Betrayal Loyalty

Betrayal Loyalty Introduction On December 7, 1941, American military men at United States naval base at Pearl of Harbor in Hawaii woke to a crude shock; the Japanese army had attacked them, something that invited the United States of America into World War II. Following this attack, the United States of America in retaliation, placed all Japanese Americans in internment camps popularly known as ‘War Relocation Camps.’Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Betrayal Loyalty specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nevertheless, the aftermath of this exercise presented one big irony of all the time; loyalty and betrayal co-existed and it was even difficult to differentiate between the two. Whilst the Japanese Americans remained loyal to the U.S. government, this government resorted to betrayal, assigning each family a number, which was used as surnames for the Japanese Americans in these camps among other ‘injustices’, only to incorporate them in military later on. Loyalty and Betrayal The Japanese Americans in the internment camps remained loyal to the U.S authorities albeit the harrowing experiences they went through in the camps. For instance, they lived in, â€Å"un-partitioned toilets, cots for beds, and a budget of 45 cents daily per capita for food rations† (Myer 1). The first act of loyalty came with the surrender of Japanese Americans to authorities. After President Roosevelt signed the Executive Order 9066, posters saying â€Å"All Japanese persons, both alien and non-alien, will be evacuated from the above designated areas by 12:00 oclock noon Tuesday, April 7, 1942†¦report for internment with bedrolls and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Weber 16). Being loyal to the authorities, the Japanese Americans responded to this order and reported at the said time. There is no one recorded time when the Japanese Americans became disloyal to the U.S. authorities save for some peaceful demonstrations; how ever, these were also allowed in the constitution; therefore, it was not an act of disloyalty. Japanese Americans submitted to denounce their religion, salute the U.S flag, and sing loyal songs; all in loyalty. Moreover, they swore allegiance to â€Å"one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all† (Weglyn 56). In loyalty, the Japanese Americans in these camps submitted to authorities and respected the constitution. This was ‘high-class’ loyalty; something that they carried on to World War II. In 1943, the U.S authorities gave some Japanese America prisoners chance to serve in the military on voluntary basis. â€Å"The War Department is offering you a chance to volunteer and to distinguish yourselves as Japanese-American citizens in the service of your country† (Sone 218). According to Broek, Barnhart, and Matson, one of the distinguished loyal Japanese American regiment was â€Å"the 442nd Regimental Combat Team† (98).Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This team went on to become the most adorned combat regiment of the time and it served in the war across Europe. This echoes the loyalty that the Japanese Americans portrayed in the internment camps as prisoners. As part honoring them, the U.S authorities branded the 442nd regiment as, â€Å"the most highly decorated unit of its size and length of service in the history of the U.S. Army, including 21 Medal of Honor recipients† (Broek, Barnhart Matson 102). If it were not for patriotism, what else could motivate these ex-prisoners to defend a country that had subjected them to untold sufferings? The act of these ex-prisoners defended the U.S during World War II is an extension of loyalty practiced in the internment camps earlier on. Unfortunately, the U.S did not recognize this loyalty and they mistreated the Japanese Americans inside and outside the inter nment camps. As aforementioned, the white people mistreated the Japanese Americans before and after the way amounting to betrayal. Immediately after the attack at Pearl of Harbor, President Roosevelt, acting under pressure from the white people, signed Executive Order 9066. This meant that all the Japanese Americans were to be placed in internment camps. According to Weber, the rounding up exercise involved, â€Å"freezing of bank accounts; seizure of contraband; drastic limitation on travel, curfew, and other severely restrictive measures† (20). Moreover, the conditions in the camps were squalid with, â€Å"un-partitioned toilets, cots for beds, and a budget of 45 cents daily per capita for food rations† (Myer 1). As aforementioned, each family was given â€Å"Tags to be attached to each piece of baggage, and one to hang from our coat lapels. From then on, we were known as Family # 10710† (Sone 35). This was part of mistreatments and many people went though unt old sufferings as betrayal took the centre stage after the war. This betrayal was uncalled. It beats logic why a government for people by people would turn against its citizens. Moreover, the betrayal was at both state and citizen level. Betrayal was not only a task of the authorities but also the U.S citizens. After the war, the authorities started releasing Japanese Americans back to their homes. Unfortunately, their reception was cold and unwelcoming. For instance, Elsie Robinson, a newspaper columnist vowed to, â€Å"cut the throat of any evacuee who dared return† (Myer 23). On another account, Clair Eagle, the U.S representative in California made it clear that, â€Å"We dont want those Japs back in California and the more we can get rid of the better† (Myer 23). This was utter betrayal. Even after the loyalty that the Japanese Americans showed towards the constitution, authorities and the whites in general, people were not convinced that these ‘ex-prisoners ’ were people or rather human beings just like them. Sone posits that, after the war, â€Å"the West Coast was still off-limits, but we had access to the rest of the continent where we could start all over again† (111).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Betrayal Loyalty specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This shows that even though these Japanese Americans had proved their loyalty, the minds of many whites still held hatred and betrayal. The authorities had not accepted fully that these were loyal citizens and this explains the presence of no-go zones. Betrayal from the U.S side coupled with loyalty of the Japanese Americas, presented irony of all time as aforementioned. It is ironical that the U.S branded the Japanese Americans, â€Å"enemies’ only to allow them to be part of military and other governmental and societal structures. The U.S. authorities put the Japanese Americans into internment c amps as ‘enemies.’ Ironically, they incorporated the same enemies into the military to fight in the World War II. Moreover, they were allowed to enroll in schools and participate in any other national activity. What can explain such an intriguing incidence? Based on these events, it is apparent that the presence of the internment camps was illegal and unjustifiable in the first place. There is no way an enemy can become a close ally in such a short time. President Roosevelt acted under pressure to sign the Executive Order 9066. The truth will always stand and the Japanese Americans proved this very well. By remaining loyal to the constitution and submissive to the authorities, they went on to become the most distinguished regiment in the World War II. The fact is America’s betrayal of Japanese Americans coupled with the loyalty the latter showed the former, which resulted into incorporation of Japanese Americans into the U.S military, is one big irony. Conclusion After the Pearl of Harbor attack, the U.S retaliated swiftly, rounding most of the Japanese Americans living across the United States of America and sending them to internment camps. Conditions in these camps were squalid; however, the U.S reconsidered her decision and released these prisoners back to their homes after proving their loyalty. Some were incorporated in the army and other national institutions, the irony surrounding this loyal-betrayal saga between the Japanese Americans and the U.S authorities. Broek, Jacobus, Barnhart, Edward Matson, Floyd. â€Å"Prejudice, War and the Constitution.† California; University of California Press, 1968. Myer, Dillon. â€Å"Work of the War Relocation Authority, An Anniversary Statement.† The Harry S. Truman Library Museum, 1947. Web.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sone, Monica. â€Å"Nisei Daughter.† Washington; The University of Washington Press, 1979. Weber, Mark. â€Å"The Japan Camps in California.† The Journal of Historical Review, 1980. 2(1); 16-30. Weglyn, Michi. â€Å"Years of Infamy; The Untold Story of Americas Concentration Camps. New York, 1976.

Slumming It Essay Essay Example

Slumming It Essay Essay Example Slumming It Essay Essay Slumming It Essay Essay Through the documentary McCollum consistently expresses his pollens on Diehard and aims to solve the enigma that this slum is claimed to have a strong sense of community, high employment rate, little crime and a model for sustainable living. Kevin Mucosas opinions in the opening scenes of the film reinforce the audiences attitudes of poverty stricken, disease rife slums. He says When I think of a slum, the thing I think of is misery. And for people to say they are intensely happy, I don buy that. These relatable personal opinions and camera shots of McCollum experiencing the extremes of the slum give him a persona of a genuinely interested and honest investigator. This positions the audience to respect him and adds an air of credibility which encourages the audience to accept the information as reliable and encourages them to accept the views being promoted by Kevin McCollum. Juxtaposition is shown through the editing of camera shots which displays the negative and positive aspects o f Diehard. Camera shots of littered lands, crowded and fragile makeshift housing and children playing in sewage, gives us a powerful image that further strengthens the attitudes and ideologies the western world has with poverty stricken societies. This persuades the audience to feel empathy and arrow towards this poor and euthanized community. However through the construction of taking a positive approach and emphasizing the qualities of the slum, the audiences attitude is altered. Silencing Is used as information such as the high death rates in slums, depression and struggle that many people In the slum experience regularly is not included. Not knowing this Information, positions the audience to perceive the slum as a more positive place, as the positive features are focused on stronger. Conversations are had with the people who live In Dorval, we gain Information of personal experiences wealth the slum. Convincing statistics are given through the narration of McCollum, such as the high 85% employment rate of Dorval. Also through the visual shots of the communities utilizing space extremely well, the connections and Interaction between all the people In the slum and the long camera shots which emphasize the smiles, laughter and happiness had In the communal TTY, persuades us to change our Attlee we previously Ana AT ten slum. Film puts forward the view that underneath the unsanitary conditions, there are values overlooked that the western world can learn such as teamwork, social interaction, space management and the keys Tao happy life. The construction processes used in Slumming It were effective in conveying and persuading the audience of first world countries. Its purpose of exposing the audience to the knowledge of the true happiness and intelligent tools that can be learnt from poverty stricken societies was achieved. The documentary altered the audiences attitude and ideologies that people living in slums are not depressed, unmotivated and uneducated people as the film persuaded us that they are very content in the way in which they live focusing their values in happiness and life qualities. I chose this documentary as the ways in which other cultures live interests me. The knowledge of a identity other then my own and to learn the way in the way which they live and express their language to connect to the communities in which they live in, has altered my attitudes and ideologies not only towards the people living in slums like Diehard, but the western society and how much we lack qualities such as sustainable living and the happiness shared with social interaction in our own communities.