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Author
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Topic: bout those FEMA camps...
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katatonic
Knowflake Posts: 140
From:
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted May 04, 2009 12:27 PM
 
saw a program last night on the situation that japanese-americans found themselves in during WWII. ALL people of japanese descent, including american citizens, were rounded up and confined in a very good replica of the german camps, barbed wire and guntowers with guards pointing guns at the inmates. those camps were all over the country and many of them still are. which might explain the pictures of WWII type camps we see on internet stories about the FEMA thing. the question is are there actual intentions to use them again or have they been preserved "just in case" or for history's sake?amazingly, and unknown to me before, volunteers from those camps were requested for military service, and there was a whole japanese-american regiment which distinguished itself highly in action. and though they were highly decorated, they had to wait about 40 years for recognition and apology from our government for their valour above and beyond, and for the way they were treated. amazingly on their return home they were returned to the camps! and it wasn't for some years that the stigma of being japanese receded. these people were ordered out of their homes, had to give up their businesses and possessions...i don't think there was any nazi-style torture involved but the treatment they received was degrading and the attitude of their "guards" was apparently taunting and cruel. it happened to them and i guess it could happen to any group the government decided to single out. IP: Logged |
cpn_edgar_winner
Knowflake Posts: 160
From: Toledo, OH
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted May 04, 2009 01:06 PM
yes kat, the whole thing was abhorrant to me. you don't see much about that on the history channel. some families were split up and i am sure the whole experience was quite devastating. easy to say, tough to have lived.IP: Logged |
katatonic
Knowflake Posts: 140
From:
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted May 04, 2009 02:22 PM
yes i have a japanese-american friend whose parents were there and told their children about it. she says she did have ONE history teacher who mentioned this part of our history to his classes, it is not in any of the history books i have ever seen. i do remember there is a japanese restaurant in new york, called miyako, which was the ONLY japanese restaurant that stayed open during the war in this country as far as i know. how they did it i do NOT know...but i remember it was also the only japanese rest. i have ever been to with WESTERN decor, an attempt to emphasize their citizenship perhaps. some people who had no time to find buyers for their businesses were forced to just turn them over to non-orientals for nothing. inmates were given burlap bags to stuff with straw for beds. they were treated like convicts. and yet when asked to serve in the war they jumped at the chance as "americans" to defend their country. amazing people.IP: Logged |
cpn_edgar_winner
Knowflake Posts: 160
From: Toledo, OH
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted May 04, 2009 04:56 PM
what is funny is how many documentaries on ww2 on the history channel and never a story about that. like never. and i watch the history channel, one exciting mama i am.
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Lindaland
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