Japanese Internment: A Lesson from the PastAmerica is a word that brings the hope of freedom to many people around the world. Since the humble beginnings of the United States, freedom has remained at the center of its ideologies and philosophies. People of every race, nation, and language have found refuge in America. The national anthem proclaims, “…land of the free and home of the brave” (Key, 1814). But has America consistently been a land of the free? Unfortunately, freedom has not always reigned. There is a constant struggle to overcome fear and prejudice in order to secure a true land of freedom. In times of increased tension, the masses of ordinary people try to find a scapegoat. Often this scapegoat is a minority linked to current negative events. As fear grows uncontrollably, it can lead people to enable and commit unspeakable atrocities. World War II was a time of high tension. The whole world witnessed the struggle of fascism and dictatorships against democracy and freedom in the European theater. The United States watched, wanting to remain neutral and distant from the war. On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese, officially dragging the United States into the war. Thousands of young sailors died in the attack, and several U.S. Navy ships were sunk. The attack marked the beginning of the United States' involvement in World War II, as well as the beginning of the persecution of Japanese Americans in the United States. Hysteria and indignation increased throughout the country and largely contributed to the authorities' decision to act against the Japanese. On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, allowing the military to place anyone of Japanese ancestry in restraints...... middle of paper ...... on http://historymatters.gmu .edu/ d/5154Sasaki, L. Beyond Words: Images from America's Concentration Camps. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/perfectunion/collection/image.asp?ID=372Satsuki, I. History of Internment. (1999). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/childofcamp/history/index.htmlSugimoto, H. Arrival at Camp Jerome. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/perfectunion/collection/image.asp?ID=158Targeting Suspicion: The Impact of Post-9/11 Policies on Muslims, Arabs, and South Asians in the United States. (2004, May 1). Retrieved from http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/special-reports/targets-suspicion-impact-post-911-policies-muslims-arabs-and-south-asians-usTsukamoto, Evacuation Center Regulations M., Notice of evacuation. (1942, July 12). Retrieved from http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/perfectunion/collection/image.asp?ID=1043