Internment of the Japanese-Americans
Unlike the First World War, during the Second World War, the United States government fostered pluralism. As a result, all races, religions, and cultures would practice equality and freedom. However, there was a significant exception to these ideologies, especially for the Japanese-Americans who occupied the West Coast. As a result, about 120,000 Japanese-Americans, with over three-quarters having American citizenship, were transferred from the homes to internment camps. Now, these occurrences happened in February 1942 and were initiated by political and military pressure on the president after the Pearl Harbor bombings were carried out by Japan. Consequently, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued an executive order on the internment of all Japanese-Americans. As a result, the Japanese-Americans communities lost their employment opportunities. Secondly, they lost most of their properties since they were confiscated by the United States government military. And the mobility of the members of this community was limited and controlled by armed military guards. As a result, during World War II, citizens of the United States of America, who were from Japan, spent a lot of time in relocation camps. However, the Japanese-Americans were resistant to internment.
Generally, the internment was not practical because over two-thirds of the Japanese-Americans 120000 evictees were legal American citizens. In 1994 Fred Korematsu did not agree with the internment policy; as a result, he was arrested and arraigned in the Supreme Court of the United States (Foner, 1999). Eventually, Korematsu was not convicted of any crime, and this led to the condemnation of the United States majority for the violation of civil rights. Later in 1988, the congress issued official regrets and apologies for the internment, and the victims who survived received various compensations. What was unusual about this event was the order that made Japanese’ American citizenship a crime. “Korematsu was born on our soil, of parents born in Japan” (Foner, 1999). And this automatically made him a citizen of the United States by birth. What is more, there was no other claim of disloyalty, offense, or violation, and it was clear that he was convicted wrongfully.
The congress does not commission the law that Korematsu was convicted for; however, it is usually applied through a military order. “As a result, neither the act of congress nor President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s order, nor both together would provide a basis for conviction” (Foner, 1999). As a result, it was all dependent on the orders of the General. They are acceptable constitutionally; what is more, they could become laws or federal policies as long as the court supports them. Despite all that, this doctrine is not acceptable, and it justifies why the Japanese-Americans were resistant to the internment initiative. Besides, it is irrational and a dangerous ideology to insist that all potential military orders within a region of possible operations will be constitutionally acceptable. In most scenarios, when an area has to be put on army control, the primary consideration is usually success rather than legality. All in all, the military should have protected American citizens and not merely the constitution.
The Japanese-Americans were resistant to internment. And this was evident in various letters that were written by the internees. Clara Estelle Breed, popularly known as Clara Breed, was a librarian in San Diego who extensively supported American-Japanese children. As a result, most of the letters written from the internment camps were directed to her. To be more precise, Lousie Ogawa wrote to Clara Breed, and here is a part of the content: “Dear Miss Breed, Greetings from far-off Poston, Arizona! We arrived yesterday, after leaving Barstow, we began to feel the heat, and it was scorching, we traveled through the desert after desert. There were many houses which looked as if they were built many years ago; we seldom saw a human being except when passing through a small town” (Lousie Ogawa, Aug. 27, 1942). From the letter, it was clear that the internees were not happy with the internment. First of all, these evictees were not familiar with the new region and the weather. Arizona was so hot that on their way to their camps, they saw beds outside, signifying that people could not sleep in their house at night.
That aside, there was another letter that was written by Ted Hirasak to Clara Breed, who was a supportive librarian living in San Diego. That is “Dear Miss Breed, it is none other than yours truly, Tetsuzo. Gosh, the wind has been blowing all night and all morning, kind of threatening to blow the roofs down. Dust is all over the place. And it gives everything a coating of fine dust” (Ted Hirasak, Nov. 16, 1942). The Japanese-Americans were resistant to internment due to these prevalent conditions. In contrary to the west coast where they used to live, the winds were calm in the night. What is more, they had employment opportunities, better houses, and various properties. In another section of the letter, Ted Hirasak wrote: “It seems that there is a possibility that many of the internees are to be released sometime close to Christmas” (Ted Hirasak, Nov. 16, 1942). The information on the internees’ release was speculations and rumors that started from the internees due to their urgent need to leave their camps. Besides, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt recalled the order in1944.
That aside, Fusa Tsumagari wrote another letter to Clara Breed. And here is a part of the message: “Dear Miss Breed Almost every day I go to the post office wondering whether or not there will be a letter from you. I’m almost always disappointed for I haven’t heard from you in ages. You’re not ill, are you? Or are you too busy to write?” (Fusa Tsumagari, Nov. 15, 1943). From the letter, it was clear that the internees were not happy with the internment environment. First of all, these evictees were not familiar with the new region and the weather. Secondly, they were confined in camps and had limited freedom as compared to their homes. As a result, their only hope was on Clara Estelle Breed, who extensively supported American-Japanese children, and this justifies the significance of the letter. In another section of the letter, Fusa writes: “we had a visitor, Mr. Harris Rummell, from San Diego, who is looking after the goods we stored at the church on 13th street; we were certainly glad to see a familiar face from San Diego” (Fusa Tsumagari, Nov. 15, 1943). Rummell supported the American-Japanese, and his efforts of sending those goods gave them, in fact, to them; he was a hero.
Margaret Ishino wrote the last letter in this paper to Clara Breed. That is, “Dear Miss Breed, Thank you very kindly for your lovely letter and the two wonderful books you sent to Florence and me. I think your stationery is truly nice because it matches, and you can write long letters to me as I am always happy to receive long letters” (Margaret Ishino, Sept. 28, 1942). Clara Estelle Breed, popularly known as Clara Breed, was a librarian in San Diego, who extensively supported American-Japanese children. And the internees loved her for her efforts. These evictees were not familiar with their new camps, and they were not familiar with the weather and environment. However, Clara breed sent them various books and countless, which encouraged and motivated the internments. The Japanese-Americans were resistant to confinement. And this was evident in Fred Korematsu’s arrest and multiple letters that they wrote.
References
Foner, E. (1999). The story of American freedom. WW Norton & Company.
Tsumagari, F. (1943, November 15). Letter to Clara Breed. Poston, AZ
Ogawa, L. (1942, August 27). Letter to Clara Breed. Poston, AZ.
Ishino, M. (1942, September 28). Letter to Clara Breed. Poston, AZ
Hirasaki, T. (1942, November 16). Ted Hirasaki to Clara Breed. Arcadia, CA