It is funny how growing up, in history classes that we take from grade school through high school,
we are taught certain things about life in America and what it means to be American. A reason I am writing this response is to analyze Okihiro's article on the Japanese Internment camps. I can say for myself, from grade school and high school, I was NEVER taught about these camps. I was taught about how evil the Nazi's were and how wrong the Japanese were for attacking us at Pearl Harbor. The Axis of Evil, Germany, Japan and Italy. Those were the real EVIL...It is so incredible how we leave this information out of the general information we are taught as young adolescents about World War II history. It is rather sad and deceiving that during this war, we are taught that we were the victim, Pearl Harbor, and that we were the good guy and did nothing wrong but in reality we forced 120.000 Japanese Americans into camps very similar to what that of Jews were put in during World War II. I think that whatever committe decides what should be taught to young adolescents, especially those that are in high school, should give some detail and facts from both sides, of the horrors that were committed.
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I fully agree with your comment. I had taken a very rigorous American History class in high school and the internment camps were never presented to the class. I believe that the Japanese internment camps are an important part of American history because they are firsthand accounts that America is not so "perfect" as many Americans presume it to be. Many Americans choose to leave it out of their culture because shows a flaw. However, regardless of these feelings this time period should be taught more openly in history classes.
ReplyDeleteEverything you said was SO true. I was never taught about the internment camps in middle or high school. It's crazy to me how America was supposed to be this force of good during this time but we were participating in the same type of cruelty that our enemies did. I feel like the Japanese Americans should have more than a monument dedicated to them for enduring this type of cruelty.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Natalie and Rachel. I have had conversations with friends here that had no idea the extent of the internment camps, even as seniors in college. I was literally showing them the articles we read because they didn't believe me since they weren't taught it. It's a shame.
ReplyDeleteI also completely agree. I took AP US history in high school, and I cannot recall learning about or discussing these internment camps. I feel that, as Americans, we take so much pride in our historical narrative that, sadly, rather than present these camps as a low point in our history, we prefer to ignore them entirely.
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