Essay Sample on Japanese Internment

This piece of writing provides the best explanation of the Japanese interns because of simplicity and the fact that it is straightforward. It eliminates any unnecessary information that would derail the reader from acquiring the most relevant information on the subject matter. It is relevant and credible as the author cites other works conducted by credible authors in this issue. Through this piece, the author is balanced such that he seeks to look at the Japanese internment from an objective point of view not being subjective as some materials would do. And it is in reading the analysis that one can get the grasp of what the motivating factors of the concentration camps as well ironies in the whole process. As such, anybody desiring to understand what transpired during that historical time would better read this piece of work.

The only logical explanation of the Japanese American in 1942 was the prevalent racism that was tolerated in the country. The legal structures of then and public policies allowed discrimination of all non-native Americans. Unfortunately, the huge numbers of Japanese living in the coastal areas found themselves as victims of racism. Surprisingly, most of the Japanese Americans held in the concentration camps were born in America and knew little about Japan. As such even the practices, behavior and norms they embraced were mostly American. The treachery actions committed by few Japanese during the eleventh-hour negotiations in Washington DC formed the basis of citing that all Japanese Americans were a threat to the security of the United States. This however, was just a stereotype universalized against all the Japanese. In any case, if Native Americans would have participated in such kind of an action, all Americans would not have been taken to detention camps. Maybe, the Americans were afraid of the Japanese following their successful business and growing population. Thus the concentration camps would serve as a shakeup.

The Japanese Americans contributed to the war efforts in various ways. They played a significant role, ironically, as translators of high profile officials during the war. These translators served in the top diplomatic circles acting as mediums of top secrets that would provide vital information for the war. Moreover, the Japanese served on the front lines as riflemen. As such, they were instrumental in ensuring that the security of America was maintained during the war. Many men whom the government found fit to assist in whatsoever way in the war efforts was taken from the concentration camps to the battlefields. In so doing the government was gaining from the Japanese American men and was also saving. The men who would participate in the war field did not require housing or feeding in the concentration camps. Moreover, it would be probable that the efforts of such men were very instrumental as they would not be known out rightly by the enemy as American.

The internment camps were uncomfortable for the Japanese Americans. The psychological trauma of them having to leave their homes, businesses, and places of work would be hard to deal with. The interns and their families were not given ample time to prepare so that they are emotionally ready to move to the camps. In fact, most of them were shipped overnight to an unknown destination which was unfamiliar to them. It must have been torturous for them to adopt a life in the remote areas of America like Oregon while they were used to a coastal life where they would interact with most people. Further, living in camps where food and housing was provided for by the government denied them any choice of the kind of life they would have. Denying them liberty and freedom to move to any place in America was infringing on their human rights and would lead to anger and resentment. Additionally, the fact that the Japanese Americans were moved to internment camps after being branded as a threat to the security of US would affect their esteem as they felt despised and downgraded. Finally, life in a dusty, isolated place away from contact with other people was enough discomfort added to the psychological aftermath of the migration.

Well, the Japanese Americans have made great strides in the transition to the American populace, but some issues are not quite as they ought. Their resentment against the Whites who denied them freedom termed them as a threat to national security and made them leave their homes and workplaces is still there. Although there have been laws that prohibit racism and demand that each person is treated equally, in practice racism is still there. Therefore, they have not fully adapted back to the American populace. Further, the fact that when they came from the internment camps, they found some of their properties repossessed by Whites, their businesses not operational and their workplaces no longer there, that would take such a long time to rebuild and reestablish. As such, that instability would not allow them to intermingle with the Native Americans fully. Finally, the Japanese may feel the same government that ordered internment camps is still there such that it can propagate another racial activity.