Anyone on the far right, or otherwise, who dismisses the idea that camps might be established in America to round up so-called undesirables or disloyalists in our midst shows a woeful lack of basic knowledge of American history. There are still living among us some who were interned during the World War II era -- taken from their homes a…
Anyone on the far right, or otherwise, who dismisses the idea that camps might be established in America to round up so-called undesirables or disloyalists in our midst shows a woeful lack of basic knowledge of American history. There are still living among us some who were interned during the World War II era -- taken from their homes and relocated, dismissed from their jobs, relieved of most of their possessions, and blighted with the indelible stain afterward of having been imprisoned, often for dubious reasons including mere heresay, innuendo, and suspicions -- and all legally under federal law. And it was not just Japanese-American citizens and resident aliens. It was also German-American and Italian-American legal resident aliens, as well as individuals from selected Latin American nations who were brought here as part of exchanges for American citizens held abroad. These people were made to suffer suspension of their freedom and civil liberties for little to no valid reason, largely under the pressure of wartime prejudices and insecurities, and little accountability came to those who brought that fate down upon them. It remains one of the darkest chapters of American history, and too many among us are all too willing to revisit it in the name of their own prejudices and tribal group think preferences.
Because it happened before, it can happen again. It is interesting that the setting invoked for a proposed new camp is Texas, in the middle of nowhere. It is eerily similar to past experience. Feel free to do a web search on a place called Crystal City, Texas and the internment facility that was open there outside of town from 1943 until early 1948. I've known personally several individuals who were detained there at the time, and have heard their true story, in depth, on how and why it happened. We owe it to them and their legacy to listen carefully and learn from the mistakes of the past. Repeating them should never become a valid option, and for the worst of reasons -- politics.
I had a friend whose husband’s family was interned in the Camps. After his mother died they found in her possession a series of “year books” produced in the Camp (Idaho, I think). It was an astounding piece of history: they had Boy Scout troops, gardening clubs, softball teams, daily newspapers, etc. Amazing. I had no idea.
That is correct. I know that Crystal City had an internee newsletter among the German-Americans held there -- I've seen copies of it, courtesy of one of the former internees I knew. They also had sports, a library, dances, and other things that took their mind off of their captivity to some extent. It is important to note that the internment camps were humane -- all of those I've spoken with who were there said that they were treated well, that the facilities were clean, and that a certain sense of normalcy prevailed. Still, they were captives, and usually not for just cause. Would it be so humane in another Trump administration? That obviously is unknowable now, but what I'm seeing and hearing leads me to believe that it would be a much harsher, more severe circumstance.
Hitler took over in ‘33. It wasn’t until 11 years later that he started mass murder of Jewish people. [handicapped persons were killed starting in ‘39]
I agree. What you write reminds me of a similar example of “institutional living” that is now much maligned but in at least one case was quite humane - actually better than humane. It was told by a man who was raised in a Jewish orphanage during the 1930s and 40s, and he recalled it as a warm and wonderful childhood. They had regular reunions throughout his life.
Somehow we have decided that institutional living is always a horror never to be improved upon. As if foster care is a shining example of success. Not really.
Unfortunately, many schools do not teach their kids about this part of our history. I appreciate you putting it out here, please continue to enlighten the American public that this type of thing can really happen here.
Thank you for highlighting this, especially that it was multiple groups - most people have at least been exposed to the Japanese internment camps, but not necessarily the others. Also, anyone notice how many people and place names were changed after 1917/18 following popular treatment of “the other”?
My wife is descended from two families of Germans who also immigrated to the US due to the 1848 revolution. One set left to avoid being drafted into the Prussian army, settling in Illinois farm country. The other set were 3 brothers who were student revolutionaries and had to flee to escape the secret police, settling in NJ and PA near Philadelphia. During our Civil War, one of them raised and commanded the first artillery unit from NJ, Battery A 1st New Jersey Artillery, which fought for the Union with the Army of the Potomac. There are even monuments and plaques honoring them at both the Gettysburgh and Antietam battlefields. Both families suffered discrimination during WWI in spite of their stances against German militarism and for the USA.
My husband's great, great, grandfather & his family immigrated in the 1840s for the same reason- his sons kept getting pulled out of line at school for the Prussian army. They settled in northern Indiana.
I’ve heard similar stories. I can’t decide if it’s reassuring or not to realize we have always had an element of vile, knee-jerk stupidity and violence in response to unrelated events.
Anyone on the far right, or otherwise, who dismisses the idea that camps might be established in America to round up so-called undesirables or disloyalists in our midst shows a woeful lack of basic knowledge of American history. There are still living among us some who were interned during the World War II era -- taken from their homes and relocated, dismissed from their jobs, relieved of most of their possessions, and blighted with the indelible stain afterward of having been imprisoned, often for dubious reasons including mere heresay, innuendo, and suspicions -- and all legally under federal law. And it was not just Japanese-American citizens and resident aliens. It was also German-American and Italian-American legal resident aliens, as well as individuals from selected Latin American nations who were brought here as part of exchanges for American citizens held abroad. These people were made to suffer suspension of their freedom and civil liberties for little to no valid reason, largely under the pressure of wartime prejudices and insecurities, and little accountability came to those who brought that fate down upon them. It remains one of the darkest chapters of American history, and too many among us are all too willing to revisit it in the name of their own prejudices and tribal group think preferences.
Because it happened before, it can happen again. It is interesting that the setting invoked for a proposed new camp is Texas, in the middle of nowhere. It is eerily similar to past experience. Feel free to do a web search on a place called Crystal City, Texas and the internment facility that was open there outside of town from 1943 until early 1948. I've known personally several individuals who were detained there at the time, and have heard their true story, in depth, on how and why it happened. We owe it to them and their legacy to listen carefully and learn from the mistakes of the past. Repeating them should never become a valid option, and for the worst of reasons -- politics.
If Steven Cheung thinks he’s immune because he is US born, he’s sadly mistaken.
I had a friend whose husband’s family was interned in the Camps. After his mother died they found in her possession a series of “year books” produced in the Camp (Idaho, I think). It was an astounding piece of history: they had Boy Scout troops, gardening clubs, softball teams, daily newspapers, etc. Amazing. I had no idea.
That is correct. I know that Crystal City had an internee newsletter among the German-Americans held there -- I've seen copies of it, courtesy of one of the former internees I knew. They also had sports, a library, dances, and other things that took their mind off of their captivity to some extent. It is important to note that the internment camps were humane -- all of those I've spoken with who were there said that they were treated well, that the facilities were clean, and that a certain sense of normalcy prevailed. Still, they were captives, and usually not for just cause. Would it be so humane in another Trump administration? That obviously is unknowable now, but what I'm seeing and hearing leads me to believe that it would be a much harsher, more severe circumstance.
Hitler took over in ‘33. It wasn’t until 11 years later that he started mass murder of Jewish people. [handicapped persons were killed starting in ‘39]
I agree. What you write reminds me of a similar example of “institutional living” that is now much maligned but in at least one case was quite humane - actually better than humane. It was told by a man who was raised in a Jewish orphanage during the 1930s and 40s, and he recalled it as a warm and wonderful childhood. They had regular reunions throughout his life.
Somehow we have decided that institutional living is always a horror never to be improved upon. As if foster care is a shining example of success. Not really.
Unfortunately, many schools do not teach their kids about this part of our history. I appreciate you putting it out here, please continue to enlighten the American public that this type of thing can really happen here.
Thank you for highlighting this, especially that it was multiple groups - most people have at least been exposed to the Japanese internment camps, but not necessarily the others. Also, anyone notice how many people and place names were changed after 1917/18 following popular treatment of “the other”?
My wife is descended from two families of Germans who also immigrated to the US due to the 1848 revolution. One set left to avoid being drafted into the Prussian army, settling in Illinois farm country. The other set were 3 brothers who were student revolutionaries and had to flee to escape the secret police, settling in NJ and PA near Philadelphia. During our Civil War, one of them raised and commanded the first artillery unit from NJ, Battery A 1st New Jersey Artillery, which fought for the Union with the Army of the Potomac. There are even monuments and plaques honoring them at both the Gettysburgh and Antietam battlefields. Both families suffered discrimination during WWI in spite of their stances against German militarism and for the USA.
My husband's great, great, grandfather & his family immigrated in the 1840s for the same reason- his sons kept getting pulled out of line at school for the Prussian army. They settled in northern Indiana.
I’ve heard similar stories. I can’t decide if it’s reassuring or not to realize we have always had an element of vile, knee-jerk stupidity and violence in response to unrelated events.