Reparations to War Internees

The United States need not pat itself on the back for finally providing reparations to Japanese-American citizens who were interned (read imprisoned) during World War II. Justice delayed is justice denied. The sight of 100-year-olds receiving their checks should be a source of shame and embarrassment to all Americans (Part B, Oct. 13).

There was no more justification for interning Japanese-Americans than German-Americans and Italian-Americans. That the freedom and livelihood of Asians, and Asians alone, were taken away, is painful evidence of the potency of racism in the 1940s. That reparations were denied for nearly 50 years until 1990 is potent evidence of the racism that still corrupts our society.

MARCIA J. BATES, Van Nuys