Shame on America

Shame on AmericaShame on AmericaBy Leanna HamiltonBy Leanna Hamilton

Spring 2007Spring 2007

Shame on AmericaShame on America

We are a country that Constitutionally We are a country that Constitutionally guarantees it’s citizens “life, liberty and the guarantees it’s citizens “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Yet when pursuit of happiness.” Yet when threatened by the countries from which threatened by the countries from which citizens came, we have a uniquely citizens came, we have a uniquely American response.American response.

When felt threatened by the Native When felt threatened by the Native Americans, we restricted them to life on Americans, we restricted them to life on the reservation.the reservation.

In the midst of World War II, when Japan In the midst of World War II, when Japan announced an intention to participate in the announced an intention to participate in the conflict, by staging an early morning bombing raid conflict, by staging an early morning bombing raid on the U.S. military base at Pearl Harbor, killing on the U.S. military base at Pearl Harbor, killing 2403 and wounding 1178 American soldiers…2403 and wounding 1178 American soldiers…

Again we take prisonersAgain we take prisoners

Internment knew no age.

Within hours of the news from Hawaii, FBI agents, without Within hours of the news from Hawaii, FBI agents, without evidence, search or arrest warrants, conducted house to evidence, search or arrest warrants, conducted house to house roundups of 1,212 Issei (first-generation Japanese house roundups of 1,212 Issei (first-generation Japanese immigrants) in Hawaii and the mainland. immigrants) in Hawaii and the mainland.

They were prominent They were prominent leaders in the Japanese-leaders in the Japanese-American communities: American communities: priests, teachers in priests, teachers in language schools, language schools, officers of community officers of community organizations, and organizations, and newspaper editors. newspaper editors.

A Family SeparatedA Family Separated

"Dear Sir, We want to "Dear Sir, We want to know when our father know when our father may come back to us. may come back to us. Oh please, will you Oh please, will you release him and have release him and have him join us? . . He him join us? . . He hasn't done any harm hasn't done any harm to this country. . ." to this country. . ."

Seventy-four days later Seventy-four days later President Franklin D. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, Executive Order 9066, requiring persons of requiring persons of Japanese ancestry living Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast to on the West Coast to pack their belongings and pack their belongings and prepare for relocation to prepare for relocation to inland “relocation camps.”inland “relocation camps.”

Executive Order 9066Executive Order 9066

Just as we had done with the Indian nations, we Just as we had done with the Indian nations, we protected ourselves by forcibly moving potential protected ourselves by forcibly moving potential enemy combatants into restricted living spaces enemy combatants into restricted living spaces

under our control.under our control.

Within days Within days those marked those marked for relocation for relocation had to pack had to pack what what belongings belongings they could they could carry;carry;

Register for relocation;Register for relocation;

Be bused to assembly centers;Be bused to assembly centers;

Move into their temporary “homes.”Move into their temporary “homes.”

The removal of the The removal of the Japanese-American Japanese-American did not leave the did not leave the local economy local economy untouched. Block, untouched. Block, after block of after block of Japanese owned Japanese owned businesses were businesses were left vacant.left vacant.

On the move, again.On the move, again.

After a short time in After a short time in one of seventeen one of seventeen “assembly centers,” “assembly centers,” internees were moved internees were moved by bus or train to one by bus or train to one of the ten “relocation of the ten “relocation camps.”camps.”

The CampsThe Camps

Rohwer, Ark.Rohwer, Ark. Jerome, Ark.Jerome, Ark.Granada (Amache), Co.Granada (Amache), Co. Heart Mountain, Wy.Heart Mountain, Wy.Minadoka (Hunt), Id.Minadoka (Hunt), Id. Topaz, UtTopaz, UtPoston, Az.Poston, Az. Gila River, Az.Gila River, Az.Tule, Lake, CaTule, Lake, Ca Manzanar, Ca.Manzanar, Ca.

Work in the CampsWork in the Camps

Play and Relaxation in CampPlay and Relaxation in Camp

People leaving the Buddhist church People leaving the Buddhist church in the winter, 1943in the winter, 1943

Group of people gathered outside Group of people gathered outside Catholic Church with priest, 1943.Catholic Church with priest, 1943.

GamanGamanQuiet PatienceQuiet Patience

THE CAMPS CLOSECampCamp OpenedOpened ClosedClosed PopulationPopulationGranada Granada (Amache), Co(Amache), Co

08/24/194208/24/1942 10/15/194510/15/1945 7,3187,318

Gila River, AzGila River, Az 07/20/194207/20/1942 11/10/194511/10/1945 13,34813,348

Heart Mtn, WyHeart Mtn, Wy 08/02/194208/02/1942 11/10/194511/10/1945 10,76710,767

Jerome, Ark.Jerome, Ark. 10/02/194210/02/1942 6/30/19456/30/1945 8,4978,497

Manzanar, CaManzanar, Ca 03/21/194203/21/1942 11/21/194511/21/1945 10,04610,046

Minadoka, IdMinadoka, Id 08/10/194208/10/1942 10/28/194510/28/1945 9,3979,397

Poston, AzPoston, Az 05/08/194205/08/1942 11/28/194511/28/1945 17,81417,814

Rohwer, Ark.Rohwer, Ark. 09/18/194209/18/1942 11/30/194511/30/1945 8,4758,475

Topaz, UtTopaz, Ut 09/11/194209/11/1942 10/31/194510/31/1945 8,1308,130

Tule Lake, CaTule Lake, Ca 05/27/194205/27/1942 03/30/194503/30/1945 18,78918,789

My Personal Experience

at Manzanar

ImpressionsImpressions Guard Tower Manzanar at Evening

Interpretive Center Orchard

Our Own Private TourOur Own Private Tour

The Day of the PilgrimageThe Day of the Pilgrimage

Our Worship TogetherOur Worship Together

Our Prayer Flags for ManzanarOur Prayer Flags for Manzanar

Learning from those who Learning from those who were therewere there

Admitted MistakesAdmitted Mistakes

"Monument for the Pacification of "Monument for the Pacification of Spirits." Spirits."

May we never forget those who were here against their will and may we acknowledge their sacrifices.

One who was interned said:One who was interned said:

"Courage is something strong within you "Courage is something strong within you that brings out the best in a person. that brings out the best in a person. Perhaps no one else may know or see, Perhaps no one else may know or see, but it’s those hidden things unknown to but it’s those hidden things unknown to others, that reveals a person to God others, that reveals a person to God and self." and self." - Yuri Nakahara Kochiyama- Yuri Nakahara Kochiyama  Diary entry, May 3, 1942   Diary entry, May 3, 1942

Again America is attacked;Again America is attacked;

Again we make prisons;Again we make prisons;

Again we take prisoners.Again we take prisoners.

The Hebrew Scriptures say:The Hebrew Scriptures say:

Exodus 21:23-25: Exodus 21:23-25:

23) But if there is serious injury, you are to 23) But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24) eye for eye, tooth for take life for life, 24) eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25) burn for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25) burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

But, Jesus tells us:But, Jesus tells us:

Matthew 22:36-40Matthew 22:36-40

36) “Teacher, which commandment in the 36) “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37) He said to him, “You law is the greatest?” 37) He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38) This is the greatest and first commandment, 38) This is the greatest and first commandment, 39) And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your 39) And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40) On these two neighbor as yourself.’ 40) On these two commandments hand all the law and the commandments hand all the law and the prophets.”prophets.”

Has Anything Changed?Has Anything Changed?