Cole Richardson
Staff reporter
World War II was a time of destruction and evil. Everyone knows about the Holocaust and the concentration camps, the terrible inhuman things that occurred there are taught in every school. Memorials and shrines of all kinds are around to commemorate the immense loss of life. During World War II something similar to the concentration camps was occurring; right here in the United States. While not near as evil it is often overlooked that there were internment camps all throughout the U.S.
After Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S entered the war with full force. Fighting on both the European front as well as the Pacific. Many people are not aware of the action taken along the west coast and the rest of the U.S. Out of fear of another attack from Japan, defensive bases were set up all over. Another thing that became prevalent were internment camps, these camps were built for people of Japanese descent and pretty much anyone who was from Asia regardless of who they were. These people were given a choice, either enlist and fight in the war or be sent to one of these camps. There was no proper justification for this as almost all of those sent to these camps were U.S citizens. Blind fear lead to involuntary institutionalization.
Over 120,000 people were forced into these camps but it was not just the U.S, Canada and Mexico followed the same path. The camps they were sent to were often converted fairgrounds, farm land and anywhere else they could round them up. They were forced to work while in the camps but they were paid, they were paid no more than a private in the army. All of these people had lives before they were sent away without just cause. The entire event was one big hate crime, prejudice against Asians.
The lack of recognition given for this time period is sad. It seems it is almost covered up as it is something the U.S did that was bad. It is something bad, it is a terrible and inhuman act committed without just cause. If history is not learned from it is doomed to repeat.
Image Credit: history.net
Comments