On February 19, 1942 President Franklin Roosevelt signed an Executive Order that sent 110,000 Japanese Americans to interment camps in Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Arkansas, Colorado and California...
Los Angeles Times Editorial... "
"A viper is nonetheless a viper wherever the egg is hatched... So, a Japanese American born of Japanese parents, nurtured upon Japanese traditions, living in a transplanted Japanese atmosphere... notwithstanding his nominal brand of accidental citizenship almost inevitably and with the rarest exceptions grows up to be a Japanese, and not an American... Thus, while it might cause injustice to a few to treat them all as potential enemies, I cannot escape the conclusion... that such treatment... should be accorded to each and all of them while we are at war with their race."
I hated to see that a bus from my beloved Sun Valley was used for this purpose...
Even though this book tells the story of one of the most shameful bits of American history, it is a beautifully written story of love and honor.
"A viper is nonetheless a viper wherever the egg is hatched... So, a Japanese American born of Japanese parents, nurtured upon Japanese traditions, living in a transplanted Japanese atmosphere... notwithstanding his nominal brand of accidental citizenship almost inevitably and with the rarest exceptions grows up to be a Japanese, and not an American... Thus, while it might cause injustice to a few to treat them all as potential enemies, I cannot escape the conclusion... that such treatment... should be accorded to each and all of them while we are at war with their race."
I hated to see that a bus from my beloved Sun Valley was used for this purpose...Even though this book tells the story of one of the most shameful bits of American history, it is a beautifully written story of love and honor. Henry Lee is a boy with troubles to spare. He is a Chinese-American elementary school student who is sent to an all white school. The white kids don't like him and the Chinese children in his neighborhood don't like him either. He is a solitary boy.
Henry's father is a man obsessed and eventually destroyed by hatred. He provides little comfort for Henry by insisting that the boy speak "American" and since his parent speak only Chinese, it insures for almost no conversation. Henry's mother does what she can to give Henry love and comfort, but she is very traditional and honors her husband's wishes in all things.
If it weren't for Sheldon, the saxophone playing jazz musician, Henry would be truly friendless.
Then, Henry meets the lovely little Keiko, a Japanese American girl who comes to attend the all white school with him just after Japan attacks Pearl Harbor...
This is a wonderful book... When you pick it up, make sure you've carved out the day.
