I’ve revised a  book I self-published several years ago of the internment talk I give about my family’s experiences surrounding the evacuation and internment in a concentration camp during WWII – This is the final section giving my thoughts about my experiences, and the legacy passed on to me by my parents coming out of this experience.

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I’d like to close with several personal thoughts: In preparing this talk initially a little over 7 years ago I gave a trial run-through to my extended family in Eugene, and my daughter-in-law asked me the question, “Do you really believe this was a bright and shining moment?” – I said yes, and here was my reasoning:

For my government to admit to making a mistake of this Magnitude, and to formally apologize for it publicly was quite special. Something like this is unheard of, or at best rarely happens, which makes it all the more significant how things eventually worked out. Personally, it was a vindication of my belief in my country and our system of government.

But there’s a more important reason – It’s because of what it did for the Issei and Nisei and the greater Japanese community. The joy, appreciation, and especially relief in receiving the apology felt by the Japanese elders in particular was important; for all the anger, disappointments, and sense of betrayal they held within, it was a vindication that for all those years they weren’t wrong – or unpatriotic. For my Mom receiving the apology was one of the happiest days of her life. So yes, it was a bright and shining moment in our American story.

Now, that said, I want to make it clear that I in no way diminish or excuse the tragedy of the evacuation and internment. It was illegal and unconstitutional, was ethically wrong and egregious, based especially on racial prejudice, and was perpetrated on a lie that there was a military necessity for it. My parents paid an inordinate emotional and psychological price for their camp experience – Yet, they persevered and held their heads up and always moved forward. They could have filled our home with anger, resentment, and all sorts of attitude, but they didn’t. Instead they gave me a deep appreciation for family, a profound love of country, and a strong moral sensibility – I value fair play and equality and justice before the law, and these I attribute to them. I am who I am today because of the legacy they passed on to me out of my family’s experiences arising out of Camp Amache.

Link to Magcloud to purchase the book: https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/674056