic example of closet communists and socialists attempting to infiltrate conservative values with a vindictive revisionist history.

Once again you havent failed to give me a laugh. You said: "The was no sabotage by slash-Americans in WW2 like there was on 9-11. So I'd say internment was the right thing to do." First of all I think you got that backwards there buddy. But if you didn't, then why have internment if there was no sabotage?

The trick is to intern before sabotage.

If you did get it wrong, then what do you call the anthrax letters sent after 9-11?

No internment, therefore sabotage.

Second of all unless you are a Native American (you know Indian) then you are a slash american.

It's done when practical. 50% of Americans are descended from the British, so it's not practical. In WW2, it wasn't practical to intern all the Germans, and there was German sabotage.

There it is again,"Results suggest otherwise" That kills me. It has to be the stupidest thing I have ever seen posted. What makes it better is you keep repeating it like it is your catch phrase or something. HAHA!!

You're not results orientated? You keep doing something the same way 100 times over even though it doesn't work?

You're a joke of a "constitutional republican". In this thread alone you have: 1. Argued for a classless society.

I opposed your government subsidized classes.

2. Defended the worst social policy of FDR.

A policy that eliminated sabotage.

3. Approvingly supported the use of federal gov't executive power to steal homes, destroy families, imprison children, and bankrupt companies.

Casualties of war.

Nevertheless, the law is the law.

You claim to be right.

Results prove I am.

Reality shows that you're only behind and LEFT.

Show me a poll where the right considers the internment wrong. Most conservatives on this thread agree with the EO.

You're a classic example of closet communists and socialists attempting to infiltrate conservative values with a vindictive revisionist history.

How is documenting exactly what the Supreme Court said revisionist. Just keep marginalizing yourself. You're winning my argument for me.

You just keep proving yourself stupid. Did you really need to answer my question twice? Maybe stuff like that is needed for you but I think I can figure it out. You need to talk to some of the other people on this thread and get your story straight. Many are arguing that there was in fact sabotage and Jap sympathy in Hawaii after the attack and that is what led to internment. Do you read history or just make it up as you go? Yes Germany had sabotage! They were those Germans who were against the occupation of the Nazi's. Those people who risked their lives to disrupt and conspire against the Nazi's are pretty muched hailed as heros in Germany. But with reasoning like yours the Nazi's look like Boy Scouts. I am really let down that you didn't use your catch phrase this time. Hopefully, you will use it next time. Since your posts are unfounded and simply garbage, that is the only part I look forward to (gives me a laugh).

I don't care what others have said. So are you saying there was or was not Japanese-American sabotage?

Do you read history or just make it up as you go? Yes Germany had sabotage!

I was obviously speaking of German-American sabotage against the United States. The obvious has to be explained to you.

They were those Germans who were against the occupation of the Nazi's. Those people who risked their lives to disrupt and conspire against the Nazi's are pretty muched hailed as heros in Germany. But with reasoning like yours the Nazi's look like Boy Scouts.

How so?

I am really let down that you didn't use your catch phrase this time. Hopefully, you will use it next time. Since your posts are unfounded and simply garbage, that is the only part I look forward to (gives me a laugh).

You didn't answer my question: Are you results orientated? Or do you do the same thing 100 times over even if it fails 100 times?

Its not me or others saying it genius. HISTORY says their was sabotage. You know some of us read history, we don't just make it up. Sure tap-dance backward when you get caught in a jam. So if you were all for Japs being put in camps, why not Germans? Because there was to many of them? You just keep shoving that foot farther and farther in your mouth don't you? You like to lock everyone up in camps. I think the Nazi's did the same thing. "results oriented", is that the new phrase. I don't like it as much as the other one. Could you start to use the old one please? Results are a matter of opinion. Data or studys produce results. How those results are interpreted depend on the person. But I forgot you take everything the Supreme Court says as the bible. C'mon now somewhere in this post you can find a reason to use your catch phrase.

Its not me or others saying it genius. HISTORY says their was sabotage.

Sabotage by who, Germans or Japs?

You know some of us read history, we don't just make it up. Sure tap-dance backward when you get caught in a jam.

What jam?

So if you were all for Japs being put in camps, why not Germans?

Because there was too many and therefore not practical.

Because there was to many of them? You just keep shoving that foot farther and farther in your mouth don't you?

How so? If something is impossible to do, you don't do it. If something is possible, then there is that option.

You like to lock everyone up in camps.

No just people who may sympathize with a foreign invader.

I think the Nazi's did the same thing.

So you're saying America was no better than the Nazis? There were gas chambers in the Japanese internment camps?

"results oriented", is that the new phrase. I don't like it as much as the other one.

It's the same thing. Results are results. If you have a goal, you should be results orientated. There's no point in doing something 100 times over if it isn't giving you the results you want.

Could you start to use the old one please?

Why, are you afraid of questions? Don't have enough faith in your philosophies to answer my questions?

Results are a matter of opinion.

No sabotage is a result. Sabotage is a result. Looks clear to me. We couldn't intern all the Germans and there was sabotage,we were able to intern almost all the Japanese and there was no sabotage on the mainland.

Data or studys produce results. How those results are interpreted depend on the person. But I forgot you take everything the Supreme Court says as the bible.

No, I was laughing at the way you fell for McCoy's trick. Read this whole thread and you'll see that I argued against putting too much emphasis on opinion. The law is the law though and for that period of time the Supreme Court interprets the Constitution. Someone's word has to be final, and that someone is the Supreme Court. You said it was unconstitutional, but Article I, Section 9 says otherwise when there are cases of rebellion or invasion.

C'mon now somewhere in this post you can find a reason to use your catch phrase.

I'll say it every post if you want: The results are clear, we interned the Japanese on the mainland and there was no sabotage like there was with Germans, whom we couldn't intern because of their numbers. Result show you're wrong and the people of the '40s were right. The public safety demanded there internment.

Are you choking on that foot yet? You asked about Japanese-American sabotage and now you can't remember whether it was Jap or German? Started a little to early with the wise crack didn't you? Nice how you break up a thread so it fits your answers. Try to crack at me for not answering a question and right below was my answer. VERY NICE!!! Who in the hell is McCoy? It also was constitutional to keep slaves and beat them to their deaths. Not everything the Supreme Court has ruled as right has been proven to be right. This was wrong, if it was not why did the US gov't pay money and say they were sorry. You wanted to lock up those who sympathize with an invader. First of all the Japs attacked not invaded. They never attempted to occupy any of the 50 US states. Second of all not all of those in camps were sympathetic. The majority in fact were US sympathetic. Families interned in the camps lost family memebers dying for our country. We thanked those mothers by keeping them locked up. America was a racist nation back then. Maybe back then public safety felt it warranted the camps but today I can say that was hogwash. No invasion ever happened nor did the camps stop a potential invasion or rebellion. You darn right you had better start using your catch phrase. Your posts are retarded and that is the only thing that I look forward to for a laugh.

Are you choking on that foot yet? You asked about Japanese-American sabotage and now you can't remember whether it was Jap or German?

You can't make up your mind, first you say there was no Jap sabotage, then you say there was. Which is it?

Started a little to early with the wise crack didn't you? Nice how you break up a thread so it fits your answers. Try to crack at me for not answering a question and right below was my answer. VERY NICE!!! Who in the hell is McCoy?

Your hero, apparently. Would you know him if I called him bones?

It also was constitutional to keep slaves and beat them to their deaths.

So why are you arguing constitutionality if you don't respect the constitution?

Not everything the Supreme Court has ruled as right has been proven to be right.

Exactly. You're the one that brought up constitutionality to me, goofy. I proved you wrong and now you say the constitution doesn't matter. Make up your mind.

This was wrong, if it was not why did the US gov't pay money and say they were sorry. You wanted to lock up those who sympathize with an invader. First of all the Japs attacked not invaded.

An invasion of the mainland was possible and they did invade our airspace over Pearl Harbor. They had to invade to attack.

They never attempted to occupy any of the 50 US states.

So they were misunderstood?

Second of all not all of those in camps were sympathetic.

Well I would certainly hope that not all were sympathetic. LOL

The majority in fact were US sympathetic.

Well duh! LOL

Families interned in the camps lost family memebers dying for our country. We thanked those mothers by keeping them locked up. America was a racist nation back then.

Taking precautions for the public safety during an invasion is not racist.

Maybe back then public safety felt it warranted the camps but today I can say that was hogwash.

Results suggest otherwise. We prevented sabotage.

No invasion ever happened nor did the camps stop a potential invasion or rebellion.

I'd say they did, especially if there would have been a mainland invasion.

You darn right you had better start using your catch phrase. Your posts are retarded and that is the only thing that I look forward to for a laugh

Results prove you wrong.

You just keep pluggin away at nothing don't you? Let me help. You said:

I don't care what others have said. So are you saying there was or was not Japanese-American sabotage?

I said:

Its not me or others saying it genius. HISTORY says their was sabotage.

So then you said:

Sabotage by who, Germans or Japs?

Then I said:

You asked about Japanese-American sabotage and now you can't remember whether it was Jap or German?

So would you please keep up with the thread? I feel like a court room reporter that has to repeat everything back to you.

Caught you again and once again no answer.

Where did I say "I have no respect for the Constitution."? I said that everything that the Supreme Court has found to be right has not always stood the test of time. BIG DIFFERENCE!!

So if it was done for public safety and not because racism was acceptable back then, why aren't we taking such precautions right now? Why haven't Muslims and Arabs been locked up? We have had sabotage, and there is still a threat. Why did the Bush administration go to great pains to make it clear that there would be no repeat of what happened to the Japanese Americans in WWII?

AHHH another question goes unanswered. Why (like I asked you last time) did the gov't apoligize and pay money if what was done was right for the country. We should have nothing to be sorry for, shouldn't we?

You been playing this game for a while now trying to make it seem like I can't make up my mind, but like with everything else you have shown no proof.

You just keep pluggin away at nothing don't you? Let me help. You said: I don't care what others have said. So are you saying there was or was not Japanese-American sabotage? I said: Its not me or others saying it genius. HISTORY says their was sabotage. So then you said: Sabotage by who, Germans or Japs? Then I said: You asked about Japanese-American sabotage and now you can't remember whether it was Jap or German? So would you please keep up with the thread? I feel like a court room reporter that has to repeat everything back to you.

So you've changed your mind and are now admitting that there was Jap sabotage?

Caught you again and once again no answer. Where did I say "I have no respect for the Constitution."? I said that everything that the Supreme Court has found to be right has not always stood the test of time. BIG DIFFERENCE!!

The Supreme Court has the final say. You didn't even know that habeas corpus can be suspended until I told you.

So if it was done for public safety and not because racism was acceptable back then, why aren't we taking such precautions right now?

We should be. Intern suspicious Islamic-Americans until we find and kill all the terrorists. There'll be another terrorist attack I'll bet, possibly with a nuke, and it will be carried out with the help of Islamic-Americans, just like 9-11 was.

Why haven't Muslims and Arabs been locked up?

Because we're much more liberal than in 1941. And we'll pay for it.

We have had sabotage, and there is still a threat. Why did the Bush administration go to great pains to make it clear that there would be no repeat of what happened to the Japanese Americans in WWII?

Because the country is too liberal. Bush isn't emperor.

AHHH another question goes unanswered.

Ask any question. I'm not afraid of questions like you are.

Why (like I asked you last time) did the gov't apoligize and pay money if what was done was right for the country. We should have nothing to be sorry for, shouldn't we?

They shouldn't have apologized but the innocent internees should have been helped back into business if they lost businesses, etc. But that doesn't make internment wrong.

You been playing this game for a while now trying to make it seem like I can't make up my mind, but like with everything else you have shown no proof.

You can't.

Your such an idiot. You prove it time and time again. You say you are not afraid of questions yet you refuse to answer them. I say again show me where I said that I have no respect for the Constitution. Show me where I said that I did not know habeas corpus could be suspended. You have mere speculation on this point and because of your twisted mind you believe that your speculation is fact.

NO, NO, NO. You say to lock up suspicious Islamic-Americans. In WWII all Japanese Americans were locked up and only released when taking oath to fight for this country. Don't sugar coat it moron, tell the facts. So why are we not suspending habeas corpus and locking them all up? I don't want your opinion, I want to know why we are not locking them up?

If you are not afraid to answer questions, why do you refuse to do so until called on it? Do you need more time to think up your retarded responses? What did I tell you about your catch phrase? I better see it next time. I'm not going to tell you again.

Again I didn't ask for your opinion. Why did we pay and say we were sorry if we did nothing wrong? What was the motivation of the gov't at the time?

Once again you have failed to show proof that I cannot make up my mind. Surely you have some sort of evidence. Nope I forgot you live in fantasy land where your opinion is fact. You keep going and that foot is going to be coming out of you a$$ soon.

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