A Challenge to Democracy

In the video, “A Challenge to Democracy” Japanese people living in the United States were treated as an exclusive group, in a bad way. The ideas of liberty, personal rights and freedoms, and the pursuit of happiness were strictly being denied to the Japanese.

The people of Japanese decent were being evacuated and relocated by the military and government. These were war relocations based on fear on distrust of the Japanese race and ethnicity. All of the Japanese were placed in a large community similar to a prison. This community was of course secluded and often made on previously unoccupied land. “There were wire fences around the community” and men were on watch 24-7. Just as the Japanese had already done, they began farming the previously unoccupied land, and they were successful. Many Japanese were farmers, so much food was produced inside the community. Basic education was provided to the children, but at older ages they began to learn a certain trade. Living conditions and housing was not very good, but they could have been worse. “Facilities were barely adequate”, but sports, arts, and religious times were provided. Families were given shelter and food, so necessities were provided. The Japanese were constantly supervised by whites and even Japanese doctors that worked inside the community had to be supervised, and not “in charge” of anything. If Japanese Americans were soldiers they were not placed in the community though. As long as they are fighting for the country, and helping the country then they are not “disturbed” as much. When relocating the Japanese from the community to other locations, the whites were very careful and cautious. Japanese only became “eligible” to leave when they were seen as loyal Americans.

Why exactly were Japanese American soldiers “trusted” enough to not be placed in the community? As long as they were fighting for the U.S. and helping the U.S. then it was not necessary for them to be secluded in a community doing nothing for the U.S. Also, the Japanese American soldiers were most likely not as valued as the American soldiers, so if a soldier might be put in a dangerous situation it would more likely be a Japanese American soldier. A lost life of a Japanese American soldier would not have been very important, as compared to a lost life of an American soldier.

I think this community was a prison. The Japanese were treated as prisoners. Actually, they were treated worse than prisoners because there was no reason for their imprisonment. A fear of possibility led to their imprisonment. If today we would put possible criminals in prison then there would not be enough room for everyone. The name of the video, “A Challenge to Democracy” is a fitting one. Placing Japanese in this community was truly a “challenge to democracy.” These people who have possibly been living in the United States for decades were having their freedom, liberty, and rights taken away from them. They were not being given equal rights, treatment, or opportunity, which are all characteristics of a democracy.