Manzanar Restoration a Step Toward Honesty

Re “Reassembling a Sad Chapter of History,” Dec. 11: Hats off to the National Park Service for taking a small step to restore the dignity of the U.S. For years we took conflicting, hypocritical positions by demanding that the nations that lost World War II preserve prisoner of war and concentration camps as memorials, while we sought to erase all evidence of our own abuses. While it may be accurate to conclude that the “internment” of American citizens of foreign ancestry in “camps” was triggered by a genuine, national, hysterical fear of invasion, the inescapable fact is that we consciously decided to curtail the freedom of certain classes of American citizens. Later, instead of honestly acknowledging our past, we tried to pretend it never happened.

The restoration of Manzanar is a step toward honesty and truth. I believe that this country is capable of true greatness. I also believe that our country is making some serious mistakes in foreign policy these days and that the bluster, double talk, deception and rhetoric of misdirection practiced by our national leaders of all stripes undermine the ability of the people to think critically, weaken the heart or will or soul of the people and, ultimately, undermine this country’s potential for greatness. In this context, a little straightforwardness, a little honesty, is like a tonic.

Gregory C. Fast

Oxnard

*

Thank you for that picture worth a thousand words. And it is so timely to remind us of sad Manzanar ... today, when once again our Constitution is under assault in the pursuit of a false security. Let us pause and think twice about what America is supposed to be about, what we can be at our best and what the Constitution promises us all -- and the world.

Jerry Small

Venice

*

If Manzanar facility manager John Slaughter had been in my history class he would have been treated to my commemorative Haiku poem on Manzanar and a photo, which I include when covering World War II or during Asian/Pacific American Heritage month (May).

Snowflakes’ silent fall

envelops innocent hands

not one sees the blood

F. Daniel Gray

Los Angeles

*

It is interesting that Manzanar camp is being rebuilt (partially). This is a sad part of our history, but one that should not be forgotten. One piece of literature that was not mentioned in the article is a fine book by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston called “Farewell to Manzanar.” It is a firsthand account of her time in the camp.

I am an English teacher at Santa Maria High School, and we regularly use this book as part of our world literature class. The students are often quite surprised to read this true story. Other good accounts of Manzanar are a couple of shows done by Huell Howser for PBS, which I use in the classroom as supplemental material.

Carolyn Brouwers

Santa Maria