The Imprisonment of Japanese Americans- Fear

     Fear is a major emotion. Technically, it is the response your body has to something that will possibly hurt or damage you in any way, both physically and mentally. It helps us to avoid harmful and irritating things. It can also hurt you (ever been afraid to do a project or speak publicly, because fear makes it harder). It can be fear of a bear, or fear of embarrassment, or even fear of fear. No one likes to be afraid, but it is just a part of life.

    I will now show the fear in the event of The Imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War 2. There are two sides of the issue. I will start with the side against the Japanese Americans. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the people and the government began to be suspicious of Japanese products and people. In fact, the government was afraid that citizens of Japanese heritage would be disloyal to America, and favor Japan in the war. They were afraid that they would become spies or conspirators or vigilantes. A pointless fear, but a fear nonetheless.

   So the government forced the Japanese Americans people to give everything they owned to them for resale, and shipped the people out to what are often referred to as Japanese Concentration Camps.  They were forced to live in sloppily made, unpainted, uninsulated, unsealed bunkers that a rat wouldn't choose to sleep in. They were forced to eat low-grade rations that the army provided for them. They had little freedom, and they suffered greatly. All of this because of an unreasonable fear. This shows that fear can make people do very terrible things. But, it can also inspire greatness, which is what I will explain with the other side of the story.

   When the Japanese Americans were forced into the camps, they were confused, and they feared the government. It was a fear of destruction, and a fear that their lives may never be returned. This fear which bound their hearts, also opened them. They aided each other, helping everyone in the community finish bunkers, plant flowers, care for children, and lived as best as they could. It unified them against a common enemy: The Government. Traces of these feelings remain, but today they do not unify, they only agitate. Fear can be a good or bad thing, but it should never remain in your heart after it is needed.

   People are always saying that love comes from the heart. Where does fear come from? I always imagine fear coming from the back of my eyes to the back of my throat. That is what it feels like at first. Then it numbs the mind. Where do you think fear comes from?