Japanese Internment Camps

Did you know that the Japanese were once put into internment camps in the U.S because they were thought to betray the U.S during the Second World War?

These Japanese Americans who were essentially American citizens were forced to evacuate from their homes, give up everything that they own and move to internment camps mainly in the West Coast. The first of these internment camps, which is now termed "concentration camps" is in Manzanar, somewhere in California.

[Street Scene, Manzanar Relocation Center]
Gelatin silver print, 1943

The Executive Order 9066 was issued in February 19th, 1942 by then President Franklin Roosevelt to put these Japanese descendants into camps because of "military necessity." Even though there was no evidence of any disloyalty among these Japanese people and 2/3 of these people were actual American citizens, they were still forcibly put into the camps. They were only all released in 1945. The constitution that claims that all citizens have "equal protection of the law" was not taken into account.

Child at the Los Angeles Railroad Station: Clem Albers-p. 36 Newly Built Mess Halls at Manzanar: Clem Albers-p. 45

Although they were not tortured in any ways like the concentration camps in Germany. These Japanese people lost everything they had. They were forced to give up their properties, houses, and business to live in these military barracks just because the U.S government doubted their loyalty. They didn't even have any prove of any disloyalty from these Japanese people. Most of internees were little children.

Some say that the Americans have all the right to discriminate against the Japanese for what they had done in Pearl Habor. Even today, the old generations of Malaysians still hate the Japanese for what they had done during the Second World War.

However, the U.S government didn't do anything towards the German immigrants even though the U.S were at war with German at that time.

So was the discrimination purely based upon race or the nationality?

Goodness always prevail

I was browsing through New York times a while ago and I came across this article that brought my attention. I normally am only interested in world news and I was interested in this particular article because the guy's picture was next to the title "Chinese Activist wins Rights Prize."

He looked familiar because I wrote a paper about him last semester in my Intro to Human Rights class. That time, we were given assignments to write our views on a newspaper article. And the article was about Hu Jia, who was arrested because of what he wrote in his blog about the communist government on violation of human rights. I remember writing about how the Chinese government was violating the civil rights of the people by not giving them freedom of speech. I even remember reading about his poor wife who just gave birth at that time and was put into house arrest. Imagine stumbling upon the same guy again and this time, he is winning a prize for his actions.

Good always triump huh!

Too bad the Chinese government isn't happy about this.

Peace for China Or Tibet

The Tibetan Issue.

I always think that there is two side to every story. But that does not mean that both sides are equally right or wrong. We have to choose a side to take on. However, which ever side that we choose, we have to make sure that we are well-equipt with knowledge to make sure that we're making the right judgments. Don't just make a decision based on what we hear or read. Make sure that we know inside out on the issue that we're fighting about.

All sides will have their own story to tell. Whether it is to deceive others into believing their story or to get empathy from the public, it is essential that we do enough research to make sure that we are not easily deceived by facts that are thrown around to get people's attention.

I'm not saying that the Chinese are totally wrong in not liberating the Tibetans. And that the international public shouldn't put China in the "bad guys" box. But sometimes.. there are more things that meets the eye. If we're not there to experience it ourselves, how can we say anything? How do we truly know how the Tibetans are really feeling if we're not there ourselves?

That's not to say that the Chinese doesn't have any human rights violation or that they're not ill treating the Tibetans but..



Life is complicated. I just hope that both countries, does not matter which side wins, will get along peaceful and harmoniously. With its people able to achieve happiness in life.

Burma Vs Myanmar

I remember when I was in high school, we started to learn about the countries in South East Asia. And one of those countries is Myanmar. However, when I came here, my professor kept using the word Burma and not Myanmar. Why? I wondered. Did he get it wrong or did the name changed since I left high school?

I realize I have been really ignorant of the issues facing the world today. I remember my dad telling me once about this lady called Aung San Suu Kyi who was held in house arrest in "Myanmar" for trying to fight for her people. That was the first time I heard about her name and that's pretty much all I knew about this lady.

Only after I attended a class with Betty Williams, a Nobel Peace Laureate that I realize that this lady had won the elections in 1990. She won 80% of the people's vote and is rightfully the prime minister of the country. That is the highest democratic win in the whole world. But the military regime did not recognize her and instead put her under house arrest. And though she was freed a few times she is now still under house arrest till this day! She couldn't even be with her husband when he passed away in 1999! Imagine that!!! She has been under house arrest for over 17 years! She just recently celebrated her 62nd birthday in isolation. Only her maid and the doctor is permitted to enter her house!

What kind of life is this?

Argh...!!! How frustrating can the world be?

It hurts me soo much when I start learning about these things. These are just one of the issues that I choose to talk about. But there are sooo many issues out there in the world and there are no fast solutions to these problems. Human trafficking, "terrorism" are just one of the many issues that plague the world today. And just sitting in class discussing the so called solutions to these problems gives you the feeling that there is nothing that we can do to save the world.

Such a terrible feeling I tell you. People in Burma are suffering so much for the lack of freedom in their own country. Democracy is just a word for them and even Aung San Suu Kyi mentioned in her writing "In Quest of Democracy" that they are "rice robots". And though the international body is trying to take measures to force the government in Burma to change their systems, nothing much is being done. Many foreign companies like Pepsi, Carlsberg, Heineken Beer, Apple Computer, and Toyota to name a few have discontinued or lessened their operations because of the country's international reputation. Even the World Bank has ended its relationship with the military regime sending a clear message that investment in Burma should be considered extremely risky. Efforts are going on as we speak to discourage tourism to Burma because it inadvertently helps the military junta in its denomination in the country.

Are you doing your part in "helping" the regime?

But if these actions aren't doing anything, what else can we do? International scrutiny can only reach a certain point. What action needs to be taken or what tragedy needs to happen before the government finally changes?

The military regime changed the English word of Burma to Myanmar in 1989. But many countries do not recognize this because its a symbol of accepting the legitimacy of the ruling military regime. What actions are you taking to make yourself more aware on this situation?




It is proper to doubt, to be uncertain... Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing. Nor upon tradition, nor upon rumors... When you know for yourself that certain things are unwholesome and wrong abandon them... When you know for yourself that certain things are wholesome and good, accept them.

Aung San Suu Kyi, "In Quest of Democracy" (1991)