"Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga" Topic

Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga, who uncovered proof that thousands of Japanese-Americans incarcerated in the United States during World War II were held not for reasons of national security but because of racism, has died at age 93…

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I hope she rests in peace.

However, I have to say, had I been alive in 1942 I would have agreed with the internments and understand why they happened. Prior to the December 7th, 1941, there were more Japanese war bonds sold in Honolulu than in Tokyo. Also, the Japanese government did not recognize dual citizenship. If you were born Japanese, you were Japanese and were expected to be loyal to Japan. Considering what happened on Ni'Ihau I can't blame the Americans for being fearful of this attitude.

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My mother had friends who were taken away. She hated the internment camps.

I have no doubt she did. And I don't blame her for hating them. All I'm saying is that given the circumstances, especially with the takeover of Ni'Ihau, the government saw this as their only option for protecting the country.

The irony is Japan still to this day doesn't recognize dual citizenship. At age 20 or so, government reps will visit you and tell you that you need to choose. To renounce your citizenship, you must go to your particular embassy. In the case of the USA, I've heard the embassy will ask the person if they are giving up their citizenship under duress. If told yes,
they will be informed the USA doesn't accept a forced renouncement.

Nah – I don't reckon the Japanese in California were any threat at all – look at how they volunteered for the 442nd and how well that regiment fought – it had the best combat record of any WWII US infantry regiment. The whole idea of some kind of 5th Column was an hysterical over reaction – sure there might have been a few Japanese American nutters, who may have done something violent, which seems conspicuously absent in fact – aside from the tiny Hawaiin example. Internment was just a bad idea and a dumb thing to do.

The irony is Japan still to this day doesn't recognize dual citizenship.

Neither does China. Maybe a cultural thing for Asian countries?

There was also the Kempeitai. Though I don't know how much the US Government know about the organization. The Kempeitai wouldn't have been beyond threatening to execute someone back in Japan to get compliance with a former National overseas.

DN Jackson, just because Roosevelt shamelessly overplayed its importance is no reason to overblow the situation yourself.
ONE japanese pilot, who managed to sweet-talk two local Japanese into taking some Niihauans hostage, does NOT mean that Niihau was 'taken over.' It just ain't so.

If it were that easy, we'd be talking about the US takeover of France every time an Allied aircrew got shot down and got involved fighting the Nazis or Vichy authorities.